Buddhism Glossary
A
Anatta
Anicca
Arahat
Asceticism / Ascetics
No Soul
Impermanence
Theravada enlightened monk
Self denial
B
Bhavana (Vipassana) Meditation
Bhikkhus
Bhikkhuinis
Bodhisattva
Buddhism
Buddha
Mental Culture / Buddhist Med
Monks
Nuns
Mahayana enlightenment being
This religion!
‘Awakened one’ - enlightened
D
Dependent Origination
Dhamma
Dhammakaya
Dhammapada
Dukkha
The visual image of samsara (Wheel of Life)
Truth / Teaching
Part of the Trikaya – ultimate truth / buddhahood
‘Our’ main scripture
Unsatisfactoriness
E
Enlightenment
Understanding the nature of reality - Nibbana
F
Five Precepts
Four Noble Truths
Four Sights
Buddhist Ethical Code
Central Teachings: Dukkha, Samudaya, Nirodha, Magga
What made Siddhartha to leave (old, sick, ill & holy men)
G
Gautama / Gotama
Great Renunciation
Siddhartha’s (Buddha’s) family name
Siddhartha leaving home
H
Hinayana
Hinduism
Mahayana term for Theravada = lesser vehicle
The religion Siddhartha was born to
K
Kamma
Kisagotami
Law of cause and effect
Nun / Mustard Seeds
L
Laity / Lay People
Ordinary everyday Buddhists
M
Magga
Mahayana
Materialism / Materialists
Meditation
4th Noble Truth / The Eightfold Path
A main branch (school) of Buddhism = greater vehicle
People who indulge in material things for satisfaction
Practice of training the mind
Milinda (King)
QKM – source (e.g. Chariot)
N
Nagasena
Nibbana / Nirvana
Nirmanakaya
Nirodha
Noble Eightfold Path
The ‘teaching’ monk in QKM
Enlightenment
Part of Trikaya – Human form
3rd Noble Truth – includes Nibbana
Buddhist guide to life
P
Pali
Pali Canon
Puja
Ancient Indian Language
Original Scriptures
Type of worship
R
Rebirth
Refuge
Non-physical skandhas born in new life
A safe place / support
S
Samatha Meditation
Sambhogakaya
Samsara
Samudaya
Sangha
Sanskrit
Shakyamuni
Siddhatta / Siddhartha
Skandhas
Skilful Means
Sunyata
General meditation in controlling mind
Part of Trikaya – eternal Buddha, can be a bodhisattva
Wheel of Life / This existence
2nd Noble Truth – includes Tanha
Buddhist community – usually monks
Ancient Indian language
Term of endearment for the Buddha (of the Shakya clan)
The Buddha’s first name
Aggregates that make up ‘us’
Adapting teachings to suit
Emptiness
T
Tanha
Theravada
Three Jewels
Three Marks of Existence
Three Poisons
Three Universal Truths
Trikaya
Tripitaka
Triple Way
Craving
Main school / group of Buddhism (elder’s teaching)
Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha
Problems in Life that hinder understanding: Anicca,
Anatta, Dukkha
Central to lack of understanding the 3MoE: ignorance,
greed, hatred
Same as Marks of Existence
Three Bodies of the Buddha – Mahayana
Pali Canon – main scriptures (Theravada)
Division of Eightfold Path
U
Upaya Causala
Skilful Means
V
Vajrayana
Vassa
Vipassana (Bhavana) Meditation
Diamond Path – a division of Mahayana, including Tibetan
Buddhism
Festival
Mental Culture – meditation that aids understanding
W
Wesak
Festival