Hinduism - Chapter 3 Study Guide

Multiple Choice, Matching, & Written

Moksha

* The ultimate goal of life
* The infinite being, awareness, & bliss of it
* Freedom from the cycle of life & death
* Can be achieved if you follow your Dharma
* Has 3 paths in order to achieve it

Monism

The doctrine that all reality is ultimately 1

Brahman

* The eternal essence of reality & the source of the universe, beyond the reach of human perception & thought
* 1 world soul/god

Atman

The connection to the universe

Upanishads

A collection of over 200 philosophical texts composed between 900 & 200 BC that provide philosophical commentary on the Vedas

Samsara

* Reincarnation
* “Wheel of rebirth”
* The idea that after death the soul is born again in a new physical form

Bhagavad-Gita

* Most closely associated with *bhakti marga*
* Acknowledges the fruitfulness of the path of work & the path of knowledge but tends to favor the path of devotion

Karma

* Moral law of cause & effect that’s caused by Dharma, which determines their fate in the next life
* Can be seen to justify the caste systems
* Determines caste identity & the specific dharma governing a person’s actions

Dharma

* Ethical duty, which is connected to social order
* Determined by gender, caste, & stage of life
* Humans’ purpose on earth is to find this
* Must be followed in order to achieve Moksha

Ascetic

1 who renounces physical pleasures & worldly attachments for the sake of spiritual advancement

Avatar

An incarnation, or living embodiment, of a deity, commonly of Vishnu, who’s sent to earth to accomplish a divine purpose

Samadhi

A trancelike state in which the self-consciousness is lost, & the mind is absorbed into the ultimate reality

What is the general function of Hinduism’s many deities?

* Extensions of ultimate reality
* Provide accessible points of contact with the divine

Define *monism, Brahman*, & *Atman*. Explain the relationship between Brahman & Atman.

*Monism* is the doctrine that all reality is ultimately 1. *Brahman* is the 1 world soul/god. *Atman* is the connection to the universe. All gods & goddesses are extensions of the 1 world soul & have *atman*.

Name the 4 classes of the caste system, & describe the people who belong to each one.

* Brahmins - priests & teachers
* Kshatriyas - warriors & rulers
* Vaishyas - farmers, traders, & merchants
* Shudras - commoners & servants

Identify & briefly explain the 4 stages of life.

* Student - begins around puberty; studies sacred literature, such as the Vedas; lasts until marriage
* Householder - pursuing a career; raising a family
* Forest Dweller - begins with the birth of the 1st grandchild; husband goes on a spiritual quest to detach from worldly bonds; may ask wife to accompany him
* Wandering Ascetic (*Sannyasin*) - return to society; still engaged with the world but also detached from it

Name & briefly describe the 4 goals of life.

* Kama - sensual pleasure; a legitimate aim of life; to be embraced by whoever desires it; lovers must remain within the limits of *dharma*
* Artha - material success; a yearning for social power & prestige; Hinduism celebrates this; may be signified by jewelry & gold woven into' a woman’s sari
* Moksha - the ultimate goal of life; the infinite being, awareness, & bliss of it
* Dharma - general principle of ethical duty

Identify the 3 paths to liberation. Which type of person is best suited for each path?

* Active - *Karma Marga* (“The Path of Works”)
* Engaged in day-to-day tasks of earning a living & raising a family, for whom physical activities come naturally
* Involves ongoing selfless concern for the world & one’s fellow human beings as their ethical duty (*dharma*)
* Philosophical - *Jnana Marga* (“The Path of Knowledge”)
* Requires follower to devote a great deal of time to reflecting, learning, & meditating
* Best suited for members of the *brahmin* class
* Emphasizes attaining knowledge over ignorance
* 3 schools of Hindu philosophy - *Vedanta*, *Sankhya*, & *Yoga*
* Emotional - *Bhakti Marga* (“The Path of Devotion”)
* Best suited for those whose emotional attachment comes naturally
* Directs spiritual energy outward in worship of the deity
* Avatars & the Bhagavad-Gita
* Aspects of daily devotion - household/village rituals, holy places, & cow veneration

What are the 3 most important schools of Hindu’s philosophy?

* *Vedanta* - most faithful to the predominant monism of Hinduism; all reality is essentially 1 - Brahman, the indescribable, impersonal ultimate
* *Sankhya* - asserts that all reality is composed of 3 distinct categories (matter & an infinite number of eternal selves); for reasons beyond explanation, selves get entwined with matter, thereby becoming bound to the world of *samsara*
* *Yoga* - acknowledges the connection between self & the other parts of our human makeup - the body & its sensations, the mind & its thinking, & the subconscious

What are the 3 important gods or goddesses of Hinduism?

Vishnu, Shiva, & Kali

What are the 3 aspects of Hindu devotional life as explained in the chapter?

* Household & village rituals
* Holy places
* Cow veneration