Buddhism & Hinduism

Sudras

farm workers, servant class

Vaisyas

herders, merchants, farmers

Brahmin

Priest class

Kshatriyas

warrior class

untouchables

lowest class

moksha

Ultimate goal, release from birth cycle, union with brahman

karma

actions of ones life which affects the next

dharma

religious and moral duties within a caste

atman

essential self - piece of brahman within all

reincarnation

rebirth of the soul/atman in another body

samsara

cycle of life

ahimsa

nonviolence

vedas

ayan collection of hymns, prayers, etc

bhagavad gita

story of arjuna

Siddhartha Gautama

founder of buddhism - hindu prince

nirvana

buddhist goal - end of suffering/union and release

buddha

the enlightened one

4 noble truths

explains cause and cure for human suffering

middle way

way of life between denial and luxury

8 fold path

buddhist guidlines

theravada

sect of buddhism that calls for living as a monk

mahayana

sect of buddhism that embraces buddha as a compassionate god

4 noble truths

truth of suffering, cause of suffering, truth of end of suffering, path to end of suffering

brahma

creator god

shiva

destroyer god

vishnu

preserver god

brahman

ultimate power