Glossary

Jeffrey Brodd

California State University, Sacramento

Layne Little

University of California, Davis

Bradley Nystrom

California State University, Sacramento

Robert Platzner

California State University, Sacramento

Richard Shek

California State University, Sacramento

Erin Stiles

University of Nevada, Reno

Note: The guides to pronunciation adhere for the most part to the commonsense approach utilized in the HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion (1995) and are intended to be straightforward without need of a key.

Abbasids (uh-ba’sids) An important Muslim empire that ruled from 750 to 1258 ce. adhan (ah-dahn’; Arabic) The call to prayer.

Adi Granth (ah’dee gruhnth; Punjabi, “first book”) Sikhism’s most important sacred text and, since the death of Guru Gobind Singh in 1708, Sikhism’s primary earthly authority; traditionally known as Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

ahimsa (ah-him’suh; Sanskrit, “nonviolence,” “not desiring to harm”) Both the avoidance of violence toward other life forms and an active sense of compassion toward them; a basic principle of Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

Ahura Mazda (ah-hoo’reh maz’dah; Avestan, “Wise Lord”) The God of Zoroastrianism; also known as Ohrmazd.

‘A’isha (a’ee-shuh)A beloved wife of Muhammad who is known for transmitting many hadith. ajiva (uh-jee’vuh; Sanskrit, “nonsoul”) Nonliving components of the Jain universe: space, time, motion, rest, and all forms of matter.

‘Ali Son-in-law of Muhammad; one of the Rightly Guided Caliphs.

Allah (ahl’lah; Arabic, “God”) The Arabic term for God.

Amaterasu (ah-mah-teh-rah-sooh; Japanese, “deity that shines in the sky”) The Sun Goddess in Shinto. Enshrined at Ise, Amaterasu is the kami of the imperial family. As the Sun Goddess, she is the most august of all deities.

American Indian Religious Freedom Act 1978 US law to guarantee freedom of religious practice for Native Americans.

Amesha Spentas (ah-may’shah spen’taz; Avestan, “Beneficial Immortals”) Seven angels— including Spenta Mainyu, the Holy Spirit of Ahura Mazda—who help Ahura Mazda govern creation.

Amma (ah’muh; Dogon) The High God of the Dogon people.

amrit (am’rit; Punjabi, “immortalizing fluid”) A special drink made from water and sugar crystals, used in the Khalsa initiation ceremony.

anatman (ahn-aht’muhn, Sanskrit; anatta, ahn-aht’tah, Pali) “No-self.” The Buddha’s doctrine that there is no independent and eternal self or soul underlying personal existence.

Angra Mainyu (an’grah main’yoo; “Foul Spirit”) Evil adversaiy of Ahura Mazda; also called Ahriman.

apostle In the New Testament, Jesus’s disciples, sent out to preach and baptize, are called apostles (Greek apostolos, “one who is sent out”). Paul of Tarsus and some other early Christian leaders also claimed this title. Because of their close association with Jesus, the apostles were accorded a place of honor in the early Church.

apostolic succession According to this Roman Catholic and Orthodox doctrine, the spiritual authority conferred by Jesus on the apostles has been transmitted through an unbroken line of bishops, who are their successors.

arati (ah-rah’tee; Sanskrit) Worship with light, involving the waving of a lamp in front of the deity.

arhat (ahr’huht; Sanskrit, “one who is worthy”) In Theravada Buddhism, one who has attained nirvana and is not subject to rebirth.

asha (ah’shuh) The true, cosmic order that pervades both the natural and social spheres of reality, encompassing the moral and religious life of individuals; opposed to druj.

‘Ashura (ah-shooh-ra’) The tenth day of the month of Muharram, recognized by the Shi‘a as the anniversary of the martyrdom of Husayn.

astral voyages Any visionary experience of a mind-body projection through space and time.

atheism Perspective that denies the existence of God or gods.

atman (aht’-muhn; Sanskrit) The eternal self or soul that is successively reincarnated until released from samsara through moksha.

avatar (a’vuh-tahr; from Sanskrit avatara, “descent”) A “descent” of God (usually Vishnu) to earth in a physical form with the specific goal of aiding the world.

Avesta (a-ves’tuh) The oldest and most important of Zoroastrian scriptures, consisting of a collection of texts including the Yasna and Gathas.

axis mundi (ak’suhs moon’dee; Latin) An academic term for the center of the world, which connects the earth with the heavens.

Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760) A charismatic faith healer, mystic, and teacher (whose given name was Israel ben Eliezer) who is generally regarded as the founder of the Hasidic movement.

baptism Performed by immersion in water or a sprinkling with water, baptism is a sacrament in which an individual is cleansed of sin and admitted into the Church.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah (bahr/baht meets-vah’) A rite of passage for adolescents in Judaism, the Bar Mitzvah (for males age thirteen) and the Bat Mitzvah (for females ages twelve to thirteen) signal their coming of age and the beginning of adult religious responsibility.

bhakti marga (bhuhk’tee mahr’guh; Sanskrit) The path of devotion.

bishop Responsible for supervising other priests and their congregations within specific regions known as dioceses, bishops are regarded by Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians as successors of the apostles.

Black Elk Famous Lakota religious leader.

bodhisattva (boh-dee-saht’vah; Sanskrit) An “enlightened being” or “one who is on the path to enlightenment.” bori (boh-ree’; various languages) A term for West African spirits.

Brahman (brah’muhn; Sanskrit, “expansive”) For monistic Hinduism, the supreme, unitary reality, the ground of all being; for dualistic Hinduism, Brahman can refer to the supreme God (e.g., Vishnu).

brahmin (brah’min; Sanskrit) A member of the priestly class of the varna or caste system.

Buddha (booh’duh; Sanskrit) An “awakened one” or “enlightened one.”

Buddha nature The Mahayana teaching that all sentient beings have within themselves a pure and enlightened nature identical to the nature of Gautama Buddha and all other buddhas.

caliph (kay’lif; Arabic) Leader of the Muslim community after the death of Muhammad.

Calvin, John (1509-1564) One of the leading figures of the Protestant Reformation, Calvin is notable for his Institutes of the Christian Religion and his emphasis on the absolute power of God, the absolute depravity of human nature, and the absolute dependence of human beings on divine grace for salvation.

Candomble New World religion with roots in West Africa—particularly Yoruba culture— which is prominent in Brazil.

Chan Buddhism The Japanese name (the Chinese name is Chan), for a Mahayana school that emphasizes meditation over doctrine.

Changing Woman Mythic ancestor of the Navajo people who created the first humans.

channeling The ability to receive and transmit messages sent by spiritual beings not of this world.

chantway The basis of Navajo ceremonial practice; includes chants, prayers, songs, and other ritual practice.

Chinvat Bridge The bridge that needs to be crossed by the soul in order to reach the afterlife —wide and easy to cross for the good, razor-thin and impossible to cross for the evil.

Christmas An annual holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus, Christmas is observed by Western Christians on December 25. Although many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on this date, others observe the holiday on January 7.

church In the broadest sense, “church” refers to the universal community of Christians, but the term can also refer to a particular tradition within Christianity (such as the Roman Catholic Church or the Episcopal Church) or to an individual congregation of Christians.

cosmology Understanding of the nature of the world that typically explains its origin and how it is ordered.

coven A community of witches.

covenant A biblical concept that describes the relationship between God and the Jews in contractual terms, often thought of as an eternal bond between the Creator and the descendants of the ancient Israelites.

cry ceremony Sacred mourning ceremony involving songs, dances, and stories about the deceased, all of which aid the spirit of the deceased in transition to the next world.

Daena (dai’nuh) The feminine being who embodies the individual’s ethical quality and who appears to the soul after death.

daevas (dai’vuhs) The various demonic powers aligned with Angra Mainyu.

dalit (dah’lit; Sanskrit, “oppressed”; Marathi, “broken”) Self-designation of people who had traditionally been classified as untouchables or outcastes.

dama (dah’mah; Dogon) A Dogon rite of passage marking the transition to adulthood and to the afterlife.

dan (dahn) In Daoism, literally a pill, but understood as the essence of immortality.

dana (dah’nuh; Sanskrit, Pali, “giving”) Ritual of giving.

dantian (dahn’tee-an) “Fields for the refinement of the immortal pill”; major nodal points in the human body where the “pill” of immortality can be refined through alchemical means.

Dao (dow) A fundamental concept in Chinese religion, literally meaning the “path” or the “way.” In Confucianism, it specifically refers to the entire ideal human order ordained by the Absolute, Tian. In Daoism, it is the primary source of the cosmos, the very ground of all beings.

Daodejing (dow-duh-jing) Basic Daoist scripture, lit. “The Scripture of the Way and Its Potent Manifestation”; also known as the Book of Laozi, the name of its purported author.

Daozang (dow-dzahng) Literally “Treasury of the Dao,” this is the Daoist Canon that contains the entire corpus of Daoist texts. The most complete version, still in use today, was first published in 1445.

darshan (duhr’shuhn; from Sanskrit darshana, “to see”) Worship through simultaneously seeing and being seen by a deity in the presence of its image.

de (duh) Another fundamental concept in Chinese religions, meaning “virtue” or “potency.” In Confucianism, it is the charismatic power of the ruler or the man of virtue, while in Daoism it means the concrete manifestation of the Dao.

Dead Sea Scrolls Religious literature hidden in caves near the shores of the Dead Sea (c. second-first centuries âñå).

Dharma (dahr’muh; Sanskrit) In Buddhism, the teachings of the Buddha.

dharma (dahr’muh; Sanskrit) Duty, righteousness, “religion”; basis for living in a way that upholds cosmic and social order.

Diaspora A Greek word in origin, this term refers to those Jewish communities that live outside of the historical land of Israel.

Digamhara (di’guhm-buh-ruh; Sanskrit, “those whose garment is the sky”) The second largest Jain sect, whose monks go about naked so as to help abolish any ties to society; generally more conservative than the Shvetambara sect.

divination The attempt to learn about events that will happen in the future through supernatural means.

druj (droohj; Avestan, “lie”) Cosmic principle of chaos and evil, opposed to asha.

dualism In Zoroastrianism, of two types: cosmic dualism of order and chaos (or good and evil); dualism of spirit and matter (or thought and body).

dukkha (dook’kuh; Pali) Usually translated as “suffering,” dukkha can also be understood as anxiety, unease, or dissatisfaction caused by the ignorance, attachment, and aversion that lead to unwholesome desire.

Easter An annual holiday commemorating the resurrection of Christ, Easter is a “movable feast” whose date changes from year to year, though it is always celebrated in spring (as early as March 22 and as late as May 8).

election The belief that the biblical God “chose” the people of Israel to be his “kingdom of priests” and a “holy nation.” This biblical concept is logically connected to the idea of the covenant, and it entails the belief that the Jews’ relationship with God obliges them to conform to his laws and fulfill his purposes in the world.

Elohim (el-loh-heem’) One of several terms used in the Hebrew Bible to identify the Creator God; the name of alien creators responsible for the creation of the human race and culture in Raelian myths.

ema (e’mah) Wooden tablets expressing pleadings to kami for success in life. empathy The capacity for seeing things from another’s perspective, and an important methodological approach for studying religions.

emptiness A Mahayana doctrine according to which all things are empty of any inherent existence. Also known as shunyata (shoon’yuh-tah; Sanskrit, “emptiness”).

engrams In Scientology, traumatic events stored as images in the subconscious mind.

Epiphany An annual holiday commemorating the “manifestation” of the divinity of the infant Jesus, Epiphany is celebrated by most Western Christians on Januaiy 6. Most Eastern Christians observe it on January 19.

eschatological Any belief in an “End Time” of divine judgment and world destruction.

ethical monotheism A core concept of Judaism: it is the belief that the world was created and is governed by only one transcendent Being, whose ethical attributes provide an ideal model for human behavior.

Eucharist (yooh’kah’rist) Also known as the Lord’s Supper and Holy Communion, the Eucharist is a sacrament celebrated with consecrated bread and wine in commemoration of Jesus’s Last Supper with his disciples.

evangelicalism This Protestant movement stresses the importance of the conversion experience, the Bible as the only reliable authority in matters of faith, and preaching the gospel. In recent decades, evangelicalism has become a major force in North American Christianity.

Exodus The escape (or departure) of Israelite slaves from Egypt as described in the Hebrew Bible (c. 1250 bce).

The Family The revised name of the Children of God movement, led by David Berg until his death in 1994.

fangshi (fahng-shuhr) In Daoism, “magicians” who allegedly possessed the recipe for immortality.

Fatima Daughter of Muhammad.

Five Classics The five canonical works of Confucianism designated in the Han Dynasty: Book of Odes, Book of History, Book of Changes, Record of Rites, and Spring and Autumn Annals.

Four Books The four texts identified by the Neo-Confucian Zhu Xi as fundamental in understanding the Confucian teaching. Between 1313 and 1905, they made up the curriculum for the civil service examination. They are Analects, Mencius, Great Learning, and Doctrine of the Mean.

Four Noble Truths The four truths that form the basis of the Dharma in Buddhism: suffering is inherent in human life, suffering is caused by desire, there can be an end to desire, and the way to end desire is the Noble Eightfold Path.

fravashis (fruh-vah’sheez) Preexisting higher souls and guardian spirits of individual human beings.

fundamentalism Originating in the early 1900s, this movement in American Protestantism was dedicated to defending doctrines it identified as fundamental to Christianity against perceived threats posed by modern culture.

Ghost Dance Religious resistance movements in 1870 and 1890 that originated in Nevada among Paiute peoples.

globalization The linking and intermixing of cultures; any process that moves a society toward an internationalization of religious discourse; any movement, within commerce or culture, toward the internationalization of human interchange.

gospel In its most general sense, “gospel” means the “good news” (from Old English godspel, which translates the Greek evangelion) about Jesus Christ. The New Testament gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are proclamations of the good news concerning the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

grace Derived from the Latin gratia (a “gift” or “love”), “grace” refers to God’s love for humanity, expressed in Jesus Christ and through the sacraments.

The Great Disappointment Disillusionment and shock following the failure, in 1844, of William Miller’s prediction of the Second Advent.

gui (gwee) Ghosts and demons, malevolent spirits.

gurdwara (goor’dwah-ruh; Punjabi, “doorway of the Guru” or “by means of the Guru’s [grace]”) A building for Sikh worship that houses a copy of the Adi Granth; the central structure of any Sikh community.

guru (gooh’rooh; Sanskrit, “venerable person”) A spiritual teacher and revealer of truth, common to Hinduism, Sikhism, and some forms of Buddhism. When the word Guru is capitalized, it refers to the ten historical leaders of Sikhism, to the sacred text (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, or Adi Granth), and to God (often as True Guru).

hadith (hah-deeth’; Arabic) Literary tradition recording the sayings and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad.

hajj (hahj; Arabic) The annual pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the five pillars of Islam.

halacha (hah-lah-khah’) An authoritative formulation of traditional Jewish law.

haoma (how’meh) Sacred drink made in ancient times from the sour, milky juice of the soma plant; in modern times from water, pomegranate, ephedra, and goat’s milk.

harae (hah-rah-ee) Shinto purification.

Hasidism A popular movement within eighteenth-century eastern European Judaism, Hasidism stressed the need for spiritual restoration and deepened individual piety. In the course of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the Hasidic movement spawned a number of distinctive communities that have physically separated themselves from the rest of the Jewish and non-Jewish worlds and who are often recognized by their attire and their devotion to a dynasty of hereditary spiritual leaders.

haumai (how-mai; Punjabi, “self-centeredness”) In Sikhism, the human inclination toward being self-centered rather than God-centered, which increases the distance between the individual and God.

henotheism The belief that acknowledges a plurality of gods but elevates one of them to special status.

hijra (hij’ruh; Arabic) Sometimes spelled hegira. The migration of the early Muslim community from Mecca to Medina in 622 ce; the Islamic calendar dates from this year.

hindutva (hin-doot’vuh; Sanskrit, “Hindu-ness”) A modern term that encompasses the ideology of Hindu nationalism.

hogan (hoh’gahn; Pueblo) A sacred structure of Pueblo peoples.

Holocaust The genocidal destruction of approximately 6 million European Jews by the government of Nazi Germany during World War II. This mass slaughter is referred to in Hebrew as the Shoah.

Holy People Ancestors to the Navajo people, described in mythic narratives.

Holy Wind Navajo conception of a spiritual force that inhabits every element of creation.

hukam (hooh’kahm; Punjabi, “order”) In Sikhism, the divine order of the universe.

Husayn (hoo-sayn’) Grandson of Muhammad who was killed while challenging the Umayyads.

icons Painted images of Christ and the saints, icons are used extensively in the Orthodox Church.

Ifa (ee’fah; Yoruba) The divination system of the Yoruba religion, believed to be revealed to humanity by the gods.

imam (ee-mahm’; Arabic) Prayer leader; in Shiism, one of the leaders of the Muslim community following the death of the Prophet Muhammad.

immanence The divine attribute of indwelling, or God being present to human consciousness.

Inquisition The investigation and suppression of heresy by the Roman Catholic Church, the Inquisition began in the twelfth century and was formally concluded in the middle of the nineteenth century.

interdependent origination The Buddha’s teaching that reality is a complex of interdependent phenomena in which the origin or coming-into-existence of all things depends on all other things.

ISKCON The official name of the Hare Krishna movement founded by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.

Islam (is-lahm’; Arabic, “submission”) Specifically, the religious tradition based on the revealed Qur’an as word of God.

Izanagi (ee-zah-nah-gee) The male kami who is the procreator of the Japanese islands as well as some of the kami.

Izanami (ee-zah-nah-mee) The female kami who is the procreator of the Japanese islands as well as some of the kami.

jahiliyya (jah’hil’lee’yah; Arabic) The “age of ignorance,” which refers to the time before the revelation of the Qur’an.

jati (jah’tee; Sanskrit, “birth group”) One of thousands of endogamous groups or subcastes, each equal in social and ritual status.

jiao (jee-ow’) Daoist communal sacrificial offerings to signal cosmic renewal and collective cohesion.

jihad (ji-had’; Arabic, “striving”) The greater jihad is the struggle with one’s self to become a better person; the lesser jihad is associated with military conflict in defense of the faith.

jina (ji’nuh; Sanskrit, “conqueror”) Jain title for one who has “conquered” samsara; synonymous with tirthankara.

jinja (jin’juh) Shinto shrine.

jiva (jee’vuh; Sanskrit, “soul”) The finite and eternal soul; also the category of living, as opposed to nonliving, entities of the universe.

jnana marga (juh-nah’nuh mahr’guh) The path of knowledge.

Jump Dance Renewal dance of Yurok people.

junzi (joon’zee) The personality ideal in Confucianism; the noble person.

Kabbalah One of the dominant forms of Jewish mysticism, kabbalistic texts begin to appear in Europe during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Mystics belonging to this tradition focus on the emanative powers of God—referred to in Hebrew as Sephirot—and on their role within the Godhead, as well as within the human personality.

kachina (kah-chee’nah; Hopi) Pueblo spiritual beings.

kami (kah-mee) Shinto deity and spirit with awe-inspiring power.

karma (kahr’muh; Sanskrit, “action”) “Action” and the consequences of action; determines the nature of one’s reincarnation. In Buddhism, because Buddhism emphasizes the intentions that precede actions, karma can be understood as “intentional action” and its consequences. In Jainism, all activity is believed to involve various forms of matter that weigh down the soul (jiva) and thus hinder the quest for liberation.

karma marga (kahr’muh mahr’guh) The path of ethical and ritual works, or “action.”

kevala (kay’vuh-luh; shortened form of Sanskrit kevalajnana, “isolated knowledge” or “absolute knowledge”) The perfect and complete knowledge or omniscience that is Jain enlightenment; marks the point at which one is free from the damaging effects of karma and is liberated from samsara.

Khadija (kha-dee’juh) Muhammad’s beloved first wife.

Khalsa (khal’sah; Punjabi, “pure ones”) An order within Sikhism to which the majority of Sikhs belong, founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.

Kinaalda (kee-nahl’dah) Rite of passage for young Navajo women. kingdom of God God’s rule or dominion over the universe and human affairs. The kingdom of God is one of the primary themes in the teaching of Jesus.

Kinjiketele (kin-jee-ke-te’le) The leader of the Maji Maji rebellion in Tanganyika (today’s Tanzania).

Kojiki (koh-jee-kee) Record of Ancient Matters, compiled in the eighth century ce.

kshatriya (ksha’tree-uh; Sanskrit) A member of the warrior and administrator class of the varna or caste system.

kusti (koo’stee) Sacred cord that is to be worn daily by Zoroastrians who have undergone the initiatory rite of the investiture ceremony.

lama (lahm’ah; Tibetan, “guru” or “teacher”) In Tibetan Buddhism, a monk recognized as an authoritative teacher.

langar A gurdwara’s community kitchen that is used for the preparation of meals for anyone who visits, regardless of religious or caste identity.

li (lee) In Confucianism, etiquette and proper manners; rituals and holy rites.

liturgy (from Greek, leitourgia, “a work of the people” in honor of God) The basic order of worship in Christian churches consisting of prescribed prayers, readings, and rituals.

logos In its most basic sense, the Greek logos means “word,” but it also means “rational principle,” “reason,” or “divine reason.” The Gospel of John uses logos in the sense of the “divine reason” through which God created and sustains the universe when it states that “the Word became flesh” in Jesus Christ (John 1:14).

loka (loh’kah; Sanskrit, “world”) The Jain universe, often depicted as having the shape of a giant man.

Lord’s Prayer A prayer attributed to Jesus, the Lord’s Prayer serves as a model of prayer for Christians. Also known as the “Our Father” (since it begins with these words), its most familiar form is found in the Gospel of Matthew (6:9-13).

Lughnassadh (looh-nah’sah) A summer harvest festival (August 2) celebrated by Wiccans, honoring the Celtic god Lugh.

Luria, Isaac (1534-1572) A sixteenth-century mystic who settled in Safed (Israel) and gathered around him a community of disciples. Lurianic mysticism seeks to explain the mystery surrounding both the creation of the world and its redemption from sin.

Luther, Martin (1483-1546) A German monk who criticized Roman Catholic doctrines and practices in his Ninety-Five Theses (1517), Luther was the original leader and one of the seminal thinkers of the Protestant Reformation.

Mahayana Buddhism (mah-hah-yah’nah; Sanskrit, “Great Vehicle”) The form of Buddhism most prominent in China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

Maimonides A twelfth-century philosopher and rabbinic scholar whose codification of Jewish beliefs and religious practices set the standard for both in subsequent centuries.

Maji Maji (mah-jee mah-jee; Swahili) A1905 rebellion against German colonizers in Tanganyika (today’s Tanzania).

mandala (mahn’duh-luh; Sanskrit, “disk”) A geometric figure, usually a circle, that makes use of elaborate symbolism to represent the universe.

mantra (mahn’truh; Sanskrit, “sacred utterance”) A word or sound thought to have spiritual power.

matsuri (mah-tsooh-ree) Shinto religious festival.

maya (mah’yah; Sanskrit, “magic” or “illusion”) In the Vedas, the magical power the gods used to create this world; in Vedanta philosophy, illusion that veils the mind.

McKay, Mabel (1907-1993) A Porno woman who was well known as a healer and basket weaver.

Mecca The city in which Muhammad was born; place of pilgrimage for Muslims.

Medina The city to which Muhammad and his early followers migrated to escape persecution in Mecca.

medium A person who is possessed by a spirit and thus mediates between the human and spirit worlds.

messiah In the Jewish Scriptures (Old Testament), the term messiah (“anointed one”) refers to kings and priests, who were anointed with consecrated oil. In later Jewish literature, the Messiah is sometimes understood as a figure—in some cases, a supernatural figure—who, having been “anointed” by God, saves the Jewish people and the world from evil. Christianity understands Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah.

Middle Way In the teaching of the Buddha, the path to enlightenment between the extremes of asceticism and self-indulgence.

miko (mee-koh) Unmarried female Shinto shrine attendants. mikoshi (mee-koh-shee) Portable shrine temporarily housing a Shinto deity.

mikveh (meek-veh’) A ritual bath in which married Jewish women immerse themselves each month, after the end of their menstrual cycle and before resuming sexual relations with their husbands.

ming The mandate or command of Tian that confers political legitimacy to the ruler; also understood by Confucians as the calling to morally improve oneself and to transform the world.

miraj (mir-ahj’; Arabic) Muhammad’s Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and from there to heaven, where he met with God.

misogi (mee-soh’gee) Shinto ritual of purification with water.

mitzvot (meets-voht’) Literally translated, the Hebrew word mitzvot means “commandments,” and it refers to the 613 commandments that the biblical God imparted to the Israelites in the Torah (i.e., the first five books of the Hebrew Bible).

modernization The general process through which societies transform economically, socially, and culturally to become more industrial, urban, and secular; any transformation of societies and cultures that leads to the abandonment of traditional religious beliefs and values.

moksha (mohk’shuh; Sanskrit, “release”) Liberation, the final release from samsara.

monism The belief that all reality is ultimately one.

monotheism The belief in only one god.

Moonies A slang term for members of the Unification Church.

moron (mor-an; Samburu and Maasai) Ayoung man in Samburu or Maasai culture who has been circumcised and thus has special cultural and religious duties.

Moses The legendary leader and prophet who leads the Israelite slaves out of Egypt, Moses serves as a mediator between the people of Israel and God in the Torah and is later viewed as Israel’s greatest prophet. It is to Moses that God imparts the Ten Commandments and the teachings that later became the Torah.

mosque (mosk; from the Arabic term masjid) Place of prayer, from the Arabic term masjid.

muezzin (mooh-ez’-zin; Arabic) The person who calls the adhan.

Muhammad The prophet who received the revelation of the Qur’an from God; the final prophet in a long line of prophets sent by God to humanity.

mukti (mook’tee; Punjabi, “liberation”) In Sikhism, spiritual liberation bringing on the eternal and infinitely blissful state of being in the presence of God; sometimes the Sanskrit term moksha is used instead.

Mui Mantra (mool mahn’truh) The summary of Sikh doctrine that comprises the opening lines of the Japji, Guru Nanak’s composition that in turn comprises the opening section of the Adi Granth.

multiculturalism The coexistence of different peoples and their cultural ways in one time and place.

mysterium tremendum and fasdnans The contrasting feelings of awe-inspiring mystery and of overwhelming attraction that are said by Rudolf Otto to characterize the numinous experience.

mystical experience A general category of religious experience characterized in various ways, for example, as the uniting with the divine through inward contemplation or as the dissolution of the sense of individual selfhood.

myth A story or narrative, originally conveyed orally, that sets forth basic truths of a religious tradition; myths often involve events of primordial time that describe the origins of things.

Native American Church A church founded in the early twentieth century based on peyote religion.

Navjote (nahv’-yoht) For Parsis, the name of the ceremony of initiation into the community of Zoroastrians. See also Sedreh Pushi.

neidan (nay-dahn) Daoist “internal” alchemical regimens designed to attain immortality through meditation, breath control, gymnastics, diet, and massage.

neisheng waiwang (nay-sheng wai’wahng) Neo-Confucian ideal of “inner moral cultivation and external skillful management of society and state.”

New Age An umbrella term for various religious and quasi-religious practices based on a belief in the transformation of both nature and human consciousness.

New Thought A philosophical school of thought, popular in the late nineteenth century, that stressed the power of the human mind to discover the divine within nature and to control material reality.

Nicene Creed A profession of faith formulated by the Councils of Nicea (325) and Constantinople (381), the Nicene Creed articulates the Christian doctrine of the Trinity.

Nichiren Buddhism (nee-chee-ren) A form of Mahayana Buddhism with origins in Japan.

Nihon shoki (nee-hohn shoh-kee) Chronicles of [the Land Where] the Sun Originates. nirvana (neer-vah’nuh, Sanskrit; nibbana, Pali) The ultimate goal of Buddhist practice, nirvana is the extinguishing of unwholesome desire and suffering.

Noble Eightfold Path The Buddha’s prescription for a way of life that leads to enlightenment, it consists of the practice of eight ideals.

nontheistic Term denoting a religion that does not maintain belief in God or gods.

norito (noh-ree-toh) Invocational prayer offered by Shinto priests to the kami.

Nowruz (now-rooz’) Zoroastrian New Year’s Day coinciding with the vernal equinox, the most popularly observed annual holy day; celebrated in varying ways throughout western Asia by people of all religious and ethnic backgrounds.

numinous experience Rudolf Otto’s term for describing an encounter with “the Holy”; it is characterized by two powerful and contending forces, mysterium tremendum and fascinans.

Odu (oh-doo; Yoruba) The original prophets in Yoruba religion.

OM (ohm; from three Sanskrit letters: A-U-M) The primordial sound through which the universe is manifested.

omikuji (oh’mee-koo-jee) Paper fortunes wrapped around tree branches at shrines, omnipotence The divine attribute of total and eternal power.

omniscience The divine attribute of total and eternal knowledge.

original sin Formulated by St. Augustine in the fourth century, the doctrine of original sin states that the sin of Adam and Eve affected all of humanity, so that all human beings are born with a sinful nature.

orisha (aw-ree-shah’; Yoruba) Term for lesser deities in Yoruba religion.

Orthodox Church Also known as the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church is the Eastern branch of Christianity that separated from the Western branch (the Roman Catholic Church) in 1054.

Oshun (oh’shoon; Yoruba) A Yoruba goddess.

Pali Canon Also known as the Tipitaka, the Theravada canon is the first canon of Buddhist texts consisting of three “baskets” or collections of sutras.

Panth (puhnth; Sanskrit, “path”) The Sikh community. In lower case, panth (“path”) is a term applied to any number of Indian (primarily Hindu) religious traditions.

pantheism The belief that the divine reality is identical to nature or the material world.

pantheon A group of deities or spirits.

parable According to the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus made extensive use of parables—short, fictional stories that use the language and imagery of everyday life to illustrate moral and religious truths.

parinirvana (pah’ree-neer-vah’nuh; Sanskrit) The full entry into nirvana at death of one who has attained nirvana, it brings release from samsara and rebirth.

Parker, Quanah Comanche man who called for embrace of peyote religion.

Paul of Tarsus A first-centuiy apostle who founded churches throughout Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Greece. Paul was also the author of many of the letters, or epistles, found in the New Testament.

Pentecost A holiday celebrated by Christians in commemoration of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus as described in the second chapter of the New Testament book of Acts.

Pentecostalism A movement that emphasizes the importance of spiritual renewal and the experience of God through baptism in the Holy Spirit, Pentecostalism is a primarily Protestant movement that has become extremely popular in recent decades.

Pesach (pay’sahkh) An early spring harvest festival that celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt, Pesach (better known as “Passover” in English) is celebrated for seven days in Israel and eight days in the Diaspora. The first two nights are celebrated within a family setting.

peyote (pay-oh’tee) Hallucinogenic cactus used in many Native American religions.

polytheism The belief in many gods.

Popol Vuh (poh-pohl voo’; Quiche Mayan, “council book”) The Quiche Mayan book of creation.

Protestant Christianity One of the three major traditions in Christianity (along with Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy), Protestantism began in the sixteenth century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices.

puja (pooh’jah; Sanskrit, “worship”) Generally, worship; usually the offering before an image of the deity of fruit, incense, or flowers.

Purana (poo-rah’nuh; Sanskrit, “ancient”) A compendium of myth, usually with a sectarian emphasis.

Pure Land Buddhism A form of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes devotion to Amitabha Buddha.

purgatory In Roman Catholicism, purgatory is an intermediate state between earthly life and heaven in which the debt for unconfessed sin is expiated.

qi (chee) Breath, force, power, material energy.

Quetzalcoatl (ket-zuhl-kuh-wah’tuhl; Aztec) Aztec god and important culture hero in Mexico.

Qur’an (kuh-rahn’ or koo-rahn’; Arabic) The holy text of Muslims; the word of God as revealed to Muhammad.

Rahit (rah-hit’; Punjabi) The rahit-nama, a collection of scripture that specifies ideals of belief and conduct for members of the Khalsa and, by extension, for Sikhism generally.

Ramadan (rah’muh-dahn; Arabic) The month in which Muslims must fast daily from dawn until dusk; the fast is one of the five pillars of Islam; also the month in which the Qur’an is believed to have been revealed to Muhammad.

ren (ruhn) In Confucianism, human-heartedness, benevolence; the unique moral inclination of humans.

revealed ethics Truth regarding right behavior believed to be divinely established and intentionally made known to human beings.

revelation The expression of the divine will, commonly recorded in sacred texts.

rites of passage Rituals that mark the transition from one life stage or social stage to another.

rites of renewal Rituals that seek to enhance natural processes, like rain or fertility, or to enhance the solidarity of a group.

ritual Formal worship practice.

Roman Catholic Church One of the three major traditions within Christianity (along with Orthodoxy and Protestantism), the Roman Catholic Church, which recognizes the primacy of the Bishop of Rome, or the pope, has historically been the dominant church in the West.

rosary Taking its name from the Latin rosarium (“garland of roses”), the rosary is a traditional form of Roman Catholic devotion in which practitioners make use of a string of beads in reciting prayers.

Rosh Hashanah (rohsh hah-shah-nah’) The Jewish New Year, it is celebrated for two days in the fall (on the first day of the month of Tishrai) and accompanied by the blowing of a ram’s horn (a shofar, in Hebrew). It signals the beginning of the “ten days of repentance” that culminate with Yom Kippur.

ru (rooh) Scribes and ritual performers of the Zhou period; later used exclusively to refer to Confucians.

sacraments In Christianity, rituals in which material elements such as bread, wine, water, and oil serve as visible symbols of an invisible grace conveyed to recipients.

saint A “holy person” (Latin sanctus). Veneration of the saints and belief in their intercession on behalf of the living are important features of Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christianity.

salat (suh-laht’; Arabic) The daily prayers, which are one of the pillars of Islam.

samsara (sahm-sah’ruh; Sanskrit) The continuing cycle of birth, death, and rebirth; also the this-worldly realm in which the cycle recurs.

sand painting A painting made with sand used by Navajo healers to treat ailments.

sangha (sahn’guh; Sanskrit, “community”) The community of Buddhist monks and nuns. Sangha can also denote individual communities of Buddhists or the worldwide community of Buddhists.

sannyasi (suhn-yah’see; Sanskrit) Renouncer in the fourth stage (ashrama) of life.

Santeria (sahn-teh-ree’ah; Spanish) New World religion with roots in West Africa; prominent in Cuba.

sawm (sohm; Arabic) The mandatory fast during the month of Ramadan; one of the pillars of Islam.

scholasticism Represented by figures such as Peter Abelard, Thomas Aquinas, and William of Ockham, scholasticism was the medieval effort to reconcile faith and reason using the philosophy of Aristotle.

Second Great Awakening An evangelical movement popular in the United States from the early nineteenth century to the 1880s.

secularization The general turning away from traditional religious authority and institutions; any tendency in modern society that devalues religious worldviews or seeks to substitute scientific theories for religious beliefs.

Seder (sey’dehr) A ritualized meal, observed on the first two nights of Pesach, that recalls the Exodus from Egypt.

sedreh (sed’reh) White cotton vest worn by Zoroastrians that symbolizes the path of righteousness.

Sedreh Pushi (sed’reh poo’shee) For Iranis, the name of the ceremony of initiation into the community of Zoroastrians. See also Nayjote.

seekers A popular term, current in the late nineteenth century, for individuals who cannot find spiritual satisfaction in “mainstream” religious institutions and who describe themselves as “spiritual” rather than “religious.”

shahada (shah-hah’dah; Arabic) The declaration of faith: “There is no God but God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God”; the first of the five pillars.

Shaiva (shai’vuh; Sanskrit) A devotee of Shiva.

Shakta (shahk’tah; Sanskrit) A devotee of the Great Goddess, Devi.

Shangdi (shahng-dee) The August Lord on High of the Shang period.

shari‘a (sha-ree’ah; Arabic, “the way to the water hole”) Islamic law.

Shavuot (shah-vooh-oht’) A later spring harvest festival that is celebrated for two days and is associated with the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Along with Pesach and Sukkot, it was one of the “pilgrimage” festivals in ancient times.

shen (shen) Gods and deities; benevolent spirits.

shengren (sheng-ren) (or sheng) The Confucian sage, the epitome of humanity.

shi (shir) Men of service; lower-ranking civil and military officials in the Zhou period.

Shi‘a (pl.), Shi‘i (n. adj.) (shee’ah, shee’ee; Arabic) One of the two major branches of Islam. The Shi‘a believed that ‘Ali, the Prophet’s son-in-law, should have succeeded as leader of the Muslim community after the death of Muhammad.

shimenawa (shee-may-nah-wah) Huge rope hung in front of the worship sanctuary of a shrine.

shintai (shin-tai) The “body” of a kami housed in a public shrine, a family shrine, or temporarily in a mikoshi.

Shinto (shin-toh) “The way of the gods.” Traditional Japanese religion that acknowledges the power of the kami.

shirk (sherk; Arabic) The sin of idolatry, that is, of worshiping anything other than God, the one unforgivable sin in Islam.

shruti (shroo’tee; Sanskrit, “that which is heard”) Term denoting the category of Vedic literature accepted by orthodox Hindus as revealed truth.

shudra (shooh’druh; Sanskrit) A member of the servant class of the varna or caste system.

shunyata (shoon’yuh-tah; Sanskrit) A Mahayana doctrine according to which all things are empty of any inherent existence. Also known as emptiness.

Shvetambara (shvayt-ahm’buh-ruh; Sanskrit, “those whose garment is white”) The largest Jain sect, whose monks and nuns wear white robes; generally more liberal than the Digambara sect.

Siddur (see-doohr’) The prayer book that is used on weekdays and on the Sabbath.

sin The violation of God’s will in thought or action.

skandhas (skahn’duhs; Sanskrit, “bundles” or “heaps”) In Buddhism, transitory phenomena (material form, feelings, perceptions, mental constructions, and awareness) that give rise to a sense of self.

skillful means The Mahayana doctrine that in teaching or demonstrating the Dharma one should adapt one’s words and actions to the needs of one’s audience.

smriti (smree’tee; Sanskrit, “tradition”) Term denoting the vast category of Hindu sacred texts that is not shruti.

Spenta Mainyu (spen’tah mine’yoo) Ahura Mazda’s Holy Spirit; one of the seven Amesha Spentas.

stupas (stooh’puhs; Sanskrit) Reliquary mounds or other structures in which the relics of the Buddhas are buried preserved and venerated.

Sufi (soo’fee) A follower of the mystical tradition of Islam, Sufism, which focuses on the believer’s personal experience of God and goal of union with God.

Sukkot (sooh-koht’) A fall harvest festival that is associated with the huts (in Hebrew, sukkot) in which the ancient Israelites sought shelter during the Exodus. It is celebrated for seven days in Israel (eight days in the Diaspora).

Sun Dance Midsummer ritual common to many Native American religions; details vary across cultures.

sunna (soon’nuh; Arabic, “way of life” or “custom”) Specifically refers to example of the life of the Prophet Muhammad; important religious source for Muslims.

Sunni (soon’nee; Arabic) One of the two main branches of Islam. The Sunnis believed that the Muslim community should decide on a successor to lead after the death of Muhammad.

sura (soo’rah; Arabic) Chapter of the Qur’an; there are 114 suras in the Qur’an.

sutra (sooh’truh, Sanskrit; sutta, Pali) A text containing a discourse or sermon of the Buddha.

sweat lodge A structure built by Native Americans for ritually cleansing and purifying the body.

synagogue Jewish house of worship. The focal point of every synagogue is the Ark, a large cabinet where scrolls of the Torah are stored.

tqfsir (taf-seer’; Arabic) Interpretation of or commentary on the Qur’an. There are several types of tafsir, which aim to explain the meaning of the Qur’an.

tallit A prayer shawl that is worn during morning prayers (traditionally by men). The fringes of this shawl represent, symbolically, the 613 mitzvot found in the Torah.

Talmud (tahl-mood’) A multivolume work of commentary on the laws of the Torah and on the teachings of the entire Hebrew Bible, composed in two stages: the Mishnah (edited in approximately 200 ce) and the Gemara (edited, in its Babylonian version, around 500 ce). Traditionally, Jews refer to the Talmud as the “Oral Torah” and regard it as an extension of sacred scripture.

Tanakh An acronym standing for the entire Hebrew Bible: Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible); Neviim (or “Prophets,” which includes works of both prophecy and history); and Khetuvim (or “Writings,” a miscellaneous gathering of works in poetiy and prose). Taken together, the twenty-four books that make up this collection constitute the core “scriptures” of Judaism.

Tantra (tuhn’truh; Sanskrit, “loom”) System of ideas and practices that potentiate sudden liberation from samsara; also a form of sacred text detailing the ideas and practices.

tefillin (tee-fi’luhn) Two small boxes, containing biblical verses, to which leather straps are attached. Traditionally, Jewish males from the age of thirteen wear tefillin during weekday morning prayers; one box is placed on the forehead, and the other is placed on the left arm.

temizuya (te-mee’zoo-yah) Purification fountain at a shrine.

theistic Term denoting a religion that maintains belief in God or gods.

theosophy Any religious philosophy that entails communication with deceased “spiritual masters” and emphasizes the superiority of “spirit” to “matter.”

Theravada Buddhism (thai-ruh-vah’duh) The form of Buddhism that is most prominent in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), and Laos.

thetan (thay’tuhn) A term used by Scientologists to identify the immortal self and source of creativity in the human mind.

Three Refuges Also known as the Three Jewels. Buddhists proclaim their identification as such by saying that they take refuge in, or place their trust in, the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.

Tian (tee-yahn’) The transcendent, numinous entity in ancient Chinese religion; the conscious Will that regulates the cosmos and intervenes in human affairs; conventionally translated as “Heaven.”

Tianming The mandate or command of Tian that confers political legitimacy to the ruler; also understood by Confucians as the calling to morally improve oneself and to transform the world.

Tianshi (tee-yahn’shir) “Celestial Master”; reference to a Daoist salvational figure, as well as an organized movement.

Tiantai Buddhism (tyen-tai, Chinese; ten-dai, Japanese) Known as Tendai in Japan, Tiantai is a form of Mahayana Buddhism with origins in China.

tipi (also teepee) A typical conical structure of the tribes of the Great Plains which is often constructed with a sacred blueprint.

Tipitaka (ti-pee’tah-kah; Pali, “three baskets”) The Pali Canon of Buddhist texts.

tirthankaras (teer-tuhn’kuhr-uhs; Sanskrit, “makers of the river crossing”) The Jain spiritual heroes, such as Parshva and Mahavira, who have shown the way to salvation; synonymous with jinas.

Torah Literally, the word torah means “teaching,” and in its most restrictive sense it refers to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. Less restrictively, it signifies the totality of God’s revelations to the Jewish people, which includes not only the remaining books of the Hebrew Bible but also the writings contained in the Talmud.

torii (toh-ree-ee) Crossbar gateway leading up to the Shinto shrine.

transcendence The divine attribute of being above and beyond anything human beings can know or imagine.

transtheistic Term denoting a theological perspective that acknowledges the existence of gods while denying that the gods are vital with regard to the most crucial religious issues, such as the quest for salvation.

transubstantiation According to this Roman Catholic doctrine, the bread and wine consecrated by a priest in the Eucharist become the body and blood of Christ and retain only the appearance, not the substance, of bread and wine.

trickster A common figure in North American mythologies; trickster tales often teach important moral lessons.

trikaya (treh-kai’ya; Sanskrit, “three bodies”) The Mahayana doctrine of the three bodies of the Buddha.

Trinity According to the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, God is a single divine substance or essence consisting of three “persons.”

Two Spirit An additional gender identity in many Native North American cultures; often thought to have special spiritual powers.

Ufology Any systematized belief in extraterrestrials.

Umayyad Dynasty (oo-may’yad) Muslim dynasty that ruled from 661 to 750 ce.

umma (oom’muh; Arabic) The worldwide Muslim community.

Upanishad (oo-pah’nee-shuhd; Sanskrit, “sitting down near [a teacher]”) A philosophical text from the later period of Vedic literature, also called Vedanta (“end of the Vedas”).

urbanization The shift of population centers from rural, agricultural settings to cities.

Vaishnava (vaish’nuh-vuh; Sanskrit) A devotee of Vishnu and his avatars.

vaishya (vaish’yuh; Sanskrit) A member of the producer (farmer and merchant) class of the vama or caste system.

Vajrayana Buddhism (vuhj-ruh-yah’nuh; Sanskrit, “Thunderbolt” or “Diamond Vehicle”) The most prominent form of Mahayana Buddhism in Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and Mongolia.

varna (vahr’nuh; Sanskrit, “color”) Caste or class; the four main classes form the basis of the traditional hierarchical organization of Hindu society.

Vedanta (vay-dahn’tuh; Sanskrit, “end of the Vedas”) Synonym for Upanishads; prominent Hindu philosophical school.

Vedas (vay’duhz; from Sanskrit veda, “knowledge”) Broadly, all Vedic literature; narrowly, four ancient collections (samhitas) of hymns and other religious material.

vision quest A ritual attempt by an individual to communicate with the spirit world.

Vodou (vo-doo’; Fon and French) New World religion with roots in West Africa; prominent in Haiti and the Haitian diaspora.

waidan (wai’dahn) Daoist “external” alchemical regimens involving refining of “pills” with herbs and minerals for ingestion so that immortality can be attained.

Wiccan Rede A traditional set of rules and ethical values cherished by Wiccans.

witchcraft A term used by Western scholars to describe the use of supernatural powers to harm others.

World’s Parliament of Religions Two worldwide gatherings of religious leaders, first in Chicago in 1893 and then a larger centennial gathering, also in Chicago, in 1993.

Wovoka A Paiute man whose visions started the Ghost Dance of 1890.

wuwei (wooh-way) Daoist notion of action without intention; actionless action.

wuxing (wooh-shing) The five elemental phases of metal, wood, water, fire, and soil that mutually support and overcome one another.

xian (shee-ahn’) Daoist immortals and perfected individuals.

xiao (shee-ow’) Filial piety; respect and care for parents and ancestors.

xinzhai (shin’jai) “Fasting of the Mind” in the Zhuangzi.

yang (yahng) Lit. the south-facing side of a mountain, representing the energy that is bright, warm, dry, and masculine.

yangsheng (yahng-shing) Daoist techniques of nourishing life and attaining immortality.

Yasna (yas’nuh) Seventy-two-chapter section of the Avesta containing material recited by priests in rituals; includes the Gathas. The Yasna liturgy, an important ritual, is the sacrifice of the sacred drink haoma before a fire.

yazatas (yah-zah’tahs; “ones worthy of worship”) A large number, eventually fixed at thirty, of deities on the side of Ahura Mazda and order/good.

YHWH These four consonants constitute the most sacred of names associated with the biblical God.

yin Lit. the north-facing side of a mountain, representing the energy that is dark, cold, wet, and feminine.

yoga (yoh’guh; Sanskrit, “yoking” or “uniting”) Generally, uniting of the self with God; sometimes used as an alternative to marga when referring to the three main paths to liberation; also (normally capitalized: Yoga) one of the six philosophical schools, focusing on moral, physical, and spiritual practices leading to liberation.

yogic flying A meditational practice, similar to levitation, attributed to members of the Transcendental Meditation community.

Yom Kippur (yohm’ kee-poohr’) Referred to as the “Day of Atonement,” it is the most solemn of all of the fast days in the Jewish religious calendar.

zakat (za’kat; Arabic) Regulated almsgiving; one of the five pillars of Islam.

zar (zahr; various languages) A term for spirits in East Africa.

Zarathushtra (za-ruh-thoosh’truh) (Also spelled “Zarathustra”) Called Zoroaster by the ancient Greeks; ancient Iranian prophet and poet, founder of the Zoroastrian religion; dates uncertain (between 1300 and 800 bce).

Zen Buddhism The Japanese name (the Chinese name is Chan), for a Mahayana school that emphasizes meditation over doctrine.

zhai (jai) Daoist “fasts” designed to seek redemption of transgressions by the gods.

Zhuan Falun (zyahn-fay’luhn) The collected writings of Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Gong. First published in 1994.

Zionism A modern political philosophy that asserts a belief in the Jewish national identity and in the necessity of resuming national life within the historic land of Israel.

ziran (zee’rahn) Daoist notion of natural spontaneity.

Zohar A kabbalistic midrash based on the biblical book of Genesis (c. 1280 ce). zuowang (zoh’wahng) Practice of “sitting and forgetting” in the Zhuangzi.