AAS 260 Midterm Review

Abhidharma Piṭaka

an analysis of Buddha’s teachings
Third of the 3 baskets

Anātman

the concept of “non-self”, the absence of a permanent unchanging self
eliminate attachment

Arhat

an individual who has attained enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of rebirth
“worthy one”

Aśoka

3rd emperor of the Mauryan Dynasty
govern according to the principles of Dharma

Bodhisattva

a “wisdom being” who is bound to achieve nirvana
dedicated to lead all sentient beings to complete enlightenment

Buddha Nature

the doctrine that says all sentient beings have the potential to reach enlightenment

Cakravartin

“wheel-turning monarch”
an universal monarch or ruler

Dependent Origination

a principle illustrating that all phenomena arise in dependence on other phenomenas
nothing comes into existence through its own will

Dharma

Buddha’s teachings
part of the 3 Jewels

Duhkha

First Noble Truth
“Life is suffering”

Four Noble Truths

the basic doctrine of Buddha’s teachings
1. Suffering (Duhka)
2. Cause of Suffering (Trsna)
3. Cessation of Suffering (Nirvana)
4. Path to Cessation of Suffering (Marga)

Hinayana

“Lesser Vehicle”
Early / Conservative schools of Buddhism
now called Sravakayana “Hearers’ Vehicle”

Jainism

a nonthesthic religion that teaches that salvation is achieved through nonviolence to all living creatures

Jataka

“birth story”
a collection of 550 tales that tells stories of Buddha’s previous lives as a bodhisattva

Indus Valley Civilization

2500-1500 BCE
an ancient civilization that thrived in the fertile plains of the Indus River
Goddess figurines
Unknown writing system

Karma

actions taken by people that can lead to either merit or demerit depending on their outcomes

Ksatriya

“Warriors”
Second class of the Vedic Society

Mahayana

“Greater Vehicle”
Later school of Buddhism that cam several hundred years after Buddha reached parnirvana
teaches bodhisattva path and the concept of emptiness

Milinda’s Questions

conversation between King Milinda and monk Nagasena
the concept of anatman is illustrated through a chariot being the sum of the five aggregates

Nagarjuna

Buddhist philosopher and founder of the Mahayamaka school of Buddhism
the middle way between self-gratification and self-mortification is the way of emptiness

Nirvana

Third Noble Truth
“Suffering can have an end”
the ultimate goal of all Buddhists

Pali

a vernacular language related to Sanskrit and close to that spoken by Buddha.
commonly used in the Sacred Texts of the Buddha

Parinirvana

“Final nirvana”
achieved by the Buddha in the moments of his death

Perfection of Wisdom Sutra

first Mahāyāna literature, had a special focus in understanding the nature of emptiness

Pudgalavada

Personalist school of early Buddhism
argued that there is a existence of personal self and a person migrates from one life to the next

Sangha

the community of Buddhist monks and nuns
part of the 3 Jewels

Skandha

Five Aggregates that make up an individual
1. Form (rupa)
2. Sensation (vedana)
3. Perception (samjna)
4. Mental formation (samskara)
5. Consciousness (vijana)

Skillful Means

the concept of using various methods, even if they may seem wrong or immoral, to guide individuals towards spiritual enlightenment or a religious life

Sramana

“strivers”
reject mainstream values and reject the longing for heaven or a peaceful life
Main goal is reaching Nirvana or Moksha

Stupa

a Buddhist burial mound where the remains of the Buddha are stored.
holy sites, worship the Buddha

Sunyata

the doctrine of “emptiness”
lack of intrinsic existence

Theravada

“Doctrine of the Elders”
one of the traditional eighteen sects of Nikāya Buddhism

Vajrayana

“Diamond Vehicle”
received by a bodhisattva (from a Buddha) who takes a vow to save all sentient beings

Vimalakirti

a layperson/bodhisattva and banker with a "stainless reputation”
taught non-duality
spread dharma

Vinaya Pitaka

First of the 3 baskets
Buddhist scriptures containing all the monastic rules for monastic discipline and ethical considerations

Yogacara

“Practice of Yoga”
Mahāyāna philosophical school founded by Asaṅga
3 aspects:

1. Constructed (parikalpita) ignorant

2. Dependent (paratantra)

3. Perfected (parinispanna) enlightened