Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Sacred Texts
Test 1
30
English
Undergraduate 3
10/07/2009

Additional English Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Ahimsa
Definition
An Indian term meaning nonjourney or nonviolence.
Term
Atman
Definition
The Individual self, soul, essence, or nature of a person; written with an uppercase "A" it refers to the Hindu Supreme Self.
Term
Brahman
Definition
The nondual, self-existent, supreme soul; the Ultimate or Absolute Reality of Hinduism
Term
dharma
Definition
In Hinduism, law; one's religious and social duty. In Buddhism, cosmic truth; the teaching of religion concerning the ulitmate order of things.
Term
karma
Definition
Action; moral law of cause and effect; in Hinduism, one of the paths to liberation.
Term
maya
Definition
"Illusion"; in Hinduism the illusory yet attractive physical world.
Term
moksha
Definition
In Hinduism, release or liberation from the cycle of existance.
Term
samadhi
Definition
The deepest state of trance or yoga self-possession.
Term
samsara
Definition
Rebirth; reincarnation; the cycle of successive existences.
Term
Trimurti
Definition
The three gods that command the highest respect in Hinduism: Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma.
Term
Shiva
Definition
In Hinduism the god of death, destruction, and disease as well as the god of the dance and reproduction.
Term
Vishnu
Definition
In Hinduism known as "the Preserver." The god of love and benevolence. Has appeared on Earth in many forms.
Term
Brahma
Definition
In Hinduism the Creator. The oldest and least worshiped of the Trimurti.
Term
Vaishnavism
Definition
Belief that Vishnu is the true god.
Term
Shruti/Smriti
Definition
The eternal, sacred knowledge of Hindus, revealed to the rishis and transmitted orally by brahmins to generation. Applies to a group of writings. Among these writings the Vedas, the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas, and the Upanishads are the most important.
Term
3 paths of liberation
Definition

1. Liberation through fulfillment of duties.

2. Liberation through Philisophical Systems.

3. Liberation through Devotional Acts.

Term
Liberation through fulfillment of duties
Definition
This path refers to the methodical fulfillment of rites, ceremonies, and social obligations. These include sacrificing to the deities and one's ancestors, reverencing and saluting the sun, and keeping the hearth fire lit.
Term
Liberation through philosophical systems
Definition
Hinduism prescribes the philosophical path, or the path of knowledge. One can attain ultimate bliss through the perception of the illsory nature of names and forms and the realization of the sole reality of Brahman-Atman. By reasoning and uniterrupted contemplation, their ignorance gives way to the realization that the entire universe and all beings are one and the same Brahman.
Term
Liberation through devotional acts
Definition
Such experiences assume the form of a passionate love of a deity. One surrenders one's self to the deity or divine being. They have private acts of devotion as well as temple worship.
Term
Anatta/Anatman
Definition
Buddhist term for no self, that is, no permanent ego or soul that makes a person.
Term
Bodhi/Bodhisattva
Definition
Bodhi is knowledge of enlightenment. Bodhisattva is the ideal person in Mahayana Buddhism who has attained enlightenment but who, moved by compassion to aid humanity, delay indefinitely the final step to nirvvana or Buddhahood; such a person is regarded as a savior.
Term
Dukkha
Definition
Buddhist term for human suffering, dissatisfaction, axiety, frustration, and misery.
Term
Koan
Definition
The technical term in Zen Buddhism for a riddle, a phrase, or word of nonsensical lanuage that cannot be understood by reason or intellect; it is used as an exercise for breaking the limitations of reason and thought.
Term
Nirvana
Definition
Extinction; the stae achieved by Buddhists, releasing the individual from the cycle of existance; the state of perfect bliss.
Term
Sangha
Definition
The name given to the monastic order founded by Buddha; Buddhist community of monks and nuns.
Term
Shunya/Shunyata
Definition
A characteristic of phenomena arising from the fact (as observed and taught by the Buddha) that the impermanent nature of form means that nothing possesses essential, enduring identity.
Term
The Five Skandhas
Definition
In Buddhism human beings are made up of five skandhas, or components: body, feelings, perceptions, dispositions, and consciousness.
Term
Anicca
Definition
Impermanence, change, transformation; a characteristic of existance, according to Buddhists.
Term
Tanha
Definition
Selfish craving for sentient existance from which Buddhists seek release.
Term
Stupa
Definition
In Buddhism, a memorial shrine; a burial mound, often said to contain some bodily relic of the Buddha.
Supporting users have an ad free experience!