Ancient India: Hinduism and Buddhism

Indus River Valley Civilization

- Civilizations along the indus river that had their soil flooded twice a year which provided them with good soil and agriculture.

- Used written language

- Had a plumbing system

- "The Great Bath" was the largest building

- Produced seals in trade for identification

- Exported cotton cloth

- The people were peaceful

- It is believed that an earthquake dried the river

Indo-Aryan

family of languages that included many Indian languages and most European languages

Hindu

A religion and philosophy developed in ancient India, characterized by a belief in reincarnation and a supreme being who takes many forms

Varna

each of the four Hindu castes, Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra.

Brahmins

priests

Kshatriyas

warriors and aristocrats

Vaishyas

cultivators, artisans, and merchants.

Shudras

landless peasants and serfs

Dalits 'untouchables'

lowest class that performed dirty tasks

Jati

sub castes; were groups of people within each caste that worked together for one economic function

Dharma

In Hindu belief, a person's religious and moral duties

In Buddhism, the teachings of the Buddha

Karma

(Hinduism and Buddhism) the effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation

Brahman

A single spiritual power that Hindus believe lives in everything

Atman

in Hindu belief, a person's essential self

Samsara

(Hinduism and Buddhism) the endless cycle of birth and suffering and death and rebirth

Moksha

The Hindu concept of the spirit's 'liberation' from the endless cycle of rebirths.

Maya

the world as we perceive it is not truly real but rather a cosmic illusion created by the divine power

Reincarnation

In Hinduism and Buddhism, the process by which a soul is reborn continuously until it achieves perfect understanding

Ashramas

the stages of life for a Hindu, which are a means to complete spiritual development

Vedas

hyms, songs, prayers, and writings that are the earliest sacred texts of Hinduism.

Hatha yoga

the spiritual discipline of postures and bodily exercises (americans)

Karma yoga

The spiritual discipline of selfless action no attachment

Dhyana yoga

the path of meditation to separate body and soul

Yoga bhakti

worship of gods (brahman, redemption)

Trimurti

"Three forms" of the divine; the three gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

Puja

Hindu devotional worship of deities at home or in a temple

Avatar

A representation of a Hindu god or goddess in human or animal form.

Dukkha

The first of the Four Noble Truths, the basic Buddhist insight that suffering is part of the human condition.

Nirvana

The state of englightenment for Buddhists.

Triratna

Three jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) buddhist

Sangha

The Buddhist community of monks and nuns; one of the Three Jewels of Buddhism.

Buddha

Means "Enlightened One." He is said to have found a path for overcoming suffering.

Siddhartha Gautama

The prince who is said to have founded Buddhism. He was sheilded from reality in his palace then decided to venture out.

Four Sights

old man, sick man, dead man, holy man seen by Siddhartha Gautama when he leaves the palace

ascetics, asceticism

a person who dedicates his or her life to a pursuit of contemplative ideals and practices extreme self-denial or self-mortification for religious reasons.

The Middle Way

A basic Buddhist teaching that rejects both the pleasures of sensual indulgence and the self-denial of asceticism, focusing instead on a practical approach to spiritual attainment.

The Eightfold Path

In Buddhism, the basic rules of behavior and belief leading to an end of suffering

Karma

The belief that actions in this life, whether good or bad, will decide your place in the next life.

Theravada Buddhism

the oldest of the two major branches of Buddhism. Practiced mainly in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, and Cambodia, its beliefs are relatively conservative, holding close to the original teachings of the Buddha

Mahayana Buddhism

Also known as popular Buddhism, is allows people more ways to reach enlightenment and boddhisatvas can help you reach enlightenment.

Bodhisattvas

Buddhas-to-be who stayed in the world after enlightenment to help others on the path to salvation

Arhat

One who has become enlightened; the ideal type for Theravada Buddhism

Ashoka

Leader of the Mauryan dynasty of India who conquered most of India but eventually gave up violence and converted to Buddhism.