AQA GCSE Buddhism Key Terms and Teachings

Vocabulary flashcards covering core teachings, key terms, and definitions for AQA GCSE Buddhism.

The Four Noble Truths

Life involves suffering; suffering has causes; it can end; the Eightfold Path helps end it.

The Noble Eightfold Path

A practical path of right understanding, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration.

The Middle Way

Avoid extremes; choose a balanced way of living.

Anicca (impermanence)

Everything changes; nothing lasts forever.

Dukkha (unsatisfactoriness)

Life includes suffering and dissatisfaction.

Anatta (no permanent self)

There is no unchanging, permanent self or soul.

Karma (kamma)

Intentional actions affect future experiences and rebirth.

Metta

Loving-kindness: wishing happiness and wellbeing for others.

Karuna

Compassion: wanting to help beings who suffer.

The Five Precepts

Avoid killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech and intoxicants.

The Six Perfections

Generosity, morality, patience, effort, meditation and wisdom.

Dana (generosity)

Giving freely, such as donating or supporting the monastic community.

Mindfulness

Pay careful attention to the present moment.

Samatha

Calming and concentrating the mind.

Vipassana

Insight meditation: observing experience to understand reality.

The Buddha as a teacher

The Buddha taught a path to understand suffering and reach enlightenment.

The Dhamma/Dharma

The Buddha’s teachings and the truth they explain.

Sangha

The Buddhist community, especially ordained monks and nuns.

The Three Jewels

The Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha—the main refuges for Buddhists.

Rebirth

Many Buddhists believe beings are reborn, shaped by karma, until liberation.

Nirvana/Nibbana

The end of greed, hatred and ignorance, bringing freedom from suffering.

Transfer of merit

Sharing the benefit of good actions with others, often deceased relatives.

Wesak

Celebrates the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing away in many traditions.

Parinirvana Day

Remembers the Buddha’s final passing into parinirvana.

Offerings in puja

Offerings such as flowers, candles or incense show respect and remind Buddhists of teachings.

Mantra

A repeated sacred phrase or sound used in practice.

Mala beads

Beads used to count repetitions of a mantra or prayers.

Bodhisattva ideal

A being who seeks enlightenment and helps others reach it.

The Buddha rupa

An image of the Buddha that can inspire respect and remind Buddhists of his qualities.

Walking meditation

Meditating while walking slowly and mindfully.