Hinduism/Buddhism
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Created by:
ThePlumQueen on July 1, 2012
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The following are commonly alluded to in Western literature. The more of them you know, the more allusions you will pick up. H indicates a Hindu concept, a B indicates a concept is Buddhist
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58 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 moksha | (H) release from the cycle of rebirth and suffering |
| Vedas | (H) collection of hymns that came from the Aryans |
| Brahman | (H) some see as God; others believe as a power beyond all description. All Hindu gods are considered manifestations of Brahman |
| Atman | (H) the soul of individuals; some think it is identical to Brahma |
| samsara | (H) (B) cycle of birth, death, and rebirth |
| reincarnation | (H) (B) belief that there is more than one life--after you die, you are reborn |
| karma | (H) (B) vehicle by which actions by individuals during their life. good actions take you closer to a better rebirth. |
| Vishnu | (H) one of three main Hindu gods; the preserver; has 10 incarnations--different forms which he appears in the world. |
| Shiva | (H) an important Hindu god who in the trinity of gods was the Destroyer |
| cows | (H) sacred Hindu animal and are not killed for beef; used for milk, butter, and dung for fuel. |
| Krishna | (H) mischievous god who acted as a cowherd |
| Radha | (H) cowgirl who loved Krishna |
| Rama | (H) An avatar or manifestation of Vishnu. Represents ideal male behavior |
| Sita | (H) Consort of Rama, avatar of Lakshmi. Represent ideal female behavior |
| Parvati | (H) wife of Shiva |
| Ganesha | (H) son of Shiva and Parvati; worshiped at the start of a new journey as he removes obstacles; beheaded by Shiva and given an elephant's head |
| Durga | (H) goddess of Shiva's destructive side; slays demons with a sword |
| Kali | (H) Shiva's fierce and powerful wife; destroyer of evil |
| varnas | (H) four main social groups described in the scriptures |
| yoga | (H) physical exercise for self-discipline |
| dharma | (H) (B) behavior necessary to maintain the natural order of the things. |
| om | (H) (B) the sacred sound-symbol or mantra for Brahman |
| Ganges | (H) River in India sacred for pilgrimage or having ashes spread after cremation |
| Divali | (H) festival celebrated at the Hindu New Year. Festival of Lights |
| Dassehra | (H) yearly festival to celebrate Rama's victory of Ravana |
| Mahabharata | (H) longest poem related to the struggle of ruling families that contains the Bhagavad Gita |
| Brahma | (H) the creator; third main Hindu god |
| nirvana | (B) The Buddhist belief of the extinction of desire and individual consciousness, also spiritual enlightenment |
| stupa | (B) a dome-shaped structure that serves as a Buddhist shrine |
| Buddha | (B) a name, meaning the "enlightened one." Siddhartha Gautama is the famous Buddha who founded the religion. |
| Four Noble Truths | (B) As taught by the Buddha, the four basic beliefs that form the foundation of Buddhism: 1. Life means suffering. 2. The origin of suffering is attachment. 3. The cessation of suffering is attainable. 4. The path to the cessation of suffering. |
| Noble Eightfold Path | (B) In Buddhism, a practical guide to right conduct, stressing understanding of the cause of suffering, compassion for all creatures, kindness and truthfulness. |
| ascetic | All religions. Practicing self-denial; austere |
| guru | (H) religious teacher and spiritual guide in Hinduism |
| mantra | (H) In Hinduism, a sacred word or phrase repeated in prayers or chants |
| dukkha | (B) suffering; life is suffering |
| tanha | (B) desire; causes Dukkha |
| Nirvana | (B) liberation; goal of spiritual effort |
| Impermanence | (B) nothing is permanent; clinging to the past causes Dhukka |
| Soul | (B) Buddhism teaches that there is no soul |
| Emptiness | (B) Goal of Buddhism |
| Sangha | (B) The Buddhist community of monks and nuns; one of the Three Jewels of Buddhism. |
| Triple Gem | (B) The three jewels of buddhism: buddha, dharma, sangha |
| Boddhisattva | (B) a person who is dedicated to liberating others from suffering |
| Buddhist Mindfulness | (B) being awake, fully aware, full mind, fully present |
| Zazen | (B) seated meditation |
| Zen | (B) developed in China and moved to Japan; taken over by meditation |
| Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) | (B) wish-fulfiller, the founder of buddhism, the buddha; "awakened one". Lived in 5th Century BCE. |
| Nonthesitic | (B) Buddhism teaches there is no personal God who creates the world or to whom prayers can be directed |
| Pure Land | d(B) devotional path that contradicts most of Buddhism; developed in China and moved to Japan; teaches faith in Buddha |
| Satori | (B) In Zen, enlightenment |
| Kensho | (B) In Zen, when satori happens in a sudden burst |
| Koans | (B) In Zen, to invoke deep thought and get one to fail to answer the question; makes you fail to give you emptiness. |
| 4 Sights | (B) A bent old man, a sick person, a dead person, a mendicant seeking lasting happiness rather than temporal pleasure. The sights led Siddhartha Gautama to devote his life to ending suffering. |
| Lamas | (B) qualified teachers |
| Dalai Lama | (B) one of the best-known and most-loved spiritual leaders in the world. |
| Mandalas | (B) visual aids to concentration and illumination |
| Mahayana | (B) "the great vehicle"; spread Buddhism to other people who were suffering (beyond monasteries) |
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