Path of Action (Karma Yoga)
25 Grade 8 Religious Education (HRE) questions on Path of Action (Karma Yoga), with worked marking schemes. 25 questions are available on this topic in full.
Question 1
6 marksExplain three benefits an individual gains from practising Karma Yoga.
(6 marks)
Marking scheme
Any 3 explained (2 marks each): purifies the mind by reducing ego and selfishness; brings inner peace because one is not anxious about results; develops discipline and a sense of duty; frees one from stress and disappointment; leads towards spiritual growth/liberation; builds good habits of service.
Question 2
1 markIn the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna advises Arjuna to perform his duty sincerely without being attached to the rewards. This path of selfless action is known as:
A. Bhakti Yoga
B. Gyan Yoga
C. Karma Yoga
D. Raja Yoga
(1 mark)
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Create a free account to see itQuestion 3
1 markKarma Yoga teaches that inaction or laziness is harmful because:
A. Results are all that matter
B. Everyone must act; even survival requires action, so action should be done rightly
C. Only priests should act
D. Action is always wrong
(1 mark)
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Create a free account to see itQuestion 4
6 marksDescribe three ways a Hindu youth in Kenya can practise Karma Yoga in daily life.
(6 marks)
Marking scheme
Any 3 explained (2 marks each): doing household/school chores diligently as a duty; volunteering in community service (cleaning, helping the sick) without expecting reward; helping classmates or the needy selflessly; doing assigned work honestly and well even without supervision; offering one's efforts to God rather than seeking praise.
Question 5
1 markThe teaching of Karma Yoga is most closely associated with which Hindu scripture?
A. The Yoga Sutras
B. The Bhagavad Gita
C. The Ramcharitmanas
D. The Dhammapada
(1 mark)
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Create a free account to see itQuestion 6
6 marksPriya helps clean the school compound and assist younger learners but never expects any reward or praise. Her teacher says she is practising Karma Yoga as taught in the Bhagavad Gita.
(a) Explain the meaning of Karma Yoga. (2 marks)
(b) The Bhagavad Gita teaches 'do your duty without attachment to the fruits of action'. Explain how this teaching guides a learner in doing schoolwork. (4 marks)
(6 marks)
Marking scheme
(a) Karma Yoga is the path/discipline of selfless action; performing one's duty (dharma) sincerely as a service to Paramatma without selfish desire for the rewards. (2 marks) (b) The learner should do schoolwork and duties to the best of their ability with sincerity and devotion, while not being anxious about or obsessed with marks/rewards. By focusing on doing the right action well rather than only on the results, the learner stays calm, avoids cheating or giving up when results are poor, and develops discipline and inner peace. (up to 4 marks)
Question 7
4 marksExplain how the principle of Karma Yoga can reduce stress and anxiety in a person's work.
(4 marks)
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Create a free account to see itQuestion 8
1 markA student studies hard for an exam, doing her best but not worrying anxiously about the grade. Her attitude reflects the principle of Karma Yoga because she:
A. Studies only for the reward
B. Refuses to sit the exam
C. Acts diligently without attachment to the result
D. Depends on luck
(1 mark)
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Create a free account to see itQuestion 9
1 markA Grade 8 learner volunteers to clean the school compound and help the elderly without expecting any reward. How does this attitude reflect the teaching of Karma Yoga?
A. It shows action done selflessly as a duty, without desire for personal gain
B. It shows that work should only be done for money
C. It shows that helping others is unnecessary
D. It shows that rewards must always be demanded
(1 mark)
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Create a free account to see itQuestion 10
1 markThe central idea of Karma Yoga is to perform one's duty while being detached from:
A. The action itself
B. Other people
C. The fruits (results) of the action
D. One's family
(1 mark)
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Create a free account to see itQuestion 11
1 markKrishna advises Arjuna that it is better to perform one's own duty imperfectly than another's duty well. This teaches the importance of:
A. Choosing the easiest work
B. Copying other people
C. Faithfully doing one's own rightful duty (svadharma)
D. Avoiding all difficult tasks
(1 mark)
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Create a free account to see itQuestion 12
1 markIn the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna teaches Karma Yoga to which warrior on the battlefield?
A. Duryodhana
B. Karna
C. Arjuna
D. Bhima
(1 mark)
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1 markAccording to Karma Yoga, action should ideally be offered as a form of:
A. Competition against others
B. Selfless service and dedication to the Divine
C. A social obligation only
D. Payment for future wealth
(1 mark)
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Create a free account to see itQuestion 14
1 markKarma Yoga is best described as the path of:
A. Ritual worship of images
B. Study of grammar
C. Selfless action performed as duty without attachment to results
D. Withdrawal from all activity
(1 mark)
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Create a free account to see itQuestion 15
1 markPerforming action in the spirit of Karma Yoga is said to help purify the mind because it:
A. Removes the need to work
B. Reduces selfishness and ego
C. Increases wealth quickly
D. Guarantees fame
(1 mark)
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Create a free account to see itQuestion 16
1 markInspired by Karma Yoga, Sanjay volunteers at a community kitchen and helps elderly neighbours without expecting praise or payment. This kind of selfless service performed for the welfare of others is best described as:
A. Seva
B. Maya
C. Tapas
D. Moksha
(1 mark)
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Create a free account to see itQuestion 17
4 marks(a) Identify the scripture in which Krishna teaches Karma Yoga to Arjuna.
(b) State two lessons about duty that a learner can draw from this teaching.
(4 marks)
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Create a free account to see itQuestion 18
6 marksA Grade 8 learner is discouraged because, although she studies and helps others, she does not always get rewarded. Her teacher reads to her from the Bhagavad Gita where Lord Krishna advises Arjuna to do his duty without attachment to the results.
(a) Explain the meaning of 'Karma Yoga'. (2 marks)
(b) State TWO benefits of practising Karma Yoga (selfless action) in the life of a learner. (4 marks)
(6 marks)
Marking scheme
(a) Karma Yoga is the path/discipline of selfless action: performing one's duty sincerely and to the best of one's ability while surrendering the fruits/results of the action to God and not being attached to personal reward. (2 marks) (b) Any TWO (2 marks each): - It brings peace of mind and reduces anxiety/disappointment about results. - It develops discipline and a strong sense of duty/responsibility. - It purifies the mind and reduces selfishness and ego. - It builds good character and benefits the community through selfless service. (4 marks)
Question 19
1 markA prefect carries out his duties fairly even when no teacher is watching and expects no praise. Which quality of Karma Yoga does he show?
A. Fear of punishment only
B. Selfless, duty-bound action without seeking reward
C. Desire for recognition
D. Attachment to results
(1 mark)
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Create a free account to see itQuestion 20
1 markIn the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna advises Arjuna to perform his duty without attachment to the rewards of his actions. This teaching forms the basis of which path of spiritual practice?
A. Bhakti Yoga
B. Jnana Yoga
C. Karma Yoga
D. Raja Yoga
(1 mark)
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Create a free account to see itQuestion 21
1 markWhich of the following actions BEST demonstrates Karma Yoga in a Kenyan community?
A. Boasting after doing charity work
B. Helping only when paid
C. Volunteering to clean a public water point without expecting reward
D. Refusing to do any manual work
(1 mark)
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3 marksExplain the meaning of Karma Yoga as taught in Hinduism.
(3 marks)
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4 marksCompare selfish action with Karma Yoga (selfless action), giving two points of difference.
(4 marks)
Marking scheme
Any 2 contrasts (2 marks each): selfish action seeks personal reward/fruit, Karma Yoga is detached from the fruit; selfish action feeds ego and greed, Karma Yoga reduces ego and purifies the mind; selfish action brings anxiety over results, Karma Yoga brings inner peace; selfish action benefits self only, Karma Yoga serves others/God.
Question 24
4 marksUsing the teaching of Karma Yoga, advise a Grade 8 learner who becomes very discouraged whenever she fails to top her class despite working hard.
(4 marks)
Marking scheme
Any 2 points explained (2 marks each): she should focus on doing her duty (studying well) rather than on the result; she should act without attachment to being first, so failure does not crush her; effort itself is valuable and should be offered sincerely; letting go of anxiety over results brings peace and steady motivation.
Question 25
4 marksState four features of action done in the spirit of Karma Yoga.
(4 marks)
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