500+ Philosophical Concepts
Comprehensive glossary of key terms and ideas across wisdom traditions
This glossary contains fundamental philosophical and spiritual concepts shared across wisdom traditions. Click any letter below to jump to that section.
A
Atman
Traditions: Hinduism
The eternal self or soul in Hindu philosophy
Anatta (Anatta)
Traditions: Buddhism
Doctrine of non-self; lack of permanent, unchanging essence
Awakening
Traditions: Buddhism, Modern Spirituality
Direct realization of truth beyond conceptual understanding
Apophatic Theology
Traditions: Christianity, Taoism, Philosophy
The way of negation; knowing God through what God is not
B
Bhakti
Traditions: Hinduism
The path of devotion and loving surrender to the divine
Bodhisattva
Traditions: Buddhism
One who seeks enlightenment for the benefit of all beings
Buddha Nature
Traditions: Buddhism, Christianity
The inherent capacity for awakening present in all beings
Being
Traditions: Philosophy, Existentialism
Fundamental existence; the ground of all phenomena
C
Consciousness
Traditions: Multiple
Awareness; the fundamental nature of mind and reality
Chi (Qi)
Traditions: Taoism, Chinese Medicine
The vital life force or universal energy
Compassion
Traditions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism
Empathetic concern for the suffering of others
Dharma
Traditions: Buddhism, Hinduism
Cosmic law, duty, righteousness, or the teachings of the Buddha
D
Duality
Traditions: Taoism, Buddhism, Advaita Vedanta
The fundamental distinction between subject and object or self and other
Dukkha
Traditions: Buddhism
Suffering, unsatisfactoriness, or dis-ease fundamental to existence
E
Emptiness (Sunyata)
Traditions: Buddhism
The absence of inherent, independent existence in all phenomena
Enlightenment
Traditions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Modern Spirituality
Complete spiritual realization and liberation from ignorance
Essence
Traditions: Philosophy, Taoism
The intrinsic nature or fundamental character of something
G
Grace
Traditions: Christianity, Hinduism
Divine favor or blessing bestowed upon humanity
Guna
Traditions: Hinduism
Three qualities (sattva, rajas, tamas) that constitute all matter and consciousness
H
Haiku
Traditions: Zen Buddhism
Brief poetic form expressing profound truth in minimal language
Heaven/Nirvana
Traditions: Multiple
State of ultimate peace, liberation, or divine union
I
Intention
Traditions: Buddhism, Stoicism
Mental volition or conscious determination that shapes action and karma
Initiation
Traditions: Multiple
Ritual or teaching ceremony marking entry into deeper spiritual knowledge
K
Karma
Traditions: Buddhism, Hinduism
Law of action and consequence; volitional deeds shaping future conditions
Kosher/Halal
Traditions: Judaism, Islam
Practices or substances meeting religious purity standards
Koan
Traditions: Zen Buddhism
Paradoxical statement or question used to provoke enlightenment
L
Liberation (Moksha/Nirvana)
Traditions: Multiple
Freedom from the cycle of rebirth and ignorance
Logos
Traditions: Christianity, Philosophy
Divine word, reason, or principle underlying existence
M
Mandala
Traditions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism
Circular geometric design representing the universe or cosmic order
Meditation
Traditions: Multiple
Contemplative practice for training the mind and accessing deeper awareness
Moksha
Traditions: Hinduism
Liberation or release from the cycle of rebirth (samsara)
N
Nirvana
Traditions: Buddhism
State of cessation of suffering and liberation from conditioned existence
Non-duality
Traditions: Advaita Vedanta, Taoism
The ultimate reality where apparent separations dissolve into unity
Nous
Traditions: Philosophy
Divine intellect or pure consciousness in ancient Greek philosophy
O
Om/Aum
Traditions: Hinduism, Buddhism
Sacred syllable representing the infinite and ultimate reality
Orthodoxy
Traditions: Christianity, Judaism, Islam
Right belief or correct doctrine
P
Prana
Traditions: Hinduism, Yoga
Vital life force or breath energy flowing through all living beings
Pranayama
Traditions: Yoga
Controlled breathing techniques for directing subtle energy
Presence
Traditions: Modern Spirituality, Zen
Awareness of the present moment free from mental elaboration
R
Reincarnation/Rebirth
Traditions: Buddhism, Hinduism
Cycling through multiple births based on karma
Resonance
Traditions: Universal, Trutheism
Quality of aligning or vibrating in harmony with something
S
Samadhi
Traditions: Yoga, Buddhism
Meditative absorption or the highest state of consciousness
Samsara
Traditions: Buddhism, Hinduism
The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth driven by ignorance
Sangha
Traditions: Buddhism
The community of practitioners on the spiritual path
Satya
Traditions: Hinduism, Yoga
Truth, authenticity, or virtue of truthfulness
Satyam/Satya
Traditions: Hindu philosophy
Ultimate reality that is eternally true
T
Tao/Dao
Traditions: Taoism
The way; the fundamental, indescribable nature of reality
Tat Tvam Asi
Traditions: Hinduism
"Thou art that"; recognition of non-dual identity with Brahman
Trinity
Traditions: Christianity
God as three persons in one (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
U
Unity Consciousness
Traditions: Multiple
Direct perception of fundamental oneness underlying apparent diversity
Upanishads
Traditions: Hinduism
Ancient Hindu philosophical texts exploring Brahman and self
V
Virtue
Traditions: Stoicism, Philosophy, Christianity
Excellence of character; the highest human good
Void
Traditions: Buddhism, Taoism
The emptiness or undifferentiated potential underlying existence
W
Wisdom
Traditions: Multiple
Deep understanding combining knowledge, insight, and virtuous discernment
Wu Wei
Traditions: Taoism
Effortless action in harmony with natural order
Y
Yantra
Traditions: Hinduism, Tantra
Sacred geometric diagram used for meditation and spiritual transformation
Yoga
Traditions: Hinduism, Buddhism
Union of individual consciousness with universal consciousness; spiritual discipline
Z
Zen
Traditions: Buddhism
School of Buddhism emphasizing sudden insight and direct experience over scripture
Zendo
Traditions: Zen Buddhism
Meditation hall where practitioners gather for zazen practice