Indian Philosophical Concepts

It is not a punishment, it is working towards a better drug-free life.

Mahatma Gandhi gives us a summary of the teachings of Unto This Last as he understood it:

1. The good of the individual is contained in the good of all.
2. A lawyer\'s work has the same value as the barber\'s, as all have the same right of earning their livelihood from their work.
3. A life of labour, i.e. the life of the tiller of the soil and the handicraftsman is the life worth living.

Statement 1: It is incorrect. Jain philosophy is the oldest Indian philosophy that separates body (matter) from the soul (consciousness) completely. Statement 2: It is correct. Jains believe that Jainism is eternal and maintain that all living beings are really soul, intrinsically perfect and immortal. Statement 3: It is correct. Souls in samsara (i.e. liability to repeated births and deaths) are said to be imprisoned in the body. Practitioners believe non-violence and self-control are the means to moksha (liberation).  Hence, the correct option is 3.

Buddhists aim to reach Nirvana, while Moksha is the ultimate goal in Hinduism.

Karma is the Hindu concept that actions in this life determine the circumstances of future lives.

Many social evils like the denial of equal opportunity and exploitation prevailed in Kerala due to rigid caste hierarchy. Discrimination was apparent in clothing, occupation, dwellings, language and even names. Women were denied equal opportunities. It is this social condition that prompted Swami Vivekananda to describe Kerala as a 'lunatic asylum'.

During this period, several social reform movements were formed in Kerala to tackle them. Sree Narayana Guru who was one of the social reformers in Kerala. Elimination of the caste system was the primary aim of Gurus social activities. He toiled for communal harmony.

Zarathushtra or Zoroaster was the founder of Parse religion. 'Ahur Mazda' is the name of their God. The elements of fire and water are very important in their religion. The sacred fire burns in the temples which are known as Agyaris. At the core of Parsee thinking are three main principles of conduct, namely, good thoughts, good words and good deeds.

Lao-Tse wrote a book in two parts, running into 5,000 words. He then disappeared from the place and no one knew where he died. His book Tao Teh Ching is a guide to the conduct of life. He was born in 604 BCE. Disgusted with the intrigues of politicians and the prevailing corruption of his time, he left China to live in a peaceful abode.

Travels or Divine Journeys of Guru Nanak Ji called Udasis. During these Udasis(religious tours), he visited holy places of different faith, met people of various faiths, professed his newfound path. He was moved by the plight of the people of world and wanted to tell them about the "real message of God". So he set out in 1499 on his mission for the regeneration of humanity on this earth.

It suggested that if the cause was true, if the struggle was against injustice, then physical force was not necessary to fight the oppressor.

Vardhamana Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. The Jains believe that the basic aim of life is to attain salvation (Salvation means freedom from the cycle of birth and death). According to Jain religion, Salvation can be achieved by following three jewels and five vows. 

In the context of Vedic philosophy, the dharma (duty) of a student is to acquire knowledge and pursue learning with dedication.

Nirvana is the ultimate goal in Buddhism, representing the state of liberation from the cycle of suffering and rebirth.

Moksha is the ultimate goal in Hinduism, representing liberation from the cycle of samsara (rebirth). Nirvana is the corresponding goal in Buddhism.

The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path are the foundational teachings of Buddhism that guide practitioners toward the end of suffering and the attainment of Nirvana.