Key concepts in Buddhism

Buddha - One who is fully enlightened - Siddhartha Gautama

Dhamma (Dharma) - Teaching of the Buddha

Four Noble Truths - The Buddha’s first teaching: suffering, the cause of suffering, the end of suffering and how to end suffering

Metta bhavana - The development of the four types of loving kindness, usually through meditation

Noble Eightfold Path - the ‘medicine’ of the four noble truths. Eight steps toward overcoming suffering and desires and achieving Nibbana (nirvana). Commonly divided into three sections - wisdom, morality, and meditation.

Parinirvana (Parinibbana) - the final stage of enlightenment, attained when an enlightened being passes away, thus eliminating all suffering and desires, resulting in complete liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

2- A Mahayana Buddhist festival commemorating the death of the Buddha, called nirvana day.

Samatha - Calm, or breathing meditation, that aims to develop concentration and mental clarity.

Vipassana - insight meditation, enabling the individual to see the true nature of things

Wesak - a festival to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha.