Comprehensive Guide to Mahayana Buddhism Concepts and Key Terms

Mahayana

The "Great Vehicle"; emphasizes enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. First spread during the 1st - 2nd CE.

Bodhicitta

"Awakened Mind"; the intention or thought to achieve enlightenment for the sake of others.

Bodhisattva

"Awakened being" who is actively seeking enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.

The Five Precepts

Abstain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants.

Bodhisattva Vow

Promise to seek enlightenment for the benefit of others; involves compassion and "skillful means."

Skillful Means (Upaya)

Compassionate actions that may bend conventional rules for a selfless purpose. Example like the Buddha “In a past life, the Buddha killed a murderer to prevent him from committing greater harm — demonstrating compassion over strict rule-following.”

Shantideva

6th-century Buddhist author of Bodhicaryāvatāra (Shastra) ("Entering the Way of the Bodhisattva"). Taught that awakening is not escape from the world, but full engagement with it — guided by wisdom and fueled by compassion. His life shows that even someone dismissed by others can reveal the deepest truth through inner realization. Studied at Nālandā University.

OM MANI PADMÉ HŪM

Mantra associated with Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

Relative Bodhicitta

Divided into Aspiring/Intention and Entering/Action stages.

Aspiring Bodhicitta (Intention)

1. King, 2. Boatman, 3. Shepherd - three metaphors for altruistic motivation.

Entering Bodhicitta (Action)

1. Others equal to oneself, 2. Exchange self for others, 3. Others more important than oneself.

Ultimate Bodhicitta

Realization of Emptiness united with Compassion.

Emptiness (Śūnyatā)

The lack of inherent, independent existence in all phenomena.

Madhyamaka ("Middle Way") School

Founded by Nagarjuna; teaches that nothing inherently exists, not even nothingness. Apophatic (negative language), Non-conceptual, Non-dual

Key Teachings of Madhyamaka

Nothing exists inherently; all things arise dependently. Uses apophatic (negative) language to describe ultimate truth.

Nagarjuna

1st-2nd c. CE philosopher; wrote Prajñaparamita Sutra commentary on Perfection of Wisdom.

Apophatic Language

Describing truth through negation (e.g., "not this, not that").

Ultimate Truth (Madhyamaka)

Emptiness; reality as dependent, impermanent, and non-dual.

Relative Truth (Madhyamaka)

Conventional appearance of things, dependent on causes and conditions.

No-Self (Anātman)

The self does not exist as a permanent or independent entity.

The Five Aggregates (Skandhas)

Form, sensation, perception, mental formations, consciousness; none are self.

Hinayana

"Lesser Vehicle"; focuses on individual liberation (Theravāda).

Mahayana View of Nirvana

"Non-abiding Nirvana," beyond both samsara and nirvana.

The Three Trainings

Wisdom, Conduct, and Meditation.

The Noble Eightfold Path

Right Understanding, Resolve, Speech, Action, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness, Concentration.

Second Turning of the Wheel of Dharma

Emphasizes Emptiness and Compassion (Madhyamaka). At Rajgir, India. Buddha taught about emptiness (śūnyatā) and compassion. The focus is on wisdom and interdependence, aiming for enlightenment for all beings — the ideal of Mahayana Buddhism.

Third Turning of the Wheel of Dharma

Emphasizes Mind-Only and Buddha Nature (Yogachara). At Shravasti, Kushinagar, India. Buddha revealed the concepts of Buddha-nature and consciousness. This turning focuses on realizing the mind’s pure nature and the goal of awakening the innate Buddhahood within all beings.

Yogachara ("Mind-Only") School

Founded by Asaṅga and Vasubandhu (4th c. CE); teaches that reality is mind-only (cittamātra). School emphasizing that reality is the projection of mind.

Asanga & Vasubandhu

4th-century founders of Yogachara / Chittamatra ("Mind-Only") school.

The Three Natures (Yogachara)

1. Imaginary/Imputed Nature, 2. Dependent Nature, 3. Perfectly Established Nature.

Imaginary Nature

Duality of subject and object (negated); false perception

Dependent Nature

Karmic appearances of mind; self-illuminating and self-aware (real).

Perfectly Established Nature

Non-dual, pure awareness; ultimate absolute reality.

Eight Consciousnesses

1-5: physical senses, 6: mental, 7: defiled, 8: storehouse (ālaya-vijñāna).

Storehouse Consciousness

Repository of karmic seeds and experiences that shape reality.

Tathāgatagarbha

"Matrix of the One Gone Thus"; the innate Buddha-nature in all beings.

Buddha Nature (Buddhadhātu) School

Mahayana II school teaching that all beings possess innate Buddha-nature (tathāgatagarbha). The potential for enlightenment inherent in every sentient being.

Dharmakāya

"Truth Body"; pure, ultimate reality of a Buddha.

Luminosity

The radiant, clear light nature of the mind. The power to manifest pure and impure appearances.

Samsāra (Mind-Only View)

Clear light mind unaware of its own nature.

Nirvāna (Mind-Only View)

Clear light mind aware of its own nature.

Treatise on the Sublime Continuum (Uttaratantrashastra)

Classic text describing metaphors for Buddha Nature.

Metaphors for Buddha Nature

Gold in filth, honey covered by bees, rice in husk, jewel under house, etc.

Luminous Awareness

The mind's natural clarity, defiled only by adventitious (temporary) impurities.

Ultimate Truth in Buddha Nature Schools

Emptiness-Compassion; affirming (cataphatic) rather than negating.

Samsara and Nirvana Relationship

Both expressions of the same clear light nature of mind, differing only by awareness.

First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma

Buddha's first sermon at Sarnath. Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. This turning focuses on understanding suffering and its cause, with the goal of achieving personal liberation or nirvana.

Who Turns the Wheel of Dharma

The Buddha turns the wheel of Dharma, meaning he teaches the path to enlightenment. Each turning marks a key stage in how his teachings developed.

Comparison: Emptiness vs. Buddha Nature

Madhyamaka uses negative language to describe emptiness; Buddha-Nature schools use affirming language to describe luminous awareness.

Goal of Yogācāra (Mind-Only School)

Purify the mind by realizing its self-aware and self-illuminating nature.