This quiz concerns festivals celebrated by people of different faiths all around the world in the month of May. It shows how for generations man has exalted God and His Presence on earth in this blessed month in so many beautiful ways and found light, peace, bliss.

1. On May 1, 2008 Christians celebrate Ascension Day, celebrating Jesus’ ascension to Heaven after he was resurrected. Ascension Day marks the last earthly appearance of Christ after his Resurrection. Christians believe Christ ascended into heaven.

After which important event is this Day celebrated?

A. Lent
B. Good Friday
C. Easter
D. Pentecost

2. Although on May 11, Mother’s day is celebrated world-wide, interestingly, there is another festival called ‘Mothering Sunday’ that is celebrated in England whose origin has no connection with the American festival of that name.

In whose honour was the festival celebrated in the beginning?

A. The Bishop's Mother
B. Jesus Christ's Mother
C. The Queen's Mother
D. All Grand-Mothers

3. For Buddhists, May 20 is the festival of Buddha Poornima. Swami has always taught us that this holy day is celebrated to remind us that Prema (Pure Love) is the pathway to Poornam (totality).

In His Divine 2000 Discourse, on Buddha Poornima Day, Swami explained: “People have strange ideas about liberation, imagining that it involves going to heaven and having eternal existence there. That is not the meaning of liberation. It means achieving selfless love that is constant, unabating, and total. This is the state that one must seek to attain; it is only when this state is reached that one is truly liberated. In the name of liberation, seekers are trying out all sorts of spiritual paths. All such exercises can at best confer temporary satisfaction. The path of Pure Love alone can truly get you there and confer permanent Bliss.”

Which Dharmic quality did Swami and Lord Buddha emphasize that helps us achieve this ‘Prema’ - and liberation?

A. Always Being Truthful
B. Being Soft in Speech.
C. Undertaking Charitable Projects.
D. Practicing Non-Violence.

4. On May 23rd, Baha'i’s commemorate one of the most important events in the history of the Baha'i Faith. This event is referred to as ‘The Declaration of the Bab’. On this day, the Báb was sent forth heralding and proclaiming the Kingdom of God, announcing the coming of ‘The One Whom God Will Make Manifest,’ that is, Bahá'u'lláh. The day the Báb declared His mission, is now celebrated by Bahá'ís around the world as ‘one of the greatest and most significant of all festivals.’

The Bab and Baha'u'llah are viewed as the twin Manifestations of the Baha'i Era.

The Kitáb-í-Asmá is one of the most important works of the Báb. What does the book contain?

A. The Commandments.
B. The Names of God.
C. The Prophesies of Bab.
D. The Proclamations of Baha'u'llah.

5. The Masjid al Haram is the most revered Masjid in Islam and is also known as The Grand Masjid. It houses the holy ‘Kaaba’ which in Arabic means a high place with respect and prestige, which is the focal point of prayer for all Muslims.

Muslims believe that Allah created a well to provide Hajira, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim, and her baby Prophet Ismail with water in the hot, dry valley they were in. In her desperate search for water, Hajira ran seven times back and forth in the scorching heat between the two hills of Safa and Marwa to provide for her baby who was dying of thirst.

Today, this same ritual act - called sa`i is a necessary rite of Hajj that all Muslims, mothers and fathers, must complete. Safa is located approximately half a mile from the Kaaba, and Marwah is located about 100 yards from the Kaaba. The two points and the path between them are now inside a long gallery that forms part of the Masjid.

What does the term Sa'i mean?

A. Devotional act of walking.
B. Praying to the Sun.
C. Fasting.
D. Singing hymns.

6. For the Jews, the Torah has been revered as the inspired word of God, as it is said by tradition to have been revealed to Moses by Him. The Torah is sometimes referred to as the (written) Law or written Torah (unlike the oral Torah called Mishnah). The Torah is the first part of the ‘Tanakh’ - the Hebrew Bible, and is made up of five books. For that reason it is also called the ‘Chumash’, or ‘the Five Books of Moses’.

The five books of the Torah are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Which one of these is referred to as ‘The Law of Moses’?

A. Genesis and Exodus
B. Leviticus
C. Numbers
D. Deuteronomy

7. Jainism is a religion propounded by a `Jina'. Principles enunciated by a `Jina' constitute Jainism and the follower of Jainism is known as a `Jaina'. Further, a `Jina' is neither a supernatural being nor an incarnation of an all-powerful God. Human beings are entitled to become `Jinas' and as such `Jinas' are persons of this world and Jainism is nothing but a set of principles preached by such persons known as `Jinas'.

According to Swami, who is a ‘Jina’?

A. One who renounces the world.
B. One who has attained conquest of the senses.
C. One who spends his life in meditation.
D. One who preaches from the sacred texts.

8. Swami has repeatedly stressed: “I tell you often, you are not one, but three - the one you think you are (physical body), the one others think you are (mental body) and the one you really are (Atma).”

Of all the Hindu mantras, which mantra reveals this profound Truth?

A. The Aum mantra.
B. The Soham mantra.
C. The Gayatri mantra.
D. The Shanti mantra.

9. The Ardās is a Sikh prayer that is done before performing or after undertaking any significant task; after reciting the daily prayers; or completion of a service like the hymn-singing program or any other religious program.

How is this prayer performed?

A. Kneeling down.
B. Standing with folded hands.
C. Holding hands in a group.
D. Facing the Sun.

10. The most sacred texts of the Zoroastrian faith, which are known as the Gathas, are 17 hymns believed to have been composed by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) himself. Zoroaster believed that he had been entrusted by God with a message for all mankind, and he preached again and again in plain words to ordinary people. Some of the verses of the Gathas are directly addressed to the Omniscient Creator Ahura Mazda. These verses, devotional in character, expound on the Divine essences of _______ ( Asha), the good-mind ( Vohu Manah), and the spirit of righteousness.

What does Asha represent?

A. Discrimination
B. Truth
C. Compassion
D. Devotion

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-Heart2Heart Team