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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. Among the luminaries what is Krishna?

2. What does Krishna say is better than mechanical practice?

3. What does Krishna say the body is called?

4. Why do neither gods nor sages know Krishna's origins?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Arjuna begin this chapter?

3. Describe those with demonic tendencies.

4. Describe the three gunas.

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

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

7. What instructions does Krishna give Arjuna at the beginning of this chapter?

8. Why does Arjuna apologize to Krishna?

9. What are some of the qualities found in living creatures who have their source in Krishna?

10. What does Sanjaya say that Krishna showed Arjuna?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Krishna speaks to Arjuna at length about dying and one's conduct at the time of death. How does one's conduct at the time of death influence the destiny of one's soul? How does Krishna say Arjuna's soul may be united with him when Arjuna dies, and what are Krishna's instructions for this? Use specific examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

The theme of duality arises consistently in the Bhagavad Gita. What is duality and why is it central to Krishna's teaching? Discuss citing specific examples.

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)

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