- Alms: In Buddhism, the offering of food to monks on their daily rounds and
the donation of goods and money to the monasteries.
- Amida Butsu: Japanese version of Amitabha Buddha. See Amitabha
- Amitabha: The Bodhisattva whose name means "Budha of Boundless Light" and
who dwells in the paradise called the Pure Land. He is also the founder of
this sect of Buddhism.
- Ănăpănasati(Pali): Literally, "Inhale-Exhale" (Ăna-Pănasa). Mindfulness of
in-and-out breathing used in many forms of meditation. Wakefulness during
inhalation and exhaling, meditation on the breath. One of the most important
preliminary exercises for the attainment of the Four Absorptions (Dhyăna).
Generally consists of counting the inhalations and exhalations, which has the
effect of calming the mind. This exercise is the basic preliminary practice of
meditation in the various schools of Buddhism. Concentration on the breathing
process leads to one-pointedness of the mind; ultimately to insight that leads
to Arahantship. See Dhyăna
- Anatta: Not-self
- Anicca: Impermanence
- Arhat: A Buddhist monk who is free from all illusions and who has achieved
personal enlightenment. This term is used primarily in Theravada Buddhism.
- Atman: Hindu idea of a soul - the individual consciousness that was reborn
again and again.
- Avalokiteshvara: Bodhisattva of Compassion. Compassion and Wisdom
represent the two main concepts of Mahayana Buddhism. See Manjushri.
- Bardo: A human soul between the stages of after-death and rebirth.
- Bardo Thodol: The Tibetan name for the Book of the Dead.
- Bhikkhu: A fully ordained monk who has left his home and renounced all his
possessions in order to follow the Way of the Buddha
- Bikkhu: See Bhikkhu
- Bikshu: See Bhikkhu
- Bodhisattva: A being in the final stages of attaining Buddhahood, who has
vowed to help all sentient beings achieve Nirvana, or enlightenment, before he
himself achieves it.
- Bo Tree: The tree beneath which the meditating Gautama sat before he
achieved enlightenment.
- Bodhi Tree: See Bo Tree
- Bodhidharma: The legendary monk who brought Buddhism from India to China
in the sixth century C.E.
- Brahman: the Ultimate Reality. Similar to a Supreme Being.
- Buddha: Enlightened One
- Buddha-nature: The nature innate in every sentient being. The potential
for attaining Buddhahood.
- Butsu-dan: Japanese Buddhist household altar.
- Chaitya: An assembly hall for monks.
- Ch'an: Forms of Mahayana Buddhism in China. Japanese version is called
Zen. See also Zen
- Cuanda: Blacksmith that gave a meal to Buddha, causing him to become ill.
- Dharma: The ultimate law, or doctrine, as taught by Buddha, which consists
of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
- Dhyăna(Four Absorptions): A state of mind achieved through higher
meditation.
- Dukkha: Suffering, emptiness, impermanence. (one of 4 noble truths)
- Gassho (Japanese): (Often from term "Kongő-Gassho" with Kongő meaning
"mixture" or "blend"). A Mudra (hand posture) seen in Bodhisattvas or lesser
Buddhist personages. The Gassho Mudra is formed by placing the palms and
fingers of the hands together in a prayer like position in front of the mouth
- with the fingertips at a point just short of the bottom of the nose. The
Gassho gesture or position reflects recognition of the oneness of all beings.
The Gassho gesture is also used to show reverence to The Buddha, Patriarchs or
Teachers. The left and right hand and posture can represent many things:
- The right hand represents the one performing the salute; the left, the
thing, idea or person to whom Gassho is being rendered.
- Non-Duality: One hand symbolizes the mind, the other the body, and the
posture reminds you that you and all other living beings are one.
- One hand stands for you and the other for the person you are greeting or
for the entire universe.
- Gotama: Another name for Buddha.
- Hinayana: Literally, "small vehicle." A term used by the Mahayanists to
describe earlier orthodox sects of Buddhism (Theravada School). Their
scriptures are written in Pali, an ancient Indian language. See also Theravada
and Vajrayana
- Imponderables: (Four Imponderables). Four things that Buddha warned
against. One of these was trying to get into Karmic detail and look to find
the "results" of volitional actions (Karma). It is enough to just Know and
Understand and Intuitively have insight into the Fact that Volitional Action
(karma) begets a result (Vipaka). It is even impossible to judge good and bad
because that leads to the intellectual trap of duality and it's Dukkha. From
the Pali Canon.... "These four imponderables are not to be speculated about.
Whoever speculates about them would go mad & experience vexation. Which
four?
1.The Buddha-range of the Buddhas (i.e., the range of powers a
Buddha develops as a result of becoming a Buddha)... 2.The jhana-range of
one absorbed in jhana (i.e., the range of powers that one may obtain while
absorbed in jhana).... 3.The results of kamma... 4.Speculation about (the
first moment, purpose, etc., of) the cosmos is an imponderable that is not
to be speculated about. Whoever speculates about these things would go mad
and experience vexation."
- Kalamas(Pali): A tribe of Northeast India during the lifetime of The
Buddha. They are particularly well known in Buddhist history as the recipients
of The Buddha's advice on the subject of who to accept as authorities in one's
search for truth. To the Kalamas, the tribal leaders who were seeking the
truth and sought The Buddha's advice, Buddha spoke and were recorded in the
Kalama Sutra.
- Kalama Sutra: Buddha's advice to the Kalamas on seeking truth..."Do not
accept anything on (mere) hearsay, thinking that thus we have heard it for a
long time. Do not accept anything based on mere tradition, thinking that it
has thus been handed down for many generations. Do not accept anything on
account of mere rumors, believing what others say, without thorough
investigation. Do not accept anything just because it is in accord with your
scriptures. Do not accept anything by mere supposition. Do not accept anything
on the basis of merely considering the reasons. Do not accept anything because
it agrees with your preconceived notions. Do not accept anything merely
because it seems acceptable. Do not accept anything, thinking, the Monk,
Teacher, Holyman, Buddha, etc. is respected by us. But, when you know for
yourselves, these things are immoral, these things are blameworthy, these
things are censored by the wise; these things, when performed and undertaken,
conduce to ruin and sorrow - then indeed do you reject them. (On the other
hand) When you know for yourselves, these things are moral, these things are
blameless, these things are praised by the wise; these things, when performed
and undertaken, conduce to well-being and happiness, then do you believe and
live accordingly."
- Karma: Literally, "deed." A concept that binds its followers to an endless
cycle of birth, death, and rebirth and, according to one's deeds in life,
determines the condition of one's rebirth.
- Koan: A riddle, tale, or short statement used by Zen masters to bring
their students to sudden insight.
- Lama: Literally, "superior one." A Buddhist monk of Tibet.
- Magga: Path leading to the cessation of suffering (one of 4 noble truths)
- Mahayana: Literally, "great vehicle." One of the three major forms of
Buddhism, Mahayana is considered the more liberal and practical. Its
scriptures are written in Sanskrit. See also Theravada and Vajrayana.
- Maitreya: Literally, "Friendly One." The Bodhisattva who embodies the
virtues of wisdom and eloquence.
- Manjushri: Bodhisattva of Wisdom. Wisdom (prajna) is, along with
Compassion, represents the two main concepts of Mahayana Buddhism. See Prajna
and Avalokiteshvara.
- Mandala: A painting or tapestry with images of Buddha, bodhisattvas, and
other images. Used as a focus of meditation for monks and as an object of
worship for many.
- Mantra: Ritual sound, word, or phrase used to evoke a certain religious
effect.
- Mara: The personification of evil. The god of death.
- Maya: Queen Maya, mother of Buddha.
- Metta (Pali): Literally means, "Friendship" but often translated as
"Loving Kindness". In a general sense it has the mood of friendliness as its
characteristic; its natural function is to promote friendliness between
beings. It is manifested by the disappearance of ill-will. When it succeeds in
establishing its footing of general friendliness and affection for other
beings it eliminates ill-will from one's thoughts and character. When it
fails, it degenerates into selfish affectionate desire. The true "feeling" of
Metta cannot be easily defined in a single English term; Perhaps if one were
to try and imagine the feeling experienced by a young Mother for her new born
first baby - which is so powerful that she would willingly give her live to
save the child; that feeling would be very close to Metta. Metta, in Buddhist
Doctrine is the feeling one must first have towards them self; not in a
narcissistic sense but in a sense of being content with who and what one is
and assured that every effort has been made to exercise love and compassion
towards all fellow beings. Then, and only then, can one spread the feeling
towards all other beings in the universe.
- Moksha: Literally, "release." An idea originally developed from
Upanishadic teachers. By leading a highly spiritual life (or several lives), a
soul could be reunited with Brahman, the Ultimate Reality.
- Mudra: Hand gestures often depicted on statues of the Buddha. The gestures
symbolize different meaning (meditation, etc).
- Namu Amida Butsa: Literally, "Praise to the Buddha Amitabha". In Japanese
Pure Land sect, this is the phrase used to call on Amitabha Buddha. See
Nembutsu
- Nirodha: Cessation of suffering (one of 4 noble truths)
- Nirvana: Literally, "extinction." The ultimateM#<2 goal of Buddhists,
characterized as the extinction of both craving and the separate "ego." The
state of peace and quietude attained by extinguishing all illusions.
- Nembutsu: Short form of "Namu Amida Butsa". See Namu Amida Butsa
- Parinirvana: Death of the Buddha.
- Piti: Bliss
- Prajna: Literally, Wisdom. This term represents the wisdom obtained during
enlightenment, and one of the key insight is emptiness.
- Prajna-Paramita Sutra: Collection of 40 Mahayana sutras dealing with
Prajna and its attainment.
- Pure Land: A sect of Mahayana Buddhism founded by Amitabha Buddha. The
Pure Land is a paradise in the "west" where people can go when they die.
People must call on Amitabha to enter this paradise. See Namu Amidha Butsu
- Rahula
1.Literally, "fetter" or "impediment."
2.Son of Siddhartha
- Rajah: Chief or king Sakyamuni
1.Sage of the Sakyas
2.Another name of the Buddha
- Samsara: The continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (reincarnation)
- Samudaya: Cause of suffering (one of 4 noble truths)
- Sangha: An organized assembly of Buddhist monks.
- Shuddhodana: King Shuddhodana, father of Buddha.
- Siddhartha
1.He whose aim is accomplished
2.Birth name of the Buddha
- Skandhas: Five elements each individual is composed of.
- Stupa: A dome, or pagoda, in which sacred relics are deposited.
- Sunyata: (Pali: Sunnata) Emptiness; The belief that all phenomena are
dependent on and caused by other phenomena, thus without intrinsic essense.
- Sutra: Literally, "thread" or "string." A scripture containing the
teachings of Buddha.
- Sutta: See Sutra
- Theravada: Literally, "School of the Elders." Aso known as Hinayana. One
of the three major forms of Buddhism,
- Theravada is considered to be the original and orthodox form of Buddhism.
See also Hinayana and Vajrayana.
- Tipitaka: Literally, "Three Baskets." According to Buddhist belief, the
scriptures were stored in three baskets, dividing Buddha's teachings into the
code of discipline for monks, his sermons and discourses, and the higher
doctrine (Buddhist philosophy and psychology)
- Tonglen: Tibetan meditation technique related to the breath. Many people
meditate to expel negative energy thereby leaving behind the positive, which
of course leaves you feeling charged up but at the expense of blowing your
negativism back into the world for others to deal with. In Tonglen, you suck
in everyone else's negative energy, transform it to positive energy through
your overwhelming compassionate radiance, and expel the positive energy back
into the world. You become like a Boddhisattva who accepts the woes of the
world to relieve it of suffering so that others may find nirvana. Idea is to
have overwhelming compassion for others such that you accept their suffering
... in turn, because you have such overwhelming compassion, you can transform
anything into positive radiance."
- Upasaka: Followers of Buddhism that believed in Buddha's teachings, but
did not follow the strict rule of the Sangha.
- Urna: A mark on the Buddha's forehead, between his eyebrows, that
signifies his great intuition.
- Ushanisha: A protuberance atop Buddha's head that signifies his great
wisdom.
- Vajrayana: Literally, "diamond vehicle." One of the three major forms of
Buddhism, Vajrayana is popular in Tibet. See also Theravada and Mahayana
- Vihara: Cave dwellings for monks.
- Vipaka: A result of Karma.
- Vipassana Meditation(Insight meditation): The Insight Knowledges resultant
from the practice of Vipassana Meditation are:
1.Impermanence (Aniccanupassana - Pali).
2.Suffering (Dukkhanupassana - Pali).
3.No self (Anattanupassana).
4.Aversion (Nibiddanupassana).
5.Detachment (Viraganupassana).
6.Extinction (Nirodhanupassana).
7.Abandoning (Patinissagganupassana).
8.Waning (Khayanupassana).
9.Vanishing (Vayanupassana).
10.Change (Viparinamanupassana).
11.The unconditioned or signless (Animittanupassana).
12.Desirelessness (Apanihitanupassana).
13.Emptiness (Sunnatanupassana).
14.Insight into phenomena which is higher wisdom (Addhi Panna-dhamma Vipassana).
15.Knowledge and vision according to reality (Yatha-bhuta-nana-dassana).
16.Misery or danger (Adinavanupassana).
17.Reflection Contemplation (Patisankhanupassana).
18.Turning away (Vivattananupassana).
- Yasodhara: Wife of Buddha
- Zen: Forms of Mahayana Buddhism in Japan. Chinese version is called Ch'an.
See also Ch'an
- Buddhist Scriptures :
here you can get a brief introduction of buddhist scripture, including
tripitaka. i think it's very resourcefull.
- buddhist
cosmology : it's about the earth, human and other buddhist cosmologies.
- buddhist
vocabulary : this is a zen site contains buddhist Vocabularies.
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