Glossary of Terms

Divine justice and cosmic order. In Pre-Socratic philosophy, Dike is both a cosmic principle and a goddess who maintains the order of the universe. La...

The rational principle underlying reality. In Heraclitus, Logos is the universal law governing all things. Later adopted by Stoics and Christian theol...

The ordered universe as opposed to chaos. Implies harmony, beauty, and rational order. The cosmos as a living, intelligent whole governed by divine la...

Cosmic law, moral duty, and righteous conduct. In the Bhagavad Gita, dharma is the principle of right action according to one's nature and station. Th...

Action and its consequences. The law of cause and effect in the moral and spiritual realm. Every action generates consequences that shape one's destin...

The cosmic order and truth. The principle of universal law and harmony that underlies all existence. Similar to Logos in Greek philosophy.

Truth, balance, order, law, morality, and justice. In Egyptian cosmology, Ma'at is the principle that maintains cosmic order and the foundation of all...

Justice as rectifying judgment and righteous order. The Hebrew Bible's term for justice that includes both judgment and the restoration of proper rela...

Righteousness and righteous generosity. The obligation to give to the poor and support the vulnerable as an expression of justice and covenant.

Justice as balance and cosmic equilibrium. In Islamic theology, Adl is God's attribute of justice and the principle of fair dealing and moral rectitud...

Spiritual excellence and beauty. The pursuit of perfection in action and the integration of justice with mercy and compassion.

Divine love and selfless compassion. In Christian theology, agape is the highest form of love—unconditional, sacrificial, and the foundation of justic...

Practical wisdom and prudential judgment. The ability to discern the right action in particular circumstances. Central to Aristotle's virtue ethics.

Excellence and virtue. The fulfillment of one's potential and the cultivation of excellence in all areas of life. The highest human good.

The Way. The fundamental principle underlying all existence. In Taoism, the Tao is the source of all being and the path to harmony with nature and jus...

Non-action or action in harmony with nature. The principle of acting without force or artifice, allowing things to unfold according to their nature.

Humaneness and virtue. In Confucianism, Ren is the highest virtue—the capacity for compassion and the cultivation of humanity through proper relations...

Propriety and ritual. The proper forms of conduct and ceremony that express virtue and maintain social harmony. The outward expression of inner virtue...

Emptiness or voidness. In Buddhism, the absence of inherent, independent existence. The realization of emptiness as the gateway to enlightenment and l...

Sudden enlightenment or awakening. In Zen Buddhism, the direct experience of one's Buddha-nature and the nature of reality beyond conceptual thought.

A paradoxical anecdote or riddle used in Zen training. Koans are designed to exhaust the rational mind and open the door to direct insight and enlight...

Righteousness and truth in Zoroastrianism. The cosmic principle of good and order opposed to Druj (the lie and chaos). The foundation of moral choice.

The wise lord in Zoroastrianism. The supreme deity representing goodness, wisdom, and justice. The source of all righteousness and cosmic order.