| A | B |
|---|
| karma | The moral law of cause and effect; the Hindu connection between how one acts and the consequences |
| reincarnation | Rebirth into a higher or lower form of life according to the previous life |
| moksha | release from the endless cycle of rebirth |
| shiva | The hindu fod who is the destroyer |
| Brahman | the transpersonal ultimate divine reality of the source of the universe |
| Vishnu | The Hindu fod who is the preserver |
| Krishna | A popular and important incarnation of vishnu in Hinduism |
| Vedas | books of prayers, hymns, spells, etc. |
| Upanishads | A collection of philisophical texts dealing with atman and brahman; in the vedas |
| panentheism | Belief that the whole of reality is in God |
| caste | A division in Hindu society based on one's position in life; based on birth |
| yoga | A system of physical and mental discipline desinged to achieve a spiritual pupose |
| polytheism | belief in many gods |
| BUDDHISM | BUDDHISM |
| Theravada | A division of Buddhism which stresses the importance of brotherhood among monks |
| Zen | Form in Japan; school of Mahayana; succesfully conveyed to the west aspects of Budda's teachings |
| The Buddha | Siddhartha Guatama, the awakened or enlightened one |
| satori | glimpse of enlightenment (acheived in a flash) |
| Pali canon | A collection of sacred buddhist writings |
| bodhisvatta | A person who practices compassion in helping others find nirvana |
| The four noble truths | according to buddha four principles for living which lead to happiness |
| Eight-fold path | Eight steps or modes of being and acting necessary in buddist life |
| Siddhartha Guatama | a prince; the buddha; and founder of Buddhism |
| ISLAM | ISLAM |
| Muslim | a follower of Islam |
| Muhammad | the last of god's prophets or messengers according to Islam |
| Allah | the god, in Islam |
| iman | the leader of prayer in a mosque |
| mosque | the Muslim house of worship and prayer |
| ka'ba | The rectangular shrine of Islam located in the courtyard of the great mosque in Mecca |
| Mecca | the holy city of Islam, located in modern day saudi arabia |
| Hegira | muhhamad's flight from mecca to medina |
| minaret | muslim tower with balconies used for the announcement of prayer |
| Five pillars | The basic requirments of Islam including zakat, ramadan, shalat, shahada and the Hajj |
| shahadah | Islamic public proffesion of faith and acceptance of allah |
| Quran | The holy writings of Islam |
| jihad | an islamic holy war used for the spread of Islam |
| Hadith | A collection of muhhamad's words ,sayings, and explanations, etc. |
| monotheism | the belief in only one god |
| JUDIASM | JUDIASM |
| Torah | The law and teaching of the jewish scriptures |
| Talmud | A collection of Jewish laws and traditions |
| covenant | a sacred agreement , contract, testament between two parties |
| Abraham | Patriarch of the hebrew people |
| Moses and the Exodus | leader and prophet of the hebrew slaves who escaped from egypt |
| Paaover | the jewish spring festival recalling the exodus; includes a sacred meal |
| shema | the Jewish doxology which expresses the essence of the faith |
| Yaweh/Adonai | Jewish word for God |
| rabbi | A teacher of the jewish torah and other written and oral traditions |
| Pharisees | Legalism, If you followed all of the laws you would be saved |
| Saddudees | Cheif Priests who have political power by cooperating with the Romans |
| Zealots | Jewish rebels or guerrillas whom revolted against Roman Rule |
| Essenees | Michael Not Know? |
| Sabbath | a day of worship and rest; in judiasm; from sundown on friday to sundown on saturday |
| synagogue | In judiasm, a special building for worship and instruction |
