Rels 203 Shinto & Mahayana Buddhism

  • Mahāyāna: One of the two major branches of Buddhism, characterized by a focus on the bodhisattva ideal and the concept of emptiness.
  • Three Turnings of the Wheel: A categorization of Buddhist teachings into three stages, associated with different historical figures and texts.
  • Stupa: A monument containing Buddhist relics, often in the form of a dome-shaped structure.
  • Mudrā: Symbolic hand gestures used in Buddhist practice to represent various concepts.
  • Bodhisattva: A being who has attained enlightenment but chooses to remain in the world to help others achieve liberation.
  • Six perfections (ṣaṭpāramitā): Six virtues cultivated by bodhisattvas, including generosity, morality, patience, energy, meditation, and wisdom.
  • Bodhicitta: The aspiration to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.
  • Hīnayāna: One of the two major branches of Buddhism, characterized by a focus on individual liberation.
  • Three Bodies (trikāya) of a Buddha: The three aspects of a Buddha's existence, including the Dharmakāya, Sambhogakāya, and Nirmāṇakāya.
  • Skill-in-means (upāya): The use of various methods to help individuals attain enlightenment.
  • Lotus Sutra: A Mahāyāna text that emphasizes the potential for all individuals to attain Buddhahood.
  • Avalokiteshvara: A bodhisattva associated with compassion and often depicted with multiple arms and eyes.
  • Maitreya: A bodhisattva associated with loving-kindness and often depicted as the future Buddha.
  • Madhyamaka: A philosophical school of Buddhism that emphasizes the concept of emptiness.
  • Bhāviveka: A Madhyamaka philosopher who criticized the Yogācāra school.
  • Yogācāra: A philosophical school of Buddhism that emphasizes the concept of consciousness.
  • Nāgārjuna: A Madhyamaka philosopher who wrote extensively on the concept of emptiness.
  • Sanlun: The Chinese Madhyamaka school.
  • Kumarajiva: A Buddhist scholar and translator who played an important role in spreading Buddhism in China.
  • Asaṅga: A philosopher and founder of the Yogācāra school.
  • Vasubandhu: A philosopher and commentator on Buddhist texts who played an important role in the development of the Yogācāra school.
  • Ālayavijñāna (“storehouse consciousness”): A concept in Yogācāra philosophy that refers to the underlying consciousness that stores all past experiences and actions.
  • Faxiang: The Chinese Yogācāra school.
  • Pure Land Buddhism: A Mahāyāna tradition focused on devotion to Amitabha Buddha and the attainment of rebirth in the Pure Land.
  • Amitabha: A Buddha associated with the Pure Land tradition.
  • Sukhavati: The Pure Land, a realm where those who have devoted themselves to Amitabha can attain rebirth.
  • Jingtu: The Chinese Pure Land tradition.
  • Jodo: The Japanese Pure Land tradition.
  • Chan (Zen) Buddhism: A Mahāyāna tradition focused on meditation and the attainment of enlightenment through direct experience.
  • Milo: The Japanese name for the Chan (Zen) tradition.
  • Shotoku: A historical figure in Japan who played an important role in the spread of Buddhism.
  • Tendai: A Japanese Buddhist school that emphasizes the Lotus Sutra and the bodhisattva ideal.
  • Shingon: A Japanese Buddhist school that emphasizes tantric practices.
  • mappo: The "Latter Days of the Dharma," a period of decline in Buddhist teachings and practice.
  • Zen: A school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes the practice of meditation (zazen) as the means to realize the nature of Buddha-mind and attain enlightenment.
  • Nichiren: A Japanese Buddhist monk who founded the Nichiren school of Buddhism, which teaches the chanting of the mantra "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo" as the exclusive practice for attaining enlightenment.
  • kami: A term in Shinto that refers to deities, spirits, or forces of nature that are worshipped and revered by the Japanese people.
  • Kojiki: A Japanese historical text that chronicles the mythology and early history of Japan.
  • Nihonshoki: Also known as the Nihongi, this is a second early chronicle of Japan's history and mythology, which was compiled in the early 8th century.
  • Ujigami: A term in Shinto that refers to a clan deity believed to protect and support the life and social functions of the clan.
  • Izanagi/Izanami: According to Japanese mythology, Izanagi and Izanami were the gods who created the islands of Japan and gave birth to many of the other gods and goddesses in the Shinto pantheon.
  • Nara: A city in Japan that served as the capital from 710 to 794 CE, during which time Buddhism became firmly established in Japan.
  • Todaiji: A Buddhist temple complex in Nara, Japan, known for its massive bronze Buddha statue.
  • Amaterasu Omikami: The sun goddess and one of the most important deities in the Shinto pantheon, who is believed to be the ancestor of Japan's imperial family.
  • torii: A traditional Japanese gate that marks the entrance to a Shinto shrine and symbolizes the boundary between the profane and sacred.
  • matsuri: A Japanese term for festivals or rituals held at Shinto shrines to honor and communicate with the kami.
  • honji suijaku: A concept in Japanese Buddhism and Shinto that posits the idea that the kami are the manifestation of Buddhist deities.
  • sandō: A pathway leading from outside the shrine compound to the front of a Shinto shrine.
  • kamidana: A miniature Shinto shrine typically found in Japanese homes or businesses to honor and communicate with the kami.