Asian Religions Exam 4

hīnayāna

"Lesser Vehicle"; a pejorative term used by Mahāyāna Buddhists to describe early schools emphasizing individual enlightenment.

vajrayāna

"Diamond Vehicle"; a Tibetan form of Buddhism emphasizing esoteric rituals, mantras, and the guidance of a guru.

sūtra

A sacred scripture or discourse attributed to the Buddha or other enlightened beings in Buddhist traditions.

Tönpa Shenrap

Legendary founder of Yungdrung Bön, the pre-Buddhist spiritual tradition of Tibet.

ek omkar

Sikh phrase meaning "One Supreme Reality"; symbolizes the oneness of God.

Adi Granth

The primary scripture of Sikhism, also known as Guru Granth Sahib when installed as the eternal Guru.

langar

A community kitchen in Sikhism that serves free meals to all, promoting equality and service.

kami

Spirits or deities in Shinto believed to inhabit natural elements, ancestors, and sacred places.

Ise Grand Shrine

the most sacred Shinto shrine dedicated to Amaterasu, the sun goddess.

chanoyu

The Japanese "tea ceremony," a ritualized preparation and consumption of tea rooted in Zen aesthetics.

yamabushi

Ascetic mountain hermits in Japan who practice Shugendō, blending Buddhism, Shinto, and Taoism.

mahāyāna

"Great Vehicle"; a major branch of Buddhism emphasizing compassion and universal salvation.

maṇḍala

A symbolic diagram used in meditation and ritual, representing the universe in Vajrayāna Buddhism.

tantra

Esoteric teachings and practices in Vajrayāna Buddhism involving rituals, visualizations, and mantras.

Yungdrung Bön

An ancient Tibetan religious tradition predating Buddhism, centered on Tönpa Shenrap's teachings.

Guru Nanak

Founder of Sikhism, who taught devotion to one God and equality of all people.

Guru Gobind Singh

The 10th Sikh Guru who established the Khalsa and declared the Guru Granth Sahib as the final Guru.

gurudwara

A Sikh place of worship where scripture is read and langar is served.

Amaterasu

The Shinto sun goddess and mythological ancestor of Japan's imperial family.

haiku

A traditional Japanese three-line poem with a 5-7-5 syllable structure, often focused on nature.

Shugendō

A Japanese spiritual tradition blending Buddhism, Shinto, and Taoist practices focused on mountain asceticism.

Mount Ōmine

A sacred mountain in Japan associated with Shugendō, known for ascetic training and pilgrimage.