Download RST3G - World Religions 1

hij
Teacher Resource Bank
GCE Religious Studies
Unit 3G: World Religions 1:- Buddhism
- Hinduism
- Sikhism
Explanation of Terms
Copyright © 2008 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and a registered
charity (registered charity number 1073334). Registered address: AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.
Dr Michael Cresswell, Director General.
Teacher Resource Bank / GCE Religious Studies / Explanation of Terms Unit 3G: World Religions 1 Buddhism / Version 1.0
EXPLANATION OF TERMS: BUDDHISM
Term
Definition
bodhicitta
The first stirring of a resolve or intention to strive for enlightenment with the
altruistic objective of bringing enlightenment to all other being. A
Mahayana concept.
bodhisattva
Sometimes spelt bodhisatta. A being who out of compassion for the world
has taken a bodhisattva vow to become an enlightened being for the sake
of all other beings. They vow to postpone their own final release and
enlightenment until all other beings have been brought to enlightenment.
Buddhism
c Mahayana
d Theravada
e Pure Land.
compassion
Deep and pure love and concern for all those who are suffering in the
world.
escapist
One who wishes to remain in a deluded state and chose not to face up to
the realities of living in the world and taking responsibility for their actions.
ethical
Concerned with right and wrong and the principle which applies to moral
intentions and actions.
five precepts
Refers to the five moral precepts:
• I undertake to refrain from harming other living beings.
• I undertake to refrain from not taking that which is not given.
• I undertake to refrain from sexual misconduct.
• I undertake to refrain from false speech.
• I undertake to refrain from taking substances which cloud the mind.
Gautama Buddha
Sometimes spelt Gotama Buddha.
The clan which the historical Buddha belonged to and a name used when
distinguishing him from other Buddhas.
Madhyamaka
System of Buddhist philosophy founded by Nagarjuna in the Mahayana
tradition. Advocates a middle course between extreme practices and
theories of all kinds.
Madhyamaka school
The school of thought which followed on from the original teachings of
Nagarjuna.
meditation
Contemplation. A training of the mind to bring inner peace and clarity of
understanding.
metta
Loving kindness.
klm
Copyright © 2008 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
1
Teacher Resource Bank / GCE Religious Studies Explanation of Terms / Unit 3G: World Religions 1 Buddhism / Version 1.0
Term
Definition
Nagarjuna
Buddhist philosopher who said that nothing can be proved or disproved,
but that all should be used to assist the path to the Middle Way.
Nirvana (Nibbana)
To reach a state of perfect peace where the individual experiences
liberation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth (Buddhism).
Paticcasamuppada
(dependent
origination)
An important teaching which illustrates the cycle of life, the power of karma
and samsara. It claims that phenomena do not exist independently by
virtue of their own inherent power but occur dependent and conditioned
upon one another. This formula consists of twelve links or stages
beginning with ignorance which gives rise to inappropriate actions which
results in present circumstances, then the response of craving, then
mental habits or patterns that continue in the form of grasping and
becoming which then determines future circumstances.
Philosophy
Academic study devoted to the pursuit of wisdom, knowledge and truth.
religion
An organised faith system. The term may relate to both a person’s identity
with, or actual practice.
Samatha
(concentration)
A state of calmness; meditation (Buddhism).
samsara (sansara)
c
The world, where the cycle of birth, death and rebirth takes place
(Hinduism).
d
The circle of births, death and re-birth, which can be transcended by
following the Eightfold Path (Buddhism).
‘self effort’
Self reliance not dependent upon celestial beings to gain good karma.
six perfections
Part of the Mahayana tradition, the bodhisattva path. Generosity, moral
virtue, patience, vigour, meditation and wisdom.
skill in means / other
power
The power and wisdom of the bodhisattva. It enables them to judge
accurately the best way to achieve his objective of the enlightenment of all
beings.
sunyata
The ‘emptiness’ of all conditioned phenomena (Buddhism).
transfer of merit
The practice of wishing for the merit of one’s action either practical or ritual
to be transferred to another being and contribute to their karma.
truth, conventional
and absolute
Conventional truth refers to the words and concepts used to denote
various phenomena we perceive and experience. But these words and
concepts are ultimately empty of existence. So in the context of ultimate
reality or unconditioned reality, absolute truth is the reality of emptiness or
nothingness.
Vipassana
(Vipashyana)
Insight into the true nature of things; meditation.
2
Copyright © 2008 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
klm
Teacher Resource Bank / GCE Religious Studies / Explanation of Terms Unit 3G: World Religions 1 Buddhism / Version 1.0
Term
Definition
Wheel of Life
(Tibetan)
This is a virtual representation of the teaching of paticcasamuppada and
shows the 12 chains of existence as well as the three causes of suffering
at the centre of the wheel: greed, hate and delusion (pig, rooster and
snake) as well as the five destinies of happy gods in heaven, hungry
ghosts, animal realm, human realm and hell realms.
wisdom
One of the main goals combined with compassion.
Zen
A form of Mahayana Buddhism which stresses the value of meditation.
Developed in China and Japan.
klm
Copyright © 2008 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
3
Teacher Resource Bank / GCE Religious Studies / Explanation of Terms Unit 3G: World Religions 1 Hinduism / Version 1.0
EXPLANATION OF TERMS: HINDUISM
Term
Definition
Advaita Vedanta
A school of philosophy founded by a very famous Indian philosopher
Shankaracharya, entitled non dualism. It asserted the absolute reality of
non material or spiritual realities of Brahman and that all material reality
was an illusion.
Arya Samaj
Modern Hindu reform movement instigated by Dayananda Saraswati
(1825-1883). Determined to restore the emphasis on the Vedas and was
contemptuous of Christian and other western influences.
Brahmo Samaj
Modern Hindu reform movement started by Ram-Mohan Roy in the
19th century. It sought a return to the purity of Hindu worship through an
emphasis on monotheism. It was influenced by Christianity and Islam.
caste
The Hindu hereditary classes. However, the Sikh Gurus taught that
everyone is equal.
Dayananda
Saraswati
1824-1883 ultra orthodox vedic teacher asserted authority of the Vedas
and rejected western influences.
dharma
The fulfilment of moral and social duties.
fatalistic
Belief that destiny has already been determined. No free will.
free-will
Having the ability to choose or determine one’s own actions.
Gandhi, Mahatma
A devout Hindu who used non-violent methods to oppose British Rule of
India; he was shot by a Hindu fundamentalist for this refusal to support
anti-Muslim sentiments (1869-1948).
human destiny
Beliefs about life after death and conditions of present existence, usually
connected with good fortune or misfortune.
Indus Valley
Civilisation
The civilisation discovered in 20th century, that existed in 3000-2000 BCE
in which there is evidence of a highly developed urban civilisation.
International Society
for Krishna
Consciousness
(ISKCON)
A Hindu group of the Vaishnava tradition, which focuses on Krishna as the
supreme deity.
karma
The law of cause and effect.
moksha
Release from worldly bounds and liberation of the self in union with the
ultimate reality – liberation through the three yogas.
moral behaviour
Actions that are guided by a moral outlook.
Ram-mohan Roy
Hindu reformer 1772-1833. Called ‘the father of modern India’. Strongly
influenced by Christianity. Attempted to eradicate superstitious practices
and restore the purity of Hinduism.
4
Copyright © 2008 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
klm
Teacher Resource Bank / GCE Religious Studies / Explanation of Terms Unit 3G: World Religions 1 Hinduism / Version 1.0
Term
Definition
Ramakrishna
Mission
Modern Hindu reform movement.
Ramanuja
(1017-1137) Founder of the Vishishtadvaita school of philosophy known
as qualified non dualism. He accepted the ultimate reality of Brahman but
also accepted the reality and value of personal deities.
reincarnation
Being reborn in another form.
religion
An organised faith system. The term may relate to both a person’s
identity with, or actual practice.
samsara
The world, where the cycle of birth, death and rebirth takes place.
Sanatana Dharma
Eternal and absolute laws.
scriptures
Sacred writings or books.
sruti
Sruti from Sanskrit root ‘to hear’ so divinely or heard and revealed by the
rishis.
Shankaracharya
8th century BCE philosopher who asserted the higher path of jnana yoga
over karma and bhakti yoga.
smriti
Hindu scriptures which were remembered through human tradition and so
in theory rank below shruti.
varnashramadharma
Dharma, i.e. duties and customs associated with caste (varna) and stage
in life (ashrama).
Vedas
The earliest Hindu scriptures.
Vedic religion
The religious beliefs and practices associated with the Vedic era mainly
braminical sacrificial rituals and polytheism.
Vishishtadvaita
(qualified nondualism)
Founded by Ramanuja,
Truths based in careful reading of scripture including Epics and puranas
(smriti).
Rejects view that personal deities are a lower path.
Inner soul and Brahman are one and is the Brahman perfect reality?
Both spiritual and material equality real.
Vivekananda
klm
Modern reform movement.
Copyright © 2008 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
5
Teacher Resource Bank / GCE Religious Studies / Explanation of Terms Unit 3G: World Religions 1 Sikhism / Version 1.0
EXPLANATION OF TERMS: SIKHISM
Term
Definition
Amrit sanskar
The ceremony of initiation into the Khalsa.
amritdhari
Sikh who has taken amrit sanskar.
Anand karaj
Sikh marriage in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib.
caste
The Hindu hereditary classes. However, the Sikh Gurus taught that
everyone is equal.
dharam yudh
Literally ‘righteous path’. A concept introduced by Guru Gobind Singh to
limit both war itself and behaviour during war.
ethics
The principles by which people live.
God
The one God; usually described as being omnipotent (all powerful),
omniscient (all knowing) and omnipresent (all present, eternal).
gurdwaras
Literally “the doorway to the Guru”. Any place where the Guru Granth
Sahib is installed.
guru
Literally ‘that which takes away spiritual darkness and gives spiritual light.
Gurus
In Sikhism, title given to ten men called by God to utter divine messages.
haumai
Literally ‘I / am’; often translated as ego. One of the concepts that prevent
people from obtaining mukti.
karma
The law of cause and effect. In Sikhism, the law of karma effects only the
family into which a person is born, not the remainder of their life.
keshdari
A Sikh who is keeping the 5Ks but has not taken amrit.
Khalsa Aid
A Sikh humanitarian organisation that helps all people regardless of
religion or nationality.
Kirtan
From the Punjabi word ‘kirat’ meaning ‘praise’; meditative singing of God’s
word.
kirt karo
Literally ‘earn your living through honest labour’, one of the three most
important teachings of Guru Nanak.
Life
c Meaning.
d Purpose.
maya
Wrong attachment to material things. One of the concepts that prevents
people obtaining mukti.
miri
Guru Har Gobind introduced the phrase miri-piri to teach that Sikhs had
both a temporal and spiritual duty; miri representing their temporal
responsibility.
6
Copyright © 2008 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
klm
Teacher Resource Bank / GCE Religious Studies / Explanation of Terms Unit 3G: World Religions 1 Sikhism / Version 1.0
Term
Definition
mukti
Spiritual liberation; being in the sach khand, or realm of truth, where God
is present. Mukti is only achieved through God’s grace and may be given
either during lifetime or at death.
Mul Mantra
Literally ‘seed mantra’; the first words of Guru Granth Sahib which are
regarded as a summary of Sikh teaching about God.
nam
Literally ‘name’; in Sikhism summaries all that God is, the divine essence.
nam japna
Continuous meditation on God’s name.
nam simran
Meditation using passages of scripture: simran means ‘remembering’.
panj kakke
(The 5Ks)
Symbols of Sikhism: Kachera; Kanga; Kara; Kesh; Kirpan.
patit
A Sikh who has been initiated into the Khalsa, but who has deliberately
broken on of the four main prohibitions of its code of conduct.
piri
Guru Har Gobind introduced the phrase miri-piri to teach that Sikhs had
both a temporal and spiritual duty; piri representing their spiritual
responsibility.
Rahit Maryada
(Rehat Maryada)
The Sikh Code of Conduct, covering religious rites and ethical
observances. Including guidance for Sikh daily life and the religious
practice in the gurdwara.
religion
An organised faith system.
Religious tolerance
In Sikhism respect is shown to all religions. The Sikh Gurus actively
defended religious freedom, for example Guru Har Gobind when he freed
the Hindu rajas at the Gwalior fort.
sahajdhari
Literally ‘slow adopters’, these are people who desire to become Sikhs but
need a long period in order to do so. However, some Sikhs are unable to
keep the 5Ks because of employment regulations.
sant sipahi
Often translated as ‘saint-soldier’. Literally means someone who,
because of their spirituality, has courage like a soldier and therefore
defends those who are treated unfairly, normally using non-violent means.
secular
Its usual meaning is the absence of religion in public life, however, in India
‘secular’ means equal respect and recognition of all faiths.
Sewa (seva)
Usually translated as service. It is altruistic service for both God and all
people regardless of birth, gender or religion. All sewa is important.
vand kakko
Altruistic service for God and humanity. The phrase vand kakko is
interchangeable with sewa.
klm
Copyright © 2008 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
7