REL 021 1st EditionExam # 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 godo Practices (dietary restrictions, rules, rituals)o Communal, social groupo Ethics (core set of values) for example, thou shalt not killo Mythology/ narrative2. 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 worship3. 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’s5. 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 creation7. 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 transmitsthoughts 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 todisease, 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- Upanishads12. 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 suffering14. Upanishads - Grows out of the Vedic traditions around 700-500 bce- Believes in samsara - Teacher to disciple knowledge through Brahmin traditions15. Samsara = the never ending cycle of creation and destruction16. 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 is17. 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 temporary19. 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 Brahminso Priests/Warriorso Producerso Servants23. 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-caste25. Outcastes/Untouchables = don’t fit in caste system, don’t fit into their society26. Four Stages of Life1. Student hood: Leans skills for their caste level2. Householders: Have a family3. Hermit: Become a partial renunciant, hands over the power, and begins to practice yoga4. Renunciation: Able to leave family and obtain moksha27. 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: Servants30. “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 Dutyo Attain moksha through dharma’s by doing this SELFLESSLY33. Krishna = Gives teachings to Arjuna34. Three Yoga’s (3 disciplines of the mind)  Depends on YOUR own nature 1. Jnana = knowledge or insight (Mind is selfless)2. Karma = action3. Bhakti = ultimate devotion to Krishna35. 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 god38. Gopis = “Cow-herding girl” Relates back to the group of cow herding girls who were completely and unconditionally devoted to Krishna39. Radha = Most important of the Gopi, often depicted alongside Krishna 40. Five Relationships- Amorus- Servant- Friendship/advisor - Parental- Peaceful regard41. Five Methods of Bhakti = Shanta, Dasya, Sakhya, Vatsalya and Madhurya42. Ras Lila = “Rasa Dance” Which is the dance of divine love, the