Key Concepts in Indigenous, Jain, and Buddhist Traditions

Indigenous Religious Traditions

• Native American Religion: There is not just one form of Native American religion.
• Sacred Narratives: Includes myths and creation stories.
• Aztec Religion: A significant historical tradition.
• Mayan Creation Narrative: A foundational myth.
• Lakota Leader: A famous figure in religious history.
• Trickster Figures: Common in mythology.
• Navajo Peoples: Cultural and spiritual practices.
• Spirit World: Communicating with the divine.
• Sweat Lodge Ceremonies: Used for spiritual purposes.
• 1819 Civilization Fund Act: Historical context.
• Spanish Conquistadors: Impact on Mesoamerica.
• Wounded Knee: Site where American troops massacred people gathered for the Ghost Dance.
• Symbolic Dwellings: Structures with deep meaning.
• Mythic Narratives: Often contain stories about creation, supreme beings, and humanity (TRUE).
• Humanity and Nature: Native American religions emphasize that humans are not masters of animals (FALSE).

Jainism and Chinese Religions

• Jain Ethical Ideal: The principle of ahimsa (non-violence).
• Jain Livelihood: Historically associated with trade and business.
• Chinese Religions: Do not all share a single creation myth (FALSE).
• Jain Diet: Jains are vegetarians and do not accept the consumption of root vegetables (FALSE).
• Ruism and Confucianism: Key philosophical traditions.
• Mahavira: A contemporary of Siddhartha Gautama (TRUE).
• Jina: Means "conqueror."
• Li: The set of rituals governing human interaction with spirits and humans (TRUE).
• Jain Theology: Gods are not helpful in ending suffering; karma is the consequence of action.
• Jivas: The belief in an infinite number of souls.
• I Ching: The Book of Changes.
• Ren/Jen: Concepts of humanness, compassion, and goodness.
• Anicca: The Buddhist claim that nothing is permanent (TRUE).
• Tian: The concept of transcendence or Heaven.

Buddhism

• Origins: Emerged in the 6th century BCE.
• Core Pillars: Wisdom, morality, and meditation.
• Nature of Buddha: Buddhists do not view the Buddha as a divine being in the Western sense (FALSE).
• The Middle Way: Avoids both self-indulgence and self-denial.
• Schools: Mahayana and Zen.
• Dukkha: The concept of suffering or disappointment.
• Three Marks of Existence: Fundamental Buddhist teachings.
• Enlightenment: The Buddha stated he was not a god, but "awake" (Buddh).
• Dharma: The teachings of the Buddha.
• Eightfold Path: The guide to right living.
• Shunyata: The concept of "emptiness" in Mahayana Buddhism (TRUE).
• Tanha: The cause of suffering (Dukkha).
• Bodhisattva: A central figure in Buddhist practice.