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172 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Agni
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Vedic god of fire; personification of fire in its various forms; mediator or priest to men and gods
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Ahmisa
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Noninjury, non violence, noncoercion; a reverence for all life
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Aryans
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A nomadic group that migrated into India in 1800-1500 B.C.E. conquered the Dravidians, and began the caste system
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Ashram
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a community adjacent to ISKCON temple in which members live
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Atman
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eternal self or soul, identical to Brahman; self or inner essence of the universe of man
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Avatar
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descent of the divine; incarnation of Vishnu in different animal and human forms; 10 avatars
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Bhagavad Gita
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"Song celestial" scriptural text form the Mahabharata concerning Krishna, an avatar of the god Vishnu; teaches salvation through devotion; most influential of all Hindu scriptures
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Brahma
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creator god; one of Hindu Trimurti
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Brahman
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absolute; ultimate ground underlying everything; reality that is the source of all being and knowing
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Brahmin
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priests of Hinduism; highest of social castes
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Dravidians
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inhabitants of India who initially lived in Indus valley; conquered by Indo-Aryans
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Durga
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name of Devi, consort of Shiva; mother and warrior
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Ganesha
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"Lord of Ganas" elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati; keeper of space and time; honored at doorway to outset of venture
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Garuda
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mythical sunbird and vehicle of Vishnu
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Hare Krishna
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popular name of Iskcon and its adherents
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Harijan
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"children of God"; outcastes of India who were given this name by Ghandi; untouchables
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Indra
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Vedic warrior god; lightening bolt; liberator from obstructive forces
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International Society for Krishna Consciousness
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movement centered in devotion to Krishna; Supreme lord worshiped through service, study , meditation and chanting
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Kali
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Divine mother; goddess of destruction; mother of life and destroyer; consort of Shiva
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Kalki
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10th avatar of Vishnu; messianic figure who will come to restore Dharma and destroy wicked at the end of current Kalpa stage of world
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Kalpa
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age of eon; one day of Brahma; 4,320 million years; destroyed at end of kalpa by Shiva
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Karma
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moral law of cause and effect; law by which next incarnation is determined
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Krishna
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8th avatar of Vishnu; cosmic force of goodness restored dharma; teachings found in Bhagvad Gita
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Kshatriya
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member of warrior caste; second caste of Hindu social structure; heroic, high spirited, resolute, able, not fleeing in battle, giving, lords
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Kurma
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second avatar of Vishnu - tortoise
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Lingam
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phallic symbol through which Shiva is worshiped as god of fertility
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Maha-mantra
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great mantra chanted by adherents of ISKCON
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Manu
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father of humanity; Hindu equivalent of Adam, first man; wrote laws of Manu
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Matsya
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first avatar of Vishnu, fish
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Maya
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illusion that there is a reality apart from that of Brahman-Atman
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Moksha
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technique of transcending the senses to bring one to release, release itself; name of fourth permissible goal in life
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Nandi
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white bull Shiva rides upon, makes music to which his master dances
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Narasimha
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fourth avatar of Vishnu, man lion
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Nataraja
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"Lord of the dance",incarnation of Shiva who will appear at the end of the present age; destroy ignorance through dancing
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Nirvana
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oneness with Brahman-Atman which extinguishes sense of individuality when one is released from the cycle of reincarnation
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Parasurama
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sixth avatar of Vishnu, often depicted as Rama with ax
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Parvati
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on of the consorts of Shiva
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Radha
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wife of Krishna; love between them sometimes represents the individual soul and world soul
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Rama
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seventh avatar of Vishnu; popular Hindu god; model of righteousness; great hero of Ramayana
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Ramayana
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Hindu scripture telling story of heroic exploits of Rama, avatar of god Vishnu
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Rig Veda
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India's first religious text, one of four Vedas, product of Indo-Aryan thought
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Rudras
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Vedic gods; terrible gods of storms; mentioned as group and single god
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Samadhi
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experience of oneness with Brahman-Atman attainable in this life; experience of enlightenment which guarantees release from round of rebirths and deaths
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Samsara
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cycle of rebirths
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Srasvati
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name of sacred river, wife of Brahma, goddess of knowledge, learning, holy speech, and music
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Sesha
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serpent on whom Vishnu is often depicited as reclining
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Shakti
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power or energy; female active power of god. which assumes the creative functional personified as wife of Shiva
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Shaktism
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worship of Shakti, wife of Shiva
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Shiva
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destroyer, third member of Trimurti
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Shruti
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body of primary revelation in the Hindu scriptural canon; the Four Vedas, Upanishads, Aranyakas, Brahmanas
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Siddhartha Gautama
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Indian prince who founded Buddhism; 9th avatar of Vishnu
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Smriti
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Hindu scripture not comprised in Shruti; codes of Manu, mahabharata
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Soma
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drink used in Vedic ritual; drink of the gods
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Sudra
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fourth Hindu caste; slaves, servants, menial workers
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Trimurti
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Hindu trinity of gods: Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), Shiva (destroyer)
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Uma
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consort of Shiva
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Upanishads
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ancient mystical documents found at end of each of four Vedas
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Vaishya
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member of third Hindu caste, merchant; soil, agriculture, trade
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Vajra
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lightening bold controlled by Indra, atmospheric god
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Vamana
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5th avatar of vishnu, dwarf
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Varaha
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Vedic god of natural and moral law, sky god in earliest times
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Vedas
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scriptural books of hymns, charms, formulas use in Hindu worship; oldest Hindu scriptures
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Vishnu
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2nd god in Trimurti; personal expression of Brahman-Atman; avatars Krishna and Rama
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Vritra
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dragon or snake who retained waters and was slain by Indra
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Ahimsa
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principle of non-injury, respect for all life
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Angabahya
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scriptural readings containing of Jain leaders; renunciation and enlightenment of Mahavira; Svetambara Jains
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Angas
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"limbs"; central scriptures of Svetambara Jainism
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Digambara
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"Sky-clad" refers to Jain monks who wander naked
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Himsa
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violence, injury to life
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Jina
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"conqueror" or victor; one who has attained enlightenment; Jainism is derived from it; syn. with tirthankara
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Jiva
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spirit contained within all living things, human, animal or plant
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Karma-matter
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substance that contaminates a person's soul because of evil deeds; causes soul to sink on scale of univ. existence
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Kevala-jñana
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enlightenment, involves gaining infinite knowledge
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Mahavira
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title of founder of Jainism, "great one"; also known as Vardhamana
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Monad
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human soul
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Nigantha Nataputta
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another name for Mahavira found in Buddhist literature
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Patna
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village near site of Mahavira's death; holy place to Jains; focus of pilgrimage
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Sadhu
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Jain monk
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Siddhanta
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sole body of Digambra Jain scripture
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Surabhi
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first cow in Jain mythology; one of original treasures to appear on earth
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Svetambara
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"white-clad" refers to Jain monks who wear white robes or loin cloths
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Tirthankara
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"ford-finder"; Mahavira considered 24th and last "ford-finder" of this eon; found the way to gain release and has shown it to others
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Gautama
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Buddha's family name, "on earth most victorious:; Brahmin name, clan was of Kshatriya (warrior) caste
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Siddhartha
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Buddha's given name; short for Sarvartthassiddha "realization of all desires"
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Sakyamuni
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Stage of the Sakyas; title applied to the Buddha by those outside clan; name of clan to which Buddha belonged; chieftains led by rajas (Buddha's Father); monogamous and did not realize caste rules
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Vairocana (Other)
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personification of essential bodhi, or enlightenment
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Maitreya (Other)
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bodhisattva in the Buddha of the future
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Amitabha (Other)
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Buddha of infinite light, lord of the Western land
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Avaloskitesvara (Other)
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bodhisattva of mercy; vase of water, willow branch, lotus
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Bhaisajyaguru (Other)
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Buddha of medicine and light of paradise in the east; patra (alms bowl), fruit known as "buddha fingers"
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Theravda, Hinayana (school)
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"way of the elders"; most closely approximates teachings of Buddha; self-help; SE Asia
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Mahayana (school)
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"Greater vehicle" contains multitude of helping beings who assist worshipers off the wheel into heavenly realm
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Vjrayana (School)
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"Vehicle of Thunderbolt; adherents expect to attain enlightenment through magical power; NE Asia, Tibet, Mongolia, Lamaism
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Ahimsa
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refraining from destroying life
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Arhat, Lohan, Rakan
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disciple of Buddha; saint, monk; one who is close to enlightenment, enlightened
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Bodhi
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fig tree, symbolic of enlightenment, where Buddha was enlightened
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Bodhisattva
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Buddha-to-be
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Dai Gohonzon
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mandala upon which is written mantra embodying central place of the lotus Sutra in Nichiren tradition
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Dyana, Zen
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meditation sect spread through Chin in 6th century CE
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Eightfold Middle Path (VALETS, MC)
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method taught by Buddha for moral and intellectual self-development and enlightenment: 1) right views, 2) right thought, 3) right speech, 4) right action, 5) right livelihood, 6) right effort, 7) right mindfulness, 8) right concentration
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Four Noble Truths
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1) life is painful, 2) egotistic desire causes suffering, 3) elimination of desire brings cessation of sufferings, 4) way to elimination of desire is Eightfold middle path
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Jataka tales
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"other lives"; "birth stories" tales told by Buddha of his previous lies; spiritual qualities that will blossom into Buddhahood
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Jodo Shinshu
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Japanese Buddhism; "True Pure Land"; teaches devotion as a compassionate lord
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Karma
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law of cause and effect; does not bind man to wheel in Buddhism
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Koans
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Riddles, not solvable by rational thought, Soto Zens use for enlightenment
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Kosen Rufu
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Nichiren thought, world peace in broad sense of universal harmony between nature and humans
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Lotus
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flower symbolizing female principle of self-creation; procreative powers; every Buddha supported by a lotus flower; indicative of divine birth
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Lotus Sutra
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central scripture of Nichiren tradition
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Maitreya
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Buddha-to-be prophesied in Mahayana Buddhism
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Mandala
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ritual or magic circle; diagram used in invocations, meditation and temple services in Tibet
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Mantra
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chant used in meditation and other spiritual disciplines to draw worshiper closer to ultimate
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Nichiren Diashonin (1222-1282)
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Founder of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism, of Nichiren Shoshu of America in the United States
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Nichiren Shoshu
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Buddhist movement dedicated to helping its adherents achieve the highest state of life, buddha nature, through chanting lotus sutra
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Nirvana
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release from limitations of existence; escape from life by overcoming its attractions (Theravda); exhaltation of saints (Mahayana)
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Nyingmapa
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form of Tibetan Buddhism teaching; humans are energy and through meditation, yoga and prayer we can learn how to expend energy wiseley; red hat lamas
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Padma Sambhava
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founder of Nyingmapa Tibetan Buddhism
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Rinzai
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Zen Buddhist school that regards enlightenment as sudden epiphany
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Roshi
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teacher of Zen Buddhism
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Sangha
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Buddhist order of monks founded by Buddha himself
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Satori
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Enlightenment
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Shinran Shonin
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founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism
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Sho-Hondo
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Grand Main Temple of Nichiren Shosho, Dai Gohonzon is housed
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Soto
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Zen Buddhist school that believes enlightenment to be a gradual requirement; opposite of Rinzai
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Stupa
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mound of earth or brick in which the bodies or ashes of prominent persons are deposited; called dagobas if not part of building
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Sutra
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thread or string on which jewels are strung; applied to Pali cannon of dialogues or discourses of Buddha
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Tripitaka
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foundational scriptures, "Three baskets"; 1) Rules of Sangha, 2) Teachings of Buddha, 3) Esoteric knowledge
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Vajra
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"Vehicle of the thunderbolt"; tantric form of Buddhism; Thunderbolt on lotus is union of masculine and feminine, knowledge and principles
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Zen Buddhism
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form of Mahayana Buddhism that seeks enlightenment through meditation
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Adi Granth
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name for Sick scripture; "First book"
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Akal Purakh
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"The eternal one"; god
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Amar Das
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3rd Guru, author of part of Granth
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Amritsar
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location of Golden Temple in Punjab region of NW India
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Anand Karaj
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sick marriage ceremony; "ceremony of bliss"
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Angad
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Nanak's successor and 2nd guru
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Arjun
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5th guru, compiler of Adi Granth, died martyr for the faith
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Gobind Singh
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10th guru; est. Khalsa
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Golden Temple
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temple in Amritsar, sacred to Sikhs
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Granth Sahib
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"The revered book"; original name for Sikh scriptures
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Gurdwara
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place where scriptures have been installed, community centered around Sikh life
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Guru
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spiritual leader; God is only guru; earthly gurus represent divine presence; human vehicles of divine guru
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Guru Granth
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11th guru, delared he would have no successor but the Adi Granth-embodiment of divine guru
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Hargobind
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Son of Arjun, 6th guru; began to strengthen Sikhs militarily after father's martyrdom
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Hari Krishan
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8th guru
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Hari Rai
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7th guru
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Haumai
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pride or innate self
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Ik Oankar
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"One True Name"; God
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Jai Ram
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Nanak's brother-in-law
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Janam-Sakhis
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account of life of Nanak
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Japji
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Early hymns contained in Granth and written by Nanak
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Kabir
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early representative if Sant tradition
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Kachh
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short underdrawers; moral behavior and self control
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Kangha
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comb; control of mind and body
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Kara
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Steel bracelet; oneness with God and unity with man
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Kesh
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uncut hair and beard; spirituality and respect for natural laws
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Khalsa
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Sikh order, "The Purified ones"
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Kirpan
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short dagger, dignity, self defense, just use of power
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Mala
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beads used to say prayers; similar to rosary beads
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Mardana
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minstrel who was Nanak's companion during his preaching tours
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Maya
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beads for prayers; similar to rosary beads
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Mukti
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Release from rounds of birth; Moksha
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Nanak
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founder of Sikhism, first guru
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Nath
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Hindu tradition focusing on interior search for God through practice of hatha yoga
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Punjab
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NW India, home of Sikhs
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Ram Das
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4th guru
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Sangat
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company of illuminated and enlightened souls
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Sant
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Hindu tradition believing in relationship to deity but denying that God has form; deeply influenced Nanak
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Sarab-Loh
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"All steel" Name for God identified with Gobind Singh and identified with sword
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Satnam
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Sikh name for God; "The True Name"
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Seva
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service
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Sikh
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follower of Nanak and disciple
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Simran
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Meditation
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Tegh Bahadur
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9th guru
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