RELS 264 Flashcards & Terms

Study guide for Asian religions exam, RELS 264:

Terms you need to know:

Vedas, Upanishads, reincarnation, karma, samsara, moksha, preya, shreya, Atman

Brahman, buddha, 4 Noble Truths, dukkha, impermanence, meditation, Mahayana, Therevada, bodhisattva, tulku, nirvana, bardo, phowa, Rigpa, sipa, sky burial, syncretism, filial piety, yin soul v. yang soul, Tao (also spelled Dao), Confucianism, Taoism (Daoism), religious v. philosophical Daoism, ancestor worship

Names you need to know (who are they, what religion they’re associated with):

Siddhartha Gautama, Naciketas (also spelled Naciketa and Nachiketas), Yama, Agni, Confucius, Lao Tzu (also spelled Laozi)

And also these characters from Jacob’s Ladder:

Jake, Jezzie, Sarah, Louie, Gabe

Other concepts to know:

The basic rituals associated with Hindu, Sikh, Tibetan Buddhist, and Chinese funeral rites

Possible Short Essay questions: 

1. Explain the Hindu concept of the true self and the pathway for attaining knowledge of the true self, according to the readings/discussions we had about the Katha Upanishad. In your explanation, be sure to refer to the story of Naciketas and Lord Yama in the Katha Upanishad, especially the chariot metaphor. Also be sure to define/explain important terms that you use—don’t assume I know anything about the tradition.

2. What happens in the bardo state, according to Lennon and Rinpoche? What are the three specific stages of the bardo state? (Be sure to define any terms—don’t assume I know anything about the tradition). Where do we see examples of the bardo state in Jacob’s Ladder? You should talk about three specific characters or scenes and explain exactly how they illustrate the three different stages of the bardo state.