Terms
What is Moksha?
The state of liberation or release from the cycle of death and rebirth. (Samsara)
How many "Levels" are there to the caste system?
There are four.
Do Hindus believe in just one single God?
No, they believe in many Gods.
By having good karma and living a life away from worldly values and maya (Illusions)
Do Hindu people worship the statues the same as the actual Gods?
No, they do not.
What does atman mean?
The eternal "soul" or "spirit" in ones self.
Can you go lower in the caste system? How?
Yes, by living a bad life and having low karma.
What God are Hindu people trying to reunite with?
What is the purpose of karma?
Karma is the idea that every action has its consequences, your actions determine your next reincarnation. If you have bad karma, then you will most likely be reborn as a lesser life form until your karma is born.
What is the most popular statue in Hinduism?
The statue of Ganesha
What is "cyclical", what does it mean?
Another way of describing the endless cycle of death and reincarnation that people go through on their journey to achieve Moksha.
How do you achieve a different stage or level in the caste system?
You must have good karma in your current life in order to go up in the system in your next reincarnation.
How was Brahma "created" or "born"?
He was born from a huge golden egg and created everything in existence.
When you achieve Moksha and are retired from the reincarnation cycle, who or what God are you "Reunited" with?
You become one with Brahma.
What is the supreme reality?
Brahman
What is the difference between Brahma and Brahman?
Brahma is the "Main" God, the creator.
Brahman is the true of all existence, the absolute of reality.
Animals aren't part of the caste system, what happens to your karma when you are incarnated as this animal?
You burn your bad karma throughout your life cycle until you die, where you are reincarnated as a human again.
What are Vishnu's two best known avatars?
Krishna and Rama
What was the metaphor we learned for being reunited with Brahman?
"When you become one with Brahma, it is like a water drop being added back into the ocean it evaporated from."
What relates/ties together the statues, gods, and the supreme reality?
The people and gods, the gods are all part of the supreme reality and the statues are honorary of the Gods.
What is the Hindu definition of Karma?
The idea that your actions in life will have consequences when you get reincarnated.
What are all the levels of the caste system in order from top or best to the lowest? Define them by what jobs they are.
1. Brahmins (Priests)
2. Kshatriyas (Rulers and warriors)
3. Vaishyas (Farmers, tradesmen, artists)
4. Shudras (Manual laborers)
What are the 3 gods in the trimutri, what is their purpose / duties?
Shiva - God of destruction and regeneration
Brahma - The "creator", associated with knowledge and creation.
Vishnu - God of preservation, the "Great maintainer"
What does the saying; "Lead me from the unreal to the real" mean?
It is a common prayer that is asking to be led from the materialistic world into Brahman.
What do Hindu people see the purpose of the statues being? (What is their relationship with the Gods and achieving Moksha?)
The statues serve as guides that point you in the right direction of life and how you would want to live in order to achieve Moksha.