Eastern Religions: Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts, sacred texts, cosmology, stages of logic, and philosophical tenets of Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

Mahavira

Key figure of Jainism associated with the 6th century BCE.

Syad asti

The 1st stage of Jain logic: 'Perhaps it exists.'

Syan nasti

The 2nd stage of Jain logic: 'Perhaps it does not exist.'

Syad asti nasti

The 3rd stage of Jain logic: 'Perhaps it exists and does not exist.'

Syad avaktavyah

The 4th stage of Jain logic: 'Perhaps it is inexpressible.'

Syad asti avatavyah

The 5th stage of Jain logic: 'Perhaps it exists and is inexpressible.'

Syan nasti avaktavyah

The 6th stage of Jain logic: 'Perhaps it does not exist and is inexpressible.'

Syad asti nasti avaktavyah

The 7th stage of Jain logic: 'Perhaps it exists, does not exist, and it is inexpressible.'

Asti

Root term in Jain logic meaning 'exists.'

Nasti

Root term in Jain logic meaning 'does not exist.'

Avaktavyah

Root term in Jain logic meaning 'inexpressible.'

Siddhasila

The abode of liberated beings in Jain cosmology.

Lokakash

The realm of space in Jain cosmology.

Devloka

The abode of the demi-gods and heavenly beings in Jain cosmology.

Middle level (Jain Cosmology)

The abode of humans and animals in Jain cosmology.

Naraka

The abode of hellish beings in Jain cosmology.

Aloka

The space outside of the universe in Jain cosmology.

Vedas

Sacred oral traditions brought by migrating Aryans containing accounts of the gods and instructions on rituals to influence the gods.

Rig Veda

The Veda containing stories of the gods.

Sama Veda

The Veda containing chants used by priests in Soma sacrifices.

Yajur Veda

The Veda containing litanies and prayers used in devotions.

Atharva Veda

The Veda containing charms and spells for use by ordinary people.

Shruti

Sacred Hindu texts that expand on the theological implications of the accounts and rituals revealed in the Vedas.

Smriti

Sacred Hindu texts including the Laws of Manu, Hihasa- Purana, Mahabharata, and Ramayana.

Vishnu

The preserver and restorer of cosmic order in Hinduism, whose main avatars are Krishna and Rama.

Shiva

The destroyer and transformer god in Hinduism.

Caste

The particular social standing into which one is born according to one's karma in prior lives.

Brahmin

The Hindu caste consisting of priests and scholars.

Kshatriya

The Hindu caste consisting of rulers, warriors, and administrators.

Vaishya

The Hindu caste consisting of merchants, artisans, and agriculturalists.

Shudras

The Hindu caste consisting of laborers and service workers.

Karma

Action, the law of reciprocity: you reap what you sow…at least eventually.

Samsara

The wheel of life, death, and rebirth.

Brahman

Ultimate reality, the highest god in classical Hinduism, the absolute.

Atman

The self, Brahman within the individual, a spark of the absolute at one's core.

Maya

Objective illusion and subjective delusion that creates the apparent separation of Brahman and Atman.

Guru

Dispeller of darkness; a teacher who illuminates the way to samadhi and moksha, or liberation.

Yama

Ethical restraints in the Yoga Sutras.

Niyama

Personal observances in the Yoga Sutras.

Asana

Posture in the Yoga Sutras.

Pranayama

Breath control in the Yoga Sutras.

Pratyahara

Withdrawal of the senses in the Yoga Sutras.

Dharana

Concentration in the Yoga Sutras.

Dhyana

Meditation in the Yoga Sutras.

Samadhi

Deep absorption in the Yoga Sutras.

Dukkha

The 1st Noble Truth (Symptom): general suffering and dis-ease.

Samudaya

The 2nd Noble Truth (Diagnosis): selfish desires and craving (TANHA) are the cause of your problems.

Tanha

Selfish desires and craving identified in Buddhism as the cause of suffering.

Nirodha

The 3rd Noble Truth (Prognosis): there is a way to overcome cravings (tanha).

Magga

The 4th Noble Truth (Prescription): follow the Eightfold Path.

Stream-enterer

The 1st stage of enlightenment in Buddhism where you have converted and never leave.

Once-returner

The 2nd stage of enlightenment in Buddhism where you come back again.

Non-returner

The 3rd stage of enlightenment in Buddhism where you will attain awakening.

Arahants

The 4th stage of enlightenment in Buddhism consisting of those who have achieved enlightenment.

Bodhisattva

An unofficial 5th stage of enlightenment: once enlightened, you stay enlightened forever even through reincarnation, helping others achieve awakening.

Soto

A school of Zen Buddhism characterized by gradual enlightenment.

Rinzai

A school of Zen Buddhism characterized by instant enlightenment.

Tummo

The yoga of inner heat/fire in the Six Yogas of Naropa.

Gyulu

The yoga of illusory body in the Six Yogas of Naropa.

Osel

The yoga of clear light in the Six Yogas of Naropa.

Milam

Dream yoga in the Six Yogas of Naropa.

Bardo

The yoga of intermediate state in the Six Yogas of Naropa.

Phowa

The yoga of transference of consciousness in the Six Yogas of Naropa.

Middle Path

The balance between the two extremes of indulgence and self-mortification.

Indulgence

An extreme lifestyle consisting of living in luxury and constantly pursuing pleasure, wealth, and physical desires.

Self-mortification

An extreme lifestyle consisting of punishing the body through severe fasting, deprivation, or other extreme forms of asceticism.

Theravada

'Way of the Elders'; a vehicle of Buddhism that emphasizes following the Buddha's original teachings.

Mahayana

'The Great Vehicle'; a vehicle of Buddhism that emphasizes compassion and helping all sentient beings reach enlightenment.

Vajrayana

'Diamond Vehicle'; a vehicle of Buddhism that utilizes practices such as mantras, mandalas, visualization, and rituals to pursue enlightenment.

Dalai Lama

The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism from Tibet.