Buddhism and Sikhism: Foundations, Beliefs, and Practices

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the core concepts, historical developments, and sacred practices of Buddhism and Sikhism.

Siddhartha Gautama

A prince born around 600 BCE into a noble family in Nepal who abandoned his royal privilege to discover the cause of suffering and founded Buddhism after reaching enlightenment.

Four Passing Sights

The four encounters Siddhartha Gautama witnessed outside the palace walls—a diseased man, an old man, a decaying corpse, and a peaceful ascetic—that exposed him to human suffering and prompted his spiritual renunciation.

Sannyasa

A wandering holy mendicant who renounces all material possessions, surviving with only a robe and begging bowl in pursuit of spiritual wisdom.

The Middle Way

The Buddhist path of moderation that avoids the extremes of sensual indulgence and extreme ascetic self-mortification to achieve liberation.

Ascetic

A practitioner who rigorously renounces physical comforts and worldly goods in pursuit of spiritual discipline and truth.

Dukkha

The Buddhist truth that life inherently contains suffering, anxiety, struggle, anguish, impermanence, and uncertainty.

Samsara

The cycle of repeated death and rebirth driven by craving, ignorance, and the struggle to sustain the illusion of an independent ego.

Nirvana (Buddhism)

The ultimate goal and state of spiritual awakening in Buddhism, characterized by complete wisdom, compassion, and the cessation of craving and suffering.

Four Noble Truths

The foundational doctrine taught by the Buddha: suffering exists, craving and ignorance cause suffering, suffering can end through Nirvana, and the Eightfold Path is the method to end it.

The Eightfold Path

The practical eight-part guide to ending suffering, encompassing Right View, Right Resolve, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

Samadhi

Right concentration in Buddhism; the highest meditative state of consciousness developed through stages of meditation, culminating in equanimity and mindfulness.

Ten Precepts

The Buddhist ethical code governing behavior, which spans five basic rules for lay followers and expands to ten strict rules for novice monks prohibiting money handling, luxury, and late eating.

Tripitaka

The traditional collection of Buddhist sacred texts, literally meaning 'Three Baskets,' containing monastic guidelines, discourses of the Buddha, and philosophical doctrine.

Sangha

The monastic community of ordained Buddhist monks and nuns founded by Siddhartha Gautama.

Arhat

In Theravada Buddhism, an enlightened individual who has attained Nirvana and freed themselves from the cycle of rebirth through personal monastic discipline.

Bodhisattva

In Mahayana Buddhism, an enlightened individual who compassionately postpones entering complete Nirvana to help all other sentient beings achieve liberation.

Vesak

The major Buddhist holiday celebrating the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death, observed on the first full moon of the fourth lunar month (typically in May).

Guru Nanak

The founder of Sikhism (1469–1539), born in Talwandi in the Punjab, who championed absolute equality, opposed the caste system, and emphasized one universal God.

Waheguru

The Sikh term for the Supreme Creator, who is monotheistic, all-powerful, formless, without hate, and present throughout all creation.

Mukti

Liberation from the cycle of reincarnation in Sikhism, resulting in the eternal spiritual reunion of the soul with God.

Dharam

The righteous and moral life path that Sikhs are spiritually obligated to pursue.

Chardi Kala

A central Sikh principle signifying persistent optimism, dignity, and elevated spirits even when facing oppression or adversity.

Guru

A spiritual guide or teacher; in Sikh theology, it specifically denotes the voice of God communicating directly through an enlightened guide.

Guru Granth Sahib

The sacred scripture of Sikhism, compiled by the 5th Guru and designated by Guru Gobind Singh in 1708 as the perpetual, living spiritual authority of the faith.

Gurudwara

A Sikh place of worship, meaning 'door to the Guru,' where the Guru Granth Sahib is enshrined and congregational worship takes place.

Langar

The free community kitchen established by Guru Nanak, where individuals of every caste, faith, wealth, and gender sit side by side on the floor to share a vegetarian meal.

Seva

Selfless service offered to others and the community without any desire for personal gain or recognition.

Kirat Karo

One of the three core pillars of Sikhism, requiring every Sikh to earn an honest livelihood through hard and ethical work.

Wand Ke Chhako

One of the three core pillars of Sikhism, instructing Sikhs to share their earnings, food, and resources with the needy and broader community.

Naam Jappo

One of the three core pillars of Sikhism, requiring continual meditation on God's name and maintaining divine remembrance throughout daily life.

Kirtan

The devotional singing and chanting of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib set to classical musical measures to foster direct communion with God.

Singh and Kaur

Titles adopted by Sikhs ('Singh' meaning lion for men, 'Kaur' meaning princess for women) to dismantle caste identifiers and affirm gender and social equality.

Udasi

Long spiritual missionary journeys undertaken by Guru Nanak Dev Ji to challenge religious dogmatism, eradicate caste prejudices, and preach universal brotherhood.

Five K's

The five physical articles of faith worn by baptized Sikhs: Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (wooden comb), Kara (iron/steel bracelet), Kachera (cotton shorts), and Kirpan (ceremonial sword).

Kesh

The Sikh practice of keeping bodily hair uncut as an outward sign of dedication, holiness, acceptance of God's creation, and renunciation of vanity.

Kangha

A small wooden comb tucked into the hair, worn by Sikhs to symbolize discipline, physical neatness, and bodily hygiene.

Kara

An unadorned circular steel bracelet worn on the wrist, symbolizing moral restraint, the eternal nature of God, and belonging to the Sikh community.

Kachera

Tailored white cotton undergarment shorts worn above the knee, symbolizing moral chastity, self-control, and ready action.

Kirpan

A curved ceremonial sword or dagger worn by Sikhs as a constant reminder to defend justice, protect the vulnerable, and resist oppression.

Khanda

The sacred emblem of Sikhism comprising a central double-edged sword (belief in One God), a circular Chakkar (God's infinite eternity), and two crossed outer kirpans (spiritual and temporal authority).

Haumai

Egoism and self-centered pride in Sikh philosophy, identified as the primary barrier that binds humanity to earthly vices and separates the soul from God.