Question: The Way of Karma focuses on the Purpose and Stages of one’s life. Throughout our lives, we are required to be good citizens. For example, we must learn certain responsibilities such as dharma, artha, and kama. (Match these three “responsibilities” with the correct definition)
Answer Options: Dharma means _______ Artha means _______ Kama means _______ Correct Answer: Dharma means social responsibilities Artha means economic responsibilities Kama means responsibilities to the gods
Question: We must also learn to “detach” or “let go” of these social requirements. Only then can we achieve the Way of Joining with the Sacred; but this may take many lifetimes to achieve. Perhaps after several cycles of birth, life, death, and rebirth, we will learn to detach/let go of all our concerns and worldly attachments. Only then will your breath/soul merge with ultimate reality and it will not be reborn. (MATCHING)
Answer Options: The word for cycles of birth/death/rebirth is _______ The word for release/merging with ultimate reality is _______ The word for soul or breath is _______ Correct Answer: The word for cycles of birth/death/rebirth is samsara The word for release/merging with ultimate reality is moksha The word for soul or breath is atman
Question: Mary, some men seek to end the cycles of rebirth/life/death in this life by practicing an extreme form of self-renunciation called sannyasin. This is not possible for most people in India, however. Most people in India find comfort in the Way of Bhakti, which consists of rituals and worship (puja) directed at many local and cosmic gods (devi) who act on their behalf and can help them through life and rebirth. While there are said to be 330 million gods, all gods and goddesses are avatars of three universal gods called the Trimurti. (MATCHING)
Answer Options: A Sannyasin is _______ An Avatar is _______ The Creator god in the Trimurti is _______ The Destroyer god in the Trimurti is _______ The Preserver/Savior god in the Trimurti is _______ Correct Answer: A Sannyasin is a holy man An Avatar is an appearance/body of a god The Creator god in the Trimurti is Brahma The Destroyer god in the Trimurti is Shiva The Preserver/Savior god in the Trimurti is Vishnu
Question: Mary, not all Hindus practice all three ways of being (Karma, Jnana, Bhakti) and not in the same way. Some focus on their caste requirements (which are described in an ancient myth called “The Code of _______”). Others are more philosophical and may quote to you from an appendix to the Vedas called “The _______”. Still others may focus on worshiping the gods. One of the best loved stories, which explains how these three ways of being/work/love/sacrifice, is about a warrior who gets confused in the middle of a great battle. He is helped by his chariot driver (who is also the god Vishnu). This well-known story is called simply “The _______”.
Correct Answer: The Code of Manu The Upanishads The Bhagavad Gita
Question: Some people in India believe that the god Krishna appeared in several other forms (avatars) throughout history. One of these avatars was in the West, where he appeared as a god/man named Jesus. Before that, in the 6th century BCE, he may have appeared in Northern India/Nepal as a wealthy prince named Siddhartha, who left his home and realized his true nature as an enlightened being. BUT most people in the world know Siddhartha not as a Hindu god but as the founder of a new religion called _______. This new religion began as a sect of Hinduism in Northern India but it became an official religion under the direction and decrees of a famous Indian ruler named _______. Perhaps you’ll see his “rock edicts” all over India as you travel. This ruler is also known for requiring the monks of this new religion to write down their practices, doctrines, and stories. These writings became known as the _______ (meaning “three baskets”).
Correct Answer: Buddhism Ashoka Tripitaka
Question: Upon his “AWAKENING,” the founder of this new sect (later a cult, then a religion) became known as BUDDHA the one who is Awake. His basic teaching (Dharma) is called “The 4 _______”. They are:
All existence is suffering This condition is caused by _______ We can end #2 by ending #3 Correct Answer: The 4 Noble Truths Desire
Question: As this teaching moved through India, thanks to the 2nd emperor of India Ashoka, most of the people in India found ways to incorporate these teachings into their polytheistic/monist view of reality. So, Buddhism disappeared in India as a distinct religion.
BUT, in its most pure form, the teachings of this new religion were carried South to Sri Lanka, then east across SE Asia. This basic and very conservative form is called Hinayana, which means the ______ vehicle (little / big / diamond – type the correct choice). It is practiced in monasteries (communities of monks and nuns) called The _____________, where only monks and nuns are said to be able to achieve enlightenment. These very focused and devoted monks who are able to achieve ultimate enlightenment are called ___________. Their enlightenment is not a state of bliss or a heavenly afterlife. Rather, they reach a state of being/non-being called ________, which literally means “to Blow Out.” Answer Options: Hinayana The ______________ Correct Answer: Answer 1: little Answer 2: Sangha Answer 3: Arhats Answer 4: Nirvana
Question: This term Nirvana (“to blow out”) refers to: (select the correct response)
a) living an extreme lifestyle—giving up everything and becoming a wandering sanyassin b) ending all desire—achieved through a middle path of simplicity and moderation c) getting rid of all guilt, sin, and bad karma d) becoming One (one) with the gods Answer Options: a b c d Correct Answer: Answer: b
Question: If we consider what happened to Buddhism as it moved north, across the Himalaya Mountains, we’ll find that it mingled with Chinese and Tibetan religions. In China (and Japan and Korea thereafter) it became Mahayana, which literally means “The __________ vehicle” (little, big, or diamond – Write in the correct response). This means that not only do monks and nuns achieve enlightenment, but potentially ___________ (all living things, all humans, or those who worship the Buddha – WRITE IN the correct response.)
Over time, Mahayana Buddhism took two main forms: a more philosophical, meditative way called “The _____________ schools/seeks,” and a more magical/ritualistic way called “The ______________ school/seeks.” (Big, Little, Pure Land, Tantric, or Wisdom – write in the correct choice) Correct Answer: Answer 1: big Answer 2: all humans Answer 3: Wisdom Answer 4: Tantric
Question: Hinayana and Mahayana are not the only forms of this religion. After moving through China, Mahayana religion moved back into Tibet and the Himalayas, where it mingled with popular superstition about spirits and trials in the afterlife.
It is called Vajrayana, which means “the ____________ vehicle” (select and write in EITHER big, little, mystic, diamond, or eternal). This form of Buddhism became not only the official religion of Tibet; its leaders became political rulers as well. These powerful leaders/monks/abbots were called ____________ (select and write in EITHER Arhatists, Arhants, Bodhisattvas, Lamas, or Mongols). The most well-known of these leaders is part of the “Yellow Hat Sect.” Alternatively, there is another sect called the “Red Hat Sect,” and it focuses on the After Death experience. It’s famous Tibetan Book of the Dead is known to the Tibetan people as the ____________ (select and write in EITHER “Anadharma, Bardo Thodol, Bodhidharma, Mantra Muertos, or The Samsara Tantra) Correct Answer: Answer 1: diamond Answer 2: Lamas Answer 3: Bardo Thodol
Question: BOTH Christianity and Islam trace their faith origins to “Father Abraham” (Judaism).
BOTH Christianity and Islam trace their faith origins to “Father Abraham” (Judaism). Correct Answer: True
Question: BOTH Christianity and Islam are monotheistic (There is one Supreme God).
BOTH Christianity and Islam are monotheistic (There is one Supreme God). Correct Answer: True
Question: BOTH Christianity and Islam believe that God can appear and speak directly to humans.
BOTH Christianity and Islam believe that God can appear and speak directly to humans. Correct Answer: False
Question: BOTH Christianity and Islam experienced early arguments and divisions related to bloodline (who could be members and/or who was in charge).
BOTH Christianity and Islam experienced early arguments and divisions related to bloodline (who could be members and/or who was in charge). Correct Answer: True
Question: BOTH Christianity and Islam experienced Roman persecution and were almost destroyed. Thankfully a Jewish Emperor came to power in 632 and accepted/legalized all groups who followed the ten commandments.
BOTH Christianity and Islam experienced Roman persecution and were almost destroyed. Thankfully a Jewish Emperor came to power in 632 and accepted/legalized all groups who followed the ten commandments. Correct Answer: False
Question: BOTH Christianity and Islam worship on “the sabbath day.”
BOTH Christianity and Islam worship on “the sabbath day.” Correct Answer: False
Question: BOTH Christianity and Islam teach that people will live on after death (either in a heavenly realm or in hellish torment).
BOTH Christianity and Islam teach that people will live on after death (either in a heavenly realm or in hellish torment). Correct Answer: True
Question: BOTH Christianity and Islam teach that JESUS will return to Jerusalem at the end of time and will judge all people.
BOTH Christianity and Islam teach that JESUS will return to Jerusalem at the end of time and will judge all people. Correct Answer: False
Question: BOTH Christianity and Islam accept JESUS as a true messenger of God. His words are to be accepted as “The Word of God.”
BOTH Christianity and Islam accept JESUS as a true messenger of God. His words are to be accepted as “The Word of God.” Correct Answer: False