BP Glossary"

BP Library

Rabbi	('my master') Jewish religious teacher and interpreter of the Torah; Jewish clergy; leader of the synagogue; early rabbis wrote the Mishna, Talmud, and other texts.
Rama	(Hindu) The seventh incarnation of Vishnu; the epitome of righteousness and virtue.
Ramadan	Ninth Islamic month of daylight fasting; the first revelations of Qur'an to Mohhamad
Ramayana	One of the two great epics of Hinduism; tells of the avatar of Rama.
Rastafarianism	African / Jamaican belief in restoration of all West Indians to Ethiopia; Characterized by their dreadlocks hair, reggae soul music and reliance on cannabis (Ganga) for spiritual insight.
Rasul	('messenger') Islamic term reserved for most holy of Allah's prophets; greater than nabi.
Reality	Event, entity, or principle, that exists independently of human ideas concerning it.
Rebirth	Buddhist reinterpretation of Reincarnation due to the doctrine of Anatta; The karmic residue is somehow reassembled to form a new person.
Recidivism	A tendency to lapse into a former, usually worse condition or pattern of behavior, especially a return to criminal habits.
Reconciliation	(amends) To settle a quarrel, animosity, or estrangement; to make compatible.
Recovery	Restoration, healing, or return from sickness, injury, addiction, or crisis to a condition of health, soundness, or vigor.
Redemption	God's saving work in recovering what is His.
Reflexology	New Age practice of healing through massage of hands or feet to allow chi to flow freely.
Reincarnation	Hindu belief, unenlightened souls undergo a series of lives to resolve bad Karma.
Relational	personality element with environmental, interpersonal, and internal designs.
Relationship	Significant association between persons by kinship, obligation, profession, mutual interest, or sexual involvement.
Relics	Venerated objects, clothing or material remains (bones, hair or teeth) of religious heroes.
Religion	Seeking and responding to that which is believed to be Holy; beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, involving worship of God, and a moral code for conduct.
Renunciation	The practice of denying oneself food, sleep, sexual relations, or worldly goods.
Repentance	An intense feeling of remorse which induces a positive change of lifestyle and behavior.
Reproduction	instinct for intimacy and procreation, to duplicate efforts, or for legacy.
Resentment	Displeasure or indignation at someone or something regarded as cause of injury or insult.
Responsibility	Capacity for moral decisions; to be reliable, dependable, or accountable in one's affairs.
Resurrection	The raising of the dead.
Rishis	Hindu saints or holy men who are predominantly forest dwellers (elders). The Vedas and Upanishads were believed to have been written by Rishis.
Rita	Hindu cosmic order; principle of ethical/ physical organization created by sky god Varuna.
Rites of Passage	Religious or social rituals that mark the passing from one state of life to another; birth, coming of age, marriage, graduation, funerals or seasonal rituals are all examples.
Ritual	('thing done') Religious ceremonies performed by patterns of words, movements, and symbolic actions normally take on process of SEPARATION / STRUGGLE / REINCORPORATION.
Romany	Traditional culture, itinerant existence, tribal organization, and language of gypsies.
Rosh Hashanah	Jewish New Year, celebrated on the anniversary of the Creation.
Rosicrucianism	Secretive pantheistic society influenced by Egyptian mysticism.
Ruh	('spirit') The higher perfected spirit within humans as compared to nafs.