buddha

Karma/Kamma

The law of moral causation in Buddhism, where every action has consequences that affect the individual in the future.

Samsara

The continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth that all beings experience, driven by ignorance and desire.

Ascetic

A person who practices severe self-discipline and abstains from indulgence, often to achieve enlightenment.

Avidya/Avijja

The concept of ignorance in Buddhism, considered the root cause of all suffering and the cycle of samsara. (ignorance, blindness) perpetuates our dissatisfaction. We do not see things as they truly are, which produces a confused, conflictual consciousness.

Siddhartha

Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, who attained enlightenment and taught the Four Noble Truths.

Trsna/Tanha

Desires or cravings or thirst that fuel the cycle of samsara and are considered the root cause of suffering.

Brahminism/Vedism

The ancient religious system in India based on the Vedas, focused on rituals and a rigid social hierarchy.

Sangha

The community of Buddhist monks, nuns, and practitioners that preserves the teachings of the Buddha.

Dharma/Dhamma

The teachings of the Buddha and the cosmic law leading to enlightenment and cessation of suffering.

Anatman/Anatta

The doctrine of 'non-self', teaching there is no permanent, unchanging self or soul.

Anitya/Anicca

The concept of impermanence, recognizing that all things are in a constant state of flux.

Duhkha/Dukkha

The concept of suffering or dissatisfaction, the first of the Four Noble Truths.

Nirvana/Nibbana

The ultimate goal in Buddhism, representing liberation from samsara and cessation of suffering and craving

Arahant/Arhat

An individual who has attained enlightenment and is free from the cycle of samsara.

Skandha/Kandha

The five aggregates that make up a sentient being: body, sensation, recognition, response, consciousness.

Moksha

“release,” or “letting go” if we let go of our cravings, then we will be released from samsara and attain liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth.

Pratitya-Samutpada

The doctrine of dependent origination, explaining how all things arise and exist in dependence on other conditions and phenomena—nothing has an independent, permanent self.

Kisagotami

A woman in Buddhist stories who sought enlightenment through the realization of the universality of death.

Hagiography

A biography of a saint or religious figure, often idealized to emphasize spiritual achievements.

Mara

A demon figure in Buddhism representing the forces of desire and temptation, obstructing enlightenment.

Eightfold path

right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration

four noble truths

helps to understand the nature of suffering and path to enlightment. 1- life is suffering 2- suffering is caused by craving 3- craving can be stopped 4- eightfold path can end suffering and lead to enlightenment