From: aruna@tree.egr.uh.edu (Affable)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.tamil,alt.hindu
Subject: Hinduism A to Z : A primer on Hindu thought and ideals.
Date: 17 Dec 1992 23:22:44 GMT
Organization: University of Houston
Distribution: world
Message-Id: <1gr244INN8bd@menudo.uh.edu>
Reply-To: Venkatachalam Aruna <aruna@tree.egr.uh.edu>
Status: OR

Swiped from the SOUVENIR 1992 by Hindu Temple of San Antonio, Texas.

A is for Aum, the three-syllabled mantra that represents the sacred 
  Mystery in sound and vibration. Aum is the Alpha and Omega of Existence,
  containing all other possible sounds - even Soundlessness.
B is for bhakti, deep devotion and love for the Divine which softens even
  hearts of stone.
C is for chakras, seven centers of consciousness awakened through
  meditation.
D is for dharma, which is righteousness, cosmic order and duty leading
  us on the right path.
E is for esthetics, the beauty of Hindu drama, literature, dance, music,
  architecture and fine arts.
F is for family, the precious cornerstone of Hindu life, culture, service
  and tradition.
G is for guru, our enlightened master who, knowing truth himself, can guide 
  us there.
H is for hatha yoga, healthful physical science for vitality, energy 
  balancing and meditation.
I is for India, world's largest democracy, motherland and holy land of
  millions.
J is for japa, repetitive prayers and mantras which quiet emotion and empower    
  mind.
K is for karma, law of cause and effect by which we determine our experience   
  and destiny.
L is for lotus, the heart's inner shrine where God dwell, ever serene, ever
  perfect.
M is for mounam, the inner silence known when word, thought  and action are 
  stilled.
N is for non-attachment, the art of living simply, without undue needs or
  desires.
O is for open mindedness, the Hindu's non-dogmatic freedom of inquiry and 
  belief.
P is for puja, mystic worship of the Divine in our home shrine and holy 
  temples.
Q is for quest, seeking to know "who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I 
  going?"
R is for reincarnation, our immortal soul's journey from birth to birth, 
  quelling all fears of death.
S is for sadhana, strict disciplines and austerities which harness instinct 
  and intellect. 
T is for tilak, forehead marks worn in honor of our unique and varied 
  lineages.
U is for Upanishad, sacred scriptures, the philosophical portion of our 
  revealed Vedas.
V is for vivaha, wedding rites, one of many sacraments which sanctify 
  life's crucial passages.
W ia for wealth (artha), one of life's four goals, along with love, dharma 
  and enlightenment.
X is for xenophilous, the ability of certain plants and animals to thrive in
  India's hot, arid plains.
Y is for yoga, union of the soul with God which brings release from worldly
  bondage.
Z is for Zen, a system of mental stillness leading to intuitive enlightenment. 
  Like other faiths, Buddhism arose from Hindu Dharma. Mindful and unworldly
  Zen, developed in India, is now widespread in Japan.
  
Cheers,
Venkat
--
venkat@jetson.uh.edu                | If you love something,set it free.
venkat@menudo.uh.edu                | If it comes back, it is yours.
venkat@uhupvm1.uh.edu               | If it does not, it never was.
aruna@tree.egr.uh.edu(NeXT mails OK)| 
(713)225-6426(h) & (713)743-4250(w) |
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