Indian Philosophy and Aesthetics

Siddhartha Gautama first became disenchanted, then wandered, then gained insight (enlightenment), and finally meditated under a tree to achieve full awakening. Gaining insight is the culmination of his journey.

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion that believes in one formless, eternal God (Waheguru).

The five K's (Panj Kakar) are articles of faith that initiated Sikhs must wear at all times: Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (wooden comb), Katchera (cotton undergarments), Kara (iron bracelet), and Kirpan (ceremonial sword).

Buddhism is a non-theistic religion. It does not focus on the worship of a creator god, but rather on the path to enlightenment and the cessation of suffering.

The Middle Way refers to the path of moderation between the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification, as taught by Siddhartha Gautama.

After the Kalinga War, Ashoka the Great converted to Buddhism and actively promoted its spread throughout his empire and beyond.

Ahimsa, or nonviolence toward all living things, is a core tenet of Jainism, distinguishing it from other Indian traditions.

Following the Kalinga War, Asoka converted to Buddhism and adopted a policy of non-violence, known as ahimsa, renouncing further military conquest.

In Hindu belief, karma refers to the sum of a person's actions in this and previous lives. These actions determine the nature of one's future rebirth.

In Buddhism, Nirvana is the ultimate goal, representing the cessation of suffering and the cycle of rebirth, often described as a state of union or liberation.

Karma is the concept that every action, thought, or intention has a consequence that influences one's future existence in the cycle of rebirth.

Dharma refers to the ethical and moral duties that an individual must follow to maintain cosmic order and live a righteous life according to their role in society.

Moksha is the term in Hinduism for the liberation from the cycle of rebirth and the soul's union with the ultimate reality, Brahman. The other options are nonsensical distractors.

The Four Noble Truths are the foundational teachings of Buddhism, outlining the nature of suffering and the path to its cessation. These are central to all Buddhist traditions.