Hindu Basics
What does monism mean?
The belief that everything is made up of one reality.
What is Samsara?
The cycle of reincarnation.
What is the Buddha’s name?
Siddhartha Gautama.
In Buddhism, what does dharma mean?
The Buddha’s teachings.
What is the key shared idea in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology?
Both believe in reincarnation with an end goal of liberation.
What is Brahman?
The divine essence in every living thing.
What is karma (in Hinduism)?
The law of cause and effect that determines life after reincarnation.
What did the sage predict about baby Siddhartha?
He would become either a great king or a spiritual leader.
What is Sangha?
The Buddhist community.
What part of Hinduism did the Buddha reject?
The caste system.
What is Atman?
The soul or each individual’s piece of Brahman.
What is Moksha?
Liberation—escape from the cycle of rebirth.
What are the Four Passing Sights?
An old man, a sick man, a corpse and a monk.
According to the Four Noble Truths, what causes suffering?
Desire.
What language were early Buddhist scriptures written in?
Pali
What language were the earliest Hindu texts written in?
Sanskrit.
Name the Hindu trinity of gods.
Brahma (creation), Vishnu (preservation), Shiva (destruction).
How did the Buddha reach enlightenment?
He meditated under a bodhi tree, saw his past lives and learnt the 4 noble truths
What are the Three Marks of Existence?
Anatta (no self), Anicca (impermanence), Dukkha (suffering).
Why is Mahayana called the “Greater Vehicle”?
It is the largest division of Buddhism.
What religion formed from the blending of Hinduism and Islam?
Sikhism.
What are the 4 goals of Hindu life?
Dharma (duty), Artha (power), Kama (pleasure), Moksha (liberation).
What caste was the Buddha born into?
Kshatriya (warrior caste).
What does Nirvana literally mean?
It means blowing out. It is the total cessation of suffering
What country is Vajrayana most popular in?
Tibet.