Upanishads Flashcards
Karma
Karma fuels the cycle of Samsara
The actions a person does in their life
Upanishads
Deeper meaning to the Vedas
Shruti
Deeper meaning to rituals
Knowledge (jnana) more important than ritual action (karma)
External world a distraction
Atman
The idea of the true self
Brahman
The idea of the force/power underlying the entirety of the universe
Purusha
The soul
The only reality
Moksha
The liberation from the cycle of Samsara/suffering
Samsara
The cycle of life, death, and rebirth
Aum/Om
The sacred sound associated with Brahman
The power underlying the universe
Guru-Disciple relationship
The Guru-Disciple relationship is the most important relationship in renouncer culture
Parental and mentorly
Maya
The clouds of illusion
Tapas
Inner heat
Yoga
Single pointed focus to control body, breath, and mind
Harnesses inner energy
The 8 limbs of yoga
Allows a person to discover true self and Brahman
Internalization of Ritual
The Upanishads focused largely on the internalization of ritual, compared to the very literal interpretation of the Vedas
The idea of an “inner fire” as opposed to a physical fire
Breath
Breath work is one of the 8 limbs of yoga
Breath illuminates the inner fire
What are the 8 limbs of yoga?
Morals
Behavior
Postures
Breathwork
Sense withdrawal
Focus
Meditation
Union
Duhkah
Suffering
Guru
Teaches knowledge of reality for liberation
Teaches secret knowledge of the Vedas
Realization that the inner self (Atman) is one with the ultimate reality (Brahman)
