Buddhist terms and concepts

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term. Below are given a number of important Buddhist terms, short definitions, and the languages in which they appear. In this list, an attempt has been made to organize terms by their original form and give translations and synonyms in other languages along with the definition.

Languages and traditions dealt with here:

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] A

Definition Etymology In other languages
abhidhamma A category of scriptures that attempts to use Buddhist teachings to create a systematic, abstract description of all worldly phenomena
  • abhi is "above" or "about", dhamma is "teaching"
  • Pāli: abhidhamma
  • Sanskrit: abhidharma
  • Tib: chos mngon pa
  • 阿毗達磨
    • Cn: Āpídámó
    • Jp: Abidatsuma
    • Vi: a-tì-đạt-ma
Abhidhamma Pitaka The third basket of the Tripitaka canon, the reorganization of all doctrines in a systematic way
  • Pāli: Abhidhamma-piṭaka
  • Sanskrit: Abhidharma-piṭaka
  • 論藏, 論蔵
    • Cn: Lùnzàng
    • Jp: Ronzō
    • Vi: Luận tạng
acariya, lit. "teacher", One of the two teachers of a novice monk - the other one is called upādhyāya
  • Pāli: ācāriya
  • Sanskrit: ācārya
  • Bur: ဆရာ saya
  • Thai: อาจารย์ ajahn
  • 阿闍梨, 阿闍梨耶
    • Cn: āshélí or āshélíyē
    • Jp: ajari or ajariya
    • Vi: a-xà-lê
addiction, see tanha
Agama The Buddhist texts in Sanskrit
  • Sanskrit: Āgama
  • Pāli: Nikāya
  • 阿含
    • Cn: Āhán
    • Jp: Agon
    • Vi: A-hàm
ahimsa The devotion to non-violence and respect for all forms of life. Practicers of ahimsa are often vegetarians or vegans
  • Sanskrit: ahiṃsā
  • Pāli: ahiṃsā
  • 不害
    • Cn: bù hài
    • Jp: fugai
    • Vi: bất hại
alayavijnana, see store consciousness
  • Pāli, Sanskrit: ālayavijñāna
  • Tib: ཀུན་གཞི་རྣམ་པར་ཤེས་པ་
    kun gzhi rnam par shes pa
  • 阿賴耶識, 阿頼耶識
    • Cn: ālàiyēshí
    • Jp: araya-shiki
    • Vi: a-lại-da thức
Amitabha The main buddha of the Pure Land school
  • Sanskrit: amitābha (lit. "limitless light") and amitāyus (lit. "limitless life")
  • 阿彌陀 or 阿彌陀佛, 阿弥陀 or 阿弥陀仏
    • Ch: Āmítuó or Āmítuó fó
    • Jp: Amida or Amida-butsu
    • Vi: A-di-đà or Phật A-di-đà
anagarika A white-robed student in the Theravada tradition who, for a few months, awaits being considered for Samaneras ordination
  • Pāli: anāgarika
anapanasati Mindfulness of the breath meditation
  • Pāli: ānāpānasati
anatta The principle denial of the soul in any phenomena. See also negative theology.
  • Pāli: anattā
  • Sanskrit: anātman
  • 無我
    • Cn: wúwǒ
    • Jp: muga
    • Vi: vô ngã
anicca Impermanence
  • Pāli: anicca
  • Sanskrit: anitya
  • 無常
    • Cn: wúcháng
    • Jp: mujō
    • Vi: vô thường
anuttara Unsurpassing
  • Pāli: anuttara
  • Sanskrit: anuttara
  •  ?
    • Cn: ?
    • Jp: ?
    • Vi: ?
    • Fi: Ylittämätön
arhat, lit. "the Worthy One", A living person who has reached Enlightenment
  • Pāli: arahat or arahant
  • Sanskrit: arhat or arhant
  • Tib: དགྲ་ཅོམ་པ་, dgra com pa
  • 阿羅漢
    • Cn: āluóhàn
    • Jp: arakan
    • Vi: a-la-hán
atman literally "self", sometimes "soul" or "ego". In Buddhism, the inappropriate belief in atman is the prime consequence of ignorance, the foundation of samsara
  • Sanskrit: ātman
  • Pāli: atta
    • Cn:
    • Jp: ga
    • Vi: ngã
Avalokitesvara, lit. "Lord who looks down", The bodhisattva of compassion (see also Guan Yin)
  • Sanskrit: Avalokiteśvara
  • Tib: སྤྱན་རས་གཟིགས་ spyan ras gzigs
  • 觀世音 or 觀音
    • Cn: Guānshì Yīn or Guān Yīn
    • Jp: Kanzeon or Kannon
avidya "ignorance" or "delusion"
  • Sanskrit: avidyā
  • Pāli: avijjā
  • Tib: མ་རིག་པ་ ma rig-pa
  • 無明
    • Cn: wúmíng
    • Jp: mumyō
    • Vi: vô minh

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] B

Definition Etymology In other languages
bardo, lit. "intermediate state" or "in-between state", According to Tibetan tradition, the state of existence intermediate between two lives
  • Tib: བར་མ་དོའི་སྲིད་པ་ bar ma do'i srid pa
  • Sanskrit: antarābhava
  • 中有
    • Cn: zhongyǒu
    • Jp: chūu
    • Vi: trung hữu
bhavacakra|/bhavacakka A circular symbolic representation of samsara, also known as Wheel of becoming
  • Pāli: bhavacakka
  • Sanskrit: bhava-cakra
  • 有輪
    • Cn: yǒulún
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: hữu luân
bhante The polite particle used to refer to Buddhist monks in the Theravada tradition. Bhante literally means "Venerable Sir."
  • Pāli
bhava Becoming, being, existing; the 10th link of Pratitya-samutpada
  • Pāli, Sanskrit: bhava
  • Thai: ภาวนา
    • Cn: yǒu
    • Jp: u
    • Vi: hữu
bhikkhu/bhikshu, lit. "beggar", A Buddhist monk
  • Pāli: bhikkhu
  • Sanskrit: bhikṣu
  • Tib: དགེ་སློང་ dge slong
  • Thai: ภิกขุ bhikku
  • 比丘
    • Cn: bǐ qiū
    • Jp: biku
    • Vi: tỉ-khâu or tỉ-khưu
bhikkhuni/bhikshuni A Buddhist nun
  • from bhikkhu
  • Pāli: bhikkhuni
  • Sanskrit: bhikṣuni
  • Tib: དགེ་སློང་མ་ sde slong ma
  • Bur: ဘိက္ခုနီ bikuni
  • Thai: ภิกษุณี bhiksuni
  • 比丘尼
    • Cn: bǐqiūní"
    • Jp: bikuni
    • Vi: tỉ-khâu-ni or tỉ-khưu-ni
bija, lit. "seed", A metaphor for the origin or cause of things, used in the teachings of the Yogacara school
  • Sanskrit: bīja
  • 種子
    • Cn: zhŏngzi
    • Jp: shushi
    • Vi: chủng tử
bodhi Awakening or Enlightenment
  • Pāli, Sanskrit: bodhi
  • 菩提
    • Cn: pútí
    • Jp: bodai
    • Vi: bồ-đề
Bodhi tree The Sacred Fig (Ficus religiosa) tree under which Gautama reached Enlightenment
  • 菩提樹
    • Cn: Pútíshù
    • Jp: Bodaiju
    • Vi: Bồ-đề thụ
bodhicitta The motivation of a bodhisattva
  • Pāli, Sanskrit: bodhicitta
  • Tib: བྱང་ཆུབ་ཀྱི་སེམས་ byang chub kyi sems
  • 菩提心
    • Cn: pútíxīn
    • Jp: bodaishin
    • Vi: bồ-đề tâm
bodhisattva One with the intention to become a Buddha in order to liberate all other sentient beings from suffering
  • Pāli: bodhisatta
  • Sanskrit: bodhisattva
  • Bur: ဗောဓိသတ္ bawditat
  • 菩薩
    • Cn: púsà
    • Jp: bosatsu
    • Vi: bồ-tát
Buddha A Buddha; also, the Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama.
  • from √budh: to awaken
  • Pāli, Sanskrit: buddha
  • Bur: ဗုဒ္ဓ boda
  • 佛, 仏
    • Cn:
    • Jp: butsu or hotoke
    • Vi: Phật or bụt
buddha nature The ability shared by sentient beings to achieve Enlightenment; the innate (latent) Buddha nature (esp. in Tendai/Tiantai, Nichiren thought)
  • Sanskrit: buddhatā or buddha-svabhāva
  • 佛性, 仏性
    • Cn: fóxìng
    • Jp: busshō
    • Vi: phật tính

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] D

Definition Etymology In other languages
dakini A supernatural female with volatile temperament who serves as a muse for spiritual practice. Dakinis are often depicted naked to represent the truth
  • Sanskrit: ḍākinī
  • Tib: མཁའ་འགྲོ་མ་ mkha` `gro ma
  • 空行女
    • Cn: ??
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: không hành nữ
Dalai Lama, lit. "the lama with wisdom like an ocean", secular and spiritual leader of Tibet as nominated by the Mongols
  • Tibetan: ཏཱ་ལའི་བླ་མ་ taa-la'i bla-ma
  • 達賴喇嘛
    • Cn: Dálài Lǎma
    • Jp: Darai Rama
    • Vi: Đạt Lai Lạt Ma or Đạt-lại Lạt-ma
dana Generosity or giving; in Buddhism, it also refers to the practice of cultivating generosity
  • Pāli, Sanskrit: dāna
  • Bur: ဒာန dana
  • 布施
    • Cn: bùshī
    • Jp: fuse
    • Vi: bố thí
dependent origination, see Pratitya-Samutpada
  • Pāli: paṭicca-samuppāda
  • Sanskrit: pratītya-samutpāda
  • 因縁, also 緣起, 縁起
    • Cn: yīn, also yuánqǐ
    • Jp: innen, also engi
    • Vi: duyên khởi
dhamma/dharma Often refers to the doctrines and teachings of the faith, but it may have broader uses. Also, it is an important technical term meaning something like "phenomenological constituent." This leads to the potential for confusion, puns, and double entendres, as the latter meaning often has negative connotations
  • from √dhṛ: to hold
  • Pāli: dhamma
  • Sanskrit: dharma
  • Bur: ဓမ္မာ dha ma
    • Cn:
    • Jp:
    • Vi: pháp
dhammavinaya The dharma and vinaya (roughly "doctrine and discipline") considered together. This term essentially means the whole teachings of Buddhism as taught to monks
dhammacakka/dharmacakra A symbolic representation of the dharma, also known as the Wheel of Dharma
  • Sanskrit: dharmacakra
  • Pāli: dhammacakka
  • 法輪
    • Cn: Fǎlún
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: pháp luân
dhammapala/dharmapala A fearsome deity, known as protector of the Dharma
  • Sanskrit: dharmapāla
  • Pāli: dhammapāla
  • 護法
    • Cn: hùfǎ
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: Hộ Pháp
Dhyana, see jhana
  • Pāli: jhāna
  • Sanskrit: dhyāna
  • 禪, 禅
    • Ch: Chán
    • Jp: Zen
    • Vi: Thiền-na or Thiền
doan In Zen, a term for person sounding the bell that marks the beginning and end of Zazen
  • Japanese: doan
dokusan A private interview between a Zen student and his master. It is an important element in the Zen training, as it provides an opportunity for the student to discuss problems in his practice and to demonstrate his understanding
  • Japanese: 独参 dokusan
  • 獨參
    • Cn: dúcān
    • Vi: độc tham
dukkha Suffering, dissatisfaction, stress
  • Pāli: dukkha
  • Sanskrit: duḥkha
  • Bur: ဒုက္ခ doka
    • Cn:
    • Jp: ku
    • Vi: khổ
dzogchen The natural, intrinsic state of every sentient being
  • Tibetan: རྫོགས་པ་ཆེན་པོ་ rdzogs pa chen po
  • Sanskrit: atiyoga
  • 大究竟
    • Cn: dàjiūjìng
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: đại cứu cánh

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] F

Definition Etymology In other languages
Five Five-Hundred-Year Periods Five sub-divisions of the three periods following the Buddha's passing (三時 Cn: sānshí; Jp: sanji; Vi: tam thời), significant for many Mahayana adherents:
  1. Age of enlightenment (解脱堅固 Cn: jiětuō jiāngù; Jp: gedatsu kengo)
  2. Age of meditation (禅定堅固 Cn: chándìng jiāngù; Jp: zenjō kengo)
    These two ages comprise the Former Day of the Law (正法 Cn: zhèngfǎ; Jp: shōbō)
  3. Age of reading, reciting, and listening (読誦多聞堅固 Cn: sòngduōwén jiāngù; Jp: dokuju tamon kengo)
  4. Age of building temples and stupas (多造塔寺堅固 Cn: duōzào tǎsì jiāngù; Jp: tazō tōji kengo)
    These two ages comprise the Middle Day of the Law (像法 Cn: xiàngfǎ; Jp: zōhō)
  5. Age of conflict (闘諍堅固 Cn: zhēng jiāngù; Jp: tōjō kengo), an age characterized by unrest, strife, famine, and other natural and human-made disasters.
    This age corresponds to the beginning of the Latter Day of the Law (末法 Cn: mòfǎ; Jp: mappō) when the (historical) Buddha's teachings would lose all power of salvation and perish (白法隠没 Cn: báifǎméi; Jp: byakuhō onmotsu) and a new Buddha would appear to save the people.
  • The three periods and the five five-hundred year periods are described in the Sutra of the Great Assembly (大集 Cn: dàjí; Jp: Daishutu-kyō, Daijuku-kyō, Daijikkyō, or Daishukkyō).
  • 五箇五百歳
    • Cn: 五箇五百歳歲 wǔ ge wǔ bǎi suì
    • Jp: 五箇の五百歳 go no gohyaku sai
    • Vi: ??
Four Noble Truths
  1. Suffering: Dukkha (Sanskrit: duḥkhāryasatya; Bur: ဒုက္ခ doka; Thai: ทุกข์; 苦諦 Cn: kǔdì; Jp: kutai; Vi: khổ đế)
  2. Attachment (desire): Samudaya (Sanskrit: samudayāryasatya; Thai: สมุทัย; 集諦 Cn: jídì; Jp: jittai; Vi: tập khổ đế)
  3. Elimination of attachment (desire): Nirodha (Sanskrit: duḥkhanirodhāryasatya; Thai: นิโรธ; 滅諦 Cn: mièdì; Jp: mettai; Vi: diệt khổ đế)
  4. The path that leads out of suffering: Magga (Sanskrit: duḥkhanirodhagāminī pratipad; Thai: มรรค; 道諦 Cn: dàodì; Jp: dōtai; Vi: đạo đế)
  • Pāli: cattāri ariya-saccāni
  • Sanskrit: चत्वारि आर्यसत्यानि catvāry āryasatyāni
  • 四諦
    • Cn: Sìdì
    • Jp: Shitai
    • Vi: Tứ diệu đế
fukudo In Zen, term for person who strikes the han
  • Japanese

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] G

Definition Etymology In other languages
gassho A position used for greeting, with the palms together and fingers pointing upwards in prayer position; used in various Buddhist traditions, but also used in numerous cultures throughout Asia. It expresses greeting, request, thankfulness, reverence and prayer. Also considered a mudra or inkei of Japanese Shingon. See also: Namaste
  • Sanskrit: anjali
  • 合掌
    • Cn: hézhǎng (more common to say 合十 héshí)
    • Vi: hiệp chưởng
geshe A Tibetan Buddhist academic degree in the Gelug traddition, awarded at the conclusion of lengthy studies often lasting nine years or more
  • Tibetan: དགེ་ཤེས་
gongan, lit. "public case", A meditative method developed in the Chan/Seon/Zen traditions, generally consisting of a problem that defies solution by means of rational thought; see koan
  • Chinese 公案 gōng-àn
  • 公案
    • Jp: kōan
    • Ko: gong'an
    • Vi: công án
Guan Yin The bodhisattva of compassion in East Asian Buddhism, with full name being Guan Shi Yin. Guan Yin is considered to be the female form of Avalokiteshvara but has been given many more distinctive characteristics.
  • Chinese 觀音 Guān Yīn or 觀世音 Guān Shì Yīn
  • 觀音 or 觀世音
    • Jp: Kannon or Kanzeon
    • Ko: Gwaneum or Gwanse-eum
    • Vi: Quan Âm or Quan Thế Âm

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] H

Definition Etymology In other languages
han In Zen monasteries, wooden board that is struck announcing sunrise, sunset and the end of the day
  • Japanese
Hinayana, lit. "inferior vehicle", A coinage by the Mahayana for the Buddhist doctrines concerned with the achievement of Nirvana as a Śrāvakabuddha or a Pratyekabuddha, as opposed to a Samyaksambuddha
  • Sanskrit: hīnayāna
  • 小乘
    • Cn: Xiǎoshèng
    • Jp: Shōjō
    • Vi: Tiểu thừa

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] I

Definition Etymology In other languages
ino, lit. "bringer of joy to the assembly", In Zen, one of the leaders of a sesshin; in Zen temples, the temple official in charge of maintaining the zendo, or meditation hall
  • Japanese

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] J

Definition Etymology In other languages
jhana Meditative contemplation; more often associated with śamatha practices than vipaśyana. See also: shamata, samadhi, samapatti
  • from √dhyā: to think of, to contemplate, meditate on
  • Pāli: jhāna
  • Sanskrit: dhyāna
  • 禪, 禅
    • Ch: chán
    • Jp: Zen
    • Vi: thiền-na or thiền
jisha In Zen, a senior priest's attendant
  • Japanese

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] K

Definition Etymology In other languages
karma, lit. "action", The law of cause and effect in Buddhism
  • from √kri: to do
  • Sanskrit: karma
  • Pāli: kamma
  • Thai: กรรม kam
  • 業¹, 因果²
    • Cn: ¹, comm.: ²yīnguǒ
    • Jp:
    • Vi: nghiệp
kensho In Zen, enlightenment; has the same meaning as satōri, but is customary used for an initial awakening experience
  • Japanese: 見性 kenshō
  • 見性
    • Cn: jiànxìng
    • Vi: kiến tính
khyenpo, also khenpo, An academic degree similar to a doctorate in theology, philosophy, and psychology
  • Tibetan
kinhin Zen walking meditation
  • Japanese: 經行 kinhin or kyōgyō
  • 經行
    • Cn: jīngxíng
    • Vi: ??
koan A story, question, problem or statement generally inaccessible to rational understanding, yet may be accessible to Intuition
  • Japanese: 公案 kōan
  • 公案
    • Cn: gōng-àn
    • Ko: gong'an
    • Vi: công án
ksanti The practice of exercising patience toward behavior or situations that might not necessarily deserve it -- it is seen as a conscious choice to actively give patience as a gift, rather than being in a state of oppression in which one feels obligated to act in such a way.
  • Sanskrit
kyosaku In Zen, a flattened stick used to strike the shoulders during zazen, to help overcome fatigue or reach satori
  • Japanese: 警策 kyōsaku, called keisaku in Rinzai
  • 警策
    • Cn: jǐngcè
    • Vi: ??

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] L

Definition Etymology In other languages
lama A Tibetan teacher or master; equivalent to Sanskrit "guru"
  • Tibetan: བླ་མ་ lama
  • Sanskrit: guru
  • 喇嘛
    • Cn: lǎma
    • Jp: rama
    • Vi: lạt-ma
lineage The official record of the historical descent of dharma teachings from one teacher to another; by extension, may refer to a tradition

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] M

Definition Etymology In other languages
Madhyamaka Buddhist philosophical school, founded by Nagarjuna. Members of this school are called Madhyamikas
  • Sanskrit: mādhyamika
  • Tib: དབུ་མ་པ་ dbu ma pa
  • 中觀宗
    • Cn: Zhōngguānzōng
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: Trung quán tông
mahamudra A method of direct introduction the understanding of sunyata, of samsara and that the two are inseparable
  • Sanskrit: mahāmudrā
  • Tib: ཕྱག་རྒྱ་ཆེན་པོ་ chag-je chen-po
  • 大手印
    • Cn: dàshŏuyìn
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: đại thủ ấn
mahasiddha litt. great spiritual accomplishment. A yogi in Tantric Buddhism, often associated with the highest levels of enlightenment
  • Sanskrit: mahāsiddha
  • Thai: มหายาน
  • 大成就
    • Cn: dàchéngjiù
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: đại thành tựu
Mahayana, lit. "great vehicle", A major branch of Buddhism practiced in China, Tibet, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Main goal is to achieve buddhahood or samyaksambuddha
  • Sanskrit: mahāyāna
  • 大乘
    • Cn: Dàshèng
    • Jp: Daijō
    • Vi: Đại thừa
Maitreya The Buddha of the future epoch
  • Pāli: Metteyya
  • Sanskrit: Maitreya
  • 彌勒 or 彌勒佛, 弥勒 or 弥勒仏
    • Ch: Mílè or Mílè Fó
    • Jp: Miroku or Miroku-butsu
    • Vi: Di-lặc or Phật Di-lặc
makyo In Zen, unpleasant or distracting thoughts or illusions that occur during zazen
  • Japanese: 魔境 makyō
mantra Chant used primarily to aid concentration, to reach enlightenment. The best-known Buddhist mantra is possibly Om mani padme hum
  • Sanskrit: mantra
  • 真言
    • Cn: zhēnyán
    • Jp: shingon
    • Vi: chân âm
Mappo The "degenerate" Latter Day of the Law. A time period supposed to begin 2,000 years after Sakyamuni Buddha's passing and last for "10,000 years"; follows the two 1,000-year periods of Former Day of the Law (正法 Cn: zhèngfǎ; Jp: shōbō) and of Middle Day of the Law (像法 Cn: xiàngfǎ; Jp: zōhō). During this degenerate age, chaos will prevail and the people will be unable to attain enlightenment through the word of Sakyamuni Buddha. See the Three periods
  • Japanese: 末法 mappō
  • 末法
    • Cn: mòfǎ
    • Vi: ??
Middle way The practice of avoidance of extreme views and lifestyle choices
  • Pāli: majjhimāpaṭipadā
  • Sanskrit: madhyamāpratipad
  • 中道
    • Ch: zhōngdào
    • Jp: chūdō
    • Vi: trung đạo
mindfulness The practice whereby a person is intentionally aware of his or her thoughts and actions in the present moment, non-judgmentally. The 7th step of the Noble Eightfold Path
  • Pāli: sammā-sati
  • Sanskrit: samyag-smṛti
  • 正念
    • Cn: zhèngniàn
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: chính niệm
moksha Liberation
  • Sanskrit: mokṣa
  • Pāli: vimutti
  • 解脱
    • Cn: jiětuō
    • Jp: gedatsu
    • Vi: giải thoát
mokugyo A wooden drum carved from one piece, usually in the form of a fish
  • Japanese: 木魚
  • 木魚
    • Cn: mùyú
    • Vi:
mondo In Zen, a short dialogue between teacher and student
  • Japanese: 問答 mondō
  • 問答
    • Cn: wèndǎ
    • Vi: ??
mudra lit. "seal", A gesture made with hands and fingers in meditation
  • Sanskrit: mudrā
  • Tib: ཕྱག་རྒྱ་ phyag rgya
  • 印相
    • Cn: yìnxiàng (commonly only yìn)
    • Jp: inzō
    • Vi: ấn

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] N

Definition Etymology In other languages
namo An exclamation showing reverence; devotion. Often placed in front of the name of an object of veneration, e.g., a Buddha's name or a sutra (Nam(u) Myōhō Renge Kyō), to express devotion to it. Defined in Sino-Japanese as 帰命 kimyō: to base one's life upon, to devote (or submit) one's life to

Derivatives:

  • Namo Amitabha
  • Pāli: namo
  • Sanskrit: namaḥ or namas

Derivatives:

  • Sanskrit: namas amitābha
  • 南無
    • Cn: nammu
    • Jp: namu or nam
    • Vi: nam-mô

Derivatives:

  • 南無阿弥陀佛
    • Cn: Nàmó Āmítuó fó
    • Jp: Namu Amida butsu
    • Vi: Nam-mô A-di-đà Phật
Nibbana/Nirvana Extinction or extinguishing; ultimate enlightenment in the Buddhist tradition
  • from niḥ-√vā: to extinguish
  • Pāli: nibbāna
  • Sanskrit: nirvana
  • Bur: နိဗ္ဗာန္‌ neiban/Burmese Pali: နီဗ္ဗာန nibbana
  • Thai: นิพพาน nípphaan
  • 涅槃
    • Cn: Nièpán
    • Jp: Nehan
    • Vi: Niết-bàn
Nikaya, lit. "volume", The Buddhist texts in Pāli
  • Pāli: nikāya
  • Sanskrit: Āgama
  • 部經
    • Cn: Bùjīng
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: Bộ kinh
Noble Eightfold Path
  1. Right View (Pāli: sammā-diṭṭhi; Sanskrit: samyag-dṛṣṭi; 正見 Cn: zhèngjiàn; Vi: chính kiến)
  2. Right Thought (Pāli: sammā-saṅkappa; Sanskrit: samyak-saṃkalpa; 正思唯 Cn: zhèngsīwéi; Vi: chính tư duy)
    These 2 constitute the path of Wisdom (Pāli: paññā; Sanskrit: prajñā)
  3. Right Speech (Pāli: sammā-vācā; Sanskrit: samyag-vāk; 正語 Cn: zhèngyǔ; Vi: chính ngữ)
  4. Right Action (Pāli: sammā-kammanta; Sanskrit: samyak-karmānta; 正業 Cn: zhèngyè; Vi: chính nghiệp)
  5. Right Living (Pāli: sammā-ājīva; Sanskrit: samyag-ājīva; 正命 Cn: zhèngmìng; Vi: chính mệnh)
    These 3 constitute the path of Virtue (Pāli: sīla; Sanskrit: śīla)
  6. Right Effort (Pāli: sammā-vāyāma; Sanskrit: samyag-vyāyāma; 正精進 Cn: zhèngjīngjìn; Vi: chính tinh tiến)
  7. Right Mindfulness (Pāli: sammā-sati; Sanskrit: samyag-smṛti; 正念 Cn: zhèngniàn; Vi: chính niệm)
  8. Right Concentration (Pāli: sammā-samādhi; Sanskrit: samyak-samādhi; 正定 Cn: zhèngdìng; Vi: chính định)
    The last 3 constitute the path of Concentration (Pāli, Sanskrit: samādhi)
  • Pāli: aṭṭhāṅgika-magga
  • Sanskrit: aṣṭāṅgika-mārga
  • Thai: อริยมรรค ariya-mak
  • 八正道
    • Cn: Bāzhèngdào
    • Jp: Hasshōdō
    • Vi: Bát chính đạo

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] O

Definition Etymology In other languages
oryoki A set of bowls used in a Zen eating ceremony
  • Japanese: 応量器 ōryōki
osho A term used to address a monk of the Zen Buddhist tradition. Originally reserved for high ranking monks, it has since been appropriated for everyday use when addressing any male member of the Zen clergy
  • Japanese: 和尚 oshō

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] P

Definition Etymology In other languages
panca skandha The five constituent elements into which an individual is analyzed. They are:
  1. "form": Pāli, Sanskrit: rūpa; 色 Cn: ; Jp: shiki
  2. "sensation": Pāli, Sanskrit: vedanā; 受 Cn: shòu; Jp: ju
  3. "cognition": Pāli: saññā; Sanskrit: saṃjñā; 想 Cn: xiàng; Jp:
  4. "mental formations": Pāli: saṅkhāra; Sanskrit: saṃskāra; 行 Cn: xíng; Jp: gyō
  5. "consciousness": Pāli: viññāṇa; Sanskrit: vijñāna; 識 Cn: shí; Jp: shiki
  • Sanskrit: pañca skandha
  • Pāli: pañca khandha
  • 五蘊, 五陰, 五薀
    • Cn: wǔyùn
    • Jp: go-on, sometimes go-un
    • Vi: ngũ uẩn
Panchen Lama The second highest ranking lama in the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. after the Dalai Lama
  • Tibetan: པན་ཆེན་བླ་མ་ panchen blama
  • Sanskrit: paṇḍitaguru
  • 班禪喇嘛
    • Cn: Bānchánlǎma
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: Ban-thiền Lạt-ma
paramartha Absolute, as opposed to merely conventional, truth or reality; see also samvrti
  • Sanskrit: paramārtha
paramita, lit. "reaching the other shore," usually rendered in English as "perfection." The Mahayana practices for obtaining enlightenment; giving, ethics, patience, effort, concentration and wisdom
  • Pāli: parami
  • Sanskrit: pāramitā
  • 波羅蜜
    • Cn: bōluómì
    • Jp: haramitsu
    • Vi: ba-la-mật-đa or ba-la-mật
parinibbana/parinirvana The final nibbana/nirvana
  • 般涅槃
    • Cn: bān nièpán
    • Jp: hatsunehan
    • Vi: bát-niết-bàn
Perfection of Wisdom
  • Sanskrit: prajñāpāramitā
  • Pāli: paññāparami
  • 般若波羅蜜多
    • Cn: bānruòbōluómì
    • Jp: hannya-haramita
    • Vi: bát-nhã-ba-la-mật-đa or bát-nhã-ba-la-mật
Pointing-out instruction The direct introduction to the nature of mind in the lineages of Essence Mahamudra and Dzogchen. A root guru is the master who gives the 'pointing-out instruction' so that the disciple recognizes the nature of mind
  • Tibetan: ངོ་སྤྲོད་ ngo sprod
prajna/panna "wisdom", "insight"
  • Pāli: paññā
  • Sanskrit: prajñā
  • Bur: ပညာ pin nya
  • 般若
    • Cn: bānruò
    • Jp: hannya
    • Vi: bát-nhã
pratitya-samutpada "Dependent origination," the view that no phenomenon exists (or comes about) without depending on other phenomena or conditions around it. In English also called "conditioned genesis," "dependent co-arising," "interdependent arising," etc.

A famous application of dependent origination is the Twelve Nidana, or 12 inter-dependences (Sanskrit: dvādaśāṅgapratītyasamutpāda; 十二因縁 Cn: shísānyīn; Jp: jūni innen; Vi: thập nhị nhân duyên), which are:

  1. Ignorance (Pāli: avijjā; Sanskrit: avidyā; 無明 Cn: wúmíng; Jp: mumyō; Vi: vô minh)
  2. Ignorance creates Mental Formation (Pāli: saṅkhāra; Sanskrit: saṃskāra; 行 Cn: xíng; Jp: gyō; Vi: hành)
  3. Mental Formation creates Consciousness (Pāli: viññāṇa; Sanskrit: vijñāna; 識 Cn: shí; Jp: shiki; Vi: thức)
  4. Consciousness creates Name & Form (Pāli, Sanskrit: nāmarūpa; 名色 Cn: míngsè; Jp: myōshiki; Vi: danh sắc)
  5. Name & Form create Sense Gates (Pāli: saḷāyatana; Sanskrit: ṣaḍāyatana; 六入 or 六処 Cn: liùrù; Jp: rokunyū or rokusho; Vi: lục căn)
  6. Sense Gates create Contact (Pāli: phassa; Sanskrit: sparśa; 觸 or 触 Cn: chù; Jp: soku; Vi: xúc)
  7. Contact creates Feeling (Pāli, Sanskrit: vedanā; 受 Cn: shòu; Jp: ju; Vi: thụ)
  8. Feeling creates Craving (Pāli: taṇhā; Sanskrit: tṛṣṇā; 愛 Cn: ài; Jp: ai; Vi: ái)
  9. Craving creates Clinging (Pāli, Sanskrit: upādāna; 取 Cn: ; Jp: shu; Vi: thủ)
  10. Clinging creates Becoming (Pāli, Sanskrit: bhava; 有 Cn: yǒu; Jp: u; Vi: hữu)
  11. Becoming creates Birth (Pāli, Sanskrit: jāti; 生 Cn: shēng; Jp: shō; Vi: sinh)
  12. Birth leads to Aging & Death (Pāli, Sanskrit: jarāmaraṇa; 老死 Cn: láosǐ; Jp: rōshi; Vi: lão tử)
  • Pāli: paṭicca-samuppāda
  • Sanskrit: pratitya-samutpāda
  • Tib: རྟེན་ཅིང་འབྲེལ་བར་འབྱུང་བ་ rten cing `brel bar `byung ba
  • 縁起 (thought to be an abbreviation for 因)
    • Cn: yuánqǐ
    • Jp: engi
    • Vi: duyên khởi
  • Also called 因縁
    • Cn: yīnyuán
    • Jp: innen
    • Vi: nhân duyên
Pratyekabuddha/Paccekabuddha, lit. "a buddha by his own", A buddha who reaches enlightenment on his own
  • Pāli: paccekabuddha
  • Sanskrit: pratyekabuddha
  • 辟支佛
    • Cn: Bìzhī Fó
    • Jp: Hyakushibutsu
    • Vi: Bích-chi Phật
Pure Land Buddhism A large branch of Mahayana, dominantly in East Asia. The goal of Pure Land is to be reborn in the Western sukhavati of Amitabha
  • 净土宗
    • Cn: Jìngtǔ-zōng
    • Jp: Jōdo-shū
    • Ko: Jeongtojong
    • Vi: Tịnh độ tông
purisa The practicing Buddhist community as a whole; sangha and laity

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] R

Definition Etymology In other languages
rebirth The process of continuity of life after death
  • Pāli: punabbhava
  • Sanskrit: punarbhava
refuge Usually in the form of "take refuge in the Three Jewels"
  • Pāli: saraṇa
  • Sanskrit: śaraṇa
  • Tib: skyabs
  • 歸依
    • Cn: guīyī
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: quy y
rinpoche, lit. "precious one", An honorific title for a respected Tibetan lama, such as a tulku
  • Tibetan: རིན་པོ་ཆེ་
  • 仁波切
    • Cn: rénbōqiē
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: ??
Rinzai Zen sect emphasizing sudden enlightenment and koan study; named for master Linji
  • Japanese: 臨濟宗 Rinzai-shū
  • 臨濟宗
    • Cn: Línjì-zōng
    • Vi: Lâm Tế tông
Rohatsu A day traditionally honored as the day of the Buddha's enlightenment. While deep in meditation under a bodhi tree, he attained enlightenment upon seeing the morning star just at dawn; celebrated on the 8th day either of December or of the 12th month of the lunar calendar
  • Japanese: 臘八 Rōhatsu
roshi, lit. "teacher", An honorific given to Japanese Buddhist teachers
  • Japanese 老師 rōshi
  • 老師
    • Cn: lǎo shī (lit., old master)
    • Vi: lão sư

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] S

Definition Etymology In other languages
samanera/shramanera A male novice monk, who, after a year or until the ripe age of 20, will be considered for the higher Bhikkhu ordination
  • Sanskrit: śrāmaṇera
  • 沙彌
    • Cn: shāmí
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: ??
samatha Mental stabilization; tranquility meditation. Distinguished from vipassana meditation
  • Pāli: samatha
  • Sanskrit: śamatha
  • 舍摩他
    • Cn: shěmótā
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: ??
samsara The cycle of birth and rebirth; the world as commonly experienced
  • Pāli, Sanskrit: saṃsāra
  • 輪迴, 輪廻
    • Cn: lúnhúi
    • Jp: rinne
    • Vi: luân hồi
samu Work, conceived as a part of Zen training.[1]
  • Japanese: 作務
  • 作務
    • Cn: zuòwù
    • Vi: ??
samvrti Conventional, as opposed to absolute, truth or reality; see also paramartha
  • Sanskrit: saṃvrti
sangha The community of Buddhist monks and nuns
  • Sanskrit: saṅgha
  • Bur: သံဃာ than ga
  • 僧, 僧侶
    • Cn: sēnglǚ
    • Jp: , sōryō
    • Vi: tăng già
Sanlun Buddhist philosophical school based on the Madhyamaka school
  • Chinese: 三論 sānlùn
  • 三論宗
    • Cn: Sānlùnzōng
    • Jp: Sanron-shū
    • Vi: Tam luận tông
sanzen A formal interview with a teacher in many traditions of Zen. Similar to dokusan
  • Japanese
satori Awakening; understanding. A Japanese term for enlightenment
  • Japanese: 悟り satori
    • Cn:
    • Vi: ngộ
sayadaw Burmese meditation master
seichu In the Zen Buddhist calendar, a period of intensive, formal monastic training. It is typically characterized by week-long Daisesshins and periodic sanzen
  • Japanese
sensei Teacher; Zen teacher
  • Japanese: 先生
sesshin A Zen retreat where practitioners meditate, eat and work together for several days
  • Japanese: 接心, 摂心
  • 接心
    • Cn: jiēxīn
    • Vi: tiếp tâm
shikantaza Soto Zen. "Only concentrated on doing sitting" is the main meditation-method of Soto school of Japanese Zen Buddhism
  • Japanese: 只管打座
shunyata Emptiness; see also Nagarjuna
  • Pāli: suññatā
  • Sanskrit: śūnyatā
    • Cn: kōng
    • Jp:
    • Vi: tính Không
sila "morals", "ethics": precepts
  • Pāli: sīla
  • Sanskrit: śīla
  • Bur: သီလ thi la
    • Cn: jiè
    • Jp: kai
    • Vi: giới
Soto Sect of Zen emphasizing shikantaza as the primary mode of practice; see also Dogen
  • Japanese: 曹洞宗 Sōtō-shū
  • 曹洞宗
    • Cn: Cáodòng-zōng
    • Vi: Tào Ðộng tông
store consciousness The base consciousness (alayavijnana) taught in Yogacara Buddhism
  • Pāli, Sanskrit: ālayavijñāna
  • 阿頼耶識
    • Cn: āyēshí
    • Jp: arayashiki
    • Vi: a-lại-da thức
sutra Scripture; originally referred to short aphoristic sayings and collections thereof
  • from √siv: to sew
  • Sanskrit: sutra
  • Pāli: sutta
  • 經, 経
    • Cn: jīng
    • Jp: kyō
    • Vi: kinh
Sutra Pitaka The second basket of the Tripitaka canon, the collection of all Buddha's teachings
  • Pāli: Sutta-piṭaka
  • Sanskrit: Sūtra-piṭaka
  • 經藏, 経蔵
    • Cn: jīngcáng
    • Jp: kyōzō
    • Vi: Kinh tạng

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] T

Definition Etymology In other languages
tanha Craving or desire
  • Pāli: taṇhā
  • Sanskrit: tṛṣṇā
    • Cn: ài
    • Jp: ai
    • Vi: ái
tanto In Zen, one of the main leaders of a sesshin. In a Zen temple, the Tanto is the officer in charge of practice standards, i.e. teaching monks and lay practitioners how to sit, walk, bow, and chant in formal situations
  • Japanese
tantra Esoteric religious practices, including yoga, mantra...
  • Sanskrit: tantra
  • 怛特羅
    • Cn: dátèluó
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: đát-đặc-la
Tathagata The "Thus-Come One" or "Thus-Gone One"; one of the Buddha's ten epithets
  • Sanskrit: tathāgata
  • 如来
    • Cn: rúlái
    • Jp: nyorai
    • Vi: như lai
tathagatagarbha Buddha-nature or the seed of enlightenment
  • Sanskrit: tathāgatagarbha
  • 仏性
    • Cn: xìng
    • Jp: busshō
  • Also 覚性
    • Cn: ??
    • Jp: kakushō
    • Vi: giác tính
  • Also 如来蔵
    • Cn: rúláizàng
    • Jp: nyuoraizō
    • Vi: như lai tạng
teisho A presentation by a Zen master during a sesshin. Rather than an explanation or exposition in the traditional sense, it is intended as a demonstration of Zen realisation
  • Japanese: 提唱 teishō
tenzo In Zen, the head cook for a sesshin. In Zen temples, the officer in charge of the kitchen
  • Japanese: 典座 tenzo
  • 典座
    • Cn: diànzuò
    • Vi: điển toạ
Theravada, lit. "words of the elders", The most orthodox branch of Buddhism
  • Pāli: theravāda
  • Sanskrit: sthaviravāda
  • 上座部
    • Cn: shàngzuòbù
    • Jp: jōzabu
    • Vi: Thượng toạ bộ
Three Jewels Three things that Buddhists take refuge in: the Buddha, his teachings (Dharma) and the community of realized practitioners (Sangha), and in return look toward for guidance (see also Refuge (Buddhism))
  • Pāli: tiratana
  • Sanskrit: triratna
  • 三寶
    • Cn: sānbăo
    • Jp: sanbō
    • Vi: tam bảo
Three periods
  • Three divisions of the time following the historical Buddha's passing: the Former (or Early) Day of the Law (正法 Cn: zhèngfǎ; Jp: shōbō), the first thousand years; the Middle Day of the Law (像法 Cn: xiàngfǎ; Jp: zōhō), the second thousand years; and the Latter Day of the Law (末法 Cn: mòfǎ; Jp: mappō), which is to last for 10,000 years.
  • The three periods are significant to Mahayana adherents, particularly those who hold the Lotus Sutra in high regard; e.g., Tiantai (Tendai) and Nichiren Buddhists, who believe that different Buddhist teachings are valid (i.e., able to lead practitioners to enlightenment) in each period due to the different capacity to accept a teaching (機根 Cn: jīgēn; Jp: kikon) of the people born in each respective period.
  • The three periods are further divided into five five-hundred year periods (五五百歳 Cn: wǔ wǔbǎi; Jp: go no gohyaku sai), the fifth and last of which was prophecized to be a when the Buddhism of Sakyamuni would loose all power of salvation and a new Buddha would appear to save the people. This time period would be characterized by unrest, strife, famine, and other, natural disasters.
  • The three periods and the five five-hundred year periods are described in the Sutra of the Great Assembly (大集経 Cn: dàjí; Jp: Daishutu-kyō, Daijuku-kyō, Daijikkyō, or Daishukkyō). Descriptions of the three periods also appear in other sutras, some of which ascribe different lengths of time to them (although all agree that Mappō will last for 10,000 years).
  • 三時
    • Cn: Sānshí
    • Jp: Sanji
    • Vi: Tam thời
Three Poisons or Three Fires The three primary causes of unskillful action or creation of "negative" karma:
  1. Greed or selfish desire (Pāli: taṇhā; Sanskrit: tṛṣṇā; 貪 Cn: tān; Jp: ton; Vi: ái)
  2. Hatred or anger (Sanskrit: dveṣa; 瞋 Cn: chēn; Jp: jin; Vi: sân)
  3. Ignorance or delusion (Pāli: avijjā; Sanskrit: avidyā; Tib.: མ་རིག་པ་ ma rig-pa; 癡 Cn: chī; Jp: chi; Vi: vô minh)
  • Pāli: Kilesa (Defilements)
  • Sanskrit: kleśa
  • Tib: düsum (Wylie: dug gsum)
  • 三毒
    • Cn: Sāndú
    • Jp: Sandoku
    • Vi: Tam độc
Tiantai/Tendai A Mahayana school of China that teaches the supremacy of the Lotus Sutra
  • Chinese: 天台 tiāntāi
  • 天台宗
    • Cn: tiāntāi-zōng
    • Jp: tendai-shū
    • Vi: Thiên Thai tông
trailõkya The 3 "regions" of the world:
  1. Kamaloka or Kamadhatu: world of desires (Sanskrit, Pāli: kāmaloka, kāmadhātu; Tibetan: འདོད་ཁམས་ `dod khams; 欲界 Cn: yùjiè, Vi: dục giới)
  2. Rupaloka or Rupadhatu: world of form (Sanskrit: rūpaloka, rūpadhātu; Tibetan: གཟུགས་ཁམས་ gzugs khams; 色界 Cn: sèjiè; Vi: sắc giới)
  3. Arupaloka or Arupadhatu: world without form or desire (Sanskrit: arūpaloka, arūpadhātu; Tibetan: གཟུགས་མེད་ཁམས་ gzugs med khams; 無色界 Cn: wú sèjiè, Vi: vô sắc giới)
  • Sanskrit: triloka
  • Pāli: tisso dhātuyo
  • Tibetan: ཁམས་གསུམ་ khams gsum
  • 三界
    • Cn: sānjiè
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: tam giới
trikaya The 3 "bodies" of Buddha:
  • Dharma-kaya (Sanskrit: dharmakāya; 法身 Cn: fǎshēn; Jp: hosshin; Vi: pháp thân)
  • Sambhoga-kaya (Sanskrit: saṃbhogakāya; 報身 Cn: bàoshēn; Jp: hōshin; Vi: báo thân)
  • Nirmana-kaya (Sanskrit: nirmāṇakāya; 應身, 応身 Cn: yìngshēn; Jp: ōjin; Vi: ứng thân)
  • Sanskrit: trikāya
  • 三身
    • Cn: sānshēn
    • Jp: sanjin
    • Vi: tam thân
Tripitaka The "Three Baskets"; canon containing the sacred texts for Buddhism (Pāli)
  • Vinaya Pitaka (Pāli, Sanskrit: Vinaya-piṭaka; Tib: འདུལ་བའི་སྡེ་སྣོད་ `dul ba`i sde snod; 律藏, 律蔵 Cn: lǜzàng; Jp: Ritsuzō; Vi: Luật tạng)
  • Sutra Pitaka (Pāli: Sutta-piṭaka; Sanskrit: Sūtra-piṭaka; Tib: མདོ་སྡེའི་སྡེ་སྣོད་ mdo sde`i sde snod; 經藏, 経蔵 Cn: jīngzàng; Jp: Kyōzō; Vi: Kinh tạng)
  • Abhidhamma Pitaka (Pāli: Abhidhamma-piṭaka; Sanskrit: Abhidharma-piṭaka; Tib: མངོན་པའི་སྡེ་སྣོད་ mngon pa`i sde snod; 論藏, 論蔵 Cn: lùnzàng; Jp: Ronzō; Vi: Luận tạng)
  • Pāli: Tipiṭaka
  • Sanskrit: Tripiṭaka
  • Burmese: တိပိဋက Tipitaka (IPA: tḭpḭtəka̰)
  • Thai: ไตรปิฎก Traipidok
  • 三蔵藏
    • Cn: Sānzàng
    • Jp: Sanzō
    • Ko: Samjang
    • Vi: Tam tạng
Triratna/Tiratana, see Three Jewels above
  • Pāli: tiratana
  • Sanskrit: triratna
trsna, see tanha above
tulku A re-incarnated Tibetan teacher
  • Tibetan: སྤྲུལ་སྐུ་ tulku
  • Sanskrit: nirmāṇa-kāya
  • 化身 (Note: 化身 usually refers to any reincarnation.)
    • Cn: huàshēn
    • Jp: keshin
    • Vi: hoá thân

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] U

Definition Etymology In other languages
upadana Clinging; the 9th link of Pratitya-Samutpada; also one of the Twelve Nidanas
  • Pāli, Sanskrit: upādāna
    • Cn:
    • Jp: shu
    • Vi: thủ
upasaka A lay follower of Buddhism
  • Sanskrit: upāsaka
  • 近事男
    • Cn: jìnshìnán
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: cận sự nam
upasika A female lay follower
  • from upasaka above
  • Sanskrit: upāsika
  • 近事女
    • Cn: jìnshìnǚ
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: cận sự nữ
upaya Expedient though not necessarily ultimately true. Originally used as a polemical device against other schools - calling them "merely" expedient, lacking in ultimate truth, later used against ones own school to prevent students form forming attachments to doctrines

In Mahayana, exemplified by the Lotus Sutra, upaya are the useful means that Buddhas (and Buddhist teachers) use to free beings into enlightenment

  • Sanskrit: upāya
  • 方便
    • Cn: fāngbiàn
    • Jp: hōben
    • Vi: phương tiện
urna A concave circular dot on the forehead between the eyebrows
  • Sanskrit: urna

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] V

Definition Etymology In other languages
Vajrayana, lit. "diamond vehicle", The third major branch, alongside Hinayana and Mahayana
  • Sanskrit: vajrayāna
  • 金剛乘
    • Cn: Jīngāng chéng
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: Kim cương thừa
Vinaya Pitaka, lit. "discipline basket", The first basket of the Tripitaka canon, which deals with the rules of monastic life
  • Pāli, Sanskrit: vinaya-piṭaka
  • 律藏
    • Cn: Lǜzàng
    • Jp: Ritsuzō
    • Vi: Luật tạng
vipassana Usually translated as "Insight" meditation, most associated with the Theravada tradition, but present throughout Buddhism as an evolved tradition. Distinguished from samatha meditation
  • from vi-√dṛś: to see apart
  • Pāli: vipassanā
  • Sanskrit: vipaśyanā, vidarśanā
  • 觀,観
    • Cn: guān
    • Jp: kan
    • Vi: quán

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] Z

Definition Etymology In other languages
zazen Sitting meditation as practiced in the Zen School of Buddhism
  • Japanese: 坐禪
  • 坐禪
    • Cn: zuòchán
    • Vi: toạ thiền
Zen School A Japanese branch of Mahayana that emphasizes meditation in the pursuing of enlightenment
  • Japanese: 禪宗 Zen-shu
  • 禪宗
    • Ch: Chánzōng
    • Vi: Thiền tông
zendo In Zen, a hall where Zen (usually meaning zazen) is practiced (see Dojo)
  • Japanese: 禅堂
  • 禅堂
    • Cn: chántáng
    • Vi: thiền đường

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Buddha in a lotus Buddhism Buddha in a lotus
Terms and concepts History Schools and Sects People By region and country
List of topics Timeline Temples Texts Culture
Portal
v  d  e
This page has been transwikied to Wiktionary.

Because this article has content useful to Wikipedia's sister project Wiktionary, it has been copied to there, and its dictionary counterpart can be found at either Wiktionary:Transwiki:Buddhist terms and concepts or Wiktionary:Buddhist terms and concepts. It should no longer appear in Category:Copy to Wiktionary and should not be re-added there.
Wikipedia is not a dictionary, and if this article cannot be expanded beyond a dictionary definition, it should be tagged for deletion. If it can be expanded into an article, please do so and remove this template.
Note that {{vocab-stub}} is deprecated. If {{vocab-stub}} was removed when this article was transwikied, and the article is deemed encyclopedic, there should be a more suitable category for it.