Flashcards world religion "Test II: Buddhism, Sikhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto"

anatman

"No-self" The Buddha's doctrine that there is no independent and eternal self or soul underlying personal existence.

arhat

In Theravada Buddhism, one who has attained nirvana and is not subject to rebirth.

bodhisattva

a person who has attained enlightenment but who has postponed nirvana in order to help others achieve enlightenment

Buddha

enlightened one

buddha nature

In Mahayana Buddhism this refers to the fundamental nature of all beings, which means that all beings can attain Buddhahood

Chan Buddhism/Zen Buddhism

The Chinese/Japanese name for a Mahayana school that emphasizes meditation over doctrine.

Dharma

the teachings of the Buddha

dukkha

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

emptiness/shunyata

A Mahayana doctrine according to which all things are empty of any inherent existence.

Four Noble Truths

The four truths that are the basis of the Dharma in Buddhism: 1. suffering is inherent in human life

2. suffering is caused by desire

3. there can be an end to desire

4. the way to end desire is the Noble Eightfold Path

Interdependent Origination

the doctrine that reality is a complex of interrelated and interdependent phenomena in which nothing exists independently; instead, the origination of all things depends on other things

karma

"intentional action" and its consequences

lama

In Tibetan Buddhism, a teacher.

Mahayana Buddhism

the form of Buddhism most prominent in China, Tibet, Mongolia, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

mandala

a geometric figure representing the universe in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism.

mantra

a word or sound thought to have spiritual power

Middle Way

the eightfold path of Buddhism between indulgence and asceticism.

Nichiren Buddhism

A form of Mahayana Buddhism with origins in Japan

nirvana

The ultimate goal of all Buddhists, the extinction of desire and any sense of individual selfhood, resulting in liberation from samsara and its limiting conditions

Noble Eightfold Path

The Buddha's prescription for a way of life that leads to enlightenment. Based on the principle of the Middle Way, it is also defined by eight virtues.

Pali Canon (Tripitaka)

the Theravada canon of Buddhist texts consisting of three baskets of sutras

parinirvana

the full entry into nirvana that occurs at the death of one who has achieved nirvana in his or her lifetime

Pure Land Buddhism

A form of Mahayana Buddhism based on the belief in Amitabha Buddha

samsara

the cycle of life and rebirth in Hinduism

sangha

The Buddhist community of monks and nuns.

skandhas

transitory phenomena that give rise to a sense of self

skillful means

The Mahayana doctrine that in teaching or demonstrating the Dharma one should adapt one's words and actions to the needs of one's audience

stupas

mounded stone structures built over holy relics

sutra

a sacred text, especially one said to record the words of the Buddha

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

Three Refuges/Three Jewels

Buddha, Dharma, Sangha

Tiantei Buddhism

Known as Tendai in Japan. Tiantai is a form of Mahayana Buddhism with origins in China.

trikaya

the three bodies of the buddha

Vajrayana Buddhism

Literally "Diamond Vehicle," it is the prominent branch of Mahayana Buddhism in Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and Mongolia.

Adi Granth

Sikhism's most sacred text

amrit

A special drink made from water and sugar crystals, used in the Khalsa initiation ceremony.

gurdwara

Sikh place of worship

guru

a Sikh, Hindu, or Buddhist religious leader and spiritual teacher

haumai

Human inclination toward being self-centered rather than God-centered

hukam

the divine order of the universe

Khalsa

"Pure ones." An order within Sikhism to which most Sikhs belong, founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699

langar

The term for both the community kitchen and the meal that is prepared there and served to all present in the congregation

mukti

Spiritual liberation bringing on the eternal and infinitely blissful state of being in the presence of God; sometimes the Sanskrit term moksha is used instead

Mul Mantra

The summary of Sikh doctrine that comprises the opening lines of the Japji, Guru Nanak's composition that in turn comprises the opening section of the Adi Granth.

Panth

the Sikh community

Rahit

The code of conduct for the Khalsa

dan

a pill, the essence of immortality

dantian

"Fields for the refinement of the immortal pill"; major nodal points in the human body where the "pill" of immortality can be refined through alchemical means.

Dao

A fundamental concept in Chinese religion, literally meaning the "path" or the "way." In Confucianism, it specifically refers to the entire ideal human order ordained by the numinous Absolute, Tian. In Daoism, it is the primary source of the cosmos, the very ground of all beings.

Daodejing

Foundational Daoist text purportedly written by Laozi

de

Another fundamental concept in Chinese religions, meaning "virtue" or "potency." In Confucianism, it is the charismatic power of the ruler or the man of virtue, while in Daoism it means the concrete manifestation of the Dao.

fangshi

"Magicians" who allegedly possessed the recipe for immortality.

Five Classics

The five canonical works of Confucianism designated in the Han Dynasty. They are Book of Odes, Book of History, Book of Changes, Record of Rites, and Spring and Autumn Annals.

Four Books

The four texts identified by the Neo-Confucian Zhu Xi as fundamental in understanding the Confucian teaching. Between 1313 and 1905, they made up the curriculum for the civil service examination. They are Analects, Mencius, Great Learning, and Doctrine of the Mean.

gui

ghosts and demons, malevolent spirits

jiao

Daoist communal sacrificial offerings to signal cosmic renewal and collective cohesion

junzi

The personality ideal in Confucianism; the noble person

li

etiquette and proper manners; rituals and holy rites

neidan

Daoist "internal" alchemy designed to attain immortality through meditation, breath control, gymnastics, diet, and massage

neisheng waiwang

Neo-Confucian ideal of "inner sagely moral perfection and outer political skills."

qi

breath, force, power, material energy

ren

Human-heartedness, benevolence; the unique moral inclination of humans.

ru

Scribes and ritual performers of the Zhou period; later used exclusively to refer to Confucians.

Shangdi

The August Lord on High of the Shang period.

shen

Gods and deities; benevolent spirits

shengren

The Confucian sage, the epitome of humanity.

shi

Men of service; lower-ranking civil and military officials in the Zhou period.

Tian

The transcendent, numinous entity in ancient Chinese religion; the conscious Will that regulates the cosmos and intervenes in human affairs; conventionally translated as "Heaven."

Tianming (ming)

The mandate or command of Tian that confers political legitimacy to the ruler; also understood by Confucians as the calling to morally improve oneself and to transform the world.

Tianshi

"Celestial Master"; reference to a Daoist salvational figure, as well as an organized movement

waidan

Daoist "external" alchemy involving refining of "pills" with herbs and minerals for ingestion so that immortality can be attained

wuwei

Daoist notion of action without intention; actionless action

xian

Daoist immortals and perfected individuals

xiao

filial piety; respect and care for parents and ancestors

xinzhai

"Fasting of the Mind" in the Zhuangzi

yang

the south-facing side of a mountain, representing the energy that is bright, warm, dry, and masculine

yangsheng

Daoist techniques of nourishing life and attaining immortality

yin

the north-facing side of a mountain, representing the energy that is dark, cold, wet, and feminine

zhai

Daoist "fasts" designed to seek redemption of transgressions by the gods

ziran

Daoist notion of natural spontaneity

Zuowang

"Sitting and Forgetting" in the Zhuangzi

Amaterasu

Japanese sun goddess

ema

Wooden tablets expressing pleadings to kami for success in life

harae

Shinto purification

Izanagi

The male kami who is the procreator of the Japanese islands.

Izanami

The female kami who is the procreator of the Japanese islands.

jinja

Shinto shrine

kami

a divine being in the Shinto religion.

Kojiki

The earliest chronicle of Japanese ancient myths

matsuri

Shinto religious festival

miko

Unmarried female Shinto shrine attendants.

mikoshi

Portable shrine temporarily housing a Shinto deity.

misogi

The Shinto waterfall purification ritual

Nihon shoki

Chronicles of [the Land Where] the Sun Originates

norito

Invocational prayer offered by Shinto priests to the kami

omikuji

paper fortunes wrapped around tree branches at shrines

shimenawa

huge rope hung in front of the worship sanctuary of a shrine

shintai

The "body" of a kami housed in a shrine or temporarily in a mikoshi

Shinto

"Way of the Kami"; Japanese worship of nature spirits

temizuya

purification fountain at a shrine