Hinduism Overview

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts related to Hinduism from the lecture notes.

Universalism

Hinduism embraces multiple paths to truth, acknowledging that all religions lead to the same divine reality.

One Mountain, Many Paths

Symbolizes the concept that all religions are valid routes to the same spiritual goal.

Ramakrishna

A 19th-century mystic who taught that all religions reveal the same divine truth.

Vivekananda

Ramakrishna’s disciple who spread Hindu ideas in the West, emphasizing tolerance and unity of religions.

Gandhi

Combined spirituality and social activism, promoting nonviolence and the truth in all religions.

Rig Veda

The oldest Hindu scripture containing hymns that emphasize divine order and cosmic unity.

Purusharthas

The four main aims in Hinduism for a meaningful life: Kama, Artha, Dharma, and Moksha.

Kama

Pleasure or desire, which should be pursued ethically and in moderation.

Artha

Material success and prosperity, accepted as necessary for stability but not ultimate spiritual satisfaction.

Dharma

Duty and morality, acting in harmony with cosmic law.

Moksha

Liberation from the cycle of rebirth (samsara) and the ultimate goal of Hindu life.

Monism

The belief that all reality is fundamentally one, ultimately identified with Brahman.

Upanishads

Philosophical texts in Hinduism exploring the unity between Atman (self) and Brahman (ultimate reality).

Brahman

The impersonal, infinite source of all existence in Hindu philosophy.

Atman = Brahman

The realization that the individual soul (Atman) and the divine (Brahman) are one.

Samsara

The continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth in Hinduism.

Krishna

An avatar of Vishnu who guides humanity toward righteousness and is a key figure in the Bhagavad Gita.

Bhagavad Gita

A sacred text teaching devotion, action, and knowledge as paths to liberation.

Jnana Yoga

The Path of Knowledge, focusing on self-inquiry and realization of unity with Brahman.

Karma Yoga

The Path of Action, teaching selfless action without attachment to results.

Bhakti Yoga

The Path of Devotion, involving love and surrender to a personal deity.

Raja Yoga

The Path of Meditation, utilizing physical postures, breathing, and meditation to achieve spiritual absorption.

Trimurti

The three principal deities in Hinduism: Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer).