Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shintoism

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key terminology and concepts related to major world religions and philosophies.

Hinduism

A major world religion originating on the Indian subcontinent comprising various systems of philosophy, belief, and ritual.

Dharma (Virtue)

A law or principle that governs the universe, often interpreted as duty or proper behavior in Hinduism.

Karma

The universal causal law by which good or bad actions determine the future modes of an individual's existence.

Moksha

Freedom from the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth; the ultimate goal for a practicing Hindu.

Samsara

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

Atman

The Hindu term referring to the soul or spirit, considered the real person inside an individual.

Brahman

The formless, genderless, infinite, and eternal universal spirit in Hinduism; the ultimate reality/source of all reality. God or the Supreme Being. Divine consciousness.

Avatar

Means “descent.” The material appearance or incarnation of a deity on earth in Hinduism.

Vedas

The oldest sacred texts in Hinduism

Bhagavad Gita

A sacred Hindu scripture consisting of 700 verses in 18 chapters that is a dialogue between Arjuna (warrior) and Krishna (charioteer and supreme God) discussing duty, morality, and devotion.

Trimurti

The three forms of God in Hinduism: Brahma (The Creator), Vishnu (The Preserver), and Shiva (The Destroyer).

Buddhism

A religion focusing on the path to enlightenment and the cessation of suffering.

Four Noble Truths

The foundational principles of Buddhism outlining the reality of suffering and the path to liberation

1. Life has inevitable suffering

2. There is a cause to our suffering

3. There is an end to suffering

4. The end to suffering is contained in the eightfold path.

Nirvana

The ultimate goal of Buddhism, representing the cessation of desire and the end of suffering.

Confucianism

A philosophical system emphasizing morality, social relationships, and justice.

Taoism

An ancient Chinese philosophy advocating for living in harmony with the natural way of the universe.

Kami

The sacred spirits in Shintoism, which may include deities, ancestors, and natural objects.

Shintoism

Japan's indigenous spiritual tradition focusing on the worship of kami and emphasizing purity and harmony with nature.

Guru Granth Sahib

The holy scripture of Sikhism, recognized as the eternal Guru.

The Five Ks

Five articles of faith that Sikhs wear as a symbol of their devotion and identity.

Gurdwara

A temple of worship for Sikhs.

Sikhism

A monotheistic religion founded in the Punjab region of India emphasizing equality, community, and devotion.

Amrit Sarovar

The sacred tank surrounding the Golden Temple, symbolizing purity and spirituality.

Henotheism

A belief in one superior deity accompanied by other lesser divine things

Transmigration

When a person dies, the soul will transfer to another body.

Avatara

Where Avatar originated from Sanskrit, refers to descent or to pass down.

Rig Veda

Book in The Vedas, hymns about their mythology.

Sama Veda

Book in The Vedas, hymns about religious rituals.

Yajur Veda

Book in The Vedas, instructions for religious rituals.

Atharva Veda

Book in The Vedas, spells against enemies, sorcerers, and diseases.

Upanishads

Late Vedic Sanskrit texts of religious teaching and ideas still revered in Hinduism. Contains central teachings of Hinduism. Translates to sitting near the enlightened.

Puranas

Stories about Gods, creation, and history.

Ramayana

The epic story of Prince Rama, his wife Sita, and their battle against the demon king Ravana.

Mahabharata

The longest epic, telling the story of the Kurukshetra war and teachings on life and dharma.

Caste System

Varna system, divides Hindus into four main categories based on who they were in their past life, their karma, and what family line they come from.

Brahmins

1st: Priests

Kshatriyas

2nd: Kings/Rulers, Warriors

Vaisyas

3rd: Merchants, Craftsmen, Landowners, Skilled Workers.

Sudra

4th: Farm Workers, Unskilled workers, Servants.

Dalits

Lowest (5th) Untouchables, Street sweeper, clean up human/animal waste, deal with dead bodies.

Kama

Pleasure, Lust and materialism.

Artha

Good reputation.

Krodha

Anger

Lobha

Greed

Moha

Unrealistic attachment to people or things.

Mada

Pride

Matsarya

Jealousy

Brahma

The Creator

Vishnu

The preserver

Shiva

The destroyer

Siddhartha Gautama

Buddha/ Enlightened One

Sindhu

Sanskirt word meaning “of the indus” (river valley).

3000 BCE

How long ago is Hinduism?

Hinduism

Most prominent example of henotheistic religion

Muc

Sanskrit word for Moksha meaning “to free.”

True

Hindu deities may descend multiple times and have multiple avatars over time.

more than 3000 years

How long ago was Caste System made?

Shakyamuni

means “sage of the Shakya people.”

a prophecy indicating that:

child stayed home = world ruler

child left home = universal spiritual leader

Old man (Aging), sick man (Disease), corpse (Death)

What Buddha saw?

Bodhi Tree

Where did he meditate?

45 years

How long did the Buddha teach?

Ashoka

Promoted Buddhist expansion by sending monks to surround territories to share the teachings of the Buddha.

Pali Canon

“Tripaka” (Three Baskets) consisting of 3 collections

Vinaya

Basket of Disciplines

Sutra

Basket of Threads

Abhidamma

Basket of Higher Teaching

The Division of Wisdom

1. Right Understanding

2. Right Thought

(The Noble Eightfold Path)

The Division of Ethical Conduct

3. Right Speech

4. Right Action

5. Right Livelihood

(The Noble Eightfold Path)

The Division of Mental Discipline

6. Right Effort

7. Right Mindfulness

8. Right Concentration

(The Noble Eightfold Path)

The blowing out

What Nirvana means in Sanskrit.

Kung Fu Tse

Confucius real name.

Lun Yu/Alalects of Confucius

Where Confucius teachings came from.

Tao

The Way: nature of substance out of all things are made. Cosmic order of all things.

Heraclitus

Formulared the Ethos and Logos, law that governs something, Pathos.

Phusis

Purpose

Te

Virtue: human trait that is a gift from heaven. Composed of Chih and Wen.

Chih

Substance, Wisdom

Wen

Process, nurturing formative process.

The Confucian Classics (5 books)

Confucian Education

Jen, Chih, Yung

Complete man: Chun Tzu, man of virtue

Jen

Humaness

Hsueh and Ssu

Learning and Thinking

Rule of Shu

Method of humanness

Yung

Courage

T’ien Ming

transcendental principle, “Heaven’s Decree.”

T’ien Ming + Tao

ground and source of morality.

Lao Tzu

Taoism teacher, wrote Tao-Te-Ching and then left humanity.

Tao-Te-Ching

“the way and its power,” collection of poetry/sayings from 3rd and 4th centuries. 81 chapters.

3 main ideas:

1. Wu Wei: effortless action, go with the flow

2. Yin (dark, passive, feminine, cool, still qualities) and Yang (light, active; masculine, warm, expressive qualities): one exists because of the other/no separate or opposing factors

3. Simplicity: humble lives

Guru Nanak Dev Ji

Founder of Sikhism (5th Largest Religion)

Bakti Marg

Path of devotion

Gian Marg

Path of knowledge

Karam Marg

Path of action

Ru

Bringer of light

Guru Gobind Singh

10th Guru

Ik Onkar

There is only one God

Waheguru

wondrous Lord

True

Sikhism believes in karma and reincarnation and human beings are composite of the body and spirit.

Akal

timeless