BUDDHISM GLOSSARY

Abhidhamma

The third book of the Pali Canon in Theravada Buddhism

abortion

The deliberate termination of a pregnancy, usually before twenty-four weeks.

anatta

the truth that there is no permanent self.

anicca

Impermanence; instability; nothing lasts forever.

ascetic

A life free from worldly pleasures to pursue religious or spiritual goals.

bhikkhu

A fully ordained Buddhist monk.

bhikkhuni

A fully ordained Buddhist nun.

Bodh Gaya

Place of pilgrimage in India where Siddhartha became enlightened.

Buddha

The enlightened one; an awakened person.

dhamma

the teachings of the Buddha.

dukkha

Suffering

engaged Buddhism

Active response to social suffering

enlightenment

Wisdom enabling clarity of perception

euthanasia

the act of intentionally ending someone's life to relieve suffering

Five Moral Precepts

Not killing, not stealing, avoiding wrongful sexual activity, not lying, avoiding intoxicants.

Four Noble Truths

Dukkha (suffering)
Samudaya (cause of suffering)
Nirodha (end of suffering)
Magga (the path)

kamma

Deliberate actions that affect future circumstances

karuna

Compassion - part of the spiritual path.

magga

The Fourth Noble Truth; the Noble Eightfold Path that leads to the end of suffering

metta

Loving-kindness

Middle Way

Avoiding extreme pleasures and extreme asceticism; following the Noble Eightfold Path.

Noble Eightfold Path

The path to wisdom, moral training and mental discipline (eight practices).

nibbana

liberation from rebirth.

Nirodha

The end of suffering by removing desire (Third Noble Truth).

ordination

Setting individuals apart for religious roles and rites.

prejudice

Judging someone unfairly before knowing the facts.

samatha

Calming meditation using breathing to achieve a state of calmness.

samsara

The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

samudaya

The cause of suffering (Second Noble Truth).

Sangha

The community of monks, nuns, and lay followers.

Sarnath

Place where the Buddha gave his first sermon.

stupa

sacred burial mounds

sutta

The word or teachings of the Buddha.

tanha

Desire or craving which causes suffering.

temple

A building used for religious or spiritual activities.

Three Baskets

The Tipitaka (Buddhist scriptures).

Three Marks of Existence

Dukkha, Anicca, Anatta: suffering, impermanence, no self.

Three Refuges

Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha.

Three Universal Truths

Dukkha, Anicca, Anatta.

Tipitaka

The collection of Buddhist scriptures; the “Three Baskets.”

Upasikas

Lay female Buddhists.

upasakas

Lay male Buddhists.

vinaya

The rules of monastic discipline.

vipassana

Insight meditation into the true nature of reality.

Anapanasati

basic meditation for concentration and insight.

active euthanasia

Ending a life by deliberate action (e.g., lethal injection).

bodhisattva in therevada buddhism

A wisdom-being aiming to become a Buddha

Bodhisattva

A being who delays enlightenment to help others (Mahayana).

Buddha rupa

A statue or image of the Buddha.

foetus

Fertilised ovum from eight weeks onwards.

Hinayana

“Lesser Vehicle”; a derogatory term for Theravada.

kasina

A concentration technique using an object such as a coloured disc to focus on used in Samatha meditation to help calm the mind

Mahayana Buddhism

focuses on enlightenment for all beings.

Mara

The tempter or evil one.

parinibbana

Final nibbana achieved at a Buddha’s death.

passive euthanasia

Allowing a person to die by withdrawing or withholding treatment.

Pure Land Buddhism

A form of Buddhism focused on faith and chanting.

Siddattha Gotama

The name of the historical Buddha.

sila

Morality

Theravada Buddhism

Form of Buddhism found in Sri Lanka and SE Asia.

Vajrayana

a branch of Mahayana Buddhism known as offering a faster path to enlightenment using techniques like mantras

Zen Buddhism

Mahayana form of buddhism emphasising meditation; developed in China and Japan.

Dependent Arising (Paticcasamupada)

Nothing exists independently, all things arise due to causes and conditions. Explains why suffering exists, how rebirth occurs, and why nothing has a permanent essence.

Dependent Arising supports

Anicca (impermanence), Anatta (no fixed self), Dukkha (suffering).

Five Aggregates (Skandhas) - Theravada view of personality, what are they?

Form (body)
Sensation (feelings)
Perception
Mental formations
Consciousness

Sunyata (Emptiness)

Mahayana concept that all things have no fixed essence and only exist because of their relationships with other things.

Importance of Sunyata

Deepens compassion, reduces attachment, supports the Bodhisattva ideal, supports the fact that all beings can achieve enlightenment

Arhat

A perfected person in Theravada Buddhism who achieves enlightenment for themselves and escapes samsara.

Bodhisattva

A Mahayana figure who delays final enlightenment to help all beings achieve it, motivated by compassion (karuna).

Pure Land Belief

Faith in Amitabha Buddha, rebirth in the Pure Land, and enlightenment achieved with help, not just self-effort.

Four Sights

Old age, illness, death, and a holy man

Middle Way

The path between self-indulgence and extreme asceticism, leading to enlightenment.

Puja

Devotional ritual involving bowing, chanting, mantra recitation, and use of malas (prayer beads).

Purpose of Puja

Expresses gratitude, develops mental focus, and reinforces teachings.

Buddhist Places of Worship

Temples
viharas (monasteries)
gompas (meditation halls)
Buddha rupa,
shrines which contain offerings (flowers, incense, candles).

Wesak

Festival celebrating the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha.

Parinirvana Day

Marks the Buddha’s death; focuses on impermanence (anicca).

Importance of Festivals

Strengthen the Sangha (community), teach key beliefs, encourage reflection and ethical living.

Vipassana Meditation

Insight meditation focusing on impermanence and non-self.

Zazen (Zen Meditation)

Seated meditation for direct experience of enlightenment.

Visualisation Meditation (Mahayana)

Imagining Buddhas or Bodhisattvas to envourage compassion and wisdom.

Importance of Meditation

Essential for enlightenment as it develops wisdom and compassion and reduces craving and ignorance.

Six Perfections

Generosity, Morality, Patience, Energy, Meditation, Wisdom

Importance of Six Perfections

Supports the Bodhisattva path to enlightenment.