Key Words Flashcards
Brahmanism
The Vedic belief in Brahman, the universal spirit that contains all
Historical Vedic Era
When the Vedas were written. India (1500-500 BCE)
The Vedas
Religious scriptures in four groups
The Upanishads
A final section of the Vedas, They contain philosophical reflections about the nature of the universe
Samsara
Reincarnation
Dharma
One’s religious duty according to one’s caste
Karma
The result of one’s intentional actions, Causes ascent or decent of the caste system
Moksha
Liberation from rebirth, merger with Braman, The human goal of Brahmanism
Sramana
means “one who seeks the truth by means of asceticism” Critics of Brahmanism
Asceticism
Denial of bodily pleasures for the purpose of achieving spiritual goals
Jainism
A Sramana movement that teaches non-violence and love towards all living things.
Mahavira
The historical founder of Jainism who was born in Bihar, India, in 599 BCE and lived to the age of 72
Jinas
Jain spiritual conquerors who have achieved liberation and perfection
Tirthankaras
24 spiritual leaders called “ford-makers”, of whom Mahavira was the last
Ajivika
A Sramana movement. Their founder taught niyati, the determinism of the universe down to the smallest atom
Ajnana
A Sramana movement. They claimed knowledge of philosophical propositions was impossible or usless
Charvaka
A Sramana movement. They claimed that direct perception is necessary for knowledge
Siddhartha Gutama
The original Historical founder of Buddism (c.563/480 BCE - c.483-400BCE)
King Shuddhodana
Siddhartha’s father. A king of the Kshatriya castle
Asita
A seer who made a prediction about Siddhartha
Yasodhara and Rahula
Siddhartha’s wife and son
Chandra
Siddhartha’s charioteer
The 4 passing signs
An old person, a dead person, a diseased person, a Sramana
Renunciation
Renouncing the world and its pleasures
Enlightenment
A sudden realisation of an important truth
The 3 poisons
Greed (raga), Hatred (dvesha) and Ignorance (moha)
Nirvana
The condition reached by those who have become fully enlightened. Means “extinction (of the desire flame)”
Budda
A title. Means “enlightened one”
Brahma Sahampati
A God who begged the Budda to share his knowledge
Dhamma
The Budda’s teaching
A Stupa
Monuments built over Siddhartha’s remains
punabbhava/punarbhava
a word naming the Buddhist doctrine of rebirth
Eternalism
The belief that the soul or Atman is an eternal substance that can neither be created nor destroyed
Annihilationism
The belief that the soul or Atman is completely extinguished at death
The middle way
The Buddhist view that over-indulgence and self-denial are equally detrimental to the prospect of enlightenment
An Arahant
(Pali: “one who is worthy”). One who is on his/her way to or has achieved enlightenment
Kisa and the Mustard Seeds
A Buddhist story about death, grief and mourning
