Polytheism

Vishnu

Brahma

creator god

shiva

destroyer god

reincarnation

the process by which a soul is reborn

cast system

A Hindu social class system that controlled every aspect of daily life

karma

the belief that actions in this life, whether good or bad, will decide your place in the next life

meditation

the focusing of the mind on spiritual ideas

vedas

ancient sanskrit writing that are the earliest sacred texts of hinduism

untouchables

lowest class of people in the caste system of Hinduism, do all the dirty work of social

enlightenment

based on total awareness of a situation, in terms of he physical and spiritual center of the body

nirvana

the state of enlightenment for Buddhists

siddhartha guatama

most commonly reffered to as the buddha ("the awakened"), was a wandering ascetic and religous teacher who lived in south asia

buddha

the enghlitened one

4 noble truths

truths about suffering

8 fold path

ways to end suffering

darmha

the teaching of buddha

asceticism

rigorous self-denial and active self-restraint

sanskrit

and ancient language of india

ahimsa

hindu belief in nonviolence and reverence for all life