Schools > Students > Ages 17-18 > Glossary of Buddhist termsGlossary of Buddhist terms
(Written for the AQA syllabus by Robert Ellis, formerly a member of the Western Buddhist Order and a former Head of RS in a 6th-form college.)
Most of the terms you really need to know are explained in the text but there may be other terms you come across when researching about Buddhism which are not immediately clear. This glossary is fairly detailed and is provided for reference: you do not need to learn all the terms given here! Some of the terms also only come up in A2 and you do not necessarily need to know about them for AS.
Key to language abbreviations:
S = Sanskrit, language of the Indian Mahayana texts
P = Pali, language of the Theravada texts
C = Chinese
J = Japanese
q.v. = see separate explanation under that heading here
A
Abhidharma (S) Abhidhamma (P) The 'further teaching': a complex Buddhist system of psychology based on the 'dharmas' or momentary experiences and their classification.
Abhidhamma Pitaka (P) The third 'basket' of the Tripitaka (q.v.)
Ahimsa (S/P) Non-violence: the ethical principle of not harming other living beings.
Ajivakas (S) 'Alternative lifers': religious movement of the time of the Buddha which denied the doctrine of karma and believed that all actions were pre-determined.
Alaya-Vijnana (S) 'Store Consciousness'. According to the Yogacara school, this part of the mind is a store for the impressions left on us by our karmic actions. These impressions are then organised by the manas (q.v.).
Amida (J), Amitabha (S) The symbolic Buddha (not the historical Buddha) who rules over the Pure Land: the object of devotion in Pure Land Buddhism.
Amidism Another name for Pure land Buddhism (q.v.): so called because it involves devotion to Amida (above).
Anatman (S) Anatta (P) 'Not self': the teaching that we have no permanent identity and are merely a stream of processes.
Anitya (S) Anicca (P) 'Impermanence': the teaching that everything in the universe is constantly changing.
Arahat (S) Arhat (P) One who has 'merited' (i.e. gained) enlightenment. In the Mahayana, an enlightened person who is not a Bodhisattva (q.v.)
Aryans Race which invaded India in ancient times and established themselves as the dominant ('noble') class of society.
Aryan Truths see Noble Truths, Four
Asceticism A religious practice of self-denial and even inflicting pain on oneself.
Asrava (S) Asava (P) Variously translated 'canker', 'taint', 'influx': One of the three things which hold us to unenlightened existence - sensuous craving, thirst for existence, and ignorance.
Asuras (S) 'Titans': those consumed by envy, in one of the 6 realms of the Tibetan Wheel of Life.
Atman (S) The soul or self in Hindu belief.
Avatamsaka (S) Hua-Yen (C) 'Flower Adornment' School of Mahayana Buddhism, expressed in the Avatamsaka Sutra, which stressed liberation through contemplation of the totality of the universe as found in every part of it (even down to a speck of dust).
B
Bardo (T) An intermediate state, between normal states of consciousness, in which there is an opportunity for enlightenment. One of these is the Bardo between death and rebirth.
Bardo Thödröl (T) see Tibetan Book of the Dead.
Bhikshu (S) Bhikkhu (P) A Buddhist monk.
Bhikshuni (S) Bhikkhuni (P) A Buddhist nun
Bodhi (S) Awareness,Enlightenment
Bodhi Tree (or Bo Tree) The type of tree under which the Buddha was said to have become enlightened, otherwise known as the pipal tree. It has distinctively shaped leaves.
Bodhichitta (S) In the Mahayana, the impulse to gain enlightenment purely for the sake of others: the first mark of a bodhisattva (q.v. 2)
Bodhisattva (S) Bodhisatta (P) 'One who has the essence of enlightenment' : (1) A person who will become a Buddha in the future, (2) One who puts off ultimate enlightenment until all other beings are saved (in contrast to an arhat, who takes nirvana for himself).
Bodhicaryavatara (S) 'A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life'. An important Mahayana text describing the Bodhisattva Ideal, written by Shantideva.
Bodhisattva Ideal In the Mahayana, the ideal of becoming a Bodhisattva rather than an Arhat, becoming enlightened for the sake of others.
Brahma (S) The God of Hinduism, unifying all other gods and part of the structure of the universe. Ridiculed by Buddhism as Brahma-Sahampati.
Brahmacharya (S) The practice of celibacy (never having sex).
Brahmans or Brahmins The priestly caste of Hinduism.
Brahmaviharas (S) "Sublime Abodes". The 4 states of positive emotion cultivated by 4 related meditations: Maitri (S)/Metta (P) (loving-kindness), karuna (compassion), mudita (sympathetic joy) and upeksha (equanimity).
Brahminism The religion of elaborate ritual performed by Brahmins/ Brahmans.
Buddha (S/P) 'Awakened one' : (1) Any person who has achieved enlightenment, (2) The Buddha, Gautama, sometimes referred to as 'The Historical Buddha', the founder of Buddhism. (3) A mythical or symbolic figure representing the ideal of enlightenment.
Buddha Land see Pure Land
Buddhapada (S) "Buddha-foot". The Buddha's footprint, used as a symbol of the Buddha and of his enlightenment.
Buddhavacana (S/P) 'The word of the Buddha' : Tradition of the Buddha's life and teachings which was first passed down by word of mouth and later written down as the Tripitaka (q.v.) or Pali Canon.
Buddhism A Western name for the religious tradition which began with the Buddha. Buddhists themselves usually refer to this as the Dharma (q.v.)
C
Canon Recognised body of religious texts.
Caste The social group to which an Indian traditionally belongs, associated with a particular type of occupation, within which he is born and must marry. See also varna.
Celibacy The practice of not marrying and abstaining from all sexual activity.
Chaitya (S) Type of stupa found in Nepal
Chakravartin (S) Chakkavatti (P) "Wheel-turner": the ideal king who practices, supports and spreads Buddhism ("Turning the Wheel of the Dharma").
Ch'an (C) see Zen.
Chedi (Thai) Type of stupa found in Thailand.
Ching t'u (C) The Chinese name for Pure Land Buddhism (q.v.)
Chorten (T) Type of stupa found in Tibet.
Chitta (S) Mind, consciousness.
Chitta-matra (S) 'Mind only': Teaching of the Yogachara that the objective world does not exist in itself, but only in the mind.
Conditionality The process of cause and effect which affects all actions and events in the unenlightened universe.
Conditioned Co-Production see Pratityasamutpada.
Confucianism The religion established in China before Buddhism arrived there, which stressed social conformity and order.
Cupola The dome which forms the base of a stupa.
D
Daoism see Taoism
Daimoku (J) The mantra used in the practice of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism (q.v.): namu myoho renge kyo ("Homage to the Lotus Sutra").
Dakini (S) Symbolic naked female figure, representing absolute freedom.
Dalai Lama (T) The reincarnating lama who is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, and was also the political ruler of Tibet until the Chinese invasion.
Dana (S/P) Giving or generosity as a spiritual practice required in Buddhist ethics. Can also refer to a donation (eg. to a monastery).
Delusion A mistaken understanding of the nature of the universe, causing suffering.
Dependent Origination see Pratityasamutpada.
Deva (S/P) One of the gods found in the Realm of the Gods in the Tibetan Wheel of Life. These are not worshipped by Buddhists but just considered to be beings caught up in very refined experiences.
Devi (S/P) Goddess (feminine version of deva: see above).
Devotion The practice of worshipping Buddhas and Bodhisattvas through meditation and puja (q.v.), so as to bring about their ideal qualities in oneself.
Dharani (S) See Mantra.
Dharma (S) Dhamma (P) Several meanings need to be carefully distinguished: (1) In the Abhidhamma (q.v.): an impersonal momentary event or phenomenon, the smallest building-block of experience. (2) In Hinduism: Duty, the right conduct for one's own caste and situation (which varies in each case but forms part of a whole system). Religion. (3) In Buddhism: The Truth, The Teaching (of the Buddha). Any true religious teaching. Buddhism (q.v.).
Dharmachakra (S) The Wheel of the Dharma: a symbol used for the Buddha and his teaching, and also associated with the Chakravartin or Wheel-turning monarch (q.v.). Also the name for a mudra (q.v.) which symbolises teaching.
Dharmakaya (S) The eternal body of the Buddha (according to the Mahayana teaching of the Three Bodies of the Buddha) equivalent to the Dharma embodied as a person.
Dhammapada (P) Basic and important text on the nature of the Dharma.
Dhyana (S) Jhana (P) A state of meditative absorption and concentration. Categorised into four dhyanas at varying levels of absorption, plus four further 'formless' dhyanas.
Dialectic Philosophical enquiry which tries to find a higher way between two contradictory views.
Diamond Sutra see Vajracchedika Sutra
Domestication of the Sangha The process described by scholars as taking place during the early history of Buddhism, in which monks left their initial wandering life and settled down in monasteries.
Dualism Philosophical view that there are two distinct realities: in Buddhism this means the realities of Nirvana and Samsara. Also used to describe the view that there are two distinct parts of the person: body and soul or body and mind.
Duhkha (S) Dukkha (P) Teaching that the universe has a basically unsatisfactory nature.
Dvesha (S) Dosa (P) Hatred.
E
Ego The self, the illusion that one is separate from the rest of the universe, which must be broken down to achieve enlightenment.
Eightfold Path, Noble Formulation of Buddhist practice into 8 elements: Right View, Right Aspiration, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration.
Emptiness see Shunyata
Empty Throne see Vajrasana
Enlightenment see Nirvana
Eternalism Idea, rejected by Buddhism, that the same soul or self survives through all our rebirths, and that this gives us absolute values.
F
Fa Hsiang (C) Chinese form of the Yogachara School (q.v.)
Five Aggregates see Skandha.
Five Hindrances Formulation of the things which prevent successful meditation: Sense Desire, Anger, Doubt, Anxiety and Sloth.
Five Precepts Ethical vow taken by lay Buddhists to avoid harming living beings, taking the not-given, misusing the senses, telling lies, and intoxicating oneself.
Forest Monks Monks in Sri Lanka who have chosen a more secluded existence concentrating on meditation: distinguished from the more common "Village monks".
Four Noble Truths see Noble Truths, Four.
F.W.B.O. (Friends of the Western Buddhist Order) Western Buddhist organisation founded by Sangharakshita.
G
Gelugpa (T) Prominent order of Tibetan Buddhism to which the Dalai Lama belongs.
Gods see Deva
Gohozon (J) Scroll or plaque used as an object of devotion in Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism, with the daimoku (q.v.) inscribed on it.
Guru (S) Literally 'heavy': Spiritual teacher in the traditions both of Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism.
H
Halo Circle or globe depicted around someone's head in religious art, showing that they are especially revered.
Harmika (S) The "kiosk" or box-shaped part of a stupa, above the dome.
Heart Sutra Short text containing the most essential teaching of the Prajnaparamita (q.v.)
Heaven Realm One of the six realms of the Tibetan Wheel of Life, where the devas (q.v.)
live in the bliss of refined experiences. This is not an eternal heaven: it is possible to work one's way out of it or slip down to a worse realm.
Hell Realm One of the six realms of the Tibetan Wheel of Life, where people's hatred and anger lead them to experience agony and torture. It is not an eternal hell: it is possible to work one's way out of it by leaving angry and hatred-filled mental states.
Hinayana (S) 'Lesser Vehicle': word used by the Mahayana or 'Greater Vehicle' (q.v.) to describe the Theravada (q.v.): sometimes regarded as derogatory.
Hindrances see Five Hindrances
Hinduism Name invented by Westerners for a wide range of Indian religious traditions which follow on from Vedic Religion (q.v.). What we call Hinduism includes everything from the worship of local village gods to profound philosophy, but it is bound together by the caste system and by monism (q.v.).
Honorific Umbrella The umbrella-shaped structure near the top of many stupas: shading someone with an umbrella is a sign of respect and honour, so the same respect is being shown to the stupa and what it represents.
Hua-Yen (C) see Avatamsaka.
I
Iconoclasm An view that religious images can have negative effects, which sometimes involves destroying them. (adjective iconoclastic).
Iconography Religious images and their interpretation through a system of symbolism.
Iddhi (P) see siddhi.
Indra's Net (Indra-Jala [S]) An image used by the Avatamsaka School (q.v.), of a net made of many jewels, each of which reflects all the others: this shows how every element of the universe participates in every other element in total inter-connectedness.
Indriya (S) Spiritual energy or controlling force in the psyche, often translated 'Spiritual faculty'.
Insight The awareness and understanding of the true nature of the universe needed for enlightenment.
Insight Meditation see Vipassana.
J
Jainism Indian religion which began at about the same time as Buddhism, founded by Mahavira and still in existence today. It differs fundamentally from Buddhism in believing that the consequences of actions, not the motives behind them, produce karma.
Jataka (P) 'Birth Story': Story of one of the Buddha's former lives. A collection of Jatakas forms one element of the Tripitaka.
Jewels, Three see Three Jewels
Jhana (P) see Dhyana.
Ji (J) "The Time" : early, small sect of Pure Land Buddhism
Jiriki (J) "Own-Power": Term for the approach of most Buddhist practice (which assumes you can find salvation by your own efforts), used in Pure Land Buddhism. See Tariki.
Jnana (S) Ñana (P) Knowledge, Wisdom.
Jodo (J) "Pure Land": earlier of the two main sects of Pure Land Buddhism (q.v.)
Jodo Shin (J) "True Pure Land": later of the two main sects of Pure Land Buddhism (q.v.)
K
Kagyupa (T) School of Tibetan Buddhism which concentrated on practical mysticism, and contained the adepts Marpa and Milarepa
Kama (S/P) Desire, Lust: not to be confused with karma.
Kami (J) Term for a god in Shinto (q.v.)
Karma (S) Kamma (P) Literally 'Action' but usually used to mean Karma-Vipaka or 'The fruits of action': this basically means the effects that all our actions (or more strictly, the motives for them) have on our future by setting up habits or patterns of behaviour. An enlightened person is free of karmic effects.
Karuna (S) Compassion.
Kasina (P) Plain coloured disc used as a focus for concentration in a Theravada form of meditation.
Kathina (P) Special ceremony at the end of the rainy season where lay people present monks with new robes.
Kensho (J) Experience of dhyana as described in Zen. This term is sometimes equivalent to satori (q.v.) but sometimes describes a lesser experience.
Khanda (P) see Skandha.
Ko’an (J) Kung-an (C) Contradictory statement intended to lead us beyond reason by frustrating it: used in Zen as a focus of meditation.
Kshatriya (S) Class of rulers and warriors to which the Buddha belonged by birth.
L
Lama (T) Tibetan teacher or guru (q.v.): may be a monk but not necessarily.
Lamaism Name sometimes given to Tibetan Buddhism.
Lankavatara Sutra (S) Important Mahayana scripture, the first chapter of which forms the basis of the philosophy of the Yogacara (q.v.)
Literalism Belief in the complete truth of written scripture as it is stated.
Lobha (S) Loha (P) Greed.
Lohan (C) Chinese term for Arhat (q.v.)
Lotus A plant which grows in water (like a water-lily) which became spiritual symbol of purity because, although its roots grow in the mud, its beautiful flowers grow clear of the water.
Lotus Sutra (Saddharmapundarika or 'White Lotus of the True Dharma') Important Mahayana text, showing the differences between Mahayana and Theravada approaches, the paths of the Bodhisattva (q.v.) and the Arhat.
M
Madhyamika/Madhyamaka (S) 'Middle Way' : Philosophical school of the Mahayana, founder by Nagarjuna, who disproved all doctrines by rigorous logic and thought that truth was to by found by dialectic (q.v.) to find the middle way between pairs of opposite teachings, such as those of Eternalism (q.v.) and Nihilism (q.v.).
Mahasanghikas (S) School of early Indian Buddhism which put more emphasis on the humanity of the Buddha. Precursors of the Mahayana.
Mahayana (S) 'Great Vehicle' : Great new movement of re-interpretation of the Buddha's teachings which began in India about 500 years after the Buddha (or 0 C.E.), and spread to China, Tibet, Mongolia, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. Sometimes called 'Northern Buddhism', as distinguished from the 'Southern Buddhism' of the Theravada.
Manas (S) According to the Yogachara school, the part of the mind which organises the impressions collected by the alayavijnana (q.v.) and gives us the mistaken sense that each thing in our experience has independent identity.
Mandala (S) 'Circle': symbolic representation of the cosmos or human mind in the art of Tantrism (q.v.). The centre of the circle represents enlightenment and the edges its constituent elements.
Mantra (S) A sequence of powerful words, each having a deep meaning in itself but not usually forming a coherent sentence, which are recited as a meditation practice or in puja (q.v.). The sound of the words is said to have spiritual qualities which purify the mind.
Mara (S/P) 'Death' : Symbolic character representing the forces working against enlightenment, who is depicted as trying to scare and then lure the Buddha from his purpose as he came close to nirvana (q.v.).
Materialist A person who thinks there is only a material type of existence.
Meditation Practice found in Buddhism and other religions, consisting of some kind of systematic mental exercise to change and improve habitual mental states. There are numerous types of meditation practice in the Buddhist tradition, divided into Samatha (q.v.) and Vipassana (q.v.).
Metta (P) Maitri (S) 'Loving-kindness': an impartial and unconditional love for all beings, cultivated by Buddhists.
Metta-Bhavana (P) 'Development of Loving-Kindness': A meditation practice for the systematic cultivation of metta (q.v.).
Milinda-Panha (P) see Questions of King Milinda.
Mindfulness Continual undistracted awareness: a quality to be developed in meditation and one’s whole life.
Monasticism Practice of having monks and/or nuns living in monasteries apart from the rest of society.
Mudra (S) Hand-position of the Buddha in different statues or pictures: each mudra has a different symbolic meaning.
N
Naga (S) Legendary snake-people who live under the sea.
Nembutsu (J) Mantra used as the basic practice in Pure Land Buddhism: Namu Amida Butsu - "Hail to Amitabha Buddha".
Nichiren (J) Type of Japanese Buddhism which lays stress on simple faith, the study of parts of the Lotus Sutra (q.v.) and reciting of the daimoku (q.v.).
Nichiren Shoshu (J) Sect of Japanese Nichiren Buddhism which reveres Nichiren himself as well as the gohozon (q.v.), and Western wing of the modern Japanese Soka Gakkai, a lay movement derived from it..
Nihilism A doctrine that there is no value in the universe beyond our immediate desires and conventions. Opposed to eternalism (q.v.)
Nimitta (S/P) The "reflex" of the object of meditation in the mind once a state of absorption has been reached: this is not just an image in the mind's eye, but a more subtle version of it reflecting the subtle state which the mind has reached.
Nirmanakaya (S) According to the Mahayana doctrine of the Three Bodies of the Buddha, the body of the Buddha as it appeared historically on earth.
Nirvana (S) Nibbana (P) 'Blowing-out' (of the flames of greed, hatred, and delusion, or of the ego). State first achieved by the Buddha, which is the goal of all Buddhist practice, usually translated as 'enlightenment'. Nirvana is not a place or an after-death state (see Parinirvana) but a fully awakened state of mind. As a principle, nirvana is distinguished from its opposite, Samsara : the unenlightened universe.
Noble Truths, Four The basic statement of the Buddha's teaching made in his first sermon after enlightenment. This is (1) Dukkha (q.v.), (2) The Arising of Dukkha, (3) The Cessation of Dukkha (which is nirvana), (4) The Path leading to the Cessation of Dukkha.
Novice Someone in training to be a monk, who has taken a preliminary ordination but not the final one.
Nyingmapa (T) 'Old Ones' : School of Tibetan Buddhism whose followers remained loyal to the teachings of Padmasambhava, who first brought Buddhism to Tibet.
O - P
Oral Tradition Handing down of knowledge by word of mouth, without it being written down.
Orthodoxy Strict conformity in the doctrines of a religious organisation.
Orthopraxy Conformity in religious practices, even where there may be variations in doctrine.
Pagoda Buddhist temple or stupa.
Pali The language in which the Theravada Buddhist texts were written. Pali is derived from Sanskrit, and is similar to the language spoken by ordinary people in the Buddha's time. Later it became a literary language, only known by Buddhist monks.
Pali Canon The accepted body of Theravada scriptures. See Tripitaka.
Parable Story which has a spiritual interpretation, used to convey a teaching.
Paradox Statement which at first appears contradictory, but points towards a deeper truth.
Paramita (S) 'Perfection': one of ten qualities which need to be perfected by a Bodhisattva in order to achieve enlightenment.
Paratantra (S) In Yogachara teaching, the way of understanding reality as dependent (ie. as a flow of causes and effects).
Parikalpita (S) In Yogachara teaching, the mistaken "imagined" way of seeing reality, where things seem independent and separate.
Parinirvana (S) Parinibbana (P) The state after death of a person who gained nirvana during life. Such a person will not be reborn and has obtained freedom from the Wheel of Life. In what sense he/she exists is an unanswerable mystery.
Parinispanna (S) In Yogachara teaching, the "perfected" way of seeing reality, where there are no independent things (as when we realise there is no actual water in a mirage).
Patimokkha (P) Code of rules to be followed by monks, found in the Tripitaka.
Polytheism Belief in many gods.
Prajnaparamita (S) 'Perfection of Wisdom': Mahayana teaching that the goal of nirvana itself is illusory, and not different from unenlightened existence. Nirvana is not to be attained by goal-orientation.
Pratityasamutpada (S) Paticcasamuppada (P) Variously translated as 'Dependent Origination' or 'Conditioned Co-production': The chain of causes and effects depicted around the edge of the Wheel of Life, which cause all phenomena to arise and bind us to continued unenlightened existence.
Pratyekabuddha (S) Paccekabuddha (P) A person who gains enlightenment entirely alone, without teaching, and who does not subsequently teach others.
Precept Agreement to follow a certain moral guideline (eg. not to harm living beings) as part of spiritual practice.
Preta (S) 'Hungry Ghost': Being in one of the six realms of the Wheel of Life, who is tormented by craving but cannot gain any satisfaction for his cravings.
Puggalavadins (S) 'Personalist' school of early Indian Buddhism which defied the anatta doctrine (q.v.) and believed that there was some kind of immortal soul.
Puja (S) Buddhist worship: the worshipper recites devotional texts and makes offerings to the image of the Buddha or Bodhisattva. In doing this the Buddhist seeks to remind herself of her spiritual goals, and cultivate the qualities of the Buddha in herself.
Pure Land A mythical land ruled by the Buddha Amitabha where conditions are ideal for the achieving of enlightenment.
Pure Land Buddhism A branch of Chinese and Japanese Buddhism, where the goal is rebirth in the Pure Land (q.v.): this is not achieved by one's own efforts, but through the grace of Amitabha Buddha.
Q - R
Questions of King Milinda A Pali text, written later than most of the Pali canon and only admitted to the Canon in the Burmese tradition. It is written in the form of a dialogue in which King Milinda questions the wise monk Nagasena about a wide range of the teachings of Buddhism.
Rebirth Traditional Buddhist belief that the process of karma (q.v.) associated with one individual goes on to be associated with a new individual after death. This should be clearly distinguished from reincarnation, the teaching that there is an immortal soul which passes on from one body to another.
Refuges, Three Declaration of Buddhist commitment to the Three Jewels (the ideals of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha). The Buddhist declares, 'I go for refuge to the Buddha, I go for refuge to the Dharma, I go for refuge to the Sangha.' and then repeats this twice.
Rinzai (J) School of Zen founded in China by Lin-Chi: distinguished from Soto, the other main school of Zen, by its greater emphasis on the difficulty of achieving satori.
Rupa (S) 'Form': a statue of the Buddha.
S
Sadhana (S) Meditation practice based on the visualisation of a symbolic deity with the aim of absorbing its qualities into one's own mind.
Saddharmapundarika see Lotus Sutra.
Sakyapa (T) School of Tibetan Buddhism, influenced by Tantrism, which aims to produce enlightenment in a single lifetime.
Samadhi (S) (1) Used in Hinduism to describe a concentrated state similar to dhyana (q.v.). (2) In Buddhism, a word for meditation in general.
Samatha (P) Type of meditation which aims to calm and concentrate the mind in preparation for Vipassana (q.v.) practice.
Sambhogakaya (S) 'Enjoyment Body': According to the Mahayana doctrine of the Three Bodies of the Buddha, the form in which the Buddha appears in the Mahayana sutras: which is as a real person who gives teachings, but in a thoroughly mythical, un-realistic setting.
Samsara (S/P) The unenlightened state and the cyclic processes in the universe which perpetuate it. The opposite of nirvana.
Samskaras (S) Sankharas (P) The vehicle for karma; the mental conditions responsible for the arising of the ego, which are said to pass from one birth to the next. Often translated 'Volitional activities'.
Samurai (J) Warriors or warlords who dominated Japan from 1185 - 1573
Sangha (S/P) (1) The spiritual community, united in friendship and commitment to Buddhism. (2) The community of monks.
(3) The ideal of spiritual friendship.
San Lun (C) Chinese version of the Madhyamaka School (q.v.)
Sanskrit (Literally 'Perfect, Finished') Ancient Indian language, which continued to be spoken by the higher castes and used in literature until relatively recently. The language of Hindu and Indian Mahayana Buddhist scriptures.
Sarvastivadins (S) 'All beings exist school': School of early Indian Buddhism which believed that all things in samsara actually exist and are not illusory.
Satori (J) Zen term for nirvana (q.v.), although it is often used to describe an experience of dhyana together with a fundamental change in perception, which falls short of the nirvana of the Buddha.
Sceptic A person who doubts all truths and regards any doctrine as questionable.
Shila (S) Sila (P) The practice of morality.
Shin Buddhism (Jodo Shinshu) A type of Pure Land Buddhism (q.v.).
Shingon (J) Early form of Japanese Buddhism, mainly concerned with ritual and magic.
Shinto (C) Native Japanese religion, consisting of the worship of nature gods, ancestors, and (until recently) the Emperor.
Shogun (J) Military dictator of Japan during the dominance of the samurai (q.v.)
Shramana (S) Wandering holy man who has 'gone forth' from the household life and seeks the truth beyond conventional religion. There were many such holy men of different types at the time of the Buddha.
Shudra (S) Lowest of the four great classes of Hindu society - the servant class.
Shunyata (S) 'Emptiness': Idea of the Prajnaparamita (q.v.) that there is no enduring essence in the universe.
Siddha (S) Magical power, such as levitation or clairvoyance, gained as a side-effect of meditation practice.
Siddhi (S) A person possessing siddhas (q.v)
Simile An image, or description of something in terms of something else quite different, signalled by 'like' or 'as'.
Skandha (S), Khanda (P) One of the five 'aggregates' or 'heaps' which make up a person with an ego: matter, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness.
Skilful Means The Mahayana teaching that the Dharma should be taught in a way appropriate to those receiving it, even if later they would understand it in a different way. This explained why the Buddha had not at first taught Mahayana doctrines.
Soka Gakkai (J) Modern lay movement of the Nichiren Shoshu sect (q.v.).
Soto Zen (J) School of Zen which lays emphasis on how satori is present already in everyday life.
Spiral, The Symbol of progression towards enlightenment, taking off from the Wheel of Life and climbing above it to a still high point above the centre of the Wheel.
Sthaviravada (S) early Indian non-Mahayana school from which the Theravada are descended.
Stupa (S) Symbolic monument found in various form (as chedi, pagoda or chaitya) throughout the Buddhist world: its upward tapering point (like a spire) represents enlightenment.
Sukha (S) Happiness
Sutra (S) Sutta (P) (Literally 'Thread') Book, chapter or poem of scripture, giving a story or teaching.
Sutta Pitaka (P) see Tripitaka.
Svabhava (S) "Own being": the idea that each thing in the universe has independent existence apart from the flow of cause and effect. This was criticised by the Madhyamaka and Yogachara.
Symbol Concrete image which represents something abstract, especially an idea not easily described in words (eg. the Buddha is a symbol of Enlightenment).
Syncretism The combining of different religions into one.
T
Tanha (P) see Trshna.
Tantra, Tantrism A third movement, after Theravada and Mahayana, which arose in Indian Buddhism about 500 CE. This was concerned in finding immediate enlightenment in the things of the world through giving them magical significance.
Tantric Buddhism spread to Tibet, Central Asia, Mongolia and Siberia.
Taoism (pronounced 'Daoism') Chinese religion which competed with Confucianism (q.v.) before Buddhism arrived. Its main ideals are mystical harmony with nature and a balance between yin and yang (masculine and feminine principles in the universe).
Tara In Tibetan symbolic art, a female deity representing compassion.
Tariki (J) "Other Power": idea in Pure Land Buddhism that you cannot reach salvation by your own power (Jiriki), but only by the power of Amitabha Buddha, whom you should have absolute faith in.
Tathagata (S/P) 'Thus gone' : a name for the Buddha.
Tendai (J) T'ien-t'ai (C) Chinese School of
Buddhism which spread to Japan, based on the Lotus Sutra and distinguishing three levels of reality.
Thangka (T) Religious painting made by Tibetan monks.
Theravada (P) 'Way of the Elders': The earliest school of Buddhism which has maintained a fixed body of doctrines (as expressed in the Tripitaka) since the time of the Buddha and is still the dominant form of Buddhism in Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and Sri Lanka.
Three Jewels The three most important ideals of Buddism: the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha (q.v)
Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thädräl) A text which should be recited into the ear of a dying or newly-dead person, containing instructions as to how to avoid further rebirth and take this opportunity to gain nirvana.
Tripitaka (S) Tipitaka (P) 'Three Baskets' : collected scriptures of Theravada Buddhism, taking up many volumes and divided into three parts : the Sutta Pitaka (stories and teachings), Vinaya Pitaka (Monastic rules), and Abhidhamma Pitaka (Further Philosophy and Psychology).
Trshna (S) Tanha (P) 'Thirst': the greed or desire which, together with hatred and delusion, keeps us in unenlightened existence.
U
Upanishads (S) Important Hindu texts of about the time of the Buddha, which show the impact on Hinduism of the spiritual explorations which were going on at that time.
Upasaka (S) Layman who has committed himself to practising Buddhism and follows some monastic practices, without becoming a monk.
Upasika (S) Female equivalent of upasaka.
Upaya (S) See Skilful Means.
Uposatha (S/P) Fortnightly ceremony where monks gather to recite the Patimokkha (q.v.) and confess breaches of it to each other.
Urna (S) Mark in the middle of the forehead of a Buddha, a sign of yogic power and one of the 32 marks of a great being.
Ushnisha (S) Turban or pointedness at the top of the head of a Buddha figure, one of the 32 marks of an enlightened being.
V
Vaishya (S) The merchant class - third of the 4 great classes of Hindu society.
Vajra (S) A Tantric symbol of energy and the clarity of Shunyata (q.v.), usually translated as 'diamond' or 'thunderbolt', though strictly speaking it is neither of these, but in the shape of a single or double-sceptre.
Vajracchedika Sutra (S) An important scripture of the Prajnaparamita (q.v.), usually translated as the Diamond Sutra.
Vajrasana (S) "Vajra seat": the place, symbolised as a throne, where the Buddha gained enlightenment. In early Buddhism the empty throne was depicted instead of the Buddha himself, to symbolise enlightenment.
Vajrayana (S) 'Vajra Vehicle': often used to mean Tantrism (q.v.) seen as the third great development of Buddhism (after Hinayana and Mahayana), although strictly speaking it only refers to the second stage of its development.
Vedas (S) Four ancient scriptures (the oldest known religious scriptures) which form the basis of the Vedic religion which preceded Hinduism: they consist mainly of elaborate instructions for sacrifices and hymns in praise of ancient gods.
Vijnanavada (S) Another name for Yogachara (q.v.).
Vimalakirti-Nirdesa (S) Mahayana scripture about an enlightened layman who shows up the pretensions of monks.
Vinaya (S/P) 'Discipline' The code of conduct for monks and its explanations and elaborations, found in the Vinaya Pitaka of the Tripitaka (q.v.).
Vipassana (P) Vipashyana (S) Type of meditation intended to cultivate wisdom, usually based on the contemplation of a word, phrase or image and involving systematic thought about its implications.
Visualisation A type of meditation where an image, usually of a Buddha or Bodhisattva, is carefully reconstructed in the imagination.
W -Z
Wheel of Life A Tibetan symbolic painting in which the whole teaching of karma (q.v.) and pratityasamutpada (q.v.) is represented.
White Lotus Sutra see Lotus Sutra
Wisdom Spiritual knowledge; knowledge about the real underlying nature of the universe.
Yoga (S) 'Joining' : An Indian spiritual practice found in both Hinduism and Buddhism, which attempts to gain concentration and control over both mind and body through systematic mental and/or physical exercises. There are many types of yoga, all of which seek to unify our scattered energies, some relying on meditation or devotion. The hatha yoga taught in the west now as 'yoga' is only one example.
Yogachara (S) Mahayana school which stressed the practice of yoga (q.v.), saw the universe psychologically as a creation of the mind and put forward the doctrine of Alaya-vij¤ana (q.v.).
Yuzu Nembutsu (J) Early sect of Pure Land Buddhism which stressed the importance of recitation of the Nembutsu (q.v.) but not faith in Amitabha (unlike the other Pure Land sects)
Zazen (J) Sitting meditation practice in the Zen tradition.
Zen (J) Sect of Buddhism which developed in China as Ch'an (a translation of S. dhyana) concentrating on meditation and stressing the spontaneous and non-conceptual nature of enlightenment (see satori).