Hinduism

1. According to our in-class discussion which of the following could Hinduism be called: a Religion, a Philosophy of Life, a Sociality, or a Cultural Practice?,

Not everyone will give the same answer, It doesn't feel like a religion to them

2. Does Hinduism require that you believe certain doctrines or practice certain rites in order to be a faithful (or "orthodox") Hindu?

no

3. Who was the founder of Hinduism?

No formal founder, Eternal, first of the world religions

4. According to our in-class discussion approximately when do many scholars think Hinduism had its beginnings?

3,500 years ago (1500 BCE), Aryians conquer dravidians

5. According to our in-class discussion Hinduism likely began through the interactions of what two groups of people?

Aryians and the Dravidians. When aryians conquer the dravidians, over 1000 years they merge

Beginnings of hinduism

500 BCE

6. Do Hindus today believe it appropriate to proselytize converts? Why or why not?

No, Wrong to try to convert people away from what they are in

7. Do Hindus believe that religions other than Hinduism have a role to play in the spiritual purpose of mortality or the spiritual development of humans?

Yes, Many forms of religion can help believers move toward the experience of god, Hindu is the highest rung towards achieving nirvana, You can be reincarnated as a higher rung in your religion?

8. What does the term "Hindu" mean?

Indian, from india

9. According to your readings what is a name for Hinduism that is deemed more appropriate than "Hindu"?

Dharma, "The way"

10. When did the term "Hindu" first begin to be used to refer to this religious tradition?

6th century CE

11. According to our in-class discussion the current type of Hinduism (which you and I are familiar with) stems from the "Hindu Renaissance" which took place approximately when?

18th-19th century

12. What is "Monism"?

Mono, Everything is part of a overarching singular whole

13. Which of the following are acceptable beliefs for faithful Hindus: Polytheism, Monism, Modalism, Monotheism, and/or Atheism?,

All

14. The various Hindu gods are technically just different ways to perceive of what?

The one ultimate reality known as Brahman

15. In class I listed four kinds (or categories) of Hindu deities. What were those four categories?

Standard gods; Local/regional gods; Ancestor gods; Made up gods

16. According to our in-class discussion who are the best-known Hindu gods?

Brahma (creator of the world), Vishnu, Shiva

17. What is the difference between Brahma, Brahman, and Brahmin?

Brahma = 1 of the "big 3" gods.

Brahman = the ultimate manifestation of everything.

Brahmin = priestly caste

18. Which Hindu god is the creator of the world? And how long was the world created to last?

Brahma, 2 billion-160 million years

19. Why do most Hindus not worship Brahma?

He doesn't do anything, He isnt beneficial

20. What does having multiple faces and multiple arms (in Hindu iconography) represent?

Omniscience, omnipotence

21. How many total incarnations will Vishnu have and how many has he had so far?

10 total, 9, 1 left

22. When Vishnu awoke from his sleep what came into existence?

The Universe

23. What did Vishnu find coming out of his navel and his head?

Navel = brahma

Head = shiva

24. When Vishnu goes back to sleep what will end?

This dispensation

25. In which of Vishnu's avatars is he considered "God incarnate in mortality"?

Rama (7th avatar)

26. Shiva is said to be "the energy of" whom?

The ultimate (brahman), Like The holy ghost.

27. How can Shiva be both a god of "creation" and also a god of "destruction"?

Reincarnation, cycle of creation and destruction.

28. Shiva is the patron of who?

Hindu monks.

29. What is symbolized by depictions of Shiva dancing on the back of the demon of ignorance?

He is in control, it is under his feet, Shiva has power to overcome ignorance.

30. According to our in-class discussion what does the term "Shakti" mean?

A man is not complete without his wives.

31. According to our in-class discussion Shakti worship is called "Tantric Devotion"—and often includes the use of what Hindu text?

They focus on the goddesses instead of the god. Does not use a Hindu text.

32. According to our in-class discussion what is the two-fold purpose of life in Hinduism?

Overcome Maya (illusion/false belief), Samadhi = enlightenment, Obtain release (Moksha = breaking the cycle of rebirths; which cycle is called Samsara).

33. According to our in-class discussion what technically is the title for the "Supreme Being" or "single god" of Hinduism?

Brahman.

34. According to our in-class discussion a common symbolic analogy for our return to God at the end of the cycle of reincarnation (i.e. our merger with the divine) is what?

A drop of water entering the ocean.

35. Many Hindus believe that a practitioner of asceticism if he achieves enlightenment should (once enlightened) then do what?

Continue life, wait till the next life

36. According to our in-class discussion what is "karma" according to the Hindu understanding of that term?

Eternal law.

37. According to our in-class discussion is there such a thing as "good karma" in orthodox/traditional Hindu belief?

No, Karma is always a negative thing.

38. What is "Ātman" in Hinduism and how does it differ from traditional ideas of the "soul"?

God within, The breath/spark of god inside of you, It is not yours/individual.

39. While many don't understand that there is a distinction between "reincarnation" and "transmigration of the soul" what—according to our in-class discussion—is the primary difference between these two ideas? And which is technically the traditional Hindu belief?

If you do not have your own soul, you cannot transmigrate, The new being is not YOUR soul, Ultimately we are all just Brahman.

40. Though there are technically tons of castes in Hinduism in class we discussed the five most common castes. What were those five castes and who falls into each caste?

Brahmins (high priest, academic), Kshatriyas (politicians, military), Vaisyas (merchants and farmers), Sudras (servants), Harijan (untouchables, on the margins).

41. Which of the five most common Hindu castes do most Hindus fall into?

Vaisyas.

42. In which castes does a boy get to participate in the "twice born" or "sacred thread" ceremony?

Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas.

43. Why were Mahatma Gandhi's efforts to remove the caste system largely fruitless?

Break the law of gravity, People couldn't let go of the idea that their circumstances caused it.

44. According to our in-class discussion non-Hindu Americans fall into what Hindu caste?

Whoever you marry you become that caste.

45. What are the three ways off the round of rebirths according to our in-class discussion? And what does each approach focus on?

Good works or Karma, Knowledge or Jyana, Devotion or Bhakti.

46. Which of the aforementioned "ways off the round of rebirths" did we say Mahatma Gandhi was an advocate of and why?

Karma

47. Which of the three "ways off the round of rebirths" could be called "salvation by grace" which would be "salvation by works" and which would be "salvation by thought/intellect"?

Salvation by grace Bhakti; salvation by works is Karma; Salvation by thought/intellect is Jyana.

48. Which texts are technically more authoritative or canonical in Hinduism: the "Smriti" or "Shruti"?

Shruti.

49. What according to our in-class discussion is the meaning of the term "Shruti"?

Heard or revealed.

50. What according to our in-class discussion what is the meaning of the term "Smriti"?

Remembered (popular writings).

51. Is the very popular Bhagavad Gītā part of the Shruti or the Smriti?

Shruti

52. How do the teachings found in the Bhagavad Gītā compare to traditional Hindu theology?

Non orthodox ideas; love all; very different ideas

53. How consistently are scriptures used in Hinduism?

Not very consitently

54. What; according to our in-class discussion; are the four stages of life and social interaction—commonly known as "Ashrams"?

1. Student, 2. Householder, 3. Seeker (hermit), 4. Ascetic (holy man)

55. Which of these aforementioned "Ashrams" do most male Hindus engage in?

Student

56. According to our in-class discussion; why is one's guru respected above one's birthparents?

they are the teacher and can bring them to a place parents can't

57. Are ascetic disciplines believed (by most Hindus) to be necessary in order to achieve spiritual development?

no

58. What; according to our in-class discussion; is the common Hindu term for worship?

Puja

59. According to our in-class discussion; Hindus may worship god (or their gods) via doing various things. What were the things we highlighted in class as common acts of Hindu puja?

idols; changing; sexual discipline; sacrifice; service

60. According to our in-class discussion; why do Hindus not have a Sabbath day?

why just have one holy day and not just do it throughout the whole week

61. How common is "group worship" in Hinduism; and why?

Yes

62. What; in Hinduism; did we say "prasad" is?

"gift", Sacramental food

63. What kinds of things do Hindus offer to their gods (when visiting a temple; shrine; or other place of worship)?

Money; flowers; incense, They don't make sacrifices of animate things (animals)

64. Do most Hindus believe that their statues are an actual god?

A divine reminder of god

65. According to our in-class discussion; what is the point of ritual washing in Hinduism?

Water associated with the divine, Connecting with Brahman

66. What does dipping one's self in the Ganges River do to the worshipper?

Lifeline of indian culture, Untold amounts of karma are washed away, Ritual washing

67. What; according to our in-class discussion; is the Hindu position on "sacred clothing"?

Other than sacred thread; not really anything, Worldly things like adorning the body are a distraction

68. What are "mantras" (in Hinduism)?

A type of prayer, Phrase or word or sound that you repeat over and over, Connects earth and heaven

69. When do Hindu weddings typically take place; and why?

Arranged; within one's cast, After sundown; symbolized closing of one stage of life and the opening of another

70. According to our in-class discussion; what is the symbolism behind Hindu couples getting married with their hands clasped and bound with a cord?

Idea of unity that is being created; commitment of a permanent relationship

71. According to our in-class discussion; what is the hand an ancient symbol for?

The self, Taking the hand is accepting someone for who they are

72. The most common way to dispose of the body of a deceased Hindu is what?

cremation

73. One's "animating power" or ātman escapes from one's body (after death) through a metaphorical tube called what?

atman/animating power, Chakra is the tube that the power escapes through

74. If one dies in a state of anger; rage; despair; or hopelessness; how does that affect the ātman of the deceased (in traditional Hindu thought)?

It affects you negatively in your next life

75. Why do many Hindus wait until after their family member has died before they say their goodbyes to the family member?

You dont want to stir up emotions; emotions could affect the chakra and the next reincarnation

76. What ecclesiastical hierarchy does Hinduism have?

Don't have authority hierarchy over anyone, Brahmins perform rites.

77. Though most Indians are vegetarians which Hindus are required to practice vegetarianism?

Only since 600 BCE, Hindus required to practice vegetarianism is, They don't kill cows because they represent Krishna; peacocks symbolize.

78. Though outlawed in the early 19th century what was Sati in Hinduism and what message does it send about Hindu views regarding women?

Woman's status is determined by the man who she is associated with (father, husband, sons); 2nd class citizens, Sati is Wives throwing themselves on the funeral fire when the husband died to die with him.

79. Why is the patriarchy of Indian society not seen (by Hindus) as anti-female or misogynistic?

Because men need to get married to women too, Argument is that there is no gender; you can be a woman in one life and a man in the next to learn different lessons.

80. Out of the many possible incarnations one's ātman (or "animating power") can be born as which of the following can one be born as and still be able to get off the wheel of reincarnation (during that incarnation)? A god; a human; an animal; an insect; vegetation; or as a demon?

As a god or a human; that can be your last incarnation.

81. In class I mentioned three things that reincarnation does for believers. What were those three things?, (hinduism)

Where are there disparities in life, Reduces fear of death/hell, Explains population explosion.

82. What Hindu symbol discussed in class functions as a representation of "good luck" (or a "blessing" from God); the seat of "wisdom and concentration" (that can help with placing your focus as you seek enlightenment); and as a representation of a "third eye" (or spiritual "discernment")?

Bindi or Tikka/Tilak, Ability to discern.

83. Does Hinduism have formal denominations?

No; but they have different philosophical approaches, Logical, physical, evolution, personal development, vedas, upanishads, Castes have different dharma than others; changes their approach.