PHIL 3640 Unit 2: Buddhism

satori

sudden enlightenment

skandhas

the 5 components (body, perception, feelings, innate tendencies, and thought) that give rise to a sense of self

Siddhartha Gautama

the Buddha; born about 583 BC to a wealthy family; sages predicted he would conquer the world, so father shielded him from suffering; pursued enlightenment through extreme asceticism, then through the middle path, ultimately reaching Nirvana and teaching the dhamma to others.

Three Marks of Existence

the Buddhas teaching of impermanence, suffering, and the nonexistence of an eternal unchanging soul or self

Tipitika/Tripitika

the Pali Canon; an early group of canonical texts, which legend says were written to record Buddha's words for the first time; compiled 400 years after Buddha's death, in Sri Lanka

Dhamma/Dharma

the body of teachings about the cause and end of suffering, as taught by the Buddha; also a term for Buddhism

karma

the consequences of action are manifested in non-transmigrating reincarnation such that good deeds are rewarded with a superior reincarnated form; significantly, nirvana exhausts the karma of a person, and the cycle of rebirth is ended

samsara

the continuing cycle of birth, death, and rebirth; the this-earthly realm in which this cycle occurs

Sermon in the Deer Park

the first sermon given by Buddha after his enlightenment while meditating under a bodhi (fig) tree; contained basic Buddhist doctrine--the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path; given to the 5 ascetics, who then became first bhikkus and first members of Sangha

Four Sights

the four life-altering sights witnessed by Gautama as he ventured outside the palace in a chariot: (1) a frail old man; (2) a man afflicted by disease; (3) a corpse; and (4) a wandering ascetic who seemed content

deity yoga

the most fundamental practice in Vajrayana Buddhism, in which one visualizes oneself as a deity, eventually becoming one with that deity and gaining is heightened perspective of reality

vesak

the most important Buddhist festival, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha, and celebrated at the full moon in the Indian month of Vaishaka (April-May).

Ekayana

the one true vehicle or school of Buddhism

Dalai Lama

the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism (main part of Vajra...) who also has temporal duties

anatta/anatman

there is no soul, or self ("no-atman")

tanha

thirst, desire, longing, greed; includes cravings for (1) sensual pleasures; (2) existence; and (3) nonexistence

Three Refuges/Jewels

three statements made to convert to Buddhism or as worship in Buddhism: "I take refuge in the " Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

dukka

unsatisfactoriness, suffering, pain

Mandala

usually circular cosmological diagrams showing how diety relates to universe, used in meditative practice, even as tool to show annica through making, destroying one

Mahayana

(Sanskrit, "great vehicle") The form of Buddhism most prominent in China, Japan, Mongolia, Tibet, and Korea; originated in early first century AD; compassionate goal of becoming a Buddha and teaching dhamma; recognize tipitaka and sutras as grounded in Buddha's teachings; expansive and inclusive school, including Chan/Zen, Vajrayana, and Pure Land

koan

(Zen/Chan) a semantically or logically meaningless question designed to direct ones awareness and intuition to the ineffable fundamental reality, thus promoting enlightenment

Buddha-nature

A Mahayana term denoting (1) the potential inherent in all sentient beings to achieve Buddhahood and (2) the highest, ultimate nature of Buddha--his 3rd body--and the ultimate reality

bhikkus/bhikkhunis

A Theravadan Buddhist monk

Bodhidharma

Bodhidharma was a Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th or 6th century. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Chan Buddhism to China

Buddhist nontheism/transtheism

Buddha acknowledged the existence of gods, but taught that they are not helpful in the path to enlightenment and nirvana.

Amitabha

Buddha, as understood in Pure Land, who can offer a form of grace to those who are devoted to him

Trikaya/Three Bodies

In Mahayana Buddhism, the three Bodies of the Buddha are: (1) his earthly, physical form; (2) his celestial or heavenly form; and (3) undifferentiated, impersonal, absolute, ineffable ultimate reality, that is, nirvana or Buddha mind

arhat/arhant

In Therevada Buddhism, one who has attained enlightenment and thus serves as a religious ideal

Ashoka

Indian emperor of the Mauryan Dynasty during the 3rd century BC who had dramatic conversion to Buddhism and then promoted Buddhist ideals with edicts (nonvionence, self-awareness, etc)

Zen

JAPANESE name for "meditative" school of Buddhism that values meditative experience far and above doctrine; major school in Japan beginning in Kamakura period (1185 - 1333); satori and koans

Pure Land

Mahayana school which teaches that Amitabha Buddha is infinitely compassionate and will grant rebirth in the Pure Land to those who call on his name and are devoted to him; appeared start of 5th century AD; enlightenment and nirvana can follow entrance into Pure Land

shunyata

Mahayana term meaning "emptiness or voidness"; the doctrine that phenomena are devoid of an immutable or determinate intrinsic nature.

Middle Way

The Buddha's principle of the path between extremes of asceticism and self-indulgence that leads to enlightenment

Maitreya

The next Buddha; commonly associated with the laughing/fat buddha

Magha Puja

a Buddhist festival celebrated on the full-moon day of Magha month; daily goals of no sin, self-purification, do good

genre

a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.

stupa

a dome-shaped structure erected as a Buddhist shrine.

Festival of the Tooth

a grand festival celebrated with elegant costumes and is held in July and August in Sri Lanka; procession is held annually to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha; elephants, dancing, etc.

Pali

a language related to Sanskrit in which many extant Buddhist sacred texts are written, including the tipitaka

pratyekabuddha

a lone Buddhist who pursues enlightenment without a teacher or guide

bhakti

a path of devotion to a particular god or goddess

mantra

a sacred sound or syllable, especially one repeated in meditative states

mudra

a symbolic hand gesture used in (Tibetan) Buddhist ceremonies and statuary

Jataka tales

a voluminous body of literature native to India concerning the previous births of Gautama Buddha in both human and animal form. The future Buddha may appear as a king, an outcast, a god, an elephant—but, in whatever form, he exhibits some virtue that the tale thereby inculcates.

annica

all things are in a constant state of flux

Puja

an act of worship; Common devotional practices are receiving a blessing, making merit, making a resolution, prostrating, making offerings, chanting traditional texts and pilgrimage.

Shakya clan

an oligarchical republic in late Vedic India (1000 to 500 BC); Gautama Buddha was the son of the ruler of this clan, and as such was a wealthy member of the kshatriya caste

vipassana

ancient meditative practice associated with Buddhism in which one sits in stillness, gently and objectively observing the mind, often focusing on the breath

Shakyamuni

another name for Gautama Buddha; denotes sage of the Shakya clan

upaya

expedient means or skillful devices; a helpful pedagogical ruse

lama

in Tibet, a teacher of the dhamma

Lotus Sutra

one of the most important texts in Mahayana Buddhism, significant particularly in China and Japan; composed in Sanskrit in the second century AD; teaches upaya and reveals that Buddha remains in samsara to assist, as well as eternality of Buddha

Bodhisattva

one who is on the path to become a Buddha; in Theravada, a few Bodhisattva are recognized; in Mahayana, many Bodhisattva are recognized and one may take a Bodhisattva vow

sutta/sutra

precepts from the dhamma, as taught by the Buddha

abhidhamma

("above or about dharma") the third basket in the pali canon or tipitaka, containing a reorganization and systematization of sutras; explores consciousness, epistemology, cosmology, and meditation

vinaya

("discipline basket") the first basket in the tipitaka, containing detailed monastic rules and illustrative cases

nirvana

(Sanskrit, "extinguishing") a transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma and the cycle of samsara. It represents the final goal of Buddhism.

Therevada

(Pali, "the way of the elders") The form of Buddhism that is more prominent in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam; has its roots in 3rd Buddhist Council (c. 247); individual goal of arhatship (enlightenment followed by nirvana); recognize tipitaka as canonical; more conservative, with more important monastic element

Vajrayana

(Sanskrit, "Diamond Vehicle" or "Thunder Vehicle") The most prominent form of Buddhism in Tibet and Nepal; incorporates Mahayana and tantric ideas and practices; began in India around 7th century; has lamas and deity yoga

Buddha

(Sanskrit, "awakened one" or "enlightened one") specifically, Siddhartha Gautama, who achieved enlightenment and reached nirvana after gaining profound insight into the cause and end of suffering--also known as Shakyamuni, the Thus Come One, etc.; more generally, refers to one who has achieved enlightenment and Buddhahood, and has fully comprehended the Four Noble Truths

Hinayana

"small vehicle"; a somewhat derogatory term for the Theravadan school

shravaka

"voice-hearer"; denotes a member of the Theravada school of Buddhism

Sangha

(Sanskrit, "community") the worldwide community of Buddhists; alternatively, the order of Buddhist monks or the membership of a particular Buddhist congregation

10 precepts

1. Refrain from killing living creatures. 2. Refrain from stealing. 3. Refrain from unchastity (sensuality, sexuality, lust). 4. Refrain from incorrect speech. 5. Refrain from taking intoxicants. 6. Refrain from taking food at inappropriate times (after noon). 7. Refrain from singing, dancing, playing music or attending entertainment programs (performances). 8. Refrain from wearing perfume, cosmetics and garlands (decorative accessories). 9. Refrain from sitting on high chairs and sleeping on luxurious, soft beds. 10. Refrain from accepting money.

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

Four Noble Truths

1. We crave and cling to impermanent things, which are incapable of satisfying (dukka). 2. The cause of suffering and remaining in samsara is tanha (desire) 3. There is a way to end this cycle (i.e. attain nirvana) 4. The way to end the cycle is through following the eightfold path.

S.N. Goenka

Burmese-Indian teacher of Vipassana meditation

Chan

CHINESE name for "meditation" school of Buddhism that values meditative experience far and above doctrine; this school introduced to China by Bodhidarmha during 5th century AD; satori and koans