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Buddhist terms and concepts

Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term. Below are given a number of important Buddhist terms, short definitions, and the languages in which they appear. In this list, an attempt has been made to organize terms by their original form and give translations and synonyms in other languages along with the definition.

Languages and traditions dealt with here:

• English (Eng.)
• Pāli: Theravāda Buddhism
• Sanskrit (or Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit): primarily Mahāyāna Buddhism
• Tibetan (Tib): Tibetan Buddhism
• Thai: Theravāda Buddhism
• Burmese (Bur): Theravada Buddhism
• CJKV languages
  • Chinese (Cn): Chinese Buddhism
  • Japanese (Jp): Japanese Buddhism
  • Korean (Ko): Korean Buddhism
  • Vietnamese (Vi): Vietnamese Buddhism

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Definition Etymology In other languages abhidhammaA category of scriptures that attempts to use Buddhist teachings to create a systematic, abstract description of all worldly phenomena

• abhi is "above" or "about", dhamma is "teaching"
• Pāli: abhidhamma
• Sanskrit: abhidharma

• Tib: chos mngon pa
• Thai: อภิธรรม a-pi-tam
• 阿毘達磨
  • Cn: Āpídámó
  • Jp: Abidatsuma
  • Vi: a-tì-đạt-ma

Abhidhamma PitakaThe third basket of the Tripitakacanon, the reorganization of all doctrines in a systematic way

• Pāli: Abhidhamma-piṭaka
• Sanskrit: Abhidharma-piṭaka

• 論藏, 論蔵
  • Cn: Lùnzàng
  • Jp: Ronzō
  • Vi: Luận tạng

acariya, lit. "teacher", One of the two teachers of a novice monk - the other one is called upādhyāya

• Pāli: ācāriya
• Sanskrit: ācārya

• Bur: ဆရာ saya
• Thai: อาจารย์ ajahn
• 阿闍梨 or 阿闍梨耶
  • Cn: āshélí or āshélíyē
  • Jp: ajari or ajariya
  • Vi: a-xà-lê or a-xà-lê-da

adhitthanaDetermination, to pray, to wish

• Pāli:
• Sanskrit:

• Bur: ဆရာ
• Thai: อธิษฐาน ah-tid-taan
• 決心
  • Cn:
  • Jp: kesshin
  • Vi:

addiction, see tanhaAgamaThe divisions of the Sutra Pitaka

• Sanskrit: Āgama

• Pāli: Āgama (but usually called Nikāya)
• 阿含
  • Cn: Āhán
  • Jp: Agon
  • Vi: A-hàm

ahimsaThe devotion to non-violence and respect for all forms of life. Practicers of ahimsa are often vegetarians or vegans

• Sanskrit: ahiṃsā
• Pāli: ahiṃsā

• Thai: อหิงสา 'ah-hing-sa'
• 不害
  • Cn: bù hài
  • Jp: fugai
  • Vi: bất hại

alayavijnana, see store consciousness

• Pāli, Sanskrit: ālayavijñāna

• Tib: ཀུན་གཞི་རྣམ་པར་ཤེས་པ་
  kun gzhi rnam par shes pa
• 阿賴耶識, 阿頼耶識
  • Cn: ālàiyēshí
  • Jp: araya-shiki
  • Vi: a-lại-da thức

AmitabhaLit. "The Buddha of Infinite Light". The main buddha of the Pure Land school, but is popular in other Mahayanasects as well.

• Sanskrit: amitābha (lit. "limitless light") and amitāyus (lit. "limitless life")

• 阿彌陀 or 阿彌陀佛, 阿弥陀 or 阿弥陀仏
  • Cn: Ēmítuó or Ēmítuó fó
  • Jp: Amida or Amida-butsu
  • Vi: A-di-đà or Phật A-di-đà

anagarikaA white-robed student in the Theravada tradition who, for a few months, awaits being considered for Samaneras ordination

• Pāli: anāgarika

anapanasatiMindfulness of the breath meditation

• Pāli: ānāpānasati

anattaThe principle denial of the soul in any phenomena. See also negative theology.

• Pāli: anattā
• Sanskrit: anātman

• 無我
  • Cn: wúwǒ
  • Jp: muga
  • Vi: vô ngã

aniccaImpermanence

• Pāli: anicca
• Sanskrit: anitya

• 無常
  • Cn: wúcháng
  • Jp: mujō
  • Vi: vô thường

anuttara Unsurpassing

• Pāli: anuttara
• Sanskrit: anuttara

• 阿耨多羅／阿耨多罗 (無上／无上)
  • Cn: Ānòuduōluó ("wǔshàng")
  • Jp: ?
  • Vi: ?
  • Fi: Ylittämätön

arhat, lit. "the Worthy One", A living person who has reached Enlightenment

• Pāli: arahat or arahant
• Sanskrit: arhat or arhant

• Tib: དགྲ་ཅོམ་པ་, dgra com pa
• 阿羅漢
  • Cn: āluóhàn
  • Jp: arakan
  • Vi: a-la-hán

arahato samasam buddhasa,

• Pāli:
• Sanskrit:

• Tib: ,
• Thai: อรหันต์ uh-ra-hann
• 阿耨多罗三藐三菩提
  • Cn:
  • Jp:
  • Vi:

atmanliterally "self", sometimes "soul" or "ego". In Buddhism, the inappropriate belief in atman is the prime consequence of ignorance, the foundation of samsara

• Sanskrit: ātman

• Pāli: atta
• 我
  • Cn: wǒ
  • Jp: ga
  • Vi: ngã

Avalokitesvara, lit. "One Who Hears the Suffering Cries of the World", The bodhisattvaof compassion (see also Guan Yin)

• Sanskrit: Avalokiteśvara

• Tib: སྤྱན་རས་གཟིགས་ spyan ras gzigs
• 觀世音 or 觀音
  • Cn: Guānshì Yīn or Guān Yīn
  • Jp: Kanzeon or Kannon

avidya"ignorance" or "delusion"

• Sanskrit: avidyā

• Pāli: avijjā
• Thai: อวิชชา aa-wit-sha
• Tib: མ་རིག་པ་ ma rig-pa
• 無明
  • Cn: wúmíng
  • Jp: mumyō
  • Vi: vô minh

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

B

Definition Etymology In other languages bardo, lit. "intermediate state" or "in-between state", According to Tibetan tradition, the state of existence intermediate between two lives

• Tib: བར་མ་དོའི་སྲིད་པ་ bar ma do'i srid pa

• Sanskrit: antarābhava
• 中有,中陰身
  • Cn: zhongyǒu
  • Jp: chūu
  • Vi: trung hữu

bhavacakra|/bhavacakkaA circular symbolic representation of samsara, also known as Wheel of becoming

• Pāli: bhavacakka
• Sanskrit: bhava-cakra

• 有輪
  • Cn: yǒulún
  • Jp: ??
  • Vi: hữu luân

bhante The polite particle used to refer to Buddhistmonksin the Theravadatradition. Bhante literally means "Venerable Sir."

• Pāli

bhavaBecoming, being, existing; the 10th link of Pratitya-samutpada

• Pāli, Sanskrit: bhava

• Thai: ภาวะ pa-wah
• 有(十二因緣)
  • Cn: yǒu
  • Jp: u
  • Vi: hữu

bhikkhu/bhikshu, lit. "beggar", A Buddhist monk

• Pāli: bhikkhu
• Sanskrit: bhikṣu

• Tib: དགེ་སློང་ dge slong
• Thai: ภิกขุ bhikku
• 比丘
  • Cn: bǐ qiū
  • Jp: biku
  • Vi: tỉ-khâu or tỉ-khưu

bhikkhuni/bhikshuniA Buddhist nun

• from bhikkhu
• Pāli: bhikkhuni
• Sanskrit: bhikṣuni

• Tib: དགེ་སློང་མ་ sde slong ma
• Bur: ဘိက္ခုနီ bikuni
• Thai: ภิกษุณี bhiksuni
• 比丘尼
  • Cn: bǐqiūní"
  • Jp: bikuni
  • Vi: tỉ-khâu-ni or tỉ-khưu-ni

bija, lit. "seed", A metaphor for the origin or cause of things, used in the teachings of the Yogacaraschool

• Sanskrit: bīja

• 種子
  • Cn: zhŏngzi
  • Jp: shuuji
  • Vi: chủng tử

bodhiAwakening or Enlightenment

• Pāli, Sanskrit: bodhi

• Thai: โพธิ์ poe
• 菩提
  • Cn: pútí
  • Jp: bodai
  • Vi: bồ-đề

Bodhi treeThe Sacred Fig(Ficus religiosa) tree under which Gautama reached Enlightenment

• from bodhi above

• 菩提樹
  • Cn: Pútíshù
  • Jp: Bodaiju
  • Vi: Bồ-đề thụ

bodhicittaThe motivation of a bodhisattva

• Pāli, Sanskrit: bodhicitta

• Tib: བྱང་ཆུབ་ཀྱི་སེམས་ byang chub kyi sems
• 菩提心
  • Cn: pútíxīn
  • Jp: bodaishin
  • Vi: bồ-đề tâm

bodhisattvaOne with the intention to become a Buddha in order to liberate all other sentient beings from suffering

• Pāli: bodhisatta
• Sanskrit: bodhisattva

• Bur: ဗောဓိသတ္ bawditat
• Thai: โพธิสัตว์ poe-ti-satt
• 菩薩
  • Cn: púsà
  • Jp: bosatsu
  • Vi: bồ-tát

BuddhaA Buddha; also, the Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama.

• from √budh: to awaken
• Pāli, Sanskrit: buddha

• Bur: ဗုဒ္ဓ boda
• 佛, 仏
  • Cn: fó
  • Jp: butsu or hotoke
  • Vi: Phật or bụt

buddha natureThe uncreated and deathless Buddhic element or principle concealed within all sentient beings to achieve Awakening; the innate (latent) Buddha essence (esp. in the Tathagatagarbhasutras, Tendai/Tiantai, Nichirenthought)

• Sanskrit: buddha-dhatu, buddha-svabhāva, "tathagata-dhatu", or tathagatagarbha.

• 佛性, 仏性
  • Cn: fóxìng
  • Jp: busshō
  • Vi: phật tính

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

D

Definition Etymology In other languages dakiniA supernatural female with volatile temperament who serves as a muse for spiritual practice. Dakinis are often depicted naked to represent the truth

• Sanskrit: ḍākinī

• Tib: མཁའ་འགྲོ་མ་ mkha` `gro ma
• 空行女
  • Cn: khong xing mu
  • Jp: ??
  • Vi: không hành nữ

Dalai Lama, lit. "the lama with wisdom like an ocean", secular and spiritual leader of Tibetas nominated by the Mongols

• Tibetan: ཏཱ་ལའི་བླ་མ་ taa-la'i bla-ma

• 達賴喇嘛
  • Cn: Dálài Lǎma
  • Jp: Darai Rama
  • Vi: Đạt Lai Lạt Ma or Đạt-lại Lạt-ma

danaGenerosity or giving; in Buddhism, it also refers to the practice of cultivating generosity

• Pāli, Sanskrit: dāna

• Bur: ဒာန dana
• Thai: ทาน taan
• 布施
  • Cn: bùshī
  • Jp: fuse
  • Vi: bố thí

dependent origination, see Pratitya-Samutpada

• Pāli: paṭicca-samuppāda
• Sanskrit: pratītya-samutpāda

• 因縁, also 緣起, 縁起
  • Cn: yīnyuan, also yuánqǐ
  • Jp: innen, also engi
  • Vi: duyên khởi

dhamma/dharmaOften refers to the doctrines and teachings of the faith, but it may have broader uses. Also, it is an important technical term meaning something like "phenomenologicalconstituent." This leads to the potential for confusion, puns, and double entendres, as the latter meaning often has negative connotations

• from √dhṛ: to hold
• Pāli: dhamma
• Sanskrit: dharma

• Bur: ဓမ္မာ dha ma
• Thai: ธรรมะ tam-ma
• 法
  • Cn: fă
  • Jp: hō
  • Vi: pháp

dhammavinaya The dharmaand vinaya(roughly "doctrine and discipline") considered together. This term essentially means the whole teachings of Buddhism as taught to monks dhammacakka/dharmacakraA symbolic representation of the dharma, also known as the Wheel of Dharma

• Sanskrit: dharmacakra
• Pāli: dhammacakka

• 法輪
  • Cn: Fǎlún
  • Jp: hōrin
  • Vi: pháp luân

dhammapala/dharmapalaA fearsome deity, known as protector of the Dharma

• Sanskrit: dharmapāla
• Pāli: dhammapāla

• 護法
  • Cn: hùfǎ
  • Jp: gohou
  • Vi: Hộ Pháp

Dhyana, see jhana

• Pāli: jhāna
• Sanskrit: dhyāna

• 禪 or 禪那, 禅 or 禅那
  • Cn: Chán or Chánnà
  • Jp: Zen or Zenna
  • Vi: Thiền or Thiền-na

doan In Zen, a term for person sounding the bell that marks the beginning and end of Zazen

• Japanese: 堂行

dokusan A private interview between a Zen student and the master. It is an important element in the Zen training, as it provides an opportunity for the student to discuss problems in his or her practice and to demonstrate understanding

• Japanese: 独参 dokusan

• 獨參
  • Cn: dúcān
  • Vi: độc tham

dukkhaSuffering, dissatisfaction, stress

• Pāli: dukkha
• Sanskrit: duḥkha

• Bur: ဒုက္ခ doka
• Thai: ทุกข์ took
• 苦
  • Cn: kǔ
  • Jp: ku
  • Vi: khổ

dzogchenThe natural, intrinsic state of every sentient being

• Tibetan: རྫོགས་པ་ཆེན་པོ་ rdzogs pa chen po

• Sanskrit: atiyoga
• 大究竟
  • Cn: dàjiūjìng
  • Jp: daikukyou
  • Vi: đại cứu cánh

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

F

Definition Etymology In other languages Five Five-Hundred-Year Periods Five sub-divisions of the three periods following the Buddha's passing(三時繫念 Cn: sānshí; Jp: sanji; Vi: tam thời), significant for many Mahayana adherents:

1. Age of enlightenment (解脱堅固 Cn: jiětuō jiāngù; Jp: gedatsu kengo)
2. Age of meditation (禅定堅固 Cn: chándìng jiāngù; Jp: zenjō kengo)
   These two ages comprise the Former Day of the Law (正法時期 Cn: zhèngfǎ; Jp: shōbō)
3. Age of reading, reciting, and listening (読誦多聞堅固 Cn: sòngduōwén jiāngù; Jp: dokuju tamon kengo)
4. Age of building temples and stupas (多造塔寺堅固 Cn: duōzào tǎsì jiāngù; Jp: tazō tōji kengo)
   These two ages comprise the Middle Day of the Law (像法時期 Cn: xiàngfǎ; Jp: zōhō)
5. Age of conflict (闘諍堅固 Cn: zhēng jiāngù; Jp: tōjō kengo), an age characterized by unrest, strife, famine, and other natural and human-made disasters.
   This age corresponds to the beginning of the Latter Day of the Law (末法時期 Cn: mòfǎ; Jp: mappō) when the (historical) Buddha's teachings would lose all power of salvation and perish (白法隠没 Cn: báifǎméi; Jp: byakuhō onmotsu) and a new Buddha would appear to save the people.

• The three periods and the five five-hundred year periods are described in the Sutra of the Great Assembly (大集 Cn: dàjí; Jp: Daishutu-kyō, Daijuku-kyō, Daijikkyō, or Daishukkyō).

• 五箇五百歲, 五箇五百歳
  • Cn: 五箇五百歲 wǔ ge wǔbǎi suì
  • Jp: 五箇の五百歳 go no gohyaku sai
  • Vi: ??

Four Noble Truths

1. Suffering: Dukkha (Sanskrit: duḥkhāryasatya; Bur: ဒုက္ခ doka; Thai: ทุกข์; 苦諦 Cn: kǔdì; Jp: kutai; Vi: khổ đế)
2. Attachment (desire): Samudaya (Sanskrit: samudayāryasatya; Thai: สมุทัย; 集諦 Cn: jídì; Jp: jittai; Vi: tập khổ đế)
3. Elimination of attachment (desire): Nirodha (Sanskrit: duḥkhanirodhāryasatya; Thai: นิโรธ; 滅諦 Cn: mièdì; Jp: mettai; Vi: diệt khổ đế)
4. The path that leads out of suffering: Magga (Sanskrit: duḥkhanirodhagāminī pratipad; Thai: มรรค; 道諦 Cn: dàodì; Jp: dōtai; Vi: đạo đế)

• Pāli: cattāri ariya-saccāni
• Sanskrit: चत्वारि आर्यसत्यानि catvāry āryasatyāni
• 四聖諦
  • Cn: Sìdì
  • Jp: Shitai
  • Vi: Tứ diệu đế

fukudo In Zen, term for person who strikes the han

• Japanese: 副堂

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

G

Definition Etymology In other languages gassho A position used for greeting, with the palms together and fingers pointing upwards in prayer position; used in various Buddhisttraditions, but also used in numerous cultures throughout Asia. It expresses greeting, request, thankfulness, reverence and prayer. Also considered a mudra or inkei of Japanese Shingon. See also: Namaste

• Japanese: 合掌 gasshō

• Sanskrit: anjali
• 合掌
  • Cn: hézhǎng (more common to say 合十 héshí)
  • Vi: hiệp chưởng

gesheA Tibetan Buddhist academic degree in the Gelugtradition, awarded at the conclusion of lengthy studies often lasting nine years or more

• Tibetan: དགེ་ཤེས་

• 格西

gongan, lit. "public case", A meditative method developed in the Chán/Seon/Zentraditions, generally consisting of a problem that defies solution by means of rational thought; see koan

• Chinese 公案 gōng-àn

• 公案
  • Jp: kōan
  • Ko: gong'an
  • Vi: công án

Guan YinThe bodhisattvaof compassion in East Asian Buddhism, with full name being Guan Shi Yin. Guan Yin is considered to be the female form of Avalokiteshvarabut has been given many more distinctive characteristics.

• Chinese 觀音 Guān Yīn or 觀世音 Guān Shì Yīn

• 觀音 or 觀世音
  • Jp: Kannon or Kanzeon
  • Ko: Gwaneum or Gwanse-eum
  • Vi: Quan Âm or Quan Thế Âm

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H

Definition Etymology In other languages han In Zen monasteries, wooden board that is struck announcing sunrise, sunset and the end of the day

• Japanese: 板

Hinayana, lit. "inferior vehicle", A coinage by the Mahayanafor the Buddhist doctrines concerned with the achievement of Nirvanaas a Śrāvakabuddhaor a Pratyekabuddha, as opposed to a Samyaksambuddha

• Sanskrit: hīnayāna

• 小乘 or 小乗, 二乘
  • Cn: Xiǎoshèng
  • Jp: Shōjō
  • Vi: Tiểu thừa

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I

Definition Etymology In other languages ino, lit. "bringer of joy to the assembly", In Zen, one of the leaders of a sesshin; in Zen temples, the temple official in charge of maintaining the zendo, or meditation hall

• Japanese: 維那

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J

Definition Etymology In other languages jhanaMeditative contemplation; more often associated with śamatha practices than vipaśyana. See also: shamata, samadhi, samapatti

• from √dhyā: to think of, to contemplate, meditate on
• Pāli: jhāna
• Sanskrit: dhyāna

• Thai: ฌาน chaan
• 禪 or 禪那, 禅 or 禅那
  • Cn: Chán or Chánnà
  • Jp: Zen or Zenna
  • Vi: Thiền or Thiền-na

jishaIn Zen, a senior priest's attendant

• Japanese: 侍者 jisya

jukaiZen public ordination ceremony wherein a lay student receives certain Buddhist precepts.

• Chinese: 受戒, shou jie

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K

Definition Etymology In other languages karma, lit. "action", The law of cause and effect in Buddhism

• from √kri: to do
• Sanskrit: karma
• Pāli: kamma

• Thai: กรรม gum
• 業¹, 因果²
  • Cn: ¹yè, comm.: ²yīnguǒ
  • Jp: gō, inga
  • Vi: nghiệp

kenshoIn Zen, enlightenment; has the same meaning as satōri, but is customary used for an initial awakening experience

• Japanese: 見性 kenshō

• 見性
  • Cn: jiànxìng
  • Vi: kiến tính

khyenpo, also khenpo, An academic degree similar to a doctorate in theology, philosophy, and psychology

• Tibetan

khantipatience

• Thai: ขันติ kanti
• Japanese:

• Thai: ขันติ kanti
• 耐心
  • Cn:
  • Vi:

kinhinZen walking meditation

• Japanese: 経行 kinhin or kyōgyō

• 經行
  • Cn: jīngxíng
  • Vi: ??

koanA story, question, problem or statement generally inaccessible to rational understanding, yet may be accessible to Intuition

• Japanese: 公案 kōan

• 公案
  • Cn: gōng-àn
  • Ko: gong'an
  • Vi: công án

ksantiThe practice of exercising patience toward behaviour or situations that might not necessarily deserve it -- it is seen as a conscious choice to actively give patience as a gift, rather than being in a state of oppression in which one feels obligated to act in such a way.

• Sanskrit

kyosakuIn Zen, a flattened stick used to strike the shoulders during zazen, to help overcome fatigue or reach satori

• Japanese: 警策 kyōsaku, called keisaku in Rinzai

• 警策
  • Cn: jǐngcè
  • Vi: ??

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L

Definition Etymology In other languages lamaA Tibetan teacher or master; equivalent to Sanskrit "guru"

• Tibetan: བླ་མ་ lama

• Sanskrit: guru
• 喇嘛
  • Cn: lǎma
  • Jp: rama
  • Vi: lạt-ma

lineageThe official record of the historical descent of dharma teachings from one teacher to another; by extension, may refer to a tradition

• 傳承

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M

Definition Etymology In other languages MadhyamakaBuddhist philosophical school, founded by Nagarjuna. Members of this school are called Madhyamikas

• Sanskrit: mādhyamika

• Tib: དབུ་མ་པ་ dbu ma pa
• 中觀宗
  • Cn: Zhōngguānzōng
  • Jp: ??
  • Vi: Trung quán tông

mahamudraA method of direct introduction the understanding of sunyata, of samsaraand that the two are inseparable

• Sanskrit: mahāmudrā

• Tib: ཕྱག་རྒྱ་ཆེན་པོ་ chag-je chen-po
• 大手印
  • Cn: dàshŏuyìn
  • Jp: daisyuin
  • Vi: đại thủ ấn

mahasiddhalitt. great spiritual accomplishment. A yogi in Tantric Buddhism, often associated with the highest levels of enlightenment

• Sanskrit: mahāsiddha

• Thai: มหายาน
• 大成就
  • Cn: dàchéngjiù
  • Jp: daijōjyu
  • Vi: đại thành tựu

Mahayana, lit. "great vehicle", A major branch of Buddhism practiced in China, Tibet, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Main goal is to achieve buddhahood or samyaksambuddha

• Sanskrit: mahāyāna

• 大乘 or 大乗
  • Cn: Dàshèng
  • Jp: Daijō
  • Vi: Đại thừa

MaitreyaThe Buddha of the future epoch

• Pāli: Metteyya
• Sanskrit: Maitreya

• 彌勒 or 彌勒佛, 弥勒 or 弥勒仏
  • Cn: Mílè or Mílè Fó
  • Jp: Miroku or Miroku-butsu
  • Vi: Di-lặc or Phật Di-lặc

makyoIn Zen, unpleasant or distracting thoughts or illusions that occur during zazen

• Japanese: 魔境 makyō

mantraChant used primarily to aid concentration, to reach enlightenment. The best-known Buddhist mantra is possibly Om mani padme hum

• Sanskrit: mantra

• Thai: มนตร์ moan
• 咒
  • Cn: zou
  • Jp: shingon
  • Vi: chân âm

Mappo The "degenerate" Latter Day of the Law. A time period supposed to begin 2,000 years after Sakyamuni Buddha's passing and last for "10,000 years"; follows the two 1,000-year periods of Former Day of the Law (正法 Cn: zhèngfǎ; Jp: shōbō) and of Middle Day of the Law (像法 Cn: xiàngfǎ; Jp: zōhō). During this degenerate age, chaos will prevail and the people will be unable to attain enlightenment through the word of Sakyamuni Buddha. See the Three periods

• Japanese: 末法 mappō

• 末法
  • Cn: mòfǎ
  • Vi: ??

mettaloving kindness

• Pāli:
• Sanskrit:
• Thai: เมตตา metta
• 慈
  • Ch: tse
  • Jp: ji
  • Vi:

Middle wayThe practice of avoidance of extreme views and lifestyle choices

• Pāli: majjhimāpaṭipadā
• Sanskrit: madhyamāpratipad
• 中道
  • Ch: zhōngdào
  • Jp: chūdō
  • Vi: trung đạo

mindfulnessThe practice whereby a person is intentionally aware of his or her thoughts and actions in the present moment, non-judgmentally. The 7th step of the Noble Eightfold Path

• Pāli: sammā-sati
• Sanskrit: samyag-smṛti
• Thai: สัมมาสติ samma-sati
• 正念
  • Cn: zhèngniàn
  • Jp: syōnen
  • Vi: chính niệm

mokshaLiberation

• Sanskrit: mokṣa

• Pāli: vimutti
• 解脱
  • Cn: jiětuō
  • Jp: gedatsu
  • Vi: giải thoát

mokugyoA wooden drum carved from one piece, usually in the form of a fish

• Japanese: 木魚 mokugyo

• 木魚
  • Cn: mùyú
  • Vi: mõ

mondoIn Zen, a short dialogue between teacher and student

• Japanese: 問答　mondō

• 問答
  • Cn: wèndǎ
  • Vi: ??

mudralit. "seal", A gesture made with hands and fingers in meditation

• Sanskrit: mudrā

• Tib: ཕྱག་རྒྱ་ phyag rgya
• 手印
  • Cn: sohyìn (commonly only yìn)
  • Jp: syuin
  • Vi: ấn

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N

Definition Etymology In other languages namo An exclamation showing reverence; devotion. Often placed in front of the name of an object of veneration, e.g., a Buddha's name or a sutra (Nam(u) Myōhō Renge Kyō), to express devotion to it. Defined in Sino-Japanese as 帰命 kimyō: to base one's life upon, to devote (or submit) one's life to

Derivatives:

• Namo Amitabha

• Pāli: namo
• Sanskrit: namaḥ or namas

Derivatives:

• Sanskrit: namas amitābha

• 南無
  • Cn: nánmó
  • Jp: namu or nam
  • Vi: nam-mô

Derivatives:

• 南無阿弥陀佛
  • Cn: Nánmó Ēmítuó fó
  • Jp: Namu Amida butsu
  • Vi: Nam-mô A-di-đà Phật
• 南無觀世音菩薩
  • Cn: Nánmó Guán Syr Yín Pū Sá
  • Jp: Namu Kanzeon Butsu
  • Vi: Nam-mô Quan Thế Âm Bồ Tát

nekkhammarenunciation

• Pāli:

• Sanskrit:
• Thai: เนกขัมมะ nekkamma
• 出世
  • Cn:
  • Jp: syusse
  • Vi:

Nibbana/NirvanaExtinction or extinguishing; ultimate enlightenment in the Buddhist tradition

• from niḥ-√vā: to extinguish
• Pāli: nibbāna
• Sanskrit: nirvana

• Bur: နိဗ္ဗာန္‌ neiban/Burmese Pali: နီဗ္ဗာန nibbana
• Thai: นิพพาน nípphaan
• 涅槃
  • Cn: Nièpán
  • Jp: Nehan
  • Vi: Niết-bàn

Nikaya, lit. "volume", The Buddhist texts in Pāli

• Pāli: nikāya

• Sanskrit: Āgama
• 部經
  • Cn: Bùjīng
  • Jp: ??
  • Vi: Bộ kinh

Noble Eightfold Path

1. Right View (Pāli: sammā-diṭṭhi; Sanskrit: samyag-dṛṣṭi; 正見 Cn: zhèngjiàn; Vi: chính kiến)
2. Right Thought (Pāli: sammā-saṅkappa; Sanskrit: samyak-saṃkalpa; 正思唯 Cn: zhèngsīwéi; Vi: chính tư duy)
   These 2 constitute the path of Wisdom (Pāli: paññā; Sanskrit: prajñā)
3. Right Speech (Pāli: sammā-vācā; Sanskrit: samyag-vāk; 正語 Cn: zhèngyǔ; Vi: chính ngữ)
4. Right Action (Pāli: sammā-kammanta; Sanskrit: samyak-karmānta; 正業 Cn: zhèngyè; Vi: chính nghiệp)
5. Right Living (Pāli: sammā-ājīva; Sanskrit: samyag-ājīva; 正命 Cn: zhèngmìng; Vi: chính mệnh)
   These 3 constitute the path of Virtue (Pāli: sīla; Sanskrit: śīla)
6. Right Effort (Pāli: sammā-vāyāma; Sanskrit: samyag-vyāyāma; 正精進 Cn: zhèngjīngjìn; Vi: chính tinh tiến)
7. Right Mindfulness (Pāli: sammā-sati; Sanskrit: samyag-smṛti; 正念 Cn: zhèngniàn; Vi: chính niệm)
8. Right Concentration (Pāli: sammā-samādhi; Sanskrit: samyak-samādhi; 正定 Cn: zhèngdìng; Vi: chính định)
   The last 3 constitute the path of Concentration (Pāli, Sanskrit: samādhi)

• Pāli: aṭṭhāṅgika-magga
• Sanskrit: aṣṭāṅgika-mārga
• Thai: อริยมรรค ariya-mak
• 八正道
  • Cn: Bāzhèngdào
  • Jp: Hasshōdō
  • Vi: Bát chính đạo

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O

Definition Etymology In other languages oryokiA set of bowls used in a Zen eating ceremony

• Japanese: 応量器 ōryōki

osho A term used to address a monk of the Zen Buddhisttradition. Originally reserved for high ranking monks, it has since been appropriated for everyday use when addressing any male member of the Zen clergy

• Japanese: 和尚 oshō

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P

Definition Etymology In other languages panca skandhaThe five constituent elements into which an individual is analyzed. They are:

1. "form": Pāli, Sanskrit: rūpa; 色 Cn: sè; Jp: shiki
2. "sensation": Pāli, Sanskrit: vedanā; 受 Cn: shòu; Jp: ju
3. "cognition": Pāli: saññā; Sanskrit: saṃjñā; 想 Cn: xiàng; Jp: sō
4. "mental formations": Pāli: saṅkhāra; Sanskrit: saṃskāra; 行 Cn: xíng; Jp: gyō
5. "consciousness": Pāli: viññāṇa; Sanskrit: vijñāna; 識 Cn: shí; Jp: shiki

• Sanskrit: pañca skandha
• Pāli: pañca khandha

• 五蘊, 五陰, 五薀
  • Cn: wǔyùn
  • Jp: go-on, sometimes go-un
  • Vi: ngũ uẩn

Panchen LamaThe second highest ranking lama in the Gelugpasect of Tibetan Buddhism. after the Dalai Lama

• Tibetan: པན་ཆེན་བླ་མ་ panchen blama

• Sanskrit: paṇḍitaguru
• 班禪喇嘛
  • Cn: Bānchán Lǎma
  • Jp: ??
  • Vi: Ban-thiền Lạt-ma

panna, see prajna

• Tibetan:

• Sanskrit:
• 智慧 or 知恵 or 般若
  • Cn:
  • Jp: chie,hannya
  • Vi:

paramarthaAbsolute, as opposed to merely conventional, truth or reality; see also samvrti

• Sanskrit: paramārtha

• Thai: ปรมัตถ์ paramutt

paramita, lit. "reaching the other shore," usually rendered in English as "perfection." The Mahayanapractices for obtaining enlightenment; giving, ethics, patience, effort, concentration and wisdom

• Pāli: parami
• Sanskrit: pāramitā

• Thai: บารมี baramee
• 波羅蜜 or 波羅蜜多
  • Cn: bōluómì or bōluómìduō
  • Jp: haramitsu or haramita
  • Vi: ba-la-mật or ba-la-mật-đa

parinibbana/parinirvanaThe final nibbana/nirvana

• from nibbana/nirvana above
• Pāli: parinibbāna
• Sanskrit: parinirvāṇa

• Thai: ปรินิพพาน pari-nippaan
• 般涅槃
  • Cn: bōnièpán
  • Jp: hatsunehan
  • Vi: bát-niết-bàn

Perfection of Wisdom

• from paramita ("perfection") above and prajna/panna ("wisdom") below

• Sanskrit: prajñāpāramitā
• Pāli: paññāparami
• 般若波羅蜜 or 般若波羅蜜多
  • Cn: bōrě-bōluómì or bōrě-bōluómìduō
  • Jp: hannya-haramitsu or hannya-haramita
  • Vi: bát-nhã-ba-la-mật or bát-nhã-ba-la-mật-đa

Pointing-out instruction The direct introduction to the nature of mind in the lineages of Essence Mahamudraand Dzogchen. A root guru is the master who gives the 'pointing-out instruction' so that the disciple recognizes the nature of mind

• Tibetan: ངོ་སྤྲོད་ ngo sprod

prajna/panna"wisdom", "insight"

• Pāli: paññā
• Sanskrit: prajñā

• Bur: ပညာ pin nya
• Thai: ปัญญา pun-ya
• 般若
  • Cn: bōrě or bānruò
  • Jp: hannya
  • Vi: bát-nhã

pratitya-samutpada"Dependent origination," the view that no phenomenon exists (or comes about) without depending on other phenomena or conditions around it. In English also called "conditioned genesis," "dependent co-arising," "interdependent arising," etc.

A famous application of dependent origination is the Twelve Nidana, or 12 inter-dependences (Sanskrit: dvādaśāṅgapratītyasamutpāda; 十二因緣, 十二因縁 Cn: shíàr yīnyuán; Jp: jūni innen; Vi: thập nhị nhân duyên), which are:

1. Ignorance (Pāli: avijjā; Sanskrit: avidyā; 無明 Cn: wúmíng; Jp: mumyō; Vi: vô minh)
2. Ignorance creates Mental Formation (Pāli: saṅkhāra; Sanskrit: saṃskāra; 行 Cn: xíng; Jp: gyō; Vi: hành)
3. Mental Formation creates Consciousness (Pāli: viññāṇa; Sanskrit: vijñāna; 識 Cn: shí; Jp: shiki; Vi: thức)
4. Consciousness creates Name & Form (Pāli, Sanskrit: nāmarūpa; 名色 Cn: míngsè; Jp: myōshiki; Vi: danh sắc)
5. Name & Form create Sense Gates (Pāli: saḷāyatana; Sanskrit: ṣaḍāyatana; 六入 or 六処 Cn: liùrù; Jp: rokunyū or rokusho; Vi: lục căn)
6. Sense Gates create Contact (Pāli: phassa; Sanskrit: sparśa; 觸, 触 Cn: chù; Jp: soku; Vi: xúc)
7. Contact creates Feeling (Pāli, Sanskrit: vedanā; 受 Cn: shòu; Jp: ju; Vi: thụ)
8. Feeling creates Craving (Pāli: taṇhā; Sanskrit: tṛṣṇā; 愛 Cn: ài; Jp: ai; Vi: ái)
9. Craving creates Clinging (Pāli, Sanskrit: upādāna; 取 Cn: qǔ; Jp: shu; Vi: thủ)
10. Clinging creates Becoming (Pāli, Sanskrit: bhava; 有 Cn: yǒu; Jp: u; Vi: hữu)
11. Becoming creates Birth (Pāli, Sanskrit: jāti; 生 Cn: shēng; Jp: shō; Vi: sinh)
12. Birth leads to Aging & Death (Pāli, Sanskrit: jarāmaraṇa; 老死 Cn: láosǐ; Jp: rōshi; Vi: lão tử)

• Pāli: paṭicca-samuppāda
• Sanskrit: pratitya-samutpāda

• Tib: རྟེན་ཅིང་འབྲེལ་བར་འབྱུང་བ་ rten cing `brel bar `byung ba
• 緣起 (thought to be an abbreviation for 因緣生起), 縁起
  • Cn: yuánqǐ
  • Jp: engi
  • Vi: duyên khởi
• Also called 因緣, 因縁
  • Cn: yīnyuán
  • Jp: innen
  • Vi: nhân duyên

Pratyekabuddha/Paccekabuddha, lit. "a buddha by his own", A buddha who reaches enlightenment on his own

• Pāli: paccekabuddha
• Sanskrit: pratyekabuddha

• 辟支佛
  • Cn: Bìzhī Fó
  • Jp: Hyakushibutsu
  • Vi: Bích-chi Phật

Pure Land BuddhismA large branch of Mahayana, dominantly in East Asia. The goal of Pure Land is to be reborn in the Western sukhavatiof Amitabha

• 净土宗
  • Cn: Jìngtǔ-zōng
  • Jp: Jōdo-shū
  • Ko: Jeongtojong
  • Vi: Tịnh độ tông

purisaThe practicing Buddhist community as a whole; sanghaand laity

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R

Definition Etymology In other languages rebirthThe process of continuity of life after death

• Pāli: punabbhava
• Sanskrit: punarbhava

refugeUsually in the form of "take refuge in the Three Jewels"

• Pāli: saraṇa
• Sanskrit: śaraṇa
• Tib: skyabs
• Thai: สรณะ sorana
• 歸依
  • Cn: guīyī
  • Jp: kie
  • Vi: quy y

rinpoche, lit. "precious one", An honorific title for a respected Tibetan lama, such as a tulku

• Tibetan: རིན་པོ་ཆེ་

• 仁波切
  • Cn: rénbōqiē
  • Jp: ??
  • Vi: ??

RinzaiZen sect emphasizing sudden enlightenment and koan study; named for master Linji

• Japanese: 臨済宗 Rinzai-shū

• 臨濟宗
  • Cn: Línjì-zōng
  • Vi: Lâm Tế tông

RohatsuA day traditionally honored as the day of the Buddha's enlightenment. While deep in meditation under a bodhi tree, he attained enlightenment upon seeing the morning star just at dawn; celebrated on the 8th day either of December or of the 12th month of the lunar calendar

• Japanese: 臘八 Rōhatsu or Rohachi

roshi, lit. "Master", An honorific given to Zen teachers that mastered koan.

• Japanese 老師 rōshi

• 老師
  • Cn: lǎo shī (lit., old master)
  • Vi: lão sư

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S

Definition Etymology In other languages saccatruthfulness

• Sanskrit:

• Thai: สัจจะ sadja
• 真
  • Cn:
  • Jp: shin
  • Vi:

samanera/shramaneraA male novice monk, who, after a year or until the ripe age of 20, will be considered for the higher Bhikkhuordination

• Sanskrit: śrāmaṇera

• Thai: สามเณร sama-naen
• 沙彌
  • Cn: shāmí
  • Jp: shami
  • Vi: ??

samathaMental stabilization; tranquility meditation. Distinguished from vipassanameditation

• Pāli: samatha
• Sanskrit: śamatha

• Thai: สมถะ samatha
• 舍摩他
  • Cn: shěmótā
  • Jp: ??
  • Vi: ??

samsaraThe cycle of birth and rebirth; the world as commonly experienced

• Pāli, Sanskrit: saṃsāra

• Thai: สังสารวัฏ sung-sara-wat
• 輪迴, 輪廻
  • Cn: lúnhúi
  • Jp: rinne
  • Vi: luân hồi

samu Work, conceived as a part of Zentraining.[1]

• Japanese: 作務 samu

• 作務
  • Cn: zuòwù
  • Vi: ??

samvrtiConventional, as opposed to absolute, truth or reality; see also paramartha

• Sanskrit: saṃvrti

• Thai: สมมุติ sommoot

sanghaThe community of Buddhist monks and nuns. Teachers and practitioners.

• Sanskrit: saṅgha

• Bur: သံဃာ than ga
• Thai: สงฆ์ song
• 僧團
  • Cn: sēng tuan
  • Jp: sō, sōryō
  • Vi: tăng già

SanlunBuddhist philosophical school based on the Madhyamakaschool

• Chinese: 三論 sānlùn

• 三論宗
  • Cn: Sānlùnzōng
  • Jp: Sanron-shū
  • Vi: Tam luận tông

sanzenA formal interview with a teacher in many traditions of Zen. Similar to dokusan

• Japanese

satoriAwakening; understanding. A Japanese term for enlightenment

• Japanese: 悟り satori

• 悟
  • Cn: wú
  • Vi: ngộ

sayadawBurmese meditation master seichuIn the ZenBuddhistcalendar, a period of intensive, formal monastic training. It is typically characterized by week-long Daisesshinsand periodic sanzen

• Japanese: 制中 seichu

senseiTeacher; Zen teacher

• Japanese: 先生 sensei

sesshinA Zen retreat where practitioners meditate, eat and work together for several days

• Japanese: 接心, 摂心

• 接心
  • Cn: jiēxīn
  • Vi: tiếp tâm

shikantazaSoto Zen. "Only concentrated on doing sitting" is the main meditation-method of Soto school of Japanese Zen Buddhism

• Japanese: 只管打座

shunyataEmptiness; see also Nagarjuna

• Pāli: suññatā
• Sanskrit: śūnyatā

• 空
  • Cn: kōng
  • Jp: kū
  • Vi: tính Không

sila"morals", "morality", "ethics": precepts

• Pāli: sīla
• Sanskrit: śīla

• Bur: သီလ thi la
• Thai: ศีล seen
• 尸羅,戒
  • Cn: jiè
  • Jp: kai
  • Vi: giới

SotoSect of Zen emphasizing shikantazaas the primary mode of practice; see also Dogen

• Japanese: 曹洞宗 Sōtō-shū

• 曹洞宗
  • Cn: Cáodòng-zōng
  • Vi: Tào Ðộng tông

store consciousnessThe base consciousness (alayavijnana) taught in YogacaraBuddhism

• Pāli, Sanskrit: ālayavijñāna

• 阿頼耶識
  • Cn: āyēshí
  • Jp: arayashiki
  • Vi: a-lại-da thức

sutraScripture; originally referred to short aphoristic sayings and collections thereof

• from √siv: to sew
• Sanskrit: sutra
• Pāli: sutta

• Thai: สูตร soothe
• 經, 経
  • Cn: jīng
  • Jp: kyō
  • Vi: kinh

Sutra PitakaThe second basket of the Tripitakacanon, the collection of all Buddha's teachings

• Pāli: Sutta-piṭaka
• Sanskrit: Sūtra-piṭaka

• 經藏, 経蔵
  • Cn: jīngcáng
  • Jp: kyōzō
  • Vi: Kinh tạng

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T

Definition Etymology In other languages tangaryō A period of waiting for admission into a Zenmonasteryat the gate, lasting anywhere from one day to several weeks—depending on the quality of one's sitting. Refers to the room traveling monks stay in when visiting, or await admittance into the sōdō.

• Japanese: 旦過寮　

tanhaCraving or desire

• Pāli: taṇhā
• Sanskrit: tṛṣṇā

• Thai: ตัณหา tunha
• 愛
  • Cn: ài
  • Jp: ai
  • Vi: ái

tanto In Zen, one of the main leaders of a sesshin. In a Zen temple, the Tanto is the officer in charge of practice standards, i.e. teaching monks and lay practitioners how to sit, walk, bow, and chant in formal situations

• Japanese:単頭

tantraEsoteric religious practices, including yoga, mantra...

• Sanskrit: tantra

• 續部,怛特羅
  • Cn: dátèluó
  • Jp: ??
  • Vi: đát-đặc-la

TathagataThe "Thus-Come One" or "Thus-Gone One"; one of the Buddha's ten epithets

• Sanskrit: tathāgata

• Thai: ตถาคต tatha-kohd
• 如来
  • Cn: rúlái
  • Jp: nyorai
  • Vi: như lai

tathagatagarbhaBuddha-nature or the seed of enlightenment

• Sanskrit: tathāgatagarbha

• 佛性, 仏性
  • Cn: fóxìng
  • Jp: busshō
• Also 覚性
  • Cn: juéxìng
  • Jp: kakushō
  • Vi: giác tính
• Also 如来藏, 如来蔵
  • Cn: rúláizàng
  • Jp: nyuoraizō
  • Vi: như lai tạng

teisho A presentation by a Zen master during a sesshin. Rather than an explanation or exposition in the traditional sense, it is intended as a demonstration of Zen realisation

• Japanese: 提唱 teishō

tenzo In Zen, the head cook for a sesshin. In Zen temples, the officer in charge of the kitchen

• Japanese: 典座 tenzo

• 典座
  • Cn: diǎnzuò
  • Vi: điển toạ

Theravada, lit. "words of the elders", The most orthodox branch of Buddhism

• Pāli: theravāda
• Sanskrit: sthaviravāda

• Thai: เถรวาท tera-waad
• 上座部
  • Cn: shàngzuòbù
  • Jp: jōzabu
  • Vi: Thượng toạ bộ

Three JewelsThree things that Buddhists take refuge in: the Buddha, his teachings (Dharma) and the community of realized practitioners (Sangha), and in return look toward for guidance (see also Refuge (Buddhism))

• Pāli: tiratana
• Sanskrit: triratna
• Thai: ไตรรัตน์ trai-rut
• 三寶
  • Cn: sānbăo
  • Jp: sanbō
  • Vi: tam bảo

Three periods

• Three divisions of the time following the historical Buddha's passing: the Former (or Early) Day of the Law (正法 Cn: zhèngfǎ; Jp: shōbō), the first thousand years; the Middle Day of the Law (像法 Cn: xiàngfǎ; Jp: zōhō), the second thousand years; and the Latter Day of the Law (末法 Cn: mòfǎ; Jp: mappō), which is to last for 10,000 years.
• The three periods are significant to Mahayana adherents, particularly those who hold the Lotus Sutra in high regard; e.g., Tiantai (Tendai) and Nichiren Buddhists, who believe that different Buddhist teachings are valid (i.e., able to lead practitioners to enlightenment) in each period due to the different capacity to accept a teaching (機根 Cn: jīgēn; Jp: kikon) of the people born in each respective period.
• The three periods are further divided into five five-hundred year periods (五五百歳 Cn: wǔ wǔbǎi suì; Jp: go no gohyaku sai), the fifth and last of which was prophecized to be when the Buddhism of Sakyamuni would lose all power of salvation and a new Buddha would appear to save the people. This time period would be characterized by unrest, strife, famine, and other, natural disasters.
• The three periods and the five five-hundred year periods are described in the Sutra of the Great Assembly (大集経 Cn: dàjí jīng; Jp: Daishutu-kyō, Daijuku-kyō, Daijikkyō, or Daishukkyō). Descriptions of the three periods also appear in other sutras, some of which ascribe different lengths of time to them (although all agree that Mappō will last for 10,000 years).

• 三時
  • Cn: Sānshí
  • Jp: Sanji
  • Vi: Tam thời

Three Poisons or Three Fires The three primary causes of unskillful action or creation of "negative" karma:

1. Greed or selfish desire (Pāli: taṇhā; Sanskrit: tṛṣṇā; Tib.: འདོད་ཆགས་ 'dod chags; 貪 Cn: tān; Jp: ton; Vi: ái)
2. Hatred or anger (Sanskrit: dveṣa; Tib.: ཞེ་སྡང་ zhe sdang; 瞋 Cn: chēn; Jp: jin; Vi: sân)
3. Ignorance or delusion (Pāli: avijjā; Sanskrit: avidyā; Tib.: གཏི་མུག་ gti mug; 癡 Cn: chī; Jp: chi; Vi: vô minh)

• Pāli: Kilesa (Defilements)
• Sanskrit: kleśa

• Tib: düsum (Wylie: dug gsum)
• 三毒
  • Cn: Sāndú
  • Jp: Sandoku
  • Vi: Tam độc

Tiantai/TendaiA Mahayana school of Chinathat teaches the supremacy of the Lotus Sutra

• Chinese: 天台 tiāntái

• 天台宗
  • Cn: tiāntái zōng
  • Jp: tendai-shū
  • Vi: Thiên Thai tông

trailõkyaThe 3 "regions" of the world:

1. Kamaloka or Kamadhatu: world of desires (Sanskrit, Pāli: kāmaloka, kāmadhātu; Tibetan: འདོད་ཁམས་ `dod khams; 欲界 Cn: yùjiè, Vi: dục giới)
2. Rupaloka or Rupadhatu: world of form (Sanskrit: rūpaloka, rūpadhātu; Tibetan: གཟུགས་ཁམས་ gzugs khams; 色界 Cn: sèjiè; Vi: sắc giới)
3. Arupaloka or Arupadhatu: world without form or desire (Sanskrit: arūpaloka, arūpadhātu; Tibetan: གཟུགས་མེད་ཁམས་ gzugs med khams; 無色界 Cn: wú sèjiè, Vi: vô sắc giới)

• Sanskrit: triloka

• Pāli: tisso dhātuyo
• Tibetan: ཁམས་གསུམ་ khams gsum
• 三界
  • Cn: sānjiè
  • Jp: ??
  • Vi: tam giới

trikayaThe 3 "bodies" of Buddha:

• Dharma-kaya (Sanskrit: dharmakāya; 法身 Cn: fǎshēn; Jp: hosshin; Vi: pháp thân)
• Sambhoga-kaya (Sanskrit: saṃbhogakāya; 報身 Cn: bàoshēn; Jp: hōshin; Vi: báo thân)
• Nirmana-kaya (Sanskrit: nirmāṇakāya; 應身,化身,応身 Cn: yìngshēn; Jp: ōjin; Vi: ứng thân)

• Sanskrit: trikāya

• 三身
  • Cn: sānshēn
  • Jp: sanjin
  • Vi: tam thân

TripitakaThe "Three Baskets"; canon containing the sacred texts for Buddhism (Pāli)

• Vinaya Pitaka (Pāli, Sanskrit: Vinaya-piṭaka; Tib: འདུལ་བའི་སྡེ་སྣོད་ `dul ba`i sde snod; 律藏, 律蔵 Cn: lǜzàng; Jp: Ritsuzō; Vi: Luật tạng)
• Sutra Pitaka (Pāli: Sutta-piṭaka; Sanskrit: Sūtra-piṭaka; Tib: མདོ་སྡེའི་སྡེ་སྣོད་ mdo sde`i sde snod; 經藏, 経蔵 Cn: jīngzàng; Jp: Kyōzō; Vi: Kinh tạng)
• Abhidhamma Pitaka (Pāli: Abhidhamma-piṭaka; Sanskrit: Abhidharma-piṭaka; Tib: མངོན་པའི་སྡེ་སྣོད་ mngon pa`i sde snod; 論藏, 論蔵 Cn: lùnzàng; Jp: Ronzō; Vi: Luận tạng)

• Pāli: Tipiṭaka
• Sanskrit: Tripiṭaka

• Burmese: တိပိဋက Tipitaka (IPA: tḭpḭtəka̰)
• Thai: ไตรปิฎก Traipidok
• 三藏, 三蔵
  • Cn: Sānzàng
  • Jp: Sanzō
  • Ko: Samjang
  • Vi: Tam tạng

Triratna/Tiratana, see Three Jewels above

• Pāli: tiratana
• Sanskrit: triratna

trsna, see tanhaabove tulkuA re-incarnated Tibetan teacher

• Tibetan: སྤྲུལ་སྐུ་ tulku

• 再來人 (轉世再來的藏系師長)
  • Jp: keshin
  • Vi: hoá thân

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U

Definition Etymology In other languages upadanaClinging; the 9th link of Pratitya-Samutpada; the Ninth Twelve Nidanas

• Pāli, Sanskrit: upādāna

• Thai: อุปาทาน u-pa-taan
• 取(十二因緣第九支)
  • Cn: qǔ
  • Jp: shu
  • Vi: thủ

upasakaA lay follower of Buddhism

• Sanskrit: upāsaka

• Thai: อุบาสก u-ba-sok
• 近事男,優婆塞
  • Cn: jìnshìnán
  • Jp: ??
  • Vi: cận sự nam

upasika A female lay follower

• from upasaka above
• Sanskrit: upāsika

• Thai: อุบาสิกา u-ba-sika
• 近事女,優婆夷
  • Cn: jìnshìnǚ
  • Jp: ??
  • Vi: cận sự nữ

upayaExpedient though not necessarily ultimately true. Originally used as a polemical device against other schools - calling them "merely" expedient, lacking in ultimate truth, later used against ones own school to prevent students form forming attachments to doctrines

In Mahayana, exemplified by the Lotus Sutra, upaya are the useful means that Buddhas (and Buddhist teachers) use to free beings into enlightenment

• Sanskrit: upāya

• 方便
  • Cn: fāngbiàn
  • Jp: hōben
  • Vi: phương tiện

upekkhaequanimity

• Sanskrit:

• Thai: อุเบกขา u-bek-kha
• 镇定，沉着

urnaA concave circular dot on the forehead between the eyebrows

• Sanskrit: urna

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V

Definition Etymology In other languages Vajrayana, lit. "diamond vehicle", The third major branch, alongside Hinayana and Mahayana

• Sanskrit: vajrayāna

• Thai: วชิรญาณ wachira-yaan
• 金剛乘
  • Cn: Jīngāng shèng
  • Jp: ??
  • Vi: Kim cương thừa

Vinaya Pitaka, lit. "discipline basket", The first basket of the Tripitakacanon, which deals with the rules of monastic life

• Pāli, Sanskrit: vinaya-piṭaka

• Thai: วินัย wi-nai
• 律藏
  • Cn: Lǜzàng
  • Jp: Ritsuzō
  • Vi: Luật tạng

vipassanaUsually translated as "Insight" meditation, most associated with the Theravada tradition, but present throughout Buddhism as an evolved tradition. Distinguished from samathameditation

• from vi-√dṛś: to see apart
• Pāli: vipassanā
• Sanskrit: vipaśyanā, vidarśanā

• Thai: วิปัสสนา wipadsana
• 觀,観
  • Cn: guān
  • Jp: kan
  • Vi: quán

viriyaenergy

• from
• Pāli:
• Sanskrit: ,

• 能量
• Thai: วิริยะ wiriya
  • Cn: néngliàng
  • Jp:
  • Vi:

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Z

Definition Etymology In other languages zazenSitting meditation as practiced in the Zen Schoolof Buddhism

• Japanese: 坐禅

• 坐禪
  • Cn: zuòchán
  • Vi: toạ thiền

Zen SchoolA Japanese branch of Mahayanathat emphasizes meditation in the pursuing of enlightenment

• Japanese: 禅宗 Zen-shu

• 禪宗
  • Cn: Chánzōng
  • Vi: Thiền tông

zendoIn Zen, a hall where Zen (usually meaning zazen) is practiced (see Dojo)

• Japanese: 禅堂

• 禪堂
  • Cn: chántáng
  • Vi: thiền đường

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

See also

• Buddhism
• Buddhist texts

External links

• Pali Text Society Dictionary (Be sure to check the "Unicode font" option, and to have one; also, if looking for a word, choose "words that match")
• Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary
• Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (Login with userid "guest")
• Kadampa Glossary of Buddhist Terms

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