Question of the Day: What role has religion played in shaping Indian culture?
Today we will discuss "The Power of Ideas," religious ideas in particular. We will study the ideas of Hinduism and the development of Buddhism and analyze how these faiths have influenced the everyday lives of the people of India.
No homework
Activity 1: Watch episode two of The Story of India and answer the following questions.
1. For Hindus, what are the four traditional “goals of life” ?
2. Which river is considered most holy by Hindus ?
3. Which city is considered most holy, a primary site for Hindu pilgrims ?
4. What is the role of the caste system in Hindu society ?
5. Why might it be argued that the caste is a “mutually sustaining system” ?
6. What is a funeral pyre ?
7. Which group alone is permitted in Hindu society to cremate the dead ?
8. Would this make those responsible for cremations high, or low, caste ?
9. Originally, it was believed that finding salvation (achieving moksha) could only be achieved by …
10. According to Hinduism, what are the 5 great elements (or building blocks) of the universe ?
11. “The Power of Ideas”, the title of Part 2, is explained now. What does the title mean ?
12. What was the central belief of the Jains ?
13. What was the personal background of Siddhartha Gautama, later referred to as the Buddha (“the Enlightened One”) ?
14. When Siddhartha deserted home, how did he spend his next 6 years ?
15. When Siddhartha reached Bodhgaya, he was in tough physical shape (“my buttocks looked as knobbly as a camel’s hoof…”). Why
16. Did Siddhartha think that his lifestyle of the past 6 years had helped him move closer to his goal of “salvation” (moksha) ?
17. What significance does the pipal tree hold for Buddhists ?
18. How did Siddhartha later respond when his disciples suggested building a monument at this place to commemorate Siddhartha achieving Enlightenment ?
19. What were the Four Noble Truths spelled out by the Buddha ?
20. Who is the Dalai Lama ?
21. What is the Eightfold Path ?
22. What is the ultimate goal of life ?
23. After achieving Enlightenment, what does the Buddha do for the remaining 45 years of his life ?
24. Michael Wood refers to the Buddha as “a mutineer”, “a protester” against what ?
25. Buddhist prayer flags are shown on the screen : what is their significance ?
26. Explain the paradox that while Buddhism has largely disappeared from modern India, the values of Buddhism remain strong in India today ?
27. What was the Buddha’s attitude towards worshipping god ?
28. Why was this attitude “a step too far” for most Indians ?
29. The Buddha died in a miserable little place called Kushinagar. Was this location a tragedy, or appropriate ?
30. So, another invasion of India, this time by Alexander the Great of Greece (well, actually, he was Macedonian). Whose empire did he defeat in order to push into northern India ?
31. When Alexander fails to make much impression on India, who is the “native son” who begins to create a truly Indian Empire ?
32. Look at the map on the screen, and on a sheet of paper draw an outline map & shade in the area controlled by Chandragupta Maurya.
33. We’ve been complaining until now that precise historical knowledge was hard to come by in ancient India, but suddenly in the time of Chandragupta Maurya we have very precise descriptions. Why the change ?
34. At this time, what was considered the most holy river ?
35. Describe Chandragupta’s capital city, Patna.
36. Mahavira was the founder of the Jain religion. Did he live before or after the Buddha ?
37. What was the central (tenet) belief that Mahavira preached ?
38. I see two swastikas, decorations on a stairway. What does a swastika represent ?
39. Why did Chandragupta Maurya give up his throne and become a naked holy man ?
40. We have an image of a Jain, meditating, with a white face mask. What’s the deal ? (36:35)
41. The memory of Chandragupta Maurya’s reign had been forgotten, when James Prinsep deciphered script on pillars & boulders scattered about India ? Who did these engravings make mention of ?
42. Which invasion caused Ashoka the Cruel to completely change his outlook on life ?
43. Thereafter, Ashoka promised that he would only conquer by the force of… (?)
44. What were said to be contained inside the stupas built by Ashoka ?
45. What impact did Ashoka’s non-violent beliefs have on the treatment of animals ?
46. What impact did Ashoka’s belief have on religious harmony in India ?
47. We get a quick definition of “dharma”. What is it ?
48. On India’s flag today, the central symbol is a wheel (true also of the Congress Party). What is the significance of this wheel ?
49. Nirvana. Is it the same as moksha ? Do both mean liberation from suffering, from the cycle of reincarnation ?
Activity 2: Start reading "Hinduism and Buddhism" (Due next class).
Varanasi
Dharma
Artha
Kama
Moksha
Hinduism
Caste system
Untouchables
Classical civilization
Buddhism
Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama
Jainism
Four Noble Truths
Eightfold Path
Alexander the Great
Chandragupta Maurya
Mauryan Empire
Ashoka
Gupta Empire
Gurus
Shiva
Vishnu
Kama Sutra
Stupas