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Home > Buddhism > Buddhist Terminology | ||
Some common and not so commonly used words used in BuddhismAbhidharma pitaka -- higher teachings, philosophyAlaya-vijñana -- "store" consciousness (similar to collective unconscious?) Amitabha -- the Buddha of the Western "Pure Land." Also known as Amida. Ananda -- Buddha's friend, cousin, and favourite disciple, and the monk who remembered the Sutras. Anatman (anatta) -- not-self, self or ego not ultimately real. Annitya (anicca) -- change, impermanence of all things, including us. Arahant -- Worthy one, a name for the Buddha. Arhat -- a monk who has achieved nirvana. Asanga -- one of two brothers who lived in India in the 300's ad who developed Yogachara. Asita -- the astrologer who predicts Buddha's fate Asuras -- titans or demigods. Avalokiteshwara -- boddhisattva of compassion Avidya (avijja) -- ignorance, delusion. Bardo -- (Tibet) the period between death and rebirth. Bhagava -- The blessed one, a name for the Buddha. Bhikshu -- monk. Bhikshuni -- nun. Bodh-gaya -- a town in Bihar India where Buddha was enlightened at age 35. Bodhi -- enlightenment, awakening. Bodhi tree -- the fig tree under which Buddha gained enlightenment. Bodhicitta -- sanskrit word for 'mind of enlightenment' Bodhidharma -- monk who brought Buddhism to China. Bodhisattva -- enlightened being who remains in this existence to help others, a saint. Brahma -- the supreme deva, who convinced Buddha to teach. Brahma vihara -- four "sublime states" of the boddhisattva: Maitri, Karuna, Mudita, Upeksa. Buddha -- The awakened one, the enlightened one. Ch'an -- Chinese for Zen Buddhism. Chandaka -- Buddha's squire, who helped him leave his princely life. Ching-T'u -- Chinese for Pure Land. Citta -- basic mind or consciousness Citta-matra -- mind only, idealism Dalai Lama -- the leader of Tibetan Buddhists. Deer Park -- where Buddha gave his first sermon, in Sarnath, near Benares, to the five sadhus. Dependent origination -- "one thing leads to another," all is connected. Devadatta -- Buddha's "evil" cousin. "Theodore." Devas -- gods. Dhamma -- Pali for dharma. Dharma (dhamma) -- the teachings of the Buddha. Dharmakaya -- Buddha-mind, the pervasive essence Dharmas -- ultimate elements of the universe (not dharma as in teachings!) Dhyana (ch'an, zen) -- meditation. Dogen (1200-1253) -- monk who brought Soto Zen to Japan. Duhkha (dukkha) -- suffering, distress, lack of peace. First noble truth. Dzogchen -- Tibetan tantric techniques for rapid enlightenment. Dvesha (dosha) -- hatred, anger, avoidance. Eightfold Path -- right view, aspiration, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration. Five sadhus -- the five ascetics who practiced self-mortification with the Buddha. Flower Adornment School -- a sect which attempted to consolidate all forms of Buddhism. Also known as Hua-Yen or Kegon. Gandharvas -- angelic beings who provide the gods with music. Gati -- realm. Used to refer to the six realms (gods, titans, humans, animals, ghosts, and demons) Gautama (Gotama) -- Buddha's family name. Hinayana -- southern Buddhism ("small or lesser vehicle or journey"). Ho-tei -- Japanese name for Pu-tai Indra -- a major deva, originally the Hindu sky god. Jodo, Jodoshin -- Japanese for Pure Land. Kalpa -- millions of years, an eternity. Kamma -- Pali for karma. Kanthaka -- Buddha's horse. Kapilavastu -- Shakyan capital, where Buddha grew up. Karma (kamma) -- intentional or willed act. Karuna -- compassion or mercy, the special kindness shown to those who suffer. One of the four brahma vihara. Kashinagara -- were Buddha died (near Lumbini), in a grove of sala trees. Koan -- a very brief story demonstrating the paradoxical nature of dualistic thinking. Used in Zen meditation. Kwan Yin , Kwannon -- Chinese and Japanese names for Avalokiteswara. Lama -- Tibetan tantric master, now often used to refer to any respected monk. Lumbini Grove -- where Buddha was born, during his mother's trip to her parents home. Madhyamaka -- middle way, negative logic, not this -- not that Mahakyashapa -- the monk who understood the silent sermon and led the first council. Mahamaya, or Mayadevi -- Buddha's mother, who died seven days after his birth Mahaprajapati -- Buddha's aunt and stepmother, founder of Buddhist nuns. Mahayana -- northern Buddhism ("large or greater vehicle or journey"). Maitreya -- the future Buddha, who will be born 30,000 years from now. Maitri -- caring, loving kindness displayed to all you meet. One of the four brahma vihara. Manas -- I-consciousness, mind, intelligence Mandala -- a complex, circular, symmetrical image used in meditation Mantra -- a phrase or syllable repeated during meditation Mara -- a deva associated with death and hindrances to enlightenment. It was Mara who tempted Buddha under the bodhi tree. Marga -- the path, track. The eightfold noble path. Fourth noble truth. Metta -- Pali for Maitri. Mudita -- sympathetic joy, being happy for others, without a trace of envy. One of the four brahma vihara. Mudra -- symbolic hand positions Nagarjuna -- monk who developed Madhyamaka in India about 150 ad. Nagas -- great serpents (or dragons, or water creatures). The king of the Nagas protected Buddha from a storm. Narakas -- demons (hell beings) Nibbana -- Pali for nirvana. Nichiren -- Japanese school popular in west, and the name of its founder. Emphasizes chanting. Nirmankaya -- Gotama, the historical Buddha. Nirodha -- containment of suffering. Third noble truth. Nirvana (nibbana) -- liberation, enlightenment, release from samsara. Pali -- a language related to Sanskrit in which the earliest scriptures were recorded in Sri Lanka. Pali canon -- see the Tripitaka. Pancha shila -- five moral precepts: Avoid killing, or harming any living thing; Avoid stealing; Avoid sexual irresponsibility; Avoid lying, or any hurtful speech; Avoid alcohol and drugs which diminish clarity of consciousness. Pañña -- Pali for prajña Pitaka -- basket, referring to the Tripitaka or scriptures. Prajña (pañña) -- wisdom. Prajña -- goddess of knowledge. Buddha's mother was considered an incarnation. Prajñaparamita -- a massive collection of Mahayana texts, including the Heart and Diamond Sutras. Prateyaka-buddha -- solitary realizer. Pretas -- hungry ghosts. Puja -- ceremony in which offerings and other acts of devotion are performed. Pu-tai -- the laughing buddha, chinese monk, incarnation of Maitreya Pure Land -- Chinese/Japanese sect, emphasizing worship of Amitabha Buddha. Ching- T'u, Jodo and Jodoshin. Rahula -- Buddha's son. Rinzai Zen -- a Zen sect that makes extensive use of koans. Rupa -- form, the physical body and senses Samadhi -- meditation. Samatha -- Pali for Shamatha. Sambhogakaya -- Buddha as a deva or god. Samjña -- perception Samsara -- the wheel of cyclic existence, birth-life-suffering-death-rebirth... Samskara -- mental formations (emotions and impulses) Samudaya -- arising or root of suffering. Second noble truth. Sangha -- the community of monks and nuns. Sanskrit -- an early language of northern India, modified and used as a religious language by some Buddhists. Sanzen -- interview with a master in Zen Buddhism Sati -- Pali for smrti. Satori -- Zen term for enlightenment. Shakyamuni -- Sage of the Sakyas, a name for the Buddha. Shakyas -- a noble clan, ruled an area of southern Nepal. Shamatha (samatha) -- "calm abiding," peacefulness. Shikantaza -- mindfulness meditation in Zen Buddhism. Shila (sila) -- morality. Shravaka -- "hearer," one who needs the help of others to become enlightened. Shrota-appana -- "stream-winner" (only seven more rebirths!). Shuddodana -- Buddha's father. Shunyata -- emptiness, lack of inherent existence of "own nature." Siddhartha Gautama -- "He who has reached his goal." Sila -- Pali for shila. Six realms -- realms of the gods, asuras, humans, animals, pretas, narakas. Skandhas -- parts of the self. Smrti (sati) -- mindfulness, meditation. Son -- Korean for Zen Buddhism. Soto Zen -- A Zen sect emphasizing Shikantaza meditation Sthaviravada -- Sanskrit for Theravada, "way of the elders" Sujata -- the village girl who gave Buddha milk-rice. Sukhavati -- Sanskrit for Blissful Land, the "Pure Land" of Amitabha. Sutra (sutta) pitaka -- sacred texts, sayings of the Buddha. Tantra -- yogic, magico-ritual form. Taras -- a set of 21 female saviors, born from Avalokiteshwara's tears. Green Tara and White Tara are the best known. Tathagata -- "thus gone," a name for the Buddha. Tendai -- see White Lotus School. Thangka -- a traditional Tibetan painting of a holy being. The Four Noble Truths: duhkha, samudaya, nirodha, marga. Theravada -- "way of the elders," only surviving form of southern Buddhism. Three bodies -- nirmankaya, sambhogakaya, dharmakaya. Three meanings of "Buddha." Three fires (or poisons) -- the causes of suffering. Tipitaka -- Pali for Tripitaka. Tripitaka (three baskets) -- earliest Buddhist scriptures: Vinaya pitaka, sutra pitaka, abhidarma pitaka. Trishna (tanha) -- thirst, craving, desire. Upali -- the first person ordained as a monk by the Buddha, a barber, and the monk who remembered the Vinaya or code of the monks. Upeksa (upekkha) is equanimity, levelness, or grace. One of the four brahma vihara. Vajrayana -- tantric Buddhism ("thunderbolt vehicle"), esp. Tibetan Buddhism. Vasubandhu -- one of two brothers who lived in India in the 300's ad who developed Yogachara. Vedana -- sensation, feeling. Vijñana -- consciousness or mind. Vinaya pitaka -- discipline basket (code of behavior for monks). Vipaka -- "fruit" of willed act, the consequences. Vipashyana (vipassana) -- insight, mindfulness. White Lotus School -- sect focusing on the Lotus Sutra. Also known as T'ien T'ai or Tendai. Yama -- the king of the 21 hells. Yashodhara -- Buddha's wife, whom he married when they were both 16 Yidam -- mental image of a god or other entity used for meditation Yogacara (or vijñañavada) -- school emphasizing primacy of consciousness Zazen -- sitting meditation in Zen Buddhism Zen -- a group of Buddhist sects that focus on meditation. Also known as Ch'an, Son, or Dhyana. |
Buddhism
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