Key words theme 1

Buddhism

Aryan

invaders from the West into the Indus Valley 

Ashrama

stage of life

Bhakti

devotion

Moksha

liberation from samsara (Hinduism)

Mukti

liberation from samsara (Hinduism)

Brahmin

priestly social group

Dharma

the Buddha’s teachings and truths about reality that Buddhists should follow to achieve enlightenment

Kshatriya

a member of the second highest Hindu social class, traditionally made up of rulers, warriors and political leaders

Samana

a wandering ascetic who renounces worldly life to seek liberation

Atman

the Hindu belief in a permanent, eternal self or soul

Brahman

a Hindu belief of the ultimate, eternal reality that underlies everything

Samsara

the cycle of birth, death and rebirth

Shakyamuni

another name for the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama

Karma

intentional actions that causes consequences that will affect the future and rebirth

Jain laity

ordinary lay followers of Jainism who live in society rather than becoming a Jain ascetic

Lumbini

the place Queen Maya has given birth to Siddhartha Gautama

Hagiography

a religious biography that presents holy figures in an ideal way- this could include supernatural events, rather than being purely historical

Kapilvastu

the ancient city where Siddhartha Gautama lived and grew up as a prince before leaving to seek enlightenment

Suddana

the father of Siddhartha Gautama and the ruler of the Shakya clan

Theravada

a major Buddhist tradition that follows the teachings preserved in the Pali Canon and emphasises the individuals path to enlightenment

Mahayana

the largest branch of Buddhism known as the ‘Great Vehicle’ that focuses on helping others reach enlightenment

Bodhisattva

someone who delays their own final enlightenment to help others

Anagarika

a lay person who lives a monastic lifestyle without becoming a monk or nun

Jhana

a deep meditative state

Mara

the tempter who tries to prevent enlightenment

Yoga

a form of meditation in Hinduism that aims for unity with the universal spirit 

Rahula

the Buddha’s son who became a monk

Lakshanas

the three marks of existence (annica, dukkha and anatta)

Samma Sambodhi

complete enlightenment

Yasodara

the Buddha’s wife and Rnhula’s mother

Bikkhu

a Buddhist monk

Bikkhuni

a Buddhist nun

Ashoka

an Indian emperor who supported and spread Buddhism

Vinaya

the rules that Buddhist monks and nuns must follow as part of monastic life

Parivara

a section of the Vinaya that summarises the monastic rules

Parajika

the most serious rules of the Vinaya, breaking them means being expelled

Pitaka

a collection of Buddhist scriptures

Vibanga

a section in the Vinaya that explains monastic rules

Vassa

the annual 3 month Buddhist rainy season retreat for intensive meditation, study and practice