Exam 1 Flashcards
Hinduism and Buddhism Vocab
“sacrifice” in Hinduism. in order to get to Moksha, hindus must perform sacrificial rituals of products into a sacred fire
Yajna
“That One” in hinduism, the one supreme source of everything that is
Tad Ekam
“divine” world; refers to the world that is beyond our physical world
Metacosm
“big world”; refers to the physical, objective world around us
Macrocosm
“small world”; refers to the human/individual world within ourselves
Microcosm
“the original person” in hinduism, the projection of the metacosm (divine world) onto the macrocosm (physical world)
The division of the Purusa translates into the castes
Brahmins –> mouth
Kashatriyas –> arms
Vishas –> thighs
Shudras –> feet
Purusa
the “three faces” of divinity in hinduism
- Brahma: face as creator
- Vishnu: face as preserver
- Shiva: face as destroyer
Trimurti
“the one” in hinduism, your divine “self” that achieves Moksha
Atman
the “illusion” that covers the true nature and reality of the world
Maya
“without qualities”, the concept of being beyond forms and limitations
Nirguna
“with qualities”, the concept of having limitations and forms
Saguna
The Hindu concept of the spirit’s ‘liberation’ from samsara (endless rebirths). once achieved, you will be free from any limitations
Moksha
- In Hinduism: how “well” you follow the Dharma, actions and consequences that influence one’s cycle of rebirth (samsara)
- In Buddhism: the idea that our actions, thoughts, and intentions have future consequences. affects rebirth but without a permanent self
Karma
1: learning the technical aspects of hinduism tht will be required of you when you become a householder. learn the vedas, how to perform sacrifices, humble yourself
4 Stages of Life in Hinduism
Studenthood
Forest books
The 4 stages of life in Hinduism (studenthood, householder, forest dweller, sanyasin)
Aranyakas
2: start a family, conduct sacrifices, uphold the community and the cosmos
The 4 Stages of Life in Hinduism
Householder
3: once you’re a grandparent, live in the woods, continue doing sacrifices in a simpler manner (without community)
The 4 Stages of Life in Hinduism
Forest dweller
4: (wanderer/renunciant): no longer associated with a place in the world. detachment from worldly egotistical self, preparing for death. you wonder, no home to stay at.
The 4 Stages of Life in Hinduism
Sanyasin
The oldest hindu scriptures. consists of lyrics, hymns, and philosophical texts.
Rig, Sama, Yajur, Atharva, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads
Vedas
“hymn” in Sanskrit, lyrics to be chanted during the Yajna
Vedas
Rig
“sound” in Sanskrit, manner in which you need to recite the lyrics in the Rig (e.g. high or low?)
Vedas
Sama
Similar to spell books, the different types of rituals create different effects (cosmic). They effect the reality of the world
Vedas
Yajur and Atharva
How the rituals are a symbol of what takes place in the heavens, they echo what is taking place in heaven
Vedas
Brahumanas
Talks about how the real sacrifice is YOU! teaches you to detach yourself from your ego so that you may achieve Moksha
Vedas
Upanishads
In hinduism, refers to the “eternal” duty that we all have to follow, the rule by which things function; conception of truth reveals itself repeatedly throughout time
“Perennial” (repeatedly)
Santana Dharma
The social divisions in Hinduism as a result of the division of the Purusa. You cannot move up or down from them.
Castes
Top: Comes from the “mouth”, priests/authority –> “speak” and communicate the truth of the Vedas
Caste
Brahmins
2nd: Comes from the “arms”, police, military, warriors; represent the power of society
Caste
Kashatriyas
3rd: Comes from the “thighs”, the “people”/”professionals” of society, engaged in daily economic activities that hold up society (e.g. carpenters, merchants, farmers)
Caste
Vishas
Bottom: Comes from the “feet”, they do the hard, laborious work of society (e.g. digging dirt, cremate dead bodies). deals with tasks of society that are considered “impure”
Caste
Shudras
Sacred text. The “three baskets” in Buddhism, the scriptures and core teachings of the buddha.
1st section: history
2nd section: commands/rules needed to follo
3rd section: philosophical teachings
Meant to be learned then let go
Tripitaka
the way of life that the buddha leads, avoiding self concern and extremes and aims to achieve enlightenment
The middle way
“dependent origination”; the concept in buddhism that nothing in the world is real - it’s an illusion that is always dependent on something else
Pratityasamputpada
fiction of language, the concept that we become accustomed to believing the illusion of a substantial reality
Prapancha
a concept in buddhism that we are constantly clinging to the world, and this clinging brings upon suffering. if we let the clinging go, the suffering will go too
Tanha
the essential doctrine in Buddhism:
1) There is suffering
2) Suffering has a cause
3) Because suffering has a cause, it can be UN-caused
4) The way to un-cause the suffering is to follow the eightfold path
Four noble truths
The essential “way” to achieve Nirvana
8 steps, Buddhism
Eight fold path
1: You want to end the suffering, and you have to do it in the right way
8 fold path, Wisdom
Right intentions
2: understanding that there is suffering, BUT it’s not forever and there’s a way out of it
8 fold path, Wisdom
Right understanding
3: Speak the truth, be objective. Lying is the opposite. All that matters is what’s real, the ego is not real
8 fold path, Moral discipline
Right speech
4: Don’t kill. We kill to preserve the ego, which is not real.
8 fold path, Moral discipline
Right action
5: support ourselves financially in a way that doesn’t harm others. Don’t involve yourself in something with negative karma, the round of pain.
8 fold path, Moral discipline
Right livelihood
6: pay constant attention to achieving nirvana, don’t be hypocritical
8 fold path, Mental discipline
Right effort
7: Control the theatre of our mind. Slow down your thoughts and movements so we can see what’s there. Slow pacing
8 fold path, Mental discipline
Right mindfulness
8: Concentrate on the things that are conducive to the awareness of nirvana. Go to a park, forest, away from distractions
8 fold path, Mental discipline
Right concentration
“useful means” in buddhism, the methods and strategies used to help achieve Nirvana
Upaya
the “void” in buddhism, “no thing” is limited. the concept of being beyond all limits and in a state of emptiness
Shunyata
“to blow out”, the supreme reality in buddhism. detachment of concern for the ego, rejection of:
- objective rejection of the limited objects in the world
- subjective rejection of the ego
Nirvana
The cycle of life and rebirth driven by karma in BORH hinduism and buddhism. the ultimate goal is to escape this cycle. Wondering on and on.
Samsara
the concept of suffering in buddhism (first noble truth)
Dukkha
Paradoxical anecdotes or questions used in Zen Buddhism to provoke deep thought and insight beyond rational understanding
Zan koan
