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Kalam (I) Discussion and debate,
especially relating to Islamic theology.
Kami (Sh) A spirit or deity in Shinto
religion. There are many thousands
of kami in the Shinto pantheon.
Kangha (S) A small comb worn in
the hair by Sikhs; one of the “five Ks”
of Sikhism.
Kara (S) A steel bangle worn by
Sikhs on the right wrist. One of the
“five Ks” of Sikhism.
Karma (B, H) The law of moral cause
and effect that influences our rebirth
after death.
Kesh (S) Uncut hair; one of the “five
Ks” of Sikhism.
Khalsa (S) The community of
initiated Sikhs, founded by Guru
Gobind Singh.
Khanda (S) A two-edged sword of the
kind used by Guru Gobind Singh in a
ritual that marked the founding of the
Khalsa; now a symbol of Sikhism.
Kirpan (S) A sword worn by Sikhs;
one of the “five Ks” of Sikhism.
Kirtan (S) Hymn singing that forms
an important part of Sikh worship.
Koan (B) In Zen Buddhism, a
problem or riddle without logical
solution, which is intended to
provoke an insight.
Kojiki (Sh) The sacred text of Shinto.
Kosher (J) Sanctioned by religious
law; especially food deemed fit to eat,
according to Jewish dietary laws.
Kundalini (H) Life force or energy
that is coiled at the base of the spine.
Lama (B) An adept spiritual teacher
in Tibetan Buddhism, specifically one
who has undergone particular yogic
or other training, or one who is
considered to be the reincarnation
of a previous spiritual leader.Mandala (B) A sacred diagram,
usually depicting a conception
of the cosmos, used as a focus for
meditation and in other rituals,
especially in Tibetan Buddhism.Mantra (B, H) A sacred sound or
word used to bring about a spiritual
transformation; in Hinduism, the
metrical psalms of Vedic literature.Matha (H, Jn) Monastic and similar
religious establishments.Matsuri (Sh) A festival or ritual in
Shinto. Many feature processions
of shrine-bearing worshippers.Maya (H) The illusion of the world
as experienced by the senses.Mihrab (I) A niche in the prayer hall
of a mosque, indicating the qibla.Mishnah (J) The first major written
redaction of the Jewish oral traditions
and also the first major work of
rabbinic Judaism.Mitzvah (J) A commandment from
God, specifically either one of the
10 principal commandments, or
one of the 613 instructions found
in the Torah.Moksha (H) The release from the
round of life, death, and rebirth; also
known as mukti.Mool mantra (S) A statement
of Sikh belief in the oneness of god,
composed by Guru Nanak; also called
the mool mantar.Mudra (B, H) A symbolic gesture,
usually with the hands.Mullah (I) An Islamic religious
scholar, who may also preach and
lead prayers in a mosque.Murti (H) An image or statue of
a deity, seen as the dwelling place
or embodiment of the deity.Nirvana (B) The state of liberation
from the round of death and rebirth.Puja (H) Worship through ritual.Puranas (B, H, Jn) Writings not
included in the Vedas, recounting
the birth and deeds of Hindu gods
and the creation, destruction, or
re-creation of the universe.Pure Land (B) The paradise where,
according to some forms of Buddhism,
the souls of believers go after death;
known in Japanese Buddhism as jodo.Purusha (H) The eternal and
authentic self that pervades all
things in the universe.Qi (D) The life force or active
principle that animates things in
the world, according to traditional
Chinese philosophy.Qibla (I) The direction that a Muslim
should face when praying—that of the
Kaaba in Mecca.Qigong (D) A system of breathing
and exercise for physical, mental, and
spiritual health.Qur’an (I) The words of God as
revealed to the Prophet Muhammad
and later written down to form the
sacred text of Islam.Rabbi (J) A teacher and spiritual
leader of a Jewish community.Rabbinical (J) Of, or relating
to, rabbis.Ramadan (I) The ninth month of
the Islamic calendar; a month of daily
fasting from dawn until sunset.Ren (D) Benevolence or altruism
in Confucianism.GLOSSARY