Universe and "ultimate reality", Unchanging/Eternal Reality in and underlying the unending cycles of creation, sustenance and destruction

everyday world that is said to be an illusion, or illusion (which is the illusion of “separateness” of things in the universe), keeps us from seeing the unity of Atman and Brahman

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  • the Primal Human, from whom humanity was created into castes (creation myth)

charioteer in the Bhagavad Gita; 

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  • avatar (human incarnation) of the god Vishnu, who is in turn a manifestation of Brahman.

prince (of the kshatriya caste) in the Bhagavad Gita; faces dilemma between individual desire not to kill cousins and social duty as a warrior

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    • Jnana – path of knowledge (meditation can lead to the insight that Atman is Brahman)
    • Karma – path of action (do your dharma and remain detached from the fruits of your actions)
    • Bhakti – path of devotion (intense love for a god can lead to a union with that god, and hence a union with Brahman)

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  • “the society of the seekers of Brahma” who focused on the one god of Brahma, rejecting polytheism, temple rituals, and caste in an attempt to WESTERNIZE THE RELIGION

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  • “the society of the Aryans” who reinforced orthodox Hinduism, emphasizing Vedic rituals, the accessibility of the Vedas for all, and the process of suddhi (or reconversion to Hinduism for those who had converted to other religions)

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  • 19^th century mystic saint who taught about the harmony of all religions, since in his view they all lead to the same ultimate reality

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  • 20^th-century reformer who worked for Indian independence (or Svaraj, self-rule) from British colonial rule, which was achieved in 1947; known primarily for his emphasis on non-violence (ahimsa), even when resisting injustice; also known for his belief in Satyagraha, or holding on to the truth—the idea that the truth has a force of its own that can take the place of violence

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  • 20^th-century Indian thinker, member of the shudra caste, who critiqued Hinduism for its role in oppressing the lower castes and Gandhi for patronizing the lower castes by calling them harijan (God’s children); also advocated conversion to Buddhism

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    • The Buddha
    • The Dharma (the teachings of the Buddha)
    • The Sangha (the community of Buddhists monks and nuns)

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  • Tripitaka (3 Baskets)
    • Sutras – teachings of the Buddha
    • Vinaya – rules for the monks and laypeople
    • Abhidharma – commentary on the teachings of the Buddha
    • All are scriptures

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  • Theravada – the “Path of the Elders.” Also known as Hinayana, or the “Lesser Vehicle,” by those from the Mahayana traditions.
  • Mahayana – the “Greater Vehicle,” so-called because enlightenment is open to all Buddhists, not just those who enter the monastic life.
  • Vajrayana – the “Diamond Vehicle.” Also known as Tibetan or Tantric Buddhism; led by the Dalai Lama.

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  • Dalai Lama – leader of Tibetan (or Tantric or Vajrayana) Buddhism

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      • – founded by Honan, based on the recitation of the name of Amida Butsu to gain Enlightenment
    • Medieval Japanese Buddhist school

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    • – an esoteric Japanese form of Buddhism, similar to Tibetan Buddhism, based on meditation, mantras, and mudras (hand gestures) as ways to reach Enlightenment

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      • founded by Shinran, based on a single recitation of the name of Amida Butsu and a single recognition of one’s own sinfulness to gain Enlightenment

– the origin of the Japanese Pure Land schools (see above); here, the name is Amitabha Buddha 

It is a product of the Chinese Buddhist schools