Difference between revisions of "History 8 India Manual questions"

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1. Describe the impact of the environment on the Rise and Fall of Indus Civilization.

2. Describe the elements of Harrapan civilization and give the material markers of the Mohenjo Daro civilization. http://www2.sjs.org/Beniretto/index.html

3. Who were the Aryans and what influence did they have upon traditional Indian culture? Include the caste system; its origins and effects.

4. Define and describe the "sacred geography" of India. Mention the importance of Prayag. Sacred Geography 2

5. Describe the three main Hindu gods and the three goddesses.

Goddesses: The three main Hindu goddesses are Parvati, Saraswati, and Lakshmi.

Parvati is a gentle goddess, an image of the dutiful wife. She is also an embodiment of shakti, which is the total energy of the universe. She is associated with Shiva

Saraswati is Brahma's wife and the goddess of knowledge, the arts, and creativity. In her hands she holds an instrument for music, a scroll for knowledge, and a sting of beads, which symbolize faith.

Lakshmi, Vishnu's wife,is the goddess of light, wealth, and beauty. She is a powerful symbol of love in Hindu tradition, and each time Vishnu is incarnated on earth, she is reborn as his wife

Francie Williams

Gods

Shiva is the destroyer and destroys all of the old or useless so that new can be created.

Brahma is the creator god.

Vishnu is the sustainer and preserver of creation.

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6. Who is Buddha?

Buddha is an Indian prince named Siddhartha Gautama. Buddha means "the enlightened one". In about 500 B.C, he preached a sermon that changed the world, one quote, "get rid of the desires and you will find the path to salvation"(106 Manual).This led to his teachings, the first set of principles, the Three Universal Truths. JC

7. What are the Three Universal Truths?- One: Everything in life is temporary and always changing. Two: Since nothing is permanent, life is insufficient. People's wants become attached to something that will not last. Even if someone becomes content, it won't last. Knowing content will not last attains a source of suffering. Three: There is no eternal soul, what people call the soelf is just a collection of changing characteristics, parts assembled in a certain way like a charior, says Buddah. MZC

From the Manual page 106

8. What are the Four Noble Truths?

The Four Noble Truths are considered to be the essence of the teaching of Siddhartha Gautama, or Buddha. The Four Noble Truths are (as agreed on by most modern scholars): 1. Life as we know it ultimately is or leads to suffering/uneasiness (dukkha) in one way or another. (Karma) 2. Suffering is caused by craving or envy. 3. Suffering ends when craving/envy ends. 4. Reaching this liberated state is achieved by following the path laid out by the Buddha. To learn more about the Four Universal Truths, go to [1]

More simply put, the Four Noble Truths are 1. All life involves suffering 2. The cause of suffering is desire and attachment 3. To end suffering, end the desire and attachment 4. The way to overcome desire and attachment is to follow the Eightfold Path (Manual page 107)

An English translation of the exact Four Truths as taught by Buddha after he reached the stage of enlightenment as sourced from [2]: 1. "This is the noble truth of dukkha: birth is dukkha, aging is dukkha, illness is dukkha, death is dukkha; sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and despair are dukkha; union with what is displeasing is dukkha; separation from what is pleasing is dukkha; not to get what one wants is dukkha; in brief, the five aggregates subject to clinging are dukkha." 2. "This is the noble truth of the origin of dukkha: it is this craving which leads to renewed existence, accompanied by delight and lust, seeking delight here and there, that is, craving for sensual pleasures, craving for existence, craving for extermination." 3. "This is the noble truth of the cessation of dukkha: it is the remainderless fading away and cessation of that same craving, the giving up and relinquishing of it, freedom from it, nonreliance on it." 4. "This is the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of dukkha: it is the Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration."

Alex Daichman

9. What is the Eightfold Path?

• • • Describe in detail steps 1 & 2

The Eightfold Path is a code for living in the religion of Buddhism. It is believed to be the Middle Way that Buddha followed when he was in search of his own enlightenment. Step 1 is the right view. This means to really see everything as they really are and to realize The Four Noble Truths. You should see things through and understand the law of karma and karmic conditioning. If you have the right view you will have right thoughts and right actions. Step 2 is the right intention. Right intention refers to the kinds of mental energy that controls our actions. This means to have a commitment to ethical and mental improvement of your self. Buddha's distinguished types of right intentions are: the intention of renunciation, the intention of good will, and the intention of harmlessness.

From the Manual pg. 107

• • • Describe in detail steps 3 & 4
    • Describe in detail steps 5 & 6
    • Describe in detail steps 7 & 8

10. What is the Tipitaka?

11. What are the main branches of Buddhism? Describe each There are five main branches of Buddhism; Theraveda, Mahayana, Vajrayana, Pure Land and Zen Buddhism. Theraveda Buddhists believe in following Buddha's teachings more closely than all other groups of Buddhism. Theravada means teaching of the elders. The Theraveda Buddhists look at Buddha as only a human. Buddha was a perfect model to imitate though. When Buddha dies, he was not able to "offer practical help to people still alive." (Manual page 109). The Theraveda Buddhists do not pray to Buddha. The Theraveda Buddhists believe in individuals creating their own paths in life but by following the teachings of the Tripitaka. Those who are not not monks will be less successful in finding enlightenment. The Mahayana Buddhists believe is able to respond to appeals from people still living. The see Buddha as the past, present, and future. The Mahayanas bieieve in bodhisattvas. Bodhisattvas means "the people who are on the brink of enlightenment and choose to stay in the world for the sake of helping others towards the same state." (Manual page 109 ). The Tripitaka is not the only text that the Mahayana Buddhists choose to follow. Also, unlike the Theraveda Buddhists, becoming a monk is not vital to move towards nirvana as it is possible while still interacting with society. From The Manual compiled by Ms. Beniretto and Mr. Elliot on page 109. [3] Lindsey McKone

Vajrayana Buddhism is one of the 5 main branches of Buddhism. Vajrayana Buddhists chant mantras and use mandlas in meditation to help move toward nirvana. Vajrayana Buddhism is known as Tibetan Buddhism because thrived in Tibet because Tibet’s leaders had political power and religious influence. The Dalai Lama is the leader of the Vajrayana Buddhists and was the ruler of Tibet until the AD1950’s when the Communist takeover occurred in Tibet. For more information please visit: http://www.patheos.com/Library/Vajrayana-Buddhism.html For a picture please follow this link: http://www.tibetanbuddhistaltar.org/2012/01/wishing-prayers/ Compiled from the Manual page 110 by Ms. Beniretto and Mr. Elliot. (Jennifer Trieschman)

Pure Land Buddhism originated in China and spread to Japan in the AD 13th century. Amida Buddha is the central figure bodhisattva. Amida Buddha took a vow to anyone who called his name to allow him or her to be reborn in the Pure Land. The Pure Land is a place in which it is easy to follow Buddha’s teachings and reach nirvana. For more information please follow this link: http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/sects/pure_land.htm For a picture please follow this link: http://www.purelandbuddhism.com/ Compiled from the Manual page 110 by Ms. Beniretto and Mr. Elliot. (Jennifer Trieschman)

12. What was the Axis Age?

13. Who was Ashoka and what did he try to accomplish?

14. Give the essential ideas of Asoka's edicts.