Hinduism Overview Quiz

Hinduism

• Originated over 4,000 years ago in the Indian subcontinent; one of the world's oldest religions.
• Belief in a supreme cosmic spirit known as Brahman, encompassing all deities and existence.

Belief in Brahman

• Brahman is formless, infinite, and transcendent.
• Represents the unity of everything in the universe; often viewed as a source of all reality.

Three Main Gods of Hinduism

• Brahma: The creator god, responsible for the creation of the universe.
• Vishnu: The preserver god, who maintains cosmic order and harmony.
• Shiva: The destroyer god, responsible for transformation and regeneration.

Important Concepts in Hinduism

• Dharma: Duty, morals, and the ethical path in life.
• Karma: The law of cause and effect; actions influence future experiences.
• Samsara: The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth; liberation (Moksha) is the ultimate goal.

Puja and Hindu Worship

• Rituals performed to honor deities; can be personal or communal.
• Involves offerings such as flowers, fruits, and prayers as acts of devotion.

The Sacred Texts of Hinduism

• Composed of Sruti and Smriti texts; include Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas.

Shruti

• Texts considered "that which is heard"; authoritative scriptures.
• Key texts:
  • Vedas: Collections of hymns, chants, and mantras.
  • Upanishads: Philosophical discussions on spirituality and the nature of reality.

Smriti

• Texts that are remembered; include epics and codes of law.
• Key texts:
  • Mahabharata: Epic narrative including the Bhagavad Gita.
  • Ramayana: Epic about the life of Lord Rama.

The Four Main Goals of Human Life in Hinduism

• Dharma: Fulfilling one's duty and responsibilities.
• Artha: Pursuing wealth and prosperity.
• Kama: Enjoying love and aesthetic pleasures.
• Moksha: Achieving liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

The Four Major Pathways in Hinduism

• Bhakti: The path of devotion and love towards God.
• Karma: The path of selfless action and duty.
• Jnana: The path of knowledge and wisdom.
• Raja: The path of meditation and discipline.

Holy Places in Hinduism

• Varanasi: A sacred city for pilgrimage and rituals.
• Ganges River: Considered the holiest river, symbolizing purity.

Diwali

• The Festival of Lights celebrated in October or November.
• Symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, with lighting of lamps and fireworks.

Buddhism

• Founded in the 5th century BCE by Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha.
• Emphasizes enlightenment through the understanding of the self and reality.

Buddha: His Life and Teachings

• Born into a royal family; renounced worldly life to seek enlightenment.
• Enlightened under the Bodhi tree; shared teachings on suffering, impermanence, and compassion.

Basic Doctrines in Buddhism

• Focus on the alleviation of suffering through ethical living and meditation.

The Three Jewels

• Buddha: The enlightened one and teacher.
• Dharma: The teachings and laws of Buddhism.
• Sangha: The community of practitioners and monks.

Four Noble Truths

• Life is suffering (dukkha).
• Suffering is caused by desire and attachment (tanha).
• Suffering can be overcome.
• The path to overcoming suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path.

The Noble Eightfold Path

• Right Understanding: Comprehending the nature of reality.
• Right Intent: Cultivating altruistic thoughts.
• Right Speech: Speaking truthfully and kindly.
• Right Action: Acting ethically and compassionately.
• Right Livelihood: Earning a living without harming others.
• Right Effort: Cultivating good qualities and abandoning bad ones.
• Right Mindfulness: Being aware of thoughts and feelings.
• Right Concentration: Developing focused meditation.

Non-Theism

• Buddhism does not center around the worship of gods.
• Focuses on individual spiritual development and practice.

Monastic Living

• Renunciation of worldly life to pursue spiritual practice.
• Monks and nuns play a key role in preserving teachings and community support.

Holy Symbol

• The Dharma Wheel (Dharmachakra) represents the Buddha’s teachings and the path to enlightenment.

Buddhism and Mainstream Culture

• Influences art, philosophy, and psychology in various cultures.

The Major Buddhist Traditions

• Primarily divided into Theravada and Mahayana schools.

Theravada Buddhism

• Prevalent in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar.
• Emphasizes individual enlightenment and adherence to traditional teachings.

Sacred Texts

• Pali Canon is the primary scripture for Theravada Buddhists.

Festival and Holy Days

• Vesak: Celebrates Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death.

Mahayana Buddhism

• Practiced in China, Japan, Korea, and Tibet.
• Focuses on the Bodhisattva path, where individuals aspire to help others attain enlightenment.

Sacred Texts

• Include the Lotus Sutra and the Heart Sutra.

Festival and Holy Days

• Various celebrations including Parinirvana Day, marking Buddha's passing.

Confucianism

• Based on the teachings of Confucius, focusing on morality, social relationships, and justice.

Development

• Evolved notably during the Han dynasty; serves as a guiding philosophy for Chinese society.

Sacred Texts of Confucianism

• The Analects: A collection of sayings and ideas attributed to Confucius.

Confucian Doctrines and Beliefs

• Emphasizes virtue, filial piety, and social harmony.
• Key teachings include:
  • Ren: Humaneness and compassion.
  • Li: Ritual and proper conduct.
  • Xiao: Filial piety.
  • Zhi: Wisdom.
  • Xin: Trustworthiness.

Holy Days and Celebrations

• Confucius’ birthday is celebrated on September 28.

Taoism

• Philosophical and religious tradition emphasizing living in harmony with the Tao (the Way).

History of Taoism

• Established in the 4th century BCE, attributed to Laozi.

Doctrines and Beliefs of Taoism

• Focus on simplicity, spontaneity, and naturalness.
• Emphasizes Tao as a universal principle governing all aspects of life.

Holy Days and Celebrations

• Lunar New Year: Celebrated with various traditional festivities.

Shintoism

• Indigenous spirituality of Japan focusing on kami (spirits).

Development of Shintoism

• Evolved through various traditions, integrating animistic and ancestor worship.

Doctrines and Beliefs of Shintoism

• Deep respect for nature and a belief in the existence of kami.

Core Ethical Teachings

• Emphasizes purity, harmony, and respect.

The Four Affirmations

• Tradition and the family.
• Love for nature.
• Physical cleanliness.
• Matsuri (festivals) and rituals.

Shinto Shrines and Rituals

• Shrines dedicated to kami, where rituals and offerings take place.

Celebrations and Festivals

• Matsuri: Various local festivals celebrating the kami and seasonal changes.

Hinduism

• Originated over 4,000 years ago in the Indian subcontinent; one of the world's oldest religions.
• Belief in a supreme cosmic spirit known as Brahman, encompassing all deities and existence.

Belief in Brahman

• Brahman is formless, infinite, and transcendent.
• Represents the unity of everything in the universe; often viewed as a source of all reality.

Three Main Gods of Hinduism

• Brahma: The creator god, responsible for the creation of the universe.
• Vishnu: The preserver god, who maintains cosmic order and harmony.
• Shiva: The destroyer god, responsible for transformation and regeneration.

Important Concepts in Hinduism

• Dharma: Duty, morals, and the ethical path in life.
• Karma: The law of cause and effect; actions influence future experiences.
• Samsara: The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth; liberation (Moksha) is the ultimate goal.

Puja and Hindu Worship

• Rituals performed to honor deities; can be personal or communal.
• Involves offerings such as flowers, fruits, and prayers as acts of devotion.

The Sacred Texts of Hinduism

• Composed of Sruti and Smriti texts; include Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas.

Shruti

• Texts considered "that which is heard"; authoritative scriptures.
• Key texts:
  • Vedas: Collections of hymns, chants, and mantras.
  • Upanishads: Philosophical discussions on spirituality and the nature of reality.

Smriti

• Texts that are remembered; include epics and codes of law.
• Key texts:
  • Mahabharata: Epic narrative including the Bhagavad Gita.
  • Ramayana: Epic about the life of Lord Rama.

The Four Main Goals of Human Life in Hinduism

• Dharma: Fulfilling one's duty and responsibilities.
• Artha: Pursuing wealth and prosperity.
• Kama: Enjoying love and aesthetic pleasures.
• Moksha: Achieving liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

The Four Major Pathways in Hinduism

• Bhakti: The path of devotion and love towards God.
• Karma: The path of selfless action and duty.
• Jnana: The path of knowledge and wisdom.
• Raja: The path of meditation and discipline.

Holy Places in Hinduism

• Varanasi: A sacred city for pilgrimage and rituals.
• Ganges River: Considered the holiest river, symbolizing purity.

Diwali

• The Festival of Lights celebrated in October or November.
• Symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, with lighting of lamps and fireworks.

Buddhism

• Founded in the 5th century BCE by Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha.
• Emphasizes enlightenment through the understanding of the self and reality.

Buddha: His Life and Teachings

• Born into a royal family; renounced worldly life to seek enlightenment.
• Enlightened under the Bodhi tree; shared teachings on suffering, impermanence, and compassion.

Basic Doctrines in Buddhism

• Focus on the alleviation of suffering through ethical living and meditation.

The Three Jewels

• Buddha: The enlightened one and teacher.
• Dharma: The teachings and laws of Buddhism.
• Sangha: The community of practitioners and monks.

Four Noble Truths

• Life is suffering (dukkha).
• Suffering is caused by desire and attachment (tanha).
• Suffering can be overcome.
• The path to overcoming suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path.

The Noble Eightfold Path

• Right Understanding: Comprehending the nature of reality.
• Right Intent: Cultivating altruistic thoughts.
• Right Speech: Speaking truthfully and kindly.
• Right Action: Acting ethically and compassionately.
• Right Livelihood: Earning a living without harming others.
• Right Effort: Cultivating good qualities and abandoning bad ones.
• Right Mindfulness: Being aware of thoughts and feelings.
• Right Concentration: Developing focused meditation.

Non-Theism

• Buddhism does not center around the worship of gods.
• Focuses on individual spiritual development and practice.

Monastic Living

• Renunciation of worldly life to pursue spiritual practice.
• Monks and nuns play a key role in preserving teachings and community support.

Holy Symbol

• The Dharma Wheel (Dharmachakra) represents the Buddha’s teachings and the path to enlightenment.

Buddhism and Mainstream Culture

• Influences art, philosophy, and psychology in various cultures.

The Major Buddhist Traditions

• Primarily divided into Theravada and Mahayana schools.

Theravada Buddhism

• Prevalent in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar.
• Emphasizes individual enlightenment and adherence to traditional teachings.

Sacred Texts

• Pali Canon is the primary scripture for Theravada Buddhists.

Festival and Holy Days

• Vesak: Celebrates Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death.

Mahayana Buddhism

• Practiced in China, Japan, Korea, and Tibet.
• Focuses on the Bodhisattva path, where individuals aspire to help others attain enlightenment.

Sacred Texts

• Include the Lotus Sutra and the Heart Sutra.

Festival and Holy Days

• Various celebrations including Parinirvana Day, marking Buddha's passing.

Confucianism

• Based on the teachings of Confucius, focusing on morality, social relationships, and justice.

Development

• Evolved notably during the Han dynasty; serves as a guiding philosophy for Chinese society.

Sacred Texts of Confucianism

• The Analects: A collection of sayings and ideas attributed to Confucius.

Confucian Doctrines and Beliefs

• Emphasizes virtue, filial piety, and social harmony.
• Key teachings include:
  • Ren: Humaneness and compassion.
  • Li: Ritual and proper conduct.
  • Xiao: Filial piety.
  • Zhi: Wisdom.
  • Xin: Trustworthiness.

Holy Days and Celebrations

• Confucius’ birthday is celebrated on September 28.

Taoism

• Philosophical and religious tradition emphasizing living in harmony with the Tao (the Way).

History of Taoism

• Established in the 4th century BCE, attributed to Laozi.

Doctrines and Beliefs of Taoism

• Focus on simplicity, spontaneity, and naturalness.
• Emphasizes Tao as a universal principle governing all aspects of life.

Holy Days and Celebrations

• Lunar New Year: Celebrated with various traditional festivities.

Shintoism

• Indigenous spirituality of Japan focusing on kami (spirits).

Development of Shintoism

• Evolved through various traditions, integrating animistic and ancestor worship.

Doctrines and Beliefs of Shintoism

• Deep respect for nature and a belief in the existence of kami.

Core Ethical Teachings

• Emphasizes purity, harmony, and respect.

The Four Affirmations

• Tradition and the family.
• Love for nature.
• Physical cleanliness.
• Matsuri (festivals) and rituals.

Shinto Shrines and Rituals

• Shrines dedicated to kami, where rituals and offerings take place.

Celebrations and Festivals

• Matsuri: Various local festivals celebrating the kami and seasonal changes.