Hinduism/Buddhism Vocabulary

Name: ______Date: ______Hinduism, Buddhism & Indian Empires Vocabulary Ms. Carey

Hinduism: The largest religion of the Indian subcontinent. It is currently the world’s 3rd largest religion. There is no single founder – a result of overlapping beliefs of the Aryan invaders and Cultural Diffusion.

Caste In traditional Indian society, unchangeable social group into which a person is System: born and cannot leave until they die and are reincarnated into another caste. It is a form of social control. A person’s caste determines what job they will hold, where they can live and who they will marry.

Reincarnation: In Hinduism and Buddhism, the process by which a soul is reborn continuously until it achieves perfect understanding.

Karma: Both Hindus and Buddhists believe that a person’s actions during their lifetime will affect a person’s fate in the next life. Ex: “What comes around goes around.”

Dharma: Both Hindus and Buddhists believe that individuals have both religious and moral duties or rules that they have to follow.

Atman: Hindu word for soul.

Moksha: In Hinduism, freedom from the endless cycle of rebirth into a state of bliss, union with Brahman. This is the ultimate goal of life. (When your soul has achieved perfection and stops reincarnating)

Ahisma: Hindu belief in nonviolence.

Brahama: A Hindu god considered the creator of the world.

Vishnu: A Hindu god considered the preserver of the world.

Shiva: A Hindu god considered the destroyer of the world.

Vedas, The entire body of Sacred Writings or Texts of Hinduism. Upanishads: Jainism: A religion founded in India in the sixth century BC, whose members believe that everything in the universe has a soul and therefore should not be harmed.

Buddhism: A religion founded in the Indian subcontinent, it is largely based on the teachings, traditions, practices and beliefs of Siddhartha Gautama

Siddhartha The founder of Buddhism, known as the Buddha (“awakened one” / Gautama: “enlightened one”)

Tripitaka “Three Baskets of Wisdom” The Sacred Writings or Text of Buddhism

Enlightenment In Buddhism, a state of perfect wisdom in which one understands basic truths about the universe.

Nirvana: In Buddhism, the release from pain and suffering achieved after enlightenment.

Four Nobel In Buddhism, the precepts that are the essence of the Buddha's teaching: Truths: that life is suffering, that desires cause suffering, that the annihilation of desires can relieve suffering, that the way to do this is by following the Eightfold Path; also written Four Noble Truths.

Eightfold The Middle Way and part of the Four Noble Truths that the Buddha taught Path: as the path to nirvana or enlightenment and consisting of Right View/Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration; also called Noble Eightfold Path.

Mauryan The first empire in India, founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 321 BC. Empire: Asoka: Ruler of the Mauryan Empire who ruled during the Empire’s golden age.

Religious A recognition of people’s right to hold differing religious beliefs. toleration: Gupta The second empire in India, founded by Chandra Gupta I in AD 320. Which Empire: experiences a “Golden Age”.

Patriarchal: Relating to a social system in which the father is head of the family.

Matriarchal: Relating to a social system in which the mother is head of the family.

Silk Roads: A system of ancient caravan routes across Central Asia to the Roman Empire, along which traders carried silk and other trade goods. **Example of cultural diffusion**