Buddhism

Ritual dimension

Monastic ordination ritual, including meditation, chanting, and various monastic rituals.

Experiential dimension

The meditative experience leading to enlightenment.

Mythological dimension

Buddhism's stories, such as the Jataka tales and the life story of the Buddha.

Philosophical dimension

Buddhist ideas about truth that are commonly associated with Buddhism.

Ethical dimension

The moral precepts and monastic vows observed in Buddhism.

Social dimension

The relationship between the monastic community (the Sangha) and lay practitioners.

Material dimension

Statues, paintings, temples, and relics that represent the material aspects of Buddhism.

Three Jewels

Buddha (enlightened teacher), Dharma (the teachings), and Sangha (monastic community).

Siddhartha Gautama

The historical Buddha who left his luxurious life to seek enlightenment.

Candraprabha

A princely bodhisattva known for extreme generosity, giving gifts and ultimately his own head for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Differences between the Buddha and arhats

Buddha attains enlightenment on his own; arhats rely on Buddha’s teachings; Buddha possesses omniscience; Buddha's enlightenment is for all beings, while arhats seek personal liberation.

Three marks of reality in Buddhism

Suffering (duhkha), impermanence (anitya), and no-self (anatman).

Four noble truths

1) Life is suffering (duḥkha). 2) Suffering arises from craving (Tŗșņā). 3) Cessation of suffering (Nirvāṇa) is possible.

Eightfold Path

A path to liberation consisting of practices that lead to the cessation of suffering.

Saṅgha's role in upholding Dharma

Preserving teachings, following monastic discipline, and serving as examples for lay followers.

Four major precepts for Buddhist monastics

Prohibitions against killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, and false speech.

Prajāpatī Gautamī

The Buddha’s aunt who requested female ordination and established the Bhikkhunī Saṅgha.

Three ways of accumulating puņya

Generosity (dāna), ethical conduct (śīla), and meditation (bhāvana).

Aṅgulimāla's transformation

A former murderer who turned monk, symbolizing the power of compassion and redemption.

Types of meditation

Samatha (calming mind, leading to concentration) and Vipassana (insight meditation, leading to wisdom).

Six realms of existence

Gods, demigods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, and hell beings.

Five aggregates (skandhas)

Form (rūpa), sensation (vedanā), perception (saṃjñā), mental formations (saṃskāra), and consciousness (vijñāna) that create the illusion of a self.

Theravada tradition

Emphasis on monastic discipline and meditation, focusing on arhatship rather than the bodhisattva ideal.

Buddha

The enlightened one, the main figure in Buddhism.

Dharma

The teachings of the Buddha.

Saṅgha

The monastic community in Buddhism.

Nirvāṇa

Liberation from suffering.

Arhat

A perfected being who has achieved the state of awakening.

Duḥkha

Suffering in Buddhism.

Anitya

Impermanence, the concept that everything changes constantly.

Tŗșņā

Craving or desire that leads to suffering.

Prajāpatī

The Buddha’s aunt and the first Buddhist nun.

Puņya

Merit in Buddhism.

Aṅgulimāla

A former murderer who transformed into a monk.

Śamatha

Calming meditation aimed at achieving concentration.

Vipassana

Insight meditation aimed at achieving wisdom.

Karma

The law of moral causation in Buddhism.

Bodhisattva

An enlightened being who seeks to help others achieve enlightenment.

Anātman

The concept of no permanent self in Buddhism.

Avidyā

Ignorance, a fundamental cause of suffering.