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101 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Nyaya |
means "analysis"; started ca. 200 BC - 200 AD...central focus is epistemological |
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Vaisheshika |
"school of atomism, or individual characteristics"...central focus = distinction between soul and matter..soul must free itself from matter |
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Sankhya |
means "enumeration or count." Might be the oldest tradition. An innumerable amount of souls are entangled in matter...souls must escape matter |
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Yoga |
means "discipline"; famous for physical and spiritual exercises...shares metaphysics of the Sankhya school |
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Mimamsa |
means "enquiry"; 1) stresses the systematic study of the Vedic texts, 2) regard said texts as eternal, and 3) concentrates of vedic ritual. |
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Vedantic |
means "the end of knowledge"; focuses on achieving moksha upon the realization that there is no distinction between the self and the cosmic self (Brahman). |
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Advaita vedanta |
A school within the Vedantic tradition; stems from the teachings of Shankara (ca. 9th century). He taught strict non-dualism, i.e. pantheism |
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Vishisht advaita |
A school within the Vedantic tradition; developed from the teachings of Ramanuja (cf. 11th century); focused on loving and worshipping God, resulting in 'qualified non-dualism' |
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Dvaita |
A school within the Vedantic tradition; inspired by the overly dualist teachings of Madhva (ca. 13th century) |
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Vedic period |
ca. 1500-600 BC; the fundamental elements of Hindu theology and philosophy formed. |
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Agni |
the god of fire, linked with sacrifice |
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Indra |
the warrior god, linked with thunder |
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Varuna |
the god of the sky, linked with the day and water |
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Rudra |
the mountain god |
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Dyauspitr |
the father of heaven |
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Surya |
the god of the sun |
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Brahman |
the cosmic soul, the highest deity |
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Vishnu |
the god who controls the fate of humans |
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Shiva |
the destroyer god, a source of both good and evil |
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Sarasvati |
consort to Brahman and the goddess of knowledge and truth |
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Lakshimi |
wife of Vishnu and the goddess of fortune and beauty |
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Chaitra |
March-April |
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Vaisakha |
April-May |
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Jyaistha |
May-June |
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Asadha |
June-July |
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Dvitya Asadha |
(certain leap years) |
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Sravana |
July-August |
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Dvitya Sravana |
(certain leap years) |
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Bhadrapada |
August-September |
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Asvina |
September-October |
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Kartikka |
October-November |
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Margasirsa |
November-December |
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Pausa |
December-January |
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Magha |
January-February |
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Phalguna |
February-March |
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Ramanavami (Lord Rama's birthday) |
Chaitra S 9 |
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Rathayatra (Pilgrimage of the Chariot at Jagannath) |
Asadha S 2 |
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Jhulanayatra ("Swinging the Lord Krishna") |
Sravana S 11-15 |
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Rakshabandhana ("Tying on Lucky Threads") |
Sravana S 15 |
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Janamashtami (Birthday of Lord Krishna) |
Bhadrapada K 8 |
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Navaratri (Festival of "Nine Nights") |
Asvina S 1-10 |
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Lakshmi-puja (Homage to the goddess Lakshmi) |
Asvina S 15 |
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Diwali, Dipavali ("String of Lights") |
Asvina K 15 |
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Maha-sivaratri (Great Night of Lord Shiva) |
Magha K 13 |
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Holi (Festival of Fire) |
Phalguna S 14 |
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Ahimsa |
The principle of non-violence and non-injury to living creatures |
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Aryans |
Migrating groups of Eastern Europeans who settled in India (ca. 2000-1500 BC) |
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Atman |
The real self which is linked to Brahman |
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Brahman |
The cosmic soul; the highest deity |
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Brahmins |
The priestly caste, which is the highest caste in Hinduism |
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Indus Valley |
The site of a highly developed civilization in India, dating from ca. 2500 BC |
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Krishna |
(or Krsna) One of the most popular gods in Hinduism. In later Hindu theology, Krishna was considered an avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu. |
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Oblation |
A sacrifice; an offering |
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Sages |
Wise people |
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Samadhi |
A deep trance that can provide a foretaste of heavenly unity with the Lord. |
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Samsara |
The interconnected process of birth and rebirth. |
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Shiva |
The destroyer god, a source of both good and evil. |
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Soma |
The Hindu deity of an intoxicating plant, which was used during Hindu worship. |
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Swami |
Lord, master; the term used for a Hindu teacher. |
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Upanishads |
The writings that were written by Hindu gurus over the period between 800 and 300 BC |
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Veda |
Literally, "knowledge." There are four collections of the Vedas, which form a central part of the Hindu scriptures. |
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Vedantic philosophy |
Vedantic is the "culmination of the Vedas." This term describes the tradition emerging from the Vedas. |
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Vishnu |
An important Hindu god. Literally, "the all-pervasive one." |
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Yogi |
A Hindu who practices the Yoga system. Yoga (discipline) can lead to moksha. |
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Ahimsa (Jainism) |
Practice of non-violence and respect for all living, sentient beings. |
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Jain |
Literally "conqueror" -- one who has overcome attachments that obscure knowledge and prevent freedom of the soul |
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Digambara |
Literally, "sky-clad." One of Jainism's two major sects that is more conservative. Monks in this sect often forgo clothing and women are believed to be incapable of attaining liberation. |
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Karma (Jainism) |
Obstacles that stand the way of spiritual liberation; attachments to worldly realities. |
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Mahavira |
Indian-born prince (ca. 599-527) who was the last of twenty-four Tirthankaras to break the karmic cycle and attain enlightenment |
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Mantra |
A focused meditative chant. |
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Puja |
Embodied prayer involving movement and chanting. |
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Samanis |
Female Jains who assume a semi-monastic status by taking vows. They lead an ascetic lifestyle while also traveling and teaching about Jainism. |
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Svetambara |
Literally, "white-clad." One of Jainism's two major sects that is more liberal -- allowing monks to wear white clothing and women to be ordained as nuns. |
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Three jewels |
Spiritual concepts meant to keep a person "on track" for spiritual liberation -- Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct. |
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Tirthankara |
Jain God who through meditation and self-realization conquers obstacles to spiritual liberation, such as greed, evil, lust, and attachment, and is a model of Right Faith, Knowledge, and Conduct for other followers. |
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Mahavira Jayanti |
To mark the day of Mahavira's birth. |
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Paryushana |
An opportunity for repentance, reflection, and fasting. |
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Mauna Agyaras |
A day of silence and fasting. |
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Four Noble Truths |
1) There is suffering; 2) The cause of suffering is desire; 3) Cease desiring and you will cease suffering; 4) The eightfold path leads to the cessation of suffering. |
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Eightfold Path |
Right View, Right Effort, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Means of Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration |
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Parinirvana |
15 February |
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Puja (Buddha's birthday) |
8 April |
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Wesak/Viasakha |
16 May |
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Padmasambhava Day |
10 July |
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Dhamma Day/Asala |
14 July |
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Sangha Day |
10 November |
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Bodhi Day |
8 December |
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Arahat |
A person who has reached absolute holiness -- the ideal of the Theravada group. |
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Bhikkhus |
Monks |
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Bhikkhunis |
Nuns |
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Bodhisattva |
Literally, "an enlightened being." Those about to become buddhas (i.e. enlightened ones) have this title. |
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Dharma (or dhamma) |
The buddhist teaching |
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Dukkha |
Suffering or stress. |
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Enlightenment |
A state beyond suffering, when the forces of greed, hatred, and delusion no longer have any power over a person. |
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Gotama (Gautama) |
The clan name of the founder of Buddhism, who lived in Northern India during the sixth century BC |
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Nirdanas (or nidanas) |
Causes. The heart of Buddhist philosophy. The Chain of Simultaneous Dependent Originations. |
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Nirvana (nibbana) |
The ultimate goal for a Buddhist. The "blowing out" of greed, hatred, and delusion. |
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Paramita |
Perfection. There are six (or ten) stages to perfection for the Bodhisattsva to take to Buddhahood |
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Sangha |
The Buddhist community. |
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Samsara |
The interconnected nature of the world; the cycle of rebirth. |
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Siddha |
The perfect ones. |