East Asian Studies

asceticism

the practice of self denial meant to help a person achieve understanding.

Siddhartha Gautama

The prince who is said to have founded Buddhism. Born from his mother's hip as she stood under a tree.

Four Sights

These led to the Great Departure and the search for understanding.

Eightfold Path

In Buddhism, the basic rules of behavior and belief leading to an end of suffering. Outlines the way of knowing the Truth, resisting evil, respecting life, etc that ends suffering.

Bodisattva

A being that has achieved enlightenment but has sworn to help relieve others of suffering.

hell

where the lesson that life is suffering is taught in its purest, most intense form. the lowest cycle of rebirth.

Enlightenment

the purest understanding of the Truth, where suffering is ended in one's self.

First Sermon/ First Discourse

the Buddha's first teachings to his companions
after he had achieved enlightenment. An important part of Dharma

nirvana

the final escape from the cycle of death and rebirth

middle path

avoiding the temptations of luxury and at the same time not focusing on self-denial.