zen buddhism

Buddha

The awakened one, born as Siddhartha Gautama, founder of Buddhism, who attained enlightenment after overcoming mental afflictions and teaching others.

Siddhartha Gautama

The original name of the Buddha before his enlightenment. Born in present-day Nepal, he was a prince who renounced his royal life to seek the path to enlightenment.

Brahmin priests (brāhmaṇa)

Religious professionals in ancient India who followed the Vedic traditions and performed sacrifices to the gods for various needs, such as better harvests.

Śramaṇa

A wandering ascetic in ancient India who opposed Brahmanical practices and sought spiritual liberation through practices like meditation and yoga.

Samsara

The cycle of rebirth and suffering, a central concept in many Indian religions, including Buddhism, which suggests that life is a continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

Karma

The belief that actions (good or bad) lead to future consequences, influencing one's next rebirth.

Moksha

Liberation from the cycle of rebirth, a state of freedom in Hinduism and other Indian philosophies.

Mara

A demon king who represents the obstacles to enlightenment. He tried to distract and stop Buddha from reaching enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.

Bodhi

Enlightenment or awakening, achieved when one attains perfect wisdom and freedom from suffering.

Wheel of Dharma (dharma-cakra)

Symbol representing the teachings of the Buddha and the spread of Buddhism. Turning the wheel signifies the teaching of the Dharma.

Parinirvāṇa

The final passing away of the Buddha, marking his complete liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

Four Noble Truths

The foundation of Buddhist teachings: 1) Life is suffering (dukkha), 2) The cause of suffering is craving (tanha), 3) Suffering can be ended by ending craving, 4) The way to end craving is through the Eightfold Path.

Eightfold Path

A Buddhist path of practice that leads to enlightenment, consisting of: Right View, Right Resolve, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

Anātman (No-Self)

The doctrine that there is no permanent, unchanging self or soul, challenging the idea of an eternal self (ātman).

Impermanence (Anitya)

The Buddhist concept that all phenomena are temporary and in constant flux.

Dhyāna

Meditation, the practice of focused mental concentration that is essential to achieving enlightenment in Buddhism.

Nirvāṇa

The cessation of suffering and desire, the ultimate goal in Buddhism where one is liberated from the cycle of samsara.

Mahayana

A branch of Buddhism that emphasizes the path of the Bodhisattva, a being who seeks enlightenment not only for themselves but for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Bodhisattva

A being who has attained enlightenment but chooses to remain in the cycle of samsara to help others reach enlightenment.

Tathāgatagarbha (Buddha Nature)

The concept in Mahayana Buddhism that all beings have the potential to attain Buddhahood, though it is obscured by defilements.

Yogācāra (Mind Only)

A school of Mahayana Buddhism that teaches the external world is an illusion, created by the mind, and that all phenomena are projections of consciousness.

Śūnyatā (Emptiness)

The Mahayana concept that all things are empty of intrinsic existence or independent nature.

Pratītya-samutpāda (Dependent Arising)

The doctrine that all things arise dependent upon conditions and causes; nothing exists independently.

Skillful Means (Upāya)

A Mahayana concept that refers to the use of various methods by the Buddha to help beings on the path to enlightenment, tailored to their capabilities and needs.

Zhuangzi

A Daoist text filled with parables and philosophical insights, teaching the acceptance of change and the fluid nature of existence.

Dao

The central concept in Daoism, referring to the natural flow or force that governs the universe, which can only be experienced through alignment with nature.

Wuwei

The Daoist practice of "non-action" or acting in harmony with the natural order, without forceful or deliberate interference.

Madhyamaka

A school of Mahayana Buddhism that teaches that all things are empty of inherent existence and that reality is perceived through a middle way between extremes.

Mencius

A Confucian philosopher who believed that humans are naturally good and that society's influence corrupts this inherent goodness.

Laozi

The founder of Daoism, who is said to have written the Dao De Jing, emphasizing simplicity and living in accordance with the Dao.

Buddha Nature

The potential inherent in all beings to attain Buddhahood, often described as an essential, unchanging aspect of all beings that can be realized through spiritual practice.

Mahayana Buddhism

A branch of Buddhism that emphasizes the Bodhisattva ideal and the notion of emptiness, aiming for the liberation of all beings.

Hinayana

A term sometimes used pejoratively by Mahayana Buddhists to refer to the earlier, more conservative schools of Buddhism, which focus on individual liberation.