LIST OF HINDU TERMS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS

Atman: o Atman is a Sanskrit word that means 'self'. o In Hindu philosophy, it refers to one's true self beyond identification with phenomena. o In order to attain salvation, a human being must obtain self-knowledge which is to realise experientially that one's true self is identical with the transcendent self that is called Brahman. Samsara: o Samsara, literally meaning "continuous flow", is the cycle of birth, life, death, rebirth or reincarnation within Hinduism, Buddhism, Bn, Jainism, Sikhism, and other Indian religions. o In modern parlance, samsara refers to a place, set of objects and possessions, but originally, the word referred to a process of continuous pursuit or flow of life. Karma: o Karma is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect (i.e., the cycle called sa s ra) originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies. o Many Hindus see God's direct involvement in this process; others consider the natural laws of causation sufficient to explain the effects of karma. Dharma: o Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. o As well as referring to Law in the universal or abstract sense dharma designates those behaviours considered necessary for the maintenance of the natural order of things. o Therefore dharma may encompass ideas such as duty, vocation, religion and everything that is considered correct, proper or decent behaviour. Ahimsa: o Ahimsa is a term meaning to do no harm. o It is an important tenet of the Indian Religions meaning kindness and non-violence towards all living things including non-human animals; it respects living beings as a unity, the belief that all living things are connected.

Siddharth Menon 10L