4 Puruṣārthas (Human aims/goals): Artha, Kāma, Dharma, Mokṣa

4 Stages of life (varṇāśrama): brahmacarya, gṛihastha, vanaprastha, sannyāsa

4 Divisions of society: brahmin, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra

4 Kinds of texts: Śruti, Smṛti (Bhagavad-Gita), Itihāsa (Ramayana & Mahabharata), Purāṇa

4 Traditions/divisions of the Veda: Ṛg, Yajur, Sāma, and Atharva

4 Kinds of texts within each division: Saṃhitā, Brāhmaṇa, Āraṇyaka, Upaniṣad (Vedānta)

4 Levels of awareness: Waking (vaiśvānara), Dream (Taijasa), Dreamless Sleep (Prājña), Enlightenment (Turīya)

3 Paths (tri-Mārga): Karma, Jñāna, Bhakti

        Mīmāṃsā is Karma mārga (mokṣa through action) (karma means “action”)

        Vedānta is Jñāna mārga (mokṣa through wisdom) (jñāna means “wisdom”)

Bhakti-mārga (mokṣa through devotion to God) (bhakti means “devotion”)

Three+ major divisions of Bhakti today: Vaiṣṇava (Viṣṇu), Śaiva (Śiva) , Śakta (Devi)
                Also: Śrīvaiṣṇava (Viṣṇu + Śrī) and Smarta Brahmins

Authority of the Veda: Āstika and Nāstika (Jainism and Buddhism (et al.))

Ṣaḍdarśana (six perspectives/views of Āstika thought)

Nyāya & Vaiśeṣika         Logic & atomism; generally theistic; Realist (atom is matter/energy)
Ns & Vs teach that God is the author of the Vedas

Sāṁkhya & Yoga        Dualist – Puruṣa and Prakṛti (two bedsheets analogy Matter/Energy)
                        Existence/nonexistence of God is not considered relevant
                        Mokṣa – properly discerning between Puruṣa (Energy) and Prakṛti

Mīmāṃsā & Vedānta 

        Mīmāṃsā:         athato dharma jijñāsā (PMS I.1.1) (dharma = Justice/The Good)
         Meticulous exegesis of Brāhmaṇas (ritual (karma) portion of Veda)
        Veda tells us “what is to be done and how”
        Śabda mātram devatā (“‘god’ is nothing but a word”)
        Ananta & Apauruṣeyatva – Veda is eternal and unauthored

        Vedanta:        athato brahma jijñāsā (UMS I.1.1) (brahman=“The Real”)
                Primarily concerned with Upaniṣads
                Mīmāṃsā exegesis applied to the Upaniṣads
                The effect pre-exists in the cause (I am the cause of the future) (sat-karya-vada)
                Numerous schools within Vedānta:
                        Advaita, Viśiṣṭādvaita, Dvaita, Tantra
                        (NonDualist, NonDualist+God, Dualist, NonDualist)

Karma, Dharma, Mokṣa, Ātman, and Brahman are understood very differently by each of these

Anādi/Ananta (the universe is beginningless and endless), samsāra (cycle of beginning/ending)

Karma and samskara (karma means “action” and samskara means “trace”)

4 maha-vakyas (“great-sentences”):

• “I am Brahman” (Brihad-Aranyaka Upanishad I.4.10)
• “Thou art that” (Chandogya Upanishad VI (various))
• “Brahman is Consciousness” (Aitareya Upanishad)
• “THIS Self is Brahman” (Mandukya Upanishad 2)

Bhagavata Purana

10 avataras of Vishnu:

1. Matsya: A giant fish who rescued Manu, the first man, from a flood
2. Kurma: A tortoise who saved the earth from a cosmic mishap
3. Varaha: A boar who rescued the earth from the bottom of the sea
4. Narasimha: A man-lion who symbolizes justice and courage.
5. Vamana: A dwarf who defeated the demon king Mahabali, restoring balance to the earth.
6. Parashurama: A warrior who fought corruption and protected righteousness.
7. Rama: A prince who adhered to duty and moral values.
8. Krishna: A divine hero in the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita.
9. Buddha: An enlightened one who symbolizes compassion and enlightenment.
10. Kalki: A future warrior who will restore dharma.