v111q3r9@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Yi L Chiang) (02/06/91)
Anuttara Sanyak Sambodhi: The incomparably complete, perfect
------------------------ Awakening experienced by Buddhas.
Apaya-bhumi: State of woe; the three realms of existence characterised
----------- by extreme discomfort and delusion, i.e., hell-states,
animail birth and hungry ghosts, or pretas.
Arahant: Lit, accomplished one; one who has destroyed the fetters
------- and defilements binding one to the wheel of birth
and death. One who has extinguished, in himself, craving,
aversion and delusion.
Arthakrtya: one of the four All-Embracing Virtues; performance
---------- of conduct profitable to others in order to lead them
toward the truth.
Bhiksu: A Buddhist monk who has taken the higher ordination
------ and the 250 precepts.
Bhiksuni: A Buddhist nun who has taken the higher ordination
-------- and 350 precepts.
Bodhi: enlightenment or awakening.
-----
Bodhicitta: Lit, enlightened mind or heart; the determination
---------- or vow to develop and pratice the Bodhisattva path to
Supreme Awakening.
Bodhisattva: Lit., enlightened being; one who has determined
----------- the Bodhicitta and pratices the six Paramitas, the four Great
Vows, the All-Embracing Virtues,etc.
Brahmacarya: Lit., Brahma or purified life, ususally connoting the
----------- pratice of celibacy.
Buddha: Lit., the Awakened One ; one who through aeons of
------ spiritual development has attained Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi.
This epithet usually refers to Sakymuni Buddha, Who
lived abd taught in India some 2,600 years ago.
Buddhadharma: The Teaching of the Buddha.
------------
Buddharupa: A statue or image of the Buddha, used for devotional
---------- purposes.
Ch'an-Ting: Lit., "mind still and quiet"; the Chinese translation
---------- of the Sanskrit terms Dhyana-samadhi, meaning deep
contemplative pratice or yogic absorption.
Citta: Mind or heart, the two terms being synonymous in Asian
----- religious philosophy.
Dana: The pratice of generosity or charity; one of the Paramitas
---- as well as one of the All-Embracing Virtues,Where it means,
in the latter, giving others what they want just to lead them
towards the truth.
Devas: The inhabitants of the heavenly realms, Which are characterised
----- by long life, joyous surroundings and blissful stated of
mind. In the Buddhist tradition, these states are understood
to be impermanent, not eternal.
Dharma: Lit., that whgich upholds. Dharma has no exact equivalent
------ in English. It can mean variously: the Buddha's teaching,
the laws of the universe, the nature of things, any and all
phenomena, the real or unreal, etc. When understood as
the perfect Teaching of the Awakened One, it constitutes
the second of the Three precious Jewels and the Three
efuges.
Dharmadhatu: Lit., dharma element or realm, wherever the principles discovered
----------- by the Buddha are in operation, i.e., everywhere. Also, all
phenomena and and mounema and their underlying nature.
Dhyana: The practice of concentration, i.e., meditation. Also, more
------ specificsally, the four form concentrations and the foru formless
concentrations.
Dviyana: Lit., two vehicles. The two vehicles or practice paths of Sravakayana
------- and Pratyekabuddhayana.
Four Great Vows: The four vows held by all Bodhisattvas. These vows are called
--------------- great because of the wondrous and inconceivable compassion
involved in fulfilling them. They are as follows: Sentient
beings without number we vow to enlighten; Vexations without
end we vow to eradicate; Limitless approaches to Dharma we vow
to Dharma we vow to master; The Supreme Awakening we vow to
achieve.
Hinayana: The lesser Vehicle; a term applied by the Mahayana to those schools
-------- of Buddhism that practice to attain the fruits of Sravakayana and
Pratyekabuddhayana and do not attempt to attain the Anuttara Samyak
Sambodhi of a Buddha.
Icchantika: One who has no interest in the path to Awakening, or one whose
---------- good roots are completely covered.
Karma: Volition, volitional or intentional activity. Karma is always followed
----- by its fruit, vipaka. Karma and vipaka are oftentimes referred to as
the law of causality, a cardinal concern in the Teaching of the Buddha.
Ksanti: Patience or forbearance, one of the six Paramitas.
------
Maitri: Loving-kindness.
------
Mahakaruna: Great compassion.
----------
Mahayana: Lit., great vehicle, a name held by those schools of Buddhism that
-------- advocate the path to the Supreme Awakening of a Buddha and the
crossing over of all sentient beings to the shore of peace and truth.
Nirvana: The deathless; the cessation of all suffering. The very opposite of
------- the Wheel-of-Birth-and Death; it is what those in the Buddhist
tradition aspire to experience. The Absolute, which transcends
designation and mundane characterization.
Parajika: Lit., defeat or the conditions leading to the defeat of the
-------- Bodhicitta. Also, the conditions leading to the defeat of the bhisku
life.
Paramita: Lit., that which crosses over; the Six Perfections, namely: Sana,
-------- or generosity; Sila, or morality; Ksanti, or patience, Virya, or
energy; Dhyanam or meditation, and Prajna, or wisdom.
Prajna: Fundamental wisdom or insinght; one of the Pramitas.
------
Pratyekabuddha: A solitary Buddha; one who has achieved Awakening through
-------------- insight into the dependent origination of mind and body.
Pratyekabuddhas lead only solitary lives, and they do not
teach the Dharma to others nor do they have any desire to do
so.
Pretas: Hungry ghosts, who are tormented by continual and unsatisfied cravings.
------ The preta-realm is one of the three state of woe (apaya-bhumi) and one
of the six realms of existence.
Priyavacana: Lit., loving or affectionate speech. This beautiful and
----------- affectionatte speech is one of the four All-Embracing virtues
and is used to lead sentient beings toward the truth.
Samadhi: Deep concentration; the state of one-pointedness of mind characterized
------- by peace and imperturbability. Samadhi is also one of the Paramitas
and is indispensabele on the path to Bodhi.
Samanarthata: Cooperation with and adaption to others for the sake of leading
------------ them towards the truth. Samanarthata is one of the four All-
Embracing Virtues.
Sangha: Lit., harmonious community. In the Buddhadharma, Sangha means the
------ order of bhiksus, sramaneras and sramanerikas. Another meaning is the
Arya Sangha, attained one of the four stages of sanctity. Also, the
Bodhisattva Sangha.
Siksamana: A lay-disciple who maintains the eight precepts, either temporarily
--------- or as preparation for leaving home.
Sila: Moral precepts. These number 5, 8, 10, 250 or 350. Also, one of the
---- Paramitas.
Sutra: A discourse by the Buddha or one of his major disciples. The Sutra
----- collection is one of the three divisions of the Buddhist scripture.
Sramanera: A novice monk holding the 10 precepts.
---------
Sramanerika: A novice nun holding the 10 precepts.
-----------
Sravaka: A disciple who hears the Teaching personally from a Buddha and
------- observes the practices on the path to Arahant-ship.
Tao: Path or way. The Sanskrit equivalent to this chinese term is marga.
---
Ten Virtues: The virtuous modes of behavior, which are the positive
----------- counterpart to the five precepts.
Theravada: Lit., the Way of the Elders. The Buddhist tradition, the
--------- scriptures of which are recorded in the pali language; this
tradition advocates the Arahant path.
Three Poisons: Craving, aversion and delusion; also, these are termed the three
------------- root-stains or the three roots of unskillfulness.
Three Precious Ones: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha; sometimes referred to as the
------------------- Teacher, the Teaching and the Taught.
Three Refuges: Taking refuge and possessing confidence in the Buddha's
------------- Awakening, in his teaching and in the Sangha of enlightened
disciples.
Three Vehicles: The yanas of Sravakas, Pratyekabuddhas and Buddhas.
--------------
Upasaka: The male lay-disciples of the Buddha, characterized by their
------- maintenance of the five precepts and Three Refuges.
Upasika: The female lay-disciples of the Buddha, characterized by their
------- maintenance of the five precepts and the Three Refuges.
Vinaya: Disciplined conduct, referring specifically to the monastic rules for
------ the disciples who have left home; also, one of the three divisions of
the Buddhist scriptures.
Virya: Energy; the energy necessary to maintain and progress in spiritural
----- development. Also, one of the Paramitas.