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