Buddhist Vocab

Anatta

one of the Three Marks of Existence; the Buddhist doctrine denying a permanent self

Anicca

One of the Three Marks of Existence; the Buddhist doctrine that all existent things are constantly changing

Arhat

One who has become enlightened; the ideal type for Theravada Buddhism

Bodhisattvas

Future Buddhas. As the ideal types for Mahanya Buddhism, beings who have experience enlightenment but, motivated by compassion, stop short of entering nirvana so as to help others achieve it

Buddha

Siddhartha Gautama and all others who have by their own insight attained perfect enlightenment

Dalai Lama

The spiritual leader of Vajrayana Buddhism, believed to be an incarnation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara

Dharma

The teachings of the Budda, and one of the Three Jewels of Buddhism

dukkha

The first of the Four Nible Truths, the basic Buddhist insight that suffering is part of the human condition

Five Precepts

The basic moral requirements that are binding for all Buddhists

Four Noble Truths

The central teachings of Buddhism: to live is to suffer; suffering is caused by desire; the cessation of suffering can be achieved; the solution is the Noble Eightfold Path

karma

The moral law of cause and effect of actions; determines the nature of one’s rebirth

Mahayana

The largest of Buddhism’s three divisions, prevalent in China, Japan, and Korea; encompasses a variety of forms, including those that emphasize devotion and prayer ot he Buddhas and bodhisattvas

mandalas

Patterned icons that visually excite; used in Vajrayana Buddhism to enhance meditation

mantra

Phrases or syllables chanted to evoke a deity or to enhance meditation; used in Hinduism and Buddhism, especially in Vajrayana Buddhism

nirvana

The ultimate goal of all Buddhists, the extinction of desire and any sense of individual selfhood, resulting in liberation from samsara and its limiting conditions

Noble Eightfold Path

The fourth of the Four Noble Truths; defines the basic practices of Buddhism that lead to nirvana

Pali

An ancient language of India, similar to Sanskrit but more commonly understood, and used in the writing of the earliest Buddhist texts, most important for Theravada Buddhism

samsara

The wheel of rebirth or reincarnation

Sangha

The Buddhist community of monks and nuns; one of the Three Jewels of Buddhism

tanha

The second of the Four Noble Truths, selfish desire, which causes dukkha

Theravada

Prevalent form of Buddhism in Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand; focuses on the earliest texts and emphasizes monastic lifestyle

Three Marks of Existence

Characteristic that summarize the changing nature of reality: anatta, anicca, and dukkha

Vajrayana

Named for the vajra, the Buddha’s diamond scepter; prevalent form of Buddhism in Tibet; emphasizes the harnessing of sensual energies to attain nirvana