Buddhist Terms

Sangha

The Buddhist monastic community, which includes monks, nuns, and sometimes lay followers. (One of the 3 Jewels)

Dukkha

Suffering or dissatisfaction, a central concept in Buddhism. (One of the 3 Marks of Existence and One of the 4 Noble Truths)

Anicca

The Buddhist concept of impermanence. (One of the 3 Marks of Existence)

Anatta

The doctrine of 'no-self' in Buddhism. (One of the 3 Marks of Existence)

Nirvana

Liberation from suffering and the cycle of rebirth.

Eightfold Path

The Buddhist path to enlightenment, consisting of Right View (samma ditthi), Right Intention (samma sankappa), Right Speech (samma vaca), Right Action (samma kammanta), Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

3 Jewels

The three core elements of Buddhism: the Buddha, the Dharma (teachings), and the Sangha (community).

4 Noble Truths

The foundation of Buddhism: (1) Life is suffering, (2) Suffering has a cause, (3) Suffering can end, (4) The path to ending suffering is the Eightfold Path.

Karma

The law of moral cause and effect.

Dharma

The teachings of the Buddha; also, the cosmic law and order. (One of the 3 Jewels)

Vassa

The Buddhist monastic retreat during the rainy season.

Theravada

The oldest form of Buddhism, emphasizing monastic life and meditation.

Mahayana

A major branch of Buddhism that emphasizes the Bodhisattva path and compassion.

Bodhisattva

A being who seeks enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.

Vinaya Pitaka

The section of the Tripitaka that contains rules for monastic discipline.

Asalha Puja Day

A Buddhist festival commemorating the Buddha's first sermon.

Karuna

Compassion, one of the key virtues in Buddhism.

Prajnaparamita

the perfected or ultimate form of wisdom, leading to full enlightenment in the Mahāyāna tradition.

Tanha

Craving or desire, which leads to suffering.

Punya

Merit accumulated through good deeds, generosity, and virtuous behavior in Buddhism and Hinduism.

Papa

Demerit or negative karma resulting from unwholesome actions.

Samsara

The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

Self-immolation

The act of setting oneself on fire as a form of protest or religious offering.

Pure Land

A Buddhist tradition focused on devotion to Amitabha Buddha for rebirth in a blissful realm.

Avalokiteshvara

The Bodhisattva of compassion.

Manjusri

The Bodhisattva of wisdom.

Arhat

A person who has attained enlightenment in Theravada Buddhism.

Lotus Sutra

A major Mahayana scripture emphasizing the universality of enlightenment.

Sutra

A Buddhist scripture or discourse.

Dhammapada

A collection of verses containing the Buddha's sayings. Part of sutra pit aka (sayings basket, discourse of buddha and disciples).

Skandha

The five aggregates that constitute human existence: form, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness.

Obon Matsuri

A Japanese Buddhist festival honoring ancestral spirits.

Puja

A ritual or devotional offering in Buddhism.

Vajrayana

A form of Buddhism that includes esoteric teachings and rituals, mainly in Tibet.

Zen

A school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing meditation and direct experience.

3 Poisons

The three fundamental causes of suffering: ignorance, attachment, and aversion.

5 Precepts

The basic ethical rules for Buddhists: no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, no intoxicants.

taras

female deities in Tibetan Buddhism, known for compassion and guidance.

Samatha

Maya

a concept that represents illusion and the concealing of reality.

bhikkus

a fully ordained male monk in Buddhism, dedicated to the monastic lifestyle and spiritual practice.

bhikkunis

female monks in Buddhism, who follow similar monastic rules and practices as bhikkus.

lama

a title for a spiritual teacher in Tibetan Buddhism, often regarded as a guide in the path to enlightenment.

stupa

a mound-like structure containing relics, used as a place of meditation and worship in Buddhism.

kathina

a ceremonial offering made to monastics, typically involving the donation of new robes at the end of the rainy season.

lokas

The realms of existence in Buddhist cosmology, which include various planes of being where sentient beings can be reborn.

heart sutra

A key text in Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes the concept of emptiness and the nature of reality.

vipassana

A form of insight meditation aimed at developing mindfulness and insight into the true nature of reality.

amitabha

A celestial Buddha in Pure Land Buddhism, embodying compassion and wisdom, and the focus of devotion for practitioners seeking rebirth in his Pure Land.

prajna

wisdom in a general sense, an essential quality on the path to enlightenment.

uposatha

a Buddhist observance day dedicated to meditation and ethical conduct, often associated with the full moon or new moon.

Tripitaka

the traditional scriptures of Buddhism, consisting of three "baskets": the Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, and Abhidhamma Pitaka. They contain teachings, rules, and philosophical interpretations.

mantra

a sacred sound or phrase used in meditation and prayer, believed to have spiritual power.

anatman

the concept of "non-self" in Buddhism, which teaches that there is no permanent, unchanging self or soul in living beings.

List the 4 noble truths

1. Life is suffering

2. Suffering is caused by desire

3. Suffering can end

4. Suffering can end by following the 8 fold path

List 5 precepts

no killing

No stealing

No sex

No lying

No intoxicating materials

List the 3 poisons

Greed

Hatred

Disillusion