RST 341 Buddhism CSULB

Dharma

The Buddha's teaching or truth about reality, suffering, liberation, and the path to awakening. Also referred to the teachings, practices, and Buddhist understanding of reality.

The Four Noble Truths

The Buddha's basic explanation of the problem of suffering and how to overcome it.

Duhkha

Suffering (dissatisfaction, instability, or unsatisfactoriness)

Trsna

Craving, thirst, desire

Impermanence

The idea that all things have an end (change, arise, and pass away)

Anatman

No self/Non self (no permanent independent soul)

Buddha and his life

One who has awakened. Was Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha is a title)

The Four Sights

Old man, Sick man, Dead man, Holy man (monk); Encounters that caused Siddhartha to recognize the realities of human existence.

Sramana Revolution

Rise of wandering ascetics and religious seekers in ancient India who rejected ordinary household life and questioned Brahminical religious authority.

Sramana

A wandering ascetic or religious seeker (one who strives)

Brahminism

The religious and social tradition connected to the Brahmin priestly class in ancient India.

The Poisoned Arrow Parable

A parable in which a person refuses medical treatment until every philosophical question about the arrow has been answered (who shot it and how); used to explain why questioning metaphysical speculations is meaningless.

The Chariot Simile

King Milinda's question about personal identity. Chariot is just a convenient name for a combination of things (wheels, frame, etc.). Used to explain how a person is made up from changing physical and mental components and is not a permanent self.

Tusita Heaven

Heaven of the Contented; Where the bodhisattva traditionally lived before being reborn as Siddhartha Gautama.

The Eightfold Path

Path leading to cessation of Duhkha (Wisdom: View, Intention) (Ethical Conduct: Speech, Action, Livelihood) (Meditation: Effort, Mindfulness, Concentration)

Nirvana and its Imagery

Blowing out or Extinguishing hatred, craving, and delusion

The Ten Paramita

The perfections or virtues developed by Bodhisattva over many lifetimes (Generosity, Moral discipline, Patience, Energy or effort, Meditation, Wisdom, Skillful means, Vow or determination, Spiritual power, Knowledge)

The Three Unwholesome Roots

Greed, hatred, and delusion causing suffering and harmful actions.

The Six Senses

Sight, Hearing, Smell, Taste, Taste, Touch, Mind

The Five Skandhas

Form, Sensation, Perception, Mental Formations, Consciousness

Arhat

One who has become enlightened or liberation by following the Buddha's teachings.

Samyak-sanbuddha

A perfectly and completely awakened Buddha who discovers the Dharma independently and teaches it to others.

Sravaka-buddha

A disciple of the Buddha who achieves awakening by hearing and following the teachings of a Buddha.

Pratyeka-buddha

Solitary buddha who awakens independently but does not establish or teach a complete path for others.

Bodhisattva

A Buddhist who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so out of compassion in order to save suffering beings.

Dharmakaya

Dharma body or ultimate body of the Buddha.

Rupa Kaya

Physical body or manifestation of the Buddha.

Bhiksu/Bhiksunis

Fully ordained Buddhist monk/nun.

Sangha

The Buddhist community of monks and nuns; one of the Three Jewels of Buddhism.

The Three Jewels

Buddha, Dharma, Sangha

Tripitaka

The three "baskets," or collections, of Buddhist texts (Sutra Pitaka, Vinaya Pitaka, Abhidharma Pitaka)

Pratimoksa

The collection of rules governing the behavior of individual monks and nuns. Complete list of monastic rules in the Vinaya.

Therigatha

Short poems/verses written by the early Sangha nuns who achieved liberation.

Parinirvana

The Buddha's passing into final nirvana at his death

Samsara

The cycle of birth, death, rebirth.

The Six Realms

Gods, Demigods, Humans, Animals, Hungry Ghosts, Hell Beings

Kalpa

A very long period of time (cosmic period or eon)