REL 021 1st Edition Exam 1 Study Guide Suggested that when taking the test use the 4 fold analysis to compare different terms What is the Problem What is the Cause What is the Method What is the Solution 1 Definition of Religion Religion is a word to group certain people together The definition includes many parts which makes it multidimensional o Beliefs conceptual in practice ritual etc This leads to Doctrine o Submitting oneself to the sacred or god o Practices dietary restrictions rules rituals o Communal social group o Ethics core set of values for example thou shalt not kill o Mythology narrative 2 Definition of Hinduism There is no origin of this religion No difference between the secular and the sacred Religion Culture You are born into it o Religious activities and rituals daily activity Strict regimen to follow for diet lifestyle readings and worship 3 Banyan tree The leaf is said to be a resting place for Krishna Roots go upward and branches go downward can t tell where it starts and were it ends This is the reflection of the spiritual world with the real world Contradiction in itself 4 Vedic Tradition Vedas Rig Veda Took place in 1200 bce There are fire sacrifices all over the world Vedas are a collection of ritual hymns knowledge to perform sacrifices Written in Sanskrit Goal of the 3 P s 5 Fire sacrifice Ritual activity in the Vedic traditions with offerings to the gods performed by Brahmins 6 Creation Hymns Golden Embryo The creation of the hymns happened through the separation of heaven and Earth and was therefore attributed to the Gods The story of the Golden Embryo is the main story of creation 7 Indra God of Warfare battle and conquest Associated with thunder and lightning People would make sacrifices to her in conquest of victory 8 Agni God of Fire also known as the messenger god She is the transmitter god that transmits thoughts from humans to gods 9 Soma God of the plant Soma We don t really know what that is it is no longer used in sacrifices 10 Varuna God of the atmosphere is very unpredictable and uncontrollable This god relates to disease famine and plagues in the wind 11 That art thou That is you Sense that Brahmin is everywhere Embodiment of everything including you It s an essence that you can t see Upanishads 12 Tapas in yoga tapas is the heat that arises through breathing in meditation 13 Sat Chit Ananda Sat Chit Ananda Pure mind consciousness Pure bliss Objects of pleasure that never remain Ultimately believed that objects that give you pleasure will always cause you suffering 14 Upanishads Grows out of the Vedic traditions around 700 500 bce Believes in samsara Teacher to disciple knowledge through Brahmin traditions 15 Samsara the never ending cycle of creation and destruction 16 Karma Karma is a type of yoga action all human actions come from the ego where there is a constant need for a reward no matter what the situation is 17 Moksha some liberation of your own personal mind and suffering and therefore shows compassion for all beings because there is no difference between you Moksha is ultimately freedom from samsara 18 Maya The cause of samsara refer back to 4 fold analysis If you identify things with things in your life that are only temporary then your values and your goals are also temporary 19 Atman soul Brahman absolute reality 20 Brahmin performs the fire sacrifices need to be blood born into it 21 Yoga Extreme body postures that may require mental concentration and control over your focus Mental aspect is a huge component to this 22 Dharma Shastras 500 900 bce Society is divided into a four caste system o Brahmins o Priests Warriors o Producers o Servants 23 Dharma Sacred order or law in the universe Adharma Disorder or lawlessness These relate to the story of Arjuna can t do dharma and then moksha so the Gita says that you can do your dharma through moksha with yoga discipline of the mind This must be done completely selflessly 24 Varna a caste Jati a sub caste 25 Outcastes Untouchables don t fit in caste system don t fit into their society 26 Four Stages of Life 1 2 3 4 Student hood Leans skills for their caste level Householders Have a family Hermit Become a partial renunciant hands over the power and begins to practice yoga Renunciation Able to leave family and obtain moksha 27 Four Goals of Life Dharma beliefs duties Artha wealth Kama Sense pleasure Moksha Renunciation final goal 28 Twice Born Top 3 castes of the Vedic society Brahmins Priests Warriors Producers 29 Myth of Purusha the story of man of how the caste system was created from different parts of a man Mouth Brahmins Arms Warriors Loins Producers Feet Servants 30 Where there are seven Brahmins there will be seven cooking fires This means that even though being a Brahmin is the highest ranking that you can have in the system there are different rankings within the Brahmins 31 Pandavas 5 brothers Kauravas 100 brothers From the story of Arjuna these two families were cousins 32 Arjuna The middle child of the Pandavas family A figure who represents the Upanishadic traditions as well as an inspiration for those who seek liberation and purity through renunciation Goes through a Moral Crisis of Duty o Attain moksha through dharma s by doing this SELFLESSLY 33 Krishna Gives teachings to Arjuna 34 Three Yoga s 3 disciplines of the mind Depends on YOUR own nature 1 Jnana knowledge or insight Mind is selfless 2 Karma action 3 Bhakti ultimate devotion to Krishna 35 Avatar a deliberate decent of a deity 36 Bhakti Type of yoga that has a complete devotion to Krishna through embodiment They believe that he who sees Krishna everywhere will see Krishna s true nature 37 Bhagavata Purana a text in Hinduism that focuses on Bhakti to the supreme god 38 Gopis Cow herding girl Relates back to the group of cow herding girls who were completely and unconditionally devoted to Krishna 39 Radha Most important of the Gopi often depicted alongside Krishna 40 Five Relationships Amorus Servant Friendship advisor Parental Peaceful regard 41 Five Methods of Bhakti Shanta Dasya Sakhya Vatsalya and Madhurya 42 Ras Lila Rasa Dance Which is the dance of divine love the dance that they do with Krishna 43 Bhajan a Hindu devotional song 44 Prasad Material substance of food that s a religions offering consumed by worshippers 45 Puja Making a bloody destructive offering to Kali 46 Mirabai Mystic poet and devotee of Krishna 47 Vrat fasting 48 In terms of Classical Theology Nirguna No characteristic Saguna With