View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Arjuna say Vishnu does to the worlds?

2. What is Krishna among bodies of water?

3. Where does Krishna tell Arjuna to still his mind?

4. Krishna says some people have divine tendencies. What does he say others have?

5. What arises in the body?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kind of food do those ruled by each of the gunas eat?

2. What are the limits to Krishna's divine power?

3. What does Krishna say are the two orders of being in the world? Is there anything beyond?

4. What are some of the most glorious of Krishna's divine powers?

5. What does Krishna tell Arjuna about the path to the Unrevealed?

6. How does Krishna enable Arjuna to see his immortal nature?

7. Who does Krishna say are the most established in yoga?

8. What happens to souls who die in each of these states?

9. What exists without Krishna?

10. How do those ruled by each of the gunas worship?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Awakened sages call a person wise when all his undertakings are free from anxiety about results; all selfish desires are consumed in the fire of knowledge." What does this statement of Krishna's mean? Why should one not care about the outcome of his actions? What is the "fire of knowledge?" Is this theme central to Krishna's teaching? Why or why not? Use specific examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Krishna's teachings consistently return to several major things that bind souls to death and rebirth.

Part 1) Identify three such things and explain them clearly citing specific examples from the Gita.

Part 2) Outline in detail the means Krishna offers for transcending these, and breaking the cycle of death and rebirth.

Part 3) Attempt to unify these themes, using either your own words or Krishna's, into a single instruction for attaining what Krishna calls "the supreme goal."

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

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 879 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample