Crime and Punishment

What is justice?

Ensuring there’s moral order in the world

What is morality?

The choice between good and bad

What do the Laws of Manu deal with?

A Hindu’s dharma and how they should act within their varnashramadharma

How do countries/religions maintain justice?

Rules that dictate right/wrong behaviour

Who is the God Yama? What is his purpose?

Dispenser of Justice
Judges atman and decides reincarnation based on karma

How is Yama believed to judge the atman?

With a set of scale

How can Hindus ensure justice?

Balance their gunas

Why are balanced gunas important?

Good and balanced personality leads to good karma and justice

“_____ yourself, _____ and have _____ ”

“control yourself, give and have compassion”

What are some causes of crime?

Poverty, lack of education, poor welfare

What are Hindus taught about love?

Taught to love the God inside everyone, be friendly and compassionate

What is Baps? What do they do?

International non-religious charity
Focus on serving society
Traced back to Swaminarayan who built shelters, worked against addiction & abolished female infanticide

“Be _____ and hate not any _____ ”

“Be patient and hate not any being”

What do good actions lead to?

Good karma, good reincarnation, maybe moksha

What do bad actions lead to?

Bad karma, bad reincarnation

Which Hindu teaching does causing harm to others go against?

Ahimsa

What do Hindus believe that moksha is an escape from?

Suffering (dukkha)

“When one is of _____ … the _____ Lord will be very _____”

“When one is of tolerance … the Supreme Lord will be very pleased”

What is danda?

Hindu understanding of punishment, provides way for offender to right any violations of dharma

What is prayascitta?

Atonement - making amends

What are the four reasons behind punishment?

Protection, retribution, deterrence, reformation

What is retribution?

Punishing someone for their crime

What are the 3 Hindu punishments that are specifically mentioned in the Laws of Manu?

Admonition (a telling off), censure (a warning), physical punishment

“The whole world is kept in _____ by _____ for a _____ man is hard to find”

“The whole world is kept in order by punishment for a guiltless man is hard to find”

What is kshama?

Hindu teaching that requires Hindus to forgive and not hold bitterness

What do Hindus believe about forgiveness?

It gains good karma, stops feelings of hatred and helps ensure justice in society

What are some Hindu teaching on forgiveness?

Forgiveness is the one supreme peace
Divine characteristic
Brahman will hold the person accountable

What are the two unforgivable crime?

Murder and rape

What does Holi, a spring time festival, encourage?

New beginnings and for Hindus to show forgiveness

“_____ is _____ ; by forgiveness, the _____ is held together”

“Forgiveness is holiness; by forgiveness, the universe is held together”

What is torture?

Action or practise of inflicting severe pain on someone as punishment

What are human rights?

Basic rights based on values like dignity and equality

What is a fair trial?

The best means of separating the guilty from the innocent and protecting injustice

What is trial by jury?

Lawful proceeding in which a jury makes a decision or findings of fact

What does Hindu punishment focus on? Why?

Focus on reformation and rehabilitation so criminals don’t recommit crimes

“_____ is felt by all _____ to be fraught with _____”

“Death is felt by all creatures to be fraught with pain”

What is an example of prayascitta to show they’re sorry?

Fasting

What is corporal punishment?

Punishment of an offender by causing the physical pain (illegal in the UK)

What is capital punishment?

Punishment for capital offences

What is the death penalty?

Type of capital punishment where an offender is put to death

“_____ is the _____ duty”

“Ahimsa is the highest duty”