Buddhism/Taoism - World Religions

Dukkha

means “Suffering”, one of the 3 Marks of Experience. Impermance leads to suffering

Four Noble Truths

the foundational teaching in Buddhism, 1.There is suffering 2. Suffering is caused by desire 3. cessation of desire is possible 4. The Noble Eightfold Path is the Way.

Prophecy of Siddhartha Gautama’s Birth

a prophecy by the sage Asita (and other Brahmins) foretold he would become either a Wheel-Turning King (Chakravartin), ruling a vast empire, or a great spiritual leader (Buddha) who would renounce worldly life to achieve enlightenment and save the world, leading his father to shield him from suffering to ensure the former

Palace Life

the luxurious, sheltered upbringing of Siddhartha Gautama as a prince, shielded from suffering by his father, King Suddhodana, to prevent him from seeking a spiritual path

Four Passing Sights

The 4 sights that Siddhartha Gautama saw when he asked to go out and explore 1. Old Age - impermanence 2. Sickness - suffering 3. Corpse - death 4. Mendicant - enlightenment

Great Going Forth

Siddhartha Gautama's momentous decision to leave his palace life and family to seek enlightenment and joins a group of 5 monks and practices meditation and asceticism

Asceticism

a lifestyle of strict self-discipline to overcome attachment and desire, with the ultimate goal of achieving enlightenment.

Bodhi Tree

representing the place where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment (Bodhi) and became the Buddha under its shade in Bodh Gaya, India

Sermon in the Deer Park

Buddha’s first teaching after enlightenment, where he introduced the core tenets of Buddhism: the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, advocating the Middle Way between indulgence and self-mortification to achieve liberation from suffering. 

Dharma

the Buddha's teachings—the path to end suffering and achieve enlightenment. Apart of the 3 Jewels of Buddhism

Anatta

one of the 3 marks of Experience that expresses the idea that the self is also changing; therefore, there is no “self”

Tanha

(Pali for "thirst" or "craving") is the intense, selfish desire that fuels suffering (dukkha) and perpetuates the cycle of rebirth (samsara)

Nirvana

the ultimate spiritual goal of Buddhism. a state of profound peace, liberation, and awakening achieved by extinguishing the fires of greed, hatred, and delusion, thereby ending suffering (dukkha) and the cycle of rebirth (samsara). means “extinguish”/”to blow out”

Parable of the Man Shot with a Poisoned Arrow

A parable that focusing on speculative, unanswerable questions about the nature of suffering (like "who shot the arrow?") prevents us from addressing the immediate suffering itself (removing the arrow).

Eightfold Path

the core Buddhist teaching for ending suffering (dukkha) and achieving enlightenment (nirvana), offering a practical guide to ethical conduct, mental discipline, and wisdom, consisting of Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration

Karma

intentional action (physical, verbal, or mental) that creates causes for future effects, forming a moral law of cause and effect where wholesome intentions lead to happiness and unwholesome ones to suffering, driving the cycle of rebirth (samsara) until liberation is achieved through wise choices

Tripitaka

Means “ Three Baskets” and is a Buddhist piece of literature that is almost 10,000 pages and principal source for the life and teachings of Buddha. Considered to be the most accurate of Buddha’s teachings.

Vinaya-Pitaka

Basket of Disciple (rules for Sangha)

Sutra-Pitaka

basket of Discourse (discourse between Buddha and his disciples = main body of Buddhist belief.)

Abidhamma-Pitaka

basket of Further Teachings (views on the nature of the universe).

Lotus Sutra

believed to be the final teaching of the Buddha

Sutra

means “String” or “thread”; a sacred text, a discourse or teaching from the Buddha or his enlightened disciples, acting as a core scripture to guide followers

5 Precepts

These are the basic ethical/moral beliefs of Buddhism. Include; Abstaining from: 1. Killing living beings 2. Taking things not given 3. Sexual misconduct 4. false speech 5. intoxicating drinks and drugs.

Reclining Buddha

knowing he was to die, Buddha let go of all desire and entered Pari-Narvana: Paradise after death, no rebirth.

5 Skandhas

Skandhas means “aggregates” and they are the things that make up the self

1. Body (form)

2. Sensations (Perceptions)

3. Thoughts (Acts of Will)

4. Feelings (emotions/impulses)

5. Consciousness (Awareness)

Since these things make up the self and are always changing, they are not “real”

Samsara

the continuous cycle of rebirth and death until freed by reaching enlightenment/Nirvana. proves that life is full of suffering.

Three Marks of Existence

Anicca (Impermanence), the understanding that all conditioned things constantly change; Dukkha (Unsatisfactoriness/Suffering), the inherent stress or dissatisfaction arising from impermanence; and Anatta (No-Self), the doctrine that there's no permanent, unchanging soul or essence within beings or things

Theravada Buddhism

also known as Hinyana, means “little raft’, a sect of buddhism that is conservative, key virtue is wisdom and Buddha is revered as a teacher/saint (Burma, Laos, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia). Monks and Nuns.

Mahayana Buddhism

means “Big Raft”, a sect of Buddhism that is the liberal sect, ideal is bodhisattva who follows example of Buddha as a savior and remains in world to serve his fellows to achieve enlightenment. (China, Vietnam, Korea). Monks, Nuns, and Lay people

Vajrayana Buddhism

means “Diamond Raft”; tantric Buddhism emphasis on rituals, mantras and visual mandals; Use desire to fight desire. Dalai Lama (god-king) living incarnations of previous holy beings (Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal).

Zen Buddhism

A sect of Buddhism with an emphasis on meditation to achieve inspiration (satori) which brings enlightenment; less emphasis on scripture, rituals worship (Japan)

Triple Jewel

refers to the Buddha (the enlightened teacher), the Dharma (the teachings/truth), and the Sangha (the community of practitioners), serving as the core refuge and guide for Buddhists on their path to liberation from suffering.

Arhat

From the Sanskrit word for “Worthy one”; a concept of Theravada Buddhism that refers to one who has attained Nirvana in his or her present lifetime and is thus liberated from the cycle of rebirth.

Bodisattva

In Mahayana Buddhism, people who compassionately refrain from entering enlightenment/Nirvana in order to help other enter first.

Dalai Lama

The head lama of Tibetan Buddhism who was the spiritual and political leader of Tibet until the Communist Chinese takeover forces his exile to India.

Satori

The name for sudden enlightenment as advocated by Rinzai School of Zen Buddhism, as opposed to gradual enlightenment taught by the Solo zen school.

Koans

a paradoxical story, question, or statement used as a meditation tool to challenge logical thinking and spark profound insight or enlightenment, forcing practitioners past conceptual limits to a direct experience of reality, often using famous teacher-student dialogues or riddles like "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"