World Religion Ch. 3 HINDUISM:

Brahman

The eternal essence of all reality which is really unknowable, indefinable and limitless

Atman

The deepest self or soul of an individual which is reincarnated from one body to the next

Maya

The illusion in which we live and from which the Hindu seeks liberation is called

Moksha

The experience of release or liberation from illusion

Samsara

The wheel or cycle of rebirth or reincarnation

Karma

The effect of one’s actions on both this present life and future lifetimes

Dharma

Right action or duty

Monism

The more philosophical term for the belief in the oneness of all reality; that all things are really one entity

Reincarnation

The passing of the soul into another body at death

Transmigration

another word for “reincarnation”

Vedas

Hindu scriptures originating in India, meaning "knowledge,"

Bhagavad Gita

"the Song of God"; the most popular Hindu scripture

Brahmin

priest

Kshatriya

warrios and adminstaration

Vaishya

prodcures

Shudra

servent & laborers

Untouchables

outcases

harijan

Gods Children

Student

study other vendas and other scared literature

House Holder

Marked by pursuing a career and raseing a family

Forest Dweller

requiring retreat from worldly bonds to engage fully in the spiritual quest

wandering aseric

involving returning to society while remaining detached from social life

Karma 2

pleasure is sought but within the limits of Dharma

Artha

material success is sought along with social power and prestige

Dharma 2

harmony with anarma is the primary concern

mosksha 2

the goal to achieve the infinite being awareness and bliss of liberation

Karma Marga

The “path of work” or “action”

Jnana Margo

Path of “knowledge”

Bhakti Marga

Path of Devotion

Marga

The word which means "path" followed in order to achieve union with Brahman

Brahma

Creator

Vishnu

Preserver

Shiva

Destroyer

Avatar

An incarnation, or living embodiment, of one of the many gods, who is sent to earth to accomplish a divine purpose

Sati

traditional practice of a widow burning herself on her husband's funeral pyre