HINDUISM

BRAHMAN Brahman is the Supreme Reality (God) for Hindus. Universal Self and womb of all beings, considered the spiritual essence of all life forms.

ATMAN Braham is identical with Atman, the universal essence or spirit within all forms of the created world: plants, animals, and humans alike. Atman-Braham signifies the union of Creator and Created.

DHARMA Dharma defines the proper actions expected of us in this life (personal) and the rules and laws that govern the social order, including the particular duties of each caste.

DHARMA The purpose of dharma is to uplift us from earthly or selfish concerns and to tie us to the universal order of things.

DHARMA One’s religious obligations include such things as the proper conduct of rulers, ethics, dietary laws, daily rituals, sacrifices and marriage laws, and codified in the Code of Manu.

KARMA Along with dharma, karma is one of the major laws that govern life in this world. Karma is the ultimate in moral responsibility: the “buck stops here” – with one’s self

KARMA Karma is the moral law of cause and effect. All thoughts, gestures, decisions and actions are released into the world of creation and come back to us. You reap what you sow. Every action reaps an appropriate reward, either in this life or the next.

REINCARNATION or TRANSMIGRATION These terms are used almost synonymously to refer to the continual rebirth of the soul, or Atman, into new bodies or forms of life appropriate to one’s previous karma.

REINCARNATION or TRANSMIGRATION This process continues for millions of years until the Atman no longer identifies with the form of its birth, but with the origin (Brahman). At that point, it is released from the continual round of rebirths (samsara) and achieves moksha – liberation from samsara.

REINCARNATION or TRANSMIGRATION Reincarnation assumes a cyclical process of history in which the Atman is born into a body. Grows, dies, and is reborn into another body. How do you know your previous or subsequent births? You don’t.

YOGA There are several yogas or disciplines practiced to achieve moksha. Yogas chart paths to the goal of ultimate union with the Supreme.

YOGA The West is most familiar with Hatha yoga, the discipline of body postures (asanas) and breath control (prana). A yogi is one who is adept at yoga.

NIRVANA The supreme bliss characterized as perfect peace, knowledge, and joy, Nirvana would be the condition of union with the Supreme, Brahman, and the goal of Hinduism.

SAMADHI A trance-like consciousness in which union with Brahman is experienced, usually as a result of intense meditation. This state is the ultimate fruit of yoga (particularly Raja yoga)

CASTE The 4 Castes: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Shudra Each case has particular duties (dharma)& occupations to assure balance within society. Once born into a caste, you stay in it for life.

CASTE Brahmin Priests, scholars, teachers Kshatriya Rulers, administrators, warriors

CASTE Vaisya Shudra Merchants Artisans Craftsmen Laborers and servants to all

CASTE Untouchables Outcasts who merited no place in the four legitimate castes because they were products of mixed caste union, foreigners, or handled polluted objects, such as dead bodies. They represented a threat to the Hindu social order and are physically segregated.

GUNAS The Powers or forms of energy particular to each of the castes as described in the Hindu creation stories found in the Puranas. Satwa = Understasnding Rajas = Strength & Courage Tamas = Energy & Enterprise

PUJA Ritual worship of one or several of the many forms of God popular in Hinduism. Puja involves offering sacrifices like fruit, flowers, incense, grains, or ghee (clarified butter).

TRIMURTI Three-fold nature of Brahman as a composite of three forms of energy. All are part of the cycles of birth, growth, death and rebirth Similar to the Trinity of Christianity

TRIMURTI Each form is referred to as a deity, or a divine one Brahma, the Creator Vishnu, the Preserver Shiva, the Destroyer or Dissolver

SHAKTI Divine female power personified as a goddess or consort of Lord Shiva. Shaktism exalts the worship of the divine female energy in one of the manifestations of the Great Goddess It is particular to northeastern India

SHAKTI Shakti can take several forms: Parvati, Shiva’s mate Durga, a beautiful, female warrior-goddess Kali, a fierce, bloodthirsty form of the power