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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What do those who have completely purified themselves see?

2. According to Krishna, what may no one gain perfection by abstaining from?

3. How does Krishna say the true Self may be realized?

4. How does Krishna say a sinner becomes holy?

5. Who attains the goal of yoga according to Krishna?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Krishna tell Arjuna about work?

2. Why does Arjuna suggest he could receive no satisfaction from killing Dhritarastra's sons?

3. What does Arjuna say would be better than killing Dhritarashtra's sons?

4. What does Krishna say truly great souls seek? How?

5. What specific instructions does Krishna give for dying?

6. Describe Krishna's instructions for the practice of meditation.

7. What are some of the metaphors Krishna gives for his nature in this chapter?

8. What does Krishna say about the relationship between his unmanifested form and the existence of the manifested universe?

9. What are the eight divisions of Krishna's prakriti?

10. What is Krishna's highest nature and how does it give every creature its existence?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Krishna tells Arjuna that the gunas come from him, and although he is not in them, he enjoys their play. Write an essay discussing the following:

Part 1) What is the guna sattva? What are some examples of a sattvic attitude? What are some examples of sattvic action? What do souls possessing a primarily sattvic nature worship?

Part 2) What is the guna rajas? What are some examples of a rajastic attitude? What are some examples of rajastic action? What do souls possessing a primarily rajastic nature worship?

Part 3) What is the guna tamas? What are some examples of a tamasic attitude? What are some examples of tamasic action? What do souls possessing a primarily tamasic nature worship?

Part 4) What is the destiny of souls which are guided by sattva, rajas, and tamas respectively?

Part 5) Can the gunas be transcended?

Use specific examples from the text for all of the above.

Essay Topic 2

Toward the end of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna shifts his attention to those souls with "demonic tendencies."

1) Describe the attitudes of souls of this nature. How are they different from the attitudes Krishna has previously promoted?

2) Discuss what Krishna teaches concerning the destiny of souls of demonic nature.

3) What are the "three gates" to self-destruction? How may these be avoided?

Use specific examples for all the above.

Essay Topic 3

Krishna tells Arjuna that the will is the Self's only friend as well as the Self's only enemy. What does this mean? For whom is the Self a friend? For whom is the Self an enemy? What does Krishna say an aspirant should do with respect to her will? Use specific examples from the text.

(see the answer keys)

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