Chapter 3: Hinduism – Terms

Aum – (pron. Ohm), indicates the sound of the universe at creation and is made up of three Sanskrit letters:

-         A (Akaar)

-         U (Ukaar)

-         M (Makaar)

Vedas - ancient scriptures revered by Hindus
Sanskrit - literary language of classic Hindu scriptures

(parallels: Hebrew in Judaism & Latin in Christianity)
Brahman – The Supreme Reality
Atman – the soul
Reincarnation - the transmigration of the soul into a new body after death of the old body
Karma - our actions and their effects on this life and lives to come
Samsara - worldly cycle of birth, death, and rebirth
Moksha - liberation from samsara
Namaste - In Hindi, nama means “bow” and te means “you”; Namaste literally means “I bow to you.”
Caste - social class distinction on the basis of heredity or occupation
Dalits – “the oppressed” section of the caste (the untouchables)
Divali – our day festival of lights celebrating the return of Rama after exile (begins Oct 31)

Chapter 4: Jainism – Terms

Jain – conqueror of blockades such as materialistic fashions and worldly
Mahavira – (The Great Hero)

-         Died in 527 BCE

Jina – “winner”, one who has conquered passions
Ahimsa – “Nonviolence” in action and speech (so they are vegetarian)
Aparigraha - “Nonattachment” or “Nonacquisitiveness”, free of possessions and the materialistic lifestyle
Anekantwad - “Manifold Aspects” or “Nonabsolutists”, open minded to understanding the truth
Ascetic – fasting, detachment, and practician of monks and nuns

Chapter 11: Sikhism – Terms

Sikhs – “seekers of truth”
Guru – a great teacher started with Guru Nanak (1469-1539)
Langar – free communal feast
Kesh – uncut hair (to honor the creator)
Kirpan - Sword in a sheath (to protect the weak and promote justice)
Gurdwara - building of worship (people of all faith are welcome and governance is democratic)
Singh – Men: Singh (lion)

Chapter 5: Buddhism – Terms

The Buddha - (Awakened or Enlightened One)
Nirvana - liberation
Dukkha - suffering
Anitya - impermanence
Anatman – no self or independent eternal reality
Bodhisattva – one dedicated to liberating others
Jataka Tales – stories of previous lives of the Buddha as a bodhisattva (the story that we enacted in class about the king and monkeys with the fruit tree and the river)
Theravada – “Way of the elders”
Mahayana - “Great vehicle”
Vajrayana – “Indestructible path”
Samatha – calm abiding (part/kind of meditation)

Vipassana - insight while watching ones breath (part/kind of meditation)
Sunyata – emptiness (part/kind of meditation)
Koan - attention to a mind-boggling question “for example why are we here on earth, what’s our purpose”
Satori – flash of insight
Dalai Lama – spiritual leader
Vesak - Most important Buddhist festival which celebrates Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death
Mandala – a spiritual guidance tool, for establishing a sacred space and as an aid to meditation and trance induction

Chapter 3: Hinduism - Short Answer
(Choose three of the following)

What is a mantra and give an example.

-         Sacred sound, word, and or phrase that is repeated during meditation as part of some Hindu ritual such as the sound of creation Aum or pronounced “Ohm” during the saying.

What are the four castes in Hindu society, and what is the
one called which is outside the list?

-         Brahmins : priests

-         Kshatriyas : warriors

-         Vaishyas : socioeconomical jobs like farming, trading, mining, etc.

-         Sudras : supporting work to the above castes

-         Dalits/Untouchables : the “dirty work” like sewer cleaning

What was the original meaning of the symbol called a
Swastika and how and why was it appropriated by the
Nazis before and during World War II?

-         It originally meant good luck or wellbeing and got misappropriated by the Nazis as they used it for hate, supremacy, and racist ideology’s

Describe the Hindu belief in birth, death and re-birth and
what is the ultimate goal?

-         Samsara the cycles of birth, death, and re-birth indicating the aim for ultimate moksha the liberation from these cycles to meet union with Brahman the soul in the individual that are a part of God

Chapter 4: Jainism - Short Answer
(Choose two of the following)

Draw and describe the symbol for Jainism.

-         The symbol for Jainism looks like a temple with the hand at the bottom showcasing the 5 vows, then above following the swastika showing well-being then to the 3 dots indicating the 3 pillars and then the one single encompassed dot at the top indicating Brahman.

What is an ascetic and what are the various ways that life
is expressed in Jainism?

-         Someone who renounces worldly possessions. Life is expressed as trapped in the cycles of karma and also Moksha where you obtained liberation from the cycles and are leading towards enlightenment.

Ahimsa is one of the three ethical pillars of Jainism.
Describe how it influences the life of a follower, how they
live, treat other beings.

-         Ahimsa guides them to live a protecting life by treating other with respect, avoiding harm/violence, and to treat all living beings with the respect and dignity they deserve with peace.

Chapter 11: Sikhism - Short Answer
(Choose two of the following)

What are the living standards adopted by Khalsa (all Sikhs
are expected to work toward this commitment)?

-         Honest work (Kirat Karni)

-         Community Sharing (Vand Chakna)

What did Guru Gobind Singh mean when he said, “Same
are the temple and the mosque and the force of worship
therein”?

-         There is no distinction in sacred space, they are both used as a process to connect to said God

What happened in 2012 in a gurdwara in Oak Creek,
Wisconsin, and why?

-         A man attacked worshipers as he had a hatred towards other religions and possible through wrongly association resulting in people dead and injured.

Chapter 5: Buddhism - Short Answer
(Choose three of the following)

Describe Siddhartha Gautama’s spiritual awakening and
his journey to become the Buddha.

-         He was born as a prince that encountered suffering in the forms of old age, sickness, and death. He then renounced worldly pleasures and sought enlightenment through meditation. This was done at the Bodhi tree which he then was known as The Buddah.

What are the (progressive) Four Noble Truths of Buddhism?

-         The truth of pain and suffering

-         The truth of the arising of pain or the cause of
suffering

-         The truth of the cessation of pain or suffering

-         The truth of the path to end pain: Noble
Eightfold Path

Describe the Noble Eightfold Path citing at least five
examples.

-         Right Understanding: Four Noble Truths

-         Right Thought or motives: eliminate egoism

-         Right Speech: abstain from negative speaking

-         Right Action (no killing, stealing, lying, getting intoxications and participating in sexual misconduct)

-         Right Livelihood: vocation

-         Right Effort: cultivate wholesome actions

-         Right Mindfulness: awareness

-         Right Meditation: mental discipline

What new movement in Buddhism attracted converts
from among the Dalits of Hinduism and why?

Navayana as it showed equality towards the caste system