Learn: Buddhist Terms | Quizlet

Sila

Good conduct or graces. The consequence of a person's actions. - Right conduct

Mahasanghika

Members of the Great Assembly

Bodhisattva

A person who reaches enlightenment but chooses to remain in the human realm to assist in others escaping samsara

Anatta

The idea of "non-self". Nobody has a permanent self. We are always changing.

Brahmin

The highest of the four classes of Hindu society

Ananda

Siddhartha Gautama's cousin who approached him about ordaining women.

Sangha

The collection of monks and nuns living in the same area.

Dukkha

Existence is ultimately unstable and unsatisfying.

Yasa

One of the early converts to Buddhism. He influenced his family and friends to also convert.

Asoka (Ashoka)

A king who had a violent reputation and then converted to Buddhism

Tathagata

The term that Buddha used in referring to himself when he said that he had brought and end to suffering.

Dhammapada

Collection of sayings of the Buddha's teachings especially for the lay people.

Shakyamuni

One of the names of Siddhartha Gautama. It means "the sage of the Shakas"

Bardo

The intermediate state that is between death and rebirth.

Bodhi

Enlightening knowledge attained when a person achieves Buddhahood.

Sthavira

Buddhist elders.

Shramana

Wandering holy men searching for enlightenment by treating their bodies harshly

Pali

The language of Theravada Buddhism

Samsara

The opposite of Nirvana. The cycles of life that are affected by karma.

Prajapati / Mahapajapati

Siddhartha Gautama's aunty who raised him after his mother's death and who wanted women to be ordained as nuns.

Sutra

A Buddhist scripture said to be the Buddha's words.

Rahula

The Buddha's son. Means 'hindrance'.

Parivara

A ceremony where monks receive robes sewn for them by the lay people.

Kathina

Festival marking the end of the raining season in Asia.

Puja

Worship involving a god or goddess as an honoured guest in the home.

Anicca

The idea that everything is in a state of constant flux or change. Nothing is permanent.

Sanskrit

The classical language of India.

Karma

Action that will inevitably give rise to certain results. Means literally 'action that is pregnant with its fruits'.

Sutta Pitaka

A section of the Tripitaka. Contains the actual discourses of the Buddha.

Bhikkhus/Bhikkunis

The Buddhist terms for monks/nuns.

Theravada

The earliest form of Buddhism. They believe that Buddha was a historical figure and others should follow his example to reach enlightenment.

Buddha

Formal title that literally means 'Awakened'.

Yogin

Holy men who focus on the yoga concentration and physical practices.

Nirvana

The reaching of enlightenment or eternal peace of mind and body.

Maya

Siddhartha Gautama's mother.

Koan

A non-sensical challenge used to assist students of Buddhism.

Suddhodana

Siddhartha Gautama's father.

Arahant (Arhat)

A monk who seeks to attain enlightenment for themselves.

Mahayana

A popular form of Buddhism. Translates to mean "Greater vehicle". They believe Buddha has returned as a bodhisattva many times and so worship him as a god-like figure.

Vinaya Pitaka

A section of the Tripitaka. Contains rules regulating the behaviour of the monks and the life story of the Buddha.

Sukha

The opposite of Dukkha. Means "Happiness".

Tannha

The craving or desire for pleasure that ultimately leads to unhappiness.

Dharma (Dhamma)

The complete body of the teachings of the Buddha or other teacher.

Vajrayana

A mystical form of Buddhism that uses hand gestures.

Tripitaka

The Pali Canon or 'Three Baskets'. The oldest Buddhist canon or sacred text.

Abhidhamma Pitaka

A section of the Tripitaka. Contains metaphysical and philosophical material.

Siddhartha

The Buddha's given name. Means 'goal accomplished'