Hinduism Definitions Brahman- The supreme force behind everything in the universe.

All life is seen as an aspect or emanation of Brahman. Brahman is neither male nor female. Can be seen as the unmanifest potentiality of all things at the beginning of each world cycle. Atman- means self and is roughly equivalent to the concept of the soul; however it refers to something that is above and beyond any identification with the phenomenal world. Reincarnation- The idea that when a living being dies, they are not sent to an eternal afterlife, but they are reborn. They can be reborn as the same thing, or as a new life form. Karma- the concept that our actions have consequences, and what we do in this life has effects on what will become of us later in this life or in other lives. Samsara- A term for the cycle of births, deaths, and rebirths that a person must go through. Moksha- Liberation of the soul from the illusions and suffering of the physical world Samkhya- the idea that suffering comes from confusing Prakriti with Purusha, that is, confusing ones ego or lower self with your true self or higher nature. Advaita Vedanta- a non-dualistic philosophy, where the ultimate goal is the realization that you are Brahman. Yoga- a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline found in many forms of Indian spirituality which have the goal of helping the practitioner gain spiritual enlightenment.