Fundamental Hinduism & Taoism vocabulary

2. Sin; negative actions that bring bad karma.
3. returning, that is, returning to the beginnings, to the roots
6. A physical incarnation of a god on Earth, especially associated with Vishnu.
7. Divine feminine energy or power; the active force of the universe.
8. Spiritual practices aimed at uniting the self with the divine.
12. The ultimate, unchanging reality; the divine ground of all existence.
13. Seeing and being seen by a deity (often through a murti); a form of divine blessing.
15. Liberation from samsara; spiritual freedom.
16. Nonviolence toward all living beings.
18. A sacred statue or image of a deity used in worship.
19. The three main gods of Hinduism: Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer).
21. The path of devotion and love toward a personal god.
24. The destroyer and transformer god.
25. The path of knowledge and wisdom.
26. The path of selfless action.

1. The law of cause and effect based on one’s actions.
2. Merit; positive actions that bring good karma.
4. The creator god in Hinduism.
5. The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
6. The individual soul or true self.
9. Three qualities of nature: sattva (purity), rajas (activity), and tamas (inertia).
10. The vital life force or energy that flows through all living things.
11. The “Way” or ultimate reality; the natural order of the universe that everything follows.
12. A member of the priestly caste; also refers to someone knowledgeable about sacred texts.
14. The preserver god who maintains cosmic order.
17. “Non-action” or effortless action; living in alignment with the Tao by not forcing things.
20. The illusion or deceptive appearance of the material world.
22. The passive, dark, receptive, and feminine principle in nature.
23. The active, bright, assertive, and masculine principle in nature.