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RELS 100 Exam 1

Terms in this set (73)

Empirical vs Transempirical
Empirical: repeatable, observable, measurable
Transempirical: supernatural (ex. can't measure god)
Human Condition
Definition 1: The conditions/qualities of being human that everyone has to deal with.
Example 1: inability to know what others truly think of us
Definition 2: issues facing humanity addressed by some religions
Example 2: death/afterlife/sins
Ultimate Reality
broad term to replace god transempirical element
Goal/Ideal State
the overall goal in life (basically HC flipped)
death is to afterlife as HC is to goal/ideal state
Path
look to what people are doing/should be doing
Religion vs Cult
the term cult typically comes into play for "new religious movements" that are more aggressive in gaining members
Religion is seen as good and nice while cult is seen as dangerous and violent (need to recognize religions can be violent too)
Spirituality
Refers to some authentic experience
Cosmology
a particular view on how the cosmos function?exist
Linear vs Cyclic time
Linear is a life that has a concrete beginning and end. Cyclic focuses on the idea of rebirth and that life is a continuous cycle.
Eschatology
concern for/study of end of time
Transmigration
rebirth (not always reborn as human)
Asceticism
to give things up (renunciation)
Devotion
...
Contemplation
middle way sets your body up for contemplation; "deep thought, awareness,mindfulness"; leads to nirvana
Vedic Religion
set stage for a lot of later hinduism
Sacrifice
hire priests to do if vedic religion typically seen as to give something up; asceticism; doesn't have to involve killing
Vedas (in reference to Vedic religion)
collection of texts (sacred); composed by rishis ("seers")
Brahmin (in relation to Vedic religion)
priests; memorize the vedas
Karma (in relation to Vedic religion)
"what goes around comes around"
produces seeds that sprout into circumstances
Vedas (in relation to Hinduism)
...
Brahmin (in relation to Hinduism)
...
Karma (in relation to Hinduism)
...
Karma (in relation to Buddhism)
...
Hindu
practitioner of hinduism
Upanishads
foundation to most later Hindu teachings; looking inward/karma; getting into nature and away from people
Jnana
knowledge vs. deep knowledge; rule of substitution
Brahman
the one and the many; source of everything
Atman
essence of self (soul)
Vedanta
school of philosophies based on upanishads; change perspective to see the one or many aspect of Brahman
Samsara
wandering the prison of rebirth (also prison of karma)
Moksha
escape from the cycle of rebirth
Yoga
=yoke=discipline
Yogi
practitioner of yoga
Devotion
engagement; connecting with personal form of Ultimate Reality
Itihasa-Puranas
group of texts (itihasa=history; puranas=old/ancient)
Bhagawan
=brahman (personal form)
Vishnu
associated w/righteousness; transcendent; imminent; warrior king (discus, mace, conch, on top of snake)
Avatar
"descent"; the forms vishnu takes to restore righteousness in the world (ex. rama and krishna)
Shiva
contradiction; imagery (2 arms, wearing a snake, TRIDENT, associated w/wilderness)
Ganesh
(child of shiva); often seen at thresholds; elephant head; sets and removes obstacles; mount:mouse/rat
Devi
means goddess; imagery (has all the weapons of the gods, ten arms always); creation/destruction
Kali
the dark one (not meaning evil though); associated w/shiva; garland of skulls or demon heads
Ganges
images of river goddess
Murti
figure or statue of god (literal meaning=body); treated as though you are in the presence of that god
Linga
shiva version of murti (aniconic:impersonal)
Puja
a foundation aspect is "sharinf of light" flame
Contemplation
...
Buddha
living during time of renouncer movement
Siddhartha Guatama
born around 500 BCE; a man but more than a man; two destinies given at birth and followed the one his father didn't want
4 sights
old age, sickness, death, renouncer
Anitya
impermanence (nirvana is permanent)
Dharma
what the buddha recited and then taught (certain truths about existence)
Anatman
...
Dependent Arising
continual coming together and disipating(??) of elements
4 noble truths
foundation for buddhist teachings
duhka
trishna
nirvana
8 fold path
Duhka
suffering (not truly satisfied)
Trishna
"grapsing" trying to hold on to pleasurable things
Nirvana
end of suffering (so radically out realms that you can't describe with words)
8 fold path
insight[understanding + thought]
ethics[speech + conduct + livelihood]
meditation[effort + mindfulness + meditation]
Theravada
type of buddhism; more conservative reserved teachings
HC-duhka
UR-???dependent arising???
G-nirvana/arhat(monastic=arhat, lay=good karma)
P-Vinaya(monastic) Merit making activitie(lay) DANA
Arhat
achieved same enlightenment as buddha by following path of buddha
Vinaya
rules for monastics; how to run monastery and reach arhat
Stupa
place where relics are held; people often cannot see the relics
Dana
"gift giving"; opportunity for lay to make merit
Mahayana
"great vehicle"; anything we are doing is interdependent of what everyone else is doing
Shunyata
"emptiness"; because you are empty change is possible
Bodhisattva
goal of mahayana buddhism
Avalokiteshvara
"one who looks down"
Pure land
HC-duhka(suffering)
UR-shunyata(emptiness)
G- bohisattva
P-Nianfo
Amitabha
a buddha; not going to experience rebirth; in pure land
Nianfo
chanting amitabha buddhas name; for good karma; prayer wheels
Zen
"to meditate"
HC-duhka(suffering)
UR-shunyata(emptiness)
G-bodhisattva
P-Koan
Koan
zen's path; riddle or nonsensical poem to get you out of your regular thinking
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