Buddhism - definitions

Adhisthana

blessing, spiritual energy passed through proximity.

Anatta

the idea that people do not have a permanent, fixed self or soul.

Anicca

impermanence; the idea that everything is subject to change.

Antarabhava

the intermediate state between death and rebirth.

Arhat

for Theravada Buddhists, someone who has become enlightened.

Bikkhu

an ordained Buddhist monk.

Bodhisattva

for Mahayana Buddhists, someone who has become enlightened but chooses to remain in the cycle of samsara to help others achieve enlightenment.

Buddha

a title given to someone who has achieved enlightenment.

Buddha rupa

a statue of the Buddha, often sitting cross-legged in a meditation pose.

Buddha-nature

the idea that everyone has the essence of or potential to become a Buddha within them.

Dana

charity, generosity (one of the six perfections).

Dhamma

one of the three jewels or refuges, the teachings of the Buddha.

Dhammapada

the collections of sayings of the Buddha; one of the 'three baskets' (tripitaka).

Dukkha

the first noble truth: there is suffering.

Dukkha-dukkha (ordinary dukkha)

pain or physical suffering.

Viparinama-dukkha (change dukkha)

suffering that arises through ordinary process of change.

Samkhara-dukkha (attachment dukkha)

suffering that arises through attachment to people and things.

Engaged Buddhism

a movement that focuses on applying Buddhist teachings to matters concerning environmental and social justice.

Enlightenment

the gaining of true knowledge about the nature of reality, gaining freedom from the cycle of rebirth.

Gompa

hall or building where Tibetan monks meditate.

Jataka Tales

a body of literature concerning the lives of Gautama Buddha in both human and animal form.

Kamma

Buddhist believe that our actions in this life initiate another life after ours.

Karuna

compassion or empathy for the suffering of other beings.

Kasina

focal object used in samatha meditation.

Magga

fourth noble truth, the eightfold path.

Mahayana Buddhism

an umbrella term to describe later Buddhist traditions such as Pure Land Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Zen Buddhism.

Mala

prayer beads that are used to count the number of recitations in a mantra.

Mandala

an intricate, circle-shaped pattern that is used for meditation.

Mantra

a short sequence of sacred syllables.

Mara

a demon that symbolises spiritual obstacles such as temptation.

Metta

loving kindness; showing a benevolent, kind, friendly attitude to all other beings.

Nirvana (nibbana)

a state of complete enlightenment, happiness, and peace.

Nidana

twelve factors that illustrate the process of birth, death, and rebirth.

Nirodha

the third noble truth: suffering can be stopped.

Panna (wisdom)

a part of the eightfold path that deals with Buddhist approaches to understanding the nature of reality.

Parinirvana

nirvana-after-death, which occurs upon the death of someone who has achieved nirvana in their lifetime.

Paritta

chanting, reciting from Buddhist scriptures.

Punya

kammic merit or fruitfulness.

Puja

worship.

Pure Land Buddhism

a Mahayana form of Buddhism based on the belief in Amitabha Buddha.

Samadhi

a section of the eightfold path that emphasises the role of meditation in spiritual development.

Samatha meditation

calming meditation, a type of meditation that involves calming the mind and developing concentration.

Samsara

the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth.

Samudaya

the second noble truth: there are causes of suffering.

Sangha

the community.

Lay sangha

the whole community, the non-monks.

Monastic sangha

the monks.

Sila

ethics, a section of the eightfold path that emphasises the importance of skilful action as the basis for spiritual progress.

Six Perfections (paramita)

the six qualities or virtues that Mahayana Buddhists try to develop in order to live as a Bodhisattva: dana (generosity), sila (morality), ksanti (patience), virya (energy), dhyana (meditation), prana (wisdom).

Shrine

an area with a statue of the Buddha (or Bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism), which is the focal point for Buddhist meditation and devotion; a means of showing gratitude.

Skandha (aggregate)

the five aspects that make up a person (the Chariot analogy).

Stupa

small building in a monastery that sometimes contains holy relics; Buddhists may circumambulate to remind themselves that the Buddha and his teachings are at the centre of their lives.

Tanha

craving.

Thangka

a detailed painting of a Buddha or Bodhisattva for Vipassana meditation.

Theravada Buddhism

'the school of the elders', the oldest Buddhist tradition found in southern Asia.

Tripitaka

The 'three baskets' of traditional Buddhist sacred scriptures.

Vipassana meditation

'insight meditation', a type of meditation that involves developing understanding of the nature of reality.

Visualisation

imagining or 'seeing' an object in one's mind.

Wesak

traditional Theravada festival that celebrates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and passing away.

Zazen meditation

a type of meditation in Zen Buddhism that requires awareness of the present moment.