Budha and hindu

Brahman

a member of the highest of the four Hindu varnas.

Hinduism

A body of religious and philosophical beliefs and cultural practices native to India and based on a caste system; it is characterized by a belief in reincarnation, by a belief in a supreme being of many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evils;.

Brahma

The Creator; one of the three major deities in the later Hindu pantheon.

Vishnu

The sustainer; a Hindu divinity worshipped as the preserver of worlds.

Shiva

the destroyer; one of the three major divinities in the later Hindu pantheon.

Atman

(a) The life principle, soul, or individual essence.
(b) The universal ego from whom all individual atmans arise.

Reincarnation

embodiment in a new form (especially the reappearance or a person in another form).

Moksha

Release from transmigration, samsara, the round of births and deaths, which occurs after karma has been resolved and nirvikalpa samadhi - realization of the Self, Parasiva - has been attained. Same as mukti.

Karma

(Hinduism and Buddhism) the effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation.

Dharma

an ancient sage in Hindu mythology worshipped as a god by some lower castes.

Vedas and Upanishads

The Vedas (Sanskrit वेद '''', "knowledge") are a large body of texts originating in Ancient India.
Short summaries of the Vedas. Also called Vedanta-the end of the Vedas.

Bhagavad-Gita

(Hinduism) the sacred `song of God' composed about 200 BC and incorporated into the Mahabharata (a Sanskrit epic); contains a discussion between Krishna and the Indian hero Arjuna on human nature and the purpose of life.

Ahisma

a Buddhist and Hindu and especially Jainist doctrine holding that all forms of life are sacred and urging the avoidance of violence.

Jainism

religion founded in the 6th century BC as a revolt against Hinduism; emphasizes asceticism and immortality and transmigration of the soul; denies existence of a perfect or supreme being.

Guatama Buddha

The founder of Buddhism.

Four noble truths

Were discovered by the Buddha through enlightenment. These truths form the basis for a Buddhist worldview: All people suffer from unfulfilled and inappropriate desires, but suffering can be overcome by following the Eightfold Path.

Tripitaka

The three divisions, or "baskets" (pitakas), of buddhist
scriptures, -- the Vinayapitaka [Skr. Vinayapi[.t]aka], or
Basket of Discipline; Suttapitaka [Pali], or Basket of
Discourses; and Abhidhammapitaka [Pali], or Basket of
Metaphysics.

Theravada

one of two great schools of Buddhist doctrine emphasizing personal salvation through your own efforts; a conservative form of Buddhism that adheres to Pali scriptures and the non-theistic ideal of self purification to nirvana; the dominant religion of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand and Laos and Cambodia;

Mahayana

one of two great schools of Buddhist doctrine emphasizing a common search for universal salvation especially through faith alone; the dominant religion of China and Tibet and Japan;

Ms. Edwards

A great world history teacher who teaches at Dirigo High School.