Hinduism and Theravada Buddhism Comprehensive Review

This flashcard set covers the key vocabulary, demographics, historical background, and fundamental doctrines of Hinduism and Theravada Buddhism as outlined in the lecture notes.

Hindu (Etymology)

Derived from the Persian word hindu (Sanskrit: sindhu), meaning "river," referring to the Indus Valley.

Arya Dharma

The original name for Hinduism, meaning the "Aryan Way."

Shruti

Literally "that which is heard"; regarded as eternal truths passed orally and then recorded in scriptures like the Vedas.

Smriti

Literally "that which has been remembered"; interpretations of shruti and codes of conduct, including the Great Epics.

Vedas

Meaning "knowledge" or "sacred lore"; the oldest scriptures of Hinduism comprising the Rig-veda, Yajur-veda, Sama-veda, and Atharva-veda.

Rig-veda

The oldest and most important Veda, containing over $1,000$ hymns to the Aryan pantheon.

Upanishads

Literally "sitting down near"; secret philosophical teachings that form the basis of Vedanta.

Bhagavad Gita

"The Lord's Song"; a $700$-verse dialogue between Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna concerning devotion, knowledge, and selfless action.

Bhakti

The soul's longing for and clinging to God.

Brahman

The ultimate reality in Hinduism; one and undivided.

The Trimurti

The Hindu Trinity consisting of Brahma (The Creator), Vishnu (The Preserver), and Shiva (The Destroyer).

Samsara

The cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

Atman

The eternal soul found within every human.

Karma

The universal law of causality where deeds affect present and future lives.

Moksha

Liberation from the cycle of rebirth (samsara).

Purushartha

The Four Goals of Life: Dharma (righteousness), Artha (success), Kama (pleasure), and Moksha (liberation).

Ashramas

The Four Stages of Life: Brahmacarya (student), Grihastha (householder), Vanaprastha (forest dweller), and Samnyasin (holy sage).

Puja

Hindu worship involving murtis (images), mantras (chants), yantras (diagrams), and prasad (gift offerings).

Darshan

The act of seeing and being in the presence of a deity.

Varanasi (Benares)

The most sacred pilgrimage site in Hinduism and the home of Shiva.

Manusmriti

The "Laws of Manu," which state that women should be honored but kept subordinate to men throughout life.

Sati (Suttee)

A traditional practice, now outlawed, where widows immolated themselves on their husband's funeral pyre.

Dalits

Known as "Outcasts" or "Untouchables," they are the group at the bottom of the Hindu social hierarchy performing menial jobs.

Theravada

Meaning "school of elder monks" or "school of the ancients"; the branch of Buddhism that claims to preserve Siddhartha Gautama's original teachings.

Buddha

Title meaning "the awakened one" or "the enlightened one."

Sakyamuni

A title for Siddhartha Gautama meaning "Sage of the Sakya clan."

The "Four Signs"

The four encounters Siddhartha Gautama had outside the palace: an Old Man, a Crippled Man, a Decaying Corpse, and an Ascetic Monk.

The Middle Path

The Buddhist principle of self-discipline without self-flagellation, avoiding the extremes of luxury and deprivation.

Tipitaka (Tripitaka)

Meaning "three baskets"; the Pali Canon consisting of the Sutta Pitaka, Vinaya Pitaka, and Abhidhamma Pitaka.

Anatman (Anatta)

The Buddhist belief in "nonsoulness," or the absence of an eternal, indestructible soul.

Anitya (Anicca)

The mark of impermanence; the belief that all things are transitory.

Khandas

The five aggregates comprising human existence: physical form, feelings, understanding, will, and consciousness.

The Four Noble Truths

The core Buddhist teachings: Dukkha (Suffering), Samodaya (Cause), Nirodha (Cessation), and Magga (Path).

Noble Eightfold Path

The path to end suffering, categorized into Wisdom (Right View, Intention), Morality (Speech, Action, Livelihood), and Meditation (Effort, Mindfulness, Concentration).

Nirvana

The state of perfect peace where desire, greed, and delusion are obliterated.

Arhat

A person who has achieved nirvana and is considered "worthy of honor."

Sangha

The Buddhist monastic order or spiritual community.

Triratna

The Three Jewels: "I take refuge in the Buddha, in the teaching (dhamma), and in the sangha."

Stupas

Commemorative monuments containing sacred relics representing the Buddha's body, speech, and mind.

Vesakha (Vesak)

Also known as "Buddha Day"; the holiest day commemorating the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death.