Buddhism

Maitreya

A Buddha expected to appear on earth in the future (A bodhisattva [Buddha in the making] named Maitreya will, at the right time, incarnate to become the Buddha for the next age)

Pure Land

A Buddhist sect in China and Japan that centers on faith in Amida Buddha, who promised to welcome believers to the paradise of the Pure Land, a metaphor for enlightenment. •Popular form of Buddhism placing emphasis on grace and devotion to Amitabha Buddha ("The Buddha of Boundless Light").

Lotus Sutra

A Mahayana Buddhist text where Enlightenment is made available not only to monastics, but to all because of the great compassion of bodhisattvas

Middle Way

A basic Buddhist teaching that rejects both the pleasures of sensual indulgence and the self-denial of asceticism, focusing instead on a practical approach to spiritual attainment.

Pali

A mix of Sanskrit and dialects from near Himalayas. Many Buddhist scriptures recorded in Pali.

Bodhisattva

A person who has attained enlightenment but who has postponed nirvana in order to help others achieve enlightenment. Aspiring to become a future Buddha, liberate all beings.

Pratyekabuddha

A solitary awakened one, an enlightened being who, unlike the Buddha, does not share the insights that led to enlightenment. Voice-hearer

Mantra

A word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation. Verses uttered ("Om! The jewel is in the lotus, hum!")

Magha Puja

Aka Sangha Day, celebrates preaching in Rajagaha after the Deer Park sermon; many convert and king donated a large bamboo grove for the Sangha's use.

Three Marks

Annica (impermanence), Dukkha (suffering), Anatta (non-self)

Shakyamuni

Another name for the Buddha, translating as Sage of the Shakyas

Mahayana

Big Vehicle The second great branch of Buddhism. Emphasizes that nirvana is not only attainable by monks but is a possibility for everyone. Also stresses that enlightenment is a call to compassion. Spread to China.

Hinayana

Branch of Buddhism known as the Lesser vehicle, also known as Theravada Buddhism; its beliefs include strict, individual path to enlightenment, and it is popular in south and southeast Asia.

Three Refuges/Jewels

Buddha, Dharma, Sangha

Stupa

Buddhist shrine that is shaped like a dome or mound

Tanha

Desire, thirst, craving. Buddha realized that all suffering stems from tanha.

Bhakti

Devotion to a deity or guru

Sutta/Sutra

Dhamma teachings from the Buddha's sermons (& Jataka)

Dhamma/Dharma (Buddhism)

Doctrine (Teaching of the Buddha)

Chan

Emerges in China. Known as Zen in Japan; stressed meditation and appreciation of natural and artistic beauty; popular with members of elite Chinese society

Shunyata

Emptiness. Nagarjuna's (early 200s C.E.) teaching that all compounded things have no independent existence or eternal reality.

Arhat/Arhant

Enlightened monk

Upaya

Expedient means (also skillful means, expedient devices)

S.N. Goenka

Famous instructor of Vipassana meditation

Vipassana Meditation

Find insight in life and find peace within yourself. Vipassana means to see things as they really are, in their true nature.

Satori

Flash of insight

Mandala

Frame, picture form depicting celestial deities associated with meditation a sacred diagram of the universe, often involving a square and a circle

Mahayana

Great Vehicle, Buddhists sometimes use the derogatory title, "Hinayana" ("Small Vehicle") for Theravadins.

Mudra

Hand positions believed to channel contact with deities, also wards of evil spirits, demons

Anicca

Impermanence

Buddha-Nature

In Mahayana Buddhism this refers to the fundamental nature of all beings, which means that all beings can attain Buddhahood

Abhidhamma

Learned discourse, doctrinal interpretation

Dukkha

Life is filled with suffering

Buddha

Means Enlightened One. He is said to have found a path for overcoming suffering. Soothsayer predicted that the infant Gautama would become either king of India or a wandering monk. Dad liked former. So, Siddhartha has the most sheltered of sheltered childhoods. No exposure to sorrows that lead people to turn to religion. Leaves palace and sees 4 sights, starves until finding enlightenment.

Deity Yoga

Meditate on oneself as a Buddha; embody qualities

Koan

Puzzle intended to stymie the mind, bring new insight

Vinaya

Rules of monastic discipline

Jataka Tales

Tales that tell the story of the Buddha's previously incarnated lives before he became the Buddha

Tipitaka/Tripitaka

The "three baskets" or collections of texts of the Pali canon

Amitabha

The Buddha of Boundless Light

Buddhist Transtheism/Nontheism

The Buddha seems to have rejected bhakti as a way of salvation. Believed that the world had non-human gods, goddesses, demons, etc., but all are finite. Did not espouse ritual sacrifice and prayer

Sangha

The Buddhist monastic order. Quickly attracted many bhikkhus (monks), along with laypeople who couldn't become monks but still wanted to serve. Established ten precepts.

Ekayana

The One Vehicle

Vajrayana

The Vehicle of the Diamond - Buddha's diamond scepter; prevalent form of Buddhism in Tibet; emphasizes the harnessing of sensual energies to attain nirvana. Public ceremonies have four components: Mandala, Mantras, Puja, Mudras

Skandhas

The five impermanent aggregates,by their collocation, they give rise to the mistaken sense of "self" 1. Body 2. Perception 3. Feelings 4. Predispositions 5. Reasoning

Bodhidharma

The founder of Zen Buddhism and is credited with the movement of Zen Buddhism from India to China to Japan

Zen

The practice of meditation; a school of Buddhism in Japan

Siddhartha Gautama

The prince who is said to have founded Buddhism. Latter given title of Buddha.

Nirvana

The state of enlightenment for Buddhists, perfect peace, after death. The state of pure equanimity, unmoved bliss

Shravaka

Voice-hearer, path of the arhat (enlightened monk) seeking nirvana (Theravada)

King Ashoka

Was the Mauryan king who unified India, renounced violence, and established Buddhism as the official religion. Buddhism spread throughout India by King Ashoka.

Theravada

Way of the Elders branch of Buddhism followed in Sri Lanka and much of Southeast Asia. It remains close to the original principles set forth by the Buddha; it downplays the importance of gods

Four sights

When riding on chariot, Siddhartha observes... Elderly person, Diseased person, A corpse, A wandering ascetic. At this point, he decides to go and leave his family to find enlightenment by overcoming suffering.

Deer Park

Where Buddha gave his first sermon to his 5 followers

Samsara

(Hinduism and Buddhism) the endless cycle of birth and suffering and death and rebirth

Eightfold Path

1.Right view 2.Right intention 3.Right speech 4.Right action 5.Right livelihood 6.Right effort 7.Right mindfulness 8.Right concentration

Karma

1. Old way (the one with tanha): consequences of bad actions must be fulfilled in this lifetime or the next (cycle of rebirth) 2. New way (the arhat devoid of desire): total transformation, old karma has been exhausted, regardless of caste or past, no rebirth

Four Noble Truths

1.Life is filled with suffering (dukkha) 2.The cause of suffering is craving (tanha), coming from ignorance 3.Eliminating craving will eliminate suffering 4.The Eightfold Path leads to just this elimination

10 precepts

1.No destruction of life 2.No stealing 3.No unchastity 4.No lying 5.No intoxicants 6.Eat moderately (not after noon) 7.No looking at dancing, singing, drama 8.No garlands, perfumes, ornaments 9.No high or broad beds 10. No gold or silver. Laypeople to obey first five (or even four out of the five).

Genre

Category of composition marked by particular form, style, and subject matter (e.g. hymnody, epic narrative)

Dalai Lama

Originally, a title meaning 'universal priest' that the Mongol khans invented and bestowed on a Tibetan lama (priest) in the late 1500s to legitimate their power in Tibet. Subsequently, the title of the religious and political leader of Tibet. Yellow Church: more prayer, reintroduce celibacy, led by Dalai Lama

Lama

Ones who are superior: teachers of tantric practices. Historically, most lamas had spouses; abbots passed office to sons. Reform c. 1350, "Yellow Church": more prayer, reintroduce celibacy, led by Dalai Lama. No heredity office; reincarnation of head lamas.

Parinirvana

Moment of physical death and transition into Nirvana

Bhikkus/Bhikkhunus

Monks

Vesak

Most important Buddhist festival 1. For Theravadins, marks the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, & death 2. For Mahayanists, marks the Buddha's enlightenment 3. Gather at temples or monasteries early to hear stories, wash Buddha images, and make offerings. Slaughterhouses, liquor stores close.

Annata/Anatman

Non-self

Puja

Offering of prayers, confessions of sin, or sacrifices (flowers, lights, incense, perfumes, ointments)

Festival of the Tooth

One of the grandest festivals in Sri Lanka and in the Buddhist world. It is held every summer in Kandy to honor the sacred tooth of Lord Buddha and to pay homage to old gods of Sri Lanka.

Trikaya

The three bodies of the buddha- the dharmakaya (cosmic buddha nature), the nirmanakaya (historical buddhas), and the sambhogakaya (celestial buddhas)

Shakya Clan

The tribe into which Prince Siddhartha was born