| Buddhism Glossary Buddhism GlossaryAA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/Agadasadj.: healthy; n.: antidote, panacea, universal remedy.AgamasGeneric term applied to a collection of traditional doctrines and precepts; also means the home or collecting-place of the law or truth; the peerless law; the ultimate absolute truth. The Four Agamas are as follows: (1) Dirghagama, "law treatises on cosmogony; (2) Madhyamagama, "middle" treatises on metaphysics; (3) Samyuktagama, "miscellaneous" treatises on abstract contemplation; (4) Edottaragama, "numerical" treatises on subjects treated numerically.The sutras of Theravada are referred to at times as the Agamas.AgaraHouse, dwelling, receptacle; also, used in the sense of a Bodily organ, e.g., the ear for sound, etc.Agaru/AguruSandalwood incense.Alaya ConsciousnessThe fundamental consciousness of all sentient beings. As defined by the Yogacara School, Alaya means the "storehouse", implying that this consciousness contains and preserves all past memories and potential psychic energy within its fold; it is the reservoir of all ideas, memories and desires and is also the fundamental cause of both Samsara and Nirvana.Almsgivingsee charity.Amitabha(Amida, Amita, Amitayus)Amitabha is the most commonly used name for the Buddha of Infinite Light and Infinite Life. A transhistorical Buddha venerated by all Mahayana schools (T'ien T'ai, Esoteric, Zen ...) and, particularly, Pure Land. Presides over the Western Pure Land (Land of Ultimate Bliss), where anyone can be reborn through utterly sincere recitation of His name, particularly at the time of death.Amitabha Buddha at the highest or noumenon level represents the True Mind, the Self-Nature common to the Buddhas and sentient beings - all encompassing and all-inclusive. This deeper understanding provides the rationale for the harmonization of Zen and Pure Land, two of the most popular schools of Mahayana Buddhism. See also "Buddha Reatation," "Mind," "Pure Land."Amitabha SutraSee "Three Pure land Sutras."Anasrava(Skt.) Opposite of asrava.Anuttara-Samayak-SambodhiThe incomparably, completely and fully awakened mind; it is the attribute of buddhas.Apaya-bhumiStates of woe: the three realms of existence characterized by extreme discomfort and delusion--i.e., hell-states, animal-birth and the hungry ghosts, or pretas.ArhatArhatship is the highest rank attained by Sravakas. An Arhat is a Buddhist saint who has attained liberation from the cycle of Birth and Death, generally through living a monastic life in accordance with the Buddhas' teachings. This is the goal of Theravadin practice, as contrasted with Bodhisattvahood in Mahayana practice. (A Dictionary of Buddhism.) The stage is preceded by three others: 1. Stream Winner, 2. Once-Returner, 3. Non-Returner. See also "Sravakas."ArthakrtyaOne of the Four All-Embracing Virtues: performance of conduct profitable to others in order to lead them toward the truth.AryaAny individual ennobled by his/her own continuing effort on the path to enlightenment.Asamkhiya (kalpa)Term related to the Buddhist metaphysics of time. Each of the periodic manifestations and dissolutions of universes which go on eternally has four parts, called asamkhiya kalpas.Asrava(Skt.) Pain causing impurity, defilement.AsuraTitanic demons, enemies of the gods, with whom-especially Indra-they wage war.AttachmentIn the Four Noble truths, Buddha Shakyamuni taught that attachment to self is the root cause of suffering:From craving [attachment] springs grief, from craving springs fear; For him who is wholly free from craving, there is no grief, much less fear. (Dhammapada Sutra. In Narada Maha Thera, The Buddha and His Teachings.)If you don't have attachments, naturally you're liberated ... In ancient times, there was an old cultivator who asked for instructions from a monk, "Great Monk, let me ask you, how can I attain liberation?" The Great monk said, "Who tied you up?" This old cultivator answered, "Nobody tied me up." The monk said, "Then why do you seek liberation?" (Hsuan Hua, tr., Flower Adornment Sutra, "Pure Conduct," chap. 11.)For the seasoned practitioner, even the Dharma must not become an attachment. As an analogy, to clean one's shirt, it is necessary to use soap. However, if the soap is not then rinsed out, the garment will not be truly clean. Similarly, the practitioner's mind will not be fully liberated until he severs attachment to everything, including the Dharma itself.AvalokitesvaraThe name is a compound of Ishwara, meaning Lord, and avalokita, looked upon or seen, and is usually translated as the Lord Who Observes (the cries of the world); the Buddhist embodiment of compassion as formulated in the Mahayana Dharma. Also called Kuan Yin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Guan Yin is one of the triad of Amitabha Buddha, represented on his left, Usually recognizable by the small Buddha adorning Her crown. Guan Yin can transform into many different forms in order to cross over to the beings. Guan Yin is one of the most popular Bodhisattva in China.Avatamsaka (Flower Ornament) SutraThe basic text of the Avatamsaka School. It is one of the longest sutras in the Buddhist Canon and records the highest teaching of Buddha Shakyamuni, immediately after Enlightenment. It is traditionally believed that the Sutra was taught to the Bodhisattvas and other high spiritual beings while the Buddha was in samadhi. The Sutra has been described as the "epitome of Buddhist thought, Buddhist sentiment and Buddhist experience" and is quoted by all schools of Mahayana Buddhism, in particular, Pure Land and Zen. Awakening vs. EnlightenmentA clear distinction should be made between awakening to the Way (Great Awakening) and attaining the Way (attaining Enlightenment). (Note: There are many degrees of Awakening and Enlightenment. Attaining the Enlightenment of the Arhats, Pratyeka Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, etc. is different from attaining Supreme Enlightenment, i.e., Buddhahood.)To experience a Great Awakening is to achieve (through Zen meditation, Buddha Recitation, etc.) a complete and deep realization of what it means to be a Buddha and how to reach Buddhahood. It is to see one's Nature, comprehend the True Nature of things, the Truth. However, only after becoming a Buddha can one be said to have truly attained Supreme Enlightenment (attained the Way). A metaphor appearing in the sutras is that of a glass of water containing sediments. As long as the glass is undisturbed, the sediments remain at the bottom and the water is clear. However, as soon as the glass is shaken, the water becomes turbid. Likewise, when a practitioner experiences a Great Awakening (awakens to the Way), his afflictions (greed, anger and delusion) are temporarily suppressed but not yet eliminated. To achieve Supreme Enlightenment (i.e., to be rid of all afflictions, to discard all sediments) is the ultimate goal. Only then can he completely trust his mind and actions. Before then, he should adhere to the precepts, keep a close watch on his mind and thoughts, like a cat stalking a mouse, ready to pounce on evil thoughts as soon as they arise. To do otherwise is to court certain failure, as stories upon stories of errant monks, roshis and gurus demonstrate.Awakening of the Faith (Treatise)A major commentary by the Patriarch Asvaghosha (lst/2nd cent.), which presents the fundamental principles of Mahayana Buddhism. Several translations exist in English. BA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/Ban T'oSuddhidanthaka in Sanskrit. Ban Tšo was a disciple of Buddha, and he was very forgetful; for when the Buddha taught him the second sentence of a gatha of a sutra he would forget the first one, and when he was taught the third one he would forget the second one. Ultimately, however, with persistence he became an Arhat.BardoThe intermediate existence between death and reincarnation -- a stage varying from seven to forty-nine days, after which the Karmic body from previous lives will certainly be reborn.BhiksuReligious mendicant; Buddhist fully ordained monk. Bhiksuni is the equivalent term designating a woman. Bhadanta"Most virtuous"; honorific title apllied to a Buddha.BhaisajyaguruSanskrit word, the Buddha of Medicine, who quells all diseases and lengthens life. His is the Buddha in the Pure Land of the Paradise of the East.BhutatathataThe true character of reality. The real as thus, always or eternally so. True Suchness.BodhiSanskrit for Enlightenment. Also Perfect knowledge or wisdom by which a person becomes a Buddha.Bodhi-TaoBodhi-path: The way or path to the Supreme Enlightenment of Buddhahood.Bodhi Mind (Bodhicitta, Great Mind)The spirit of Enlightenment, the aspiration to achieve it, the Mind set on Enlightenment. It involves two parallel aspects: i) the determination to achieve Buddhahood and ii) the aspiration to rescue all sentient beings.BodhimandalaTruth-plot, holy sits, place of Enlightenment, the place where the Buddha attained Enlightenment.BodhisattvasThose who aspire to Supreme Enlightenment and Buddhahood for themselves and all beings. The word Bodhisattva can therefore stand for a realized being such as Avalokitesvara or Samantabhadra but also for anyone who has developed the Bodhi Mind, the aspiration to save oneself and others.Bodhisattva-TaoThe way of the practitioner of Mahayana Buddhism. One following this path aspires to the attainment of Enlightenment for the sake and benefit of all sentient beings.Brahma Net Sutra (Brahmajala Sutra)This is a sutra of major significance in Mahayana Buddhism. In addition to containing the ten major precepts of Mahayana (not to kill, steal, lie, etc.) the Sutra also contains forty-eight less important injunctions. These fifty-eight major and minor precepts constitute the Bodhisattva Precepts, taken by most Mahayana monks and nuns and certain advanced lay practitioners.BrahmacaryaLit., Brahma or purified life, usually connoting the practice of celibacy.BrahmajalaOr Indra's net, characterized by holding a luminous gem in every one of its eyes. (Hindu mythology).BrahminThe highest of the four Castes in Hinduism. They served Brahma, his offering, the keepers of the Vedas, i.e. priestly.BuddhaLit., the Awakened One; one who through aeons of spiritual development has attained Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi. This epithet usually refers to Sakyamuni Buddha, who lived and taught in India some 2,600 years ago.Buddha NatureThe following terms refer to the same thing: Self-Nature, True Nature, Original Nature, Dharma Nature, True Mark, True Mind, True Emptiness, True Thusness, Dharma Body, Original Face, Emptiness, Prajna, Nirvana, etc.According to the Mahayana view, [buddha-nature] is the true, immutable, and eternal nature of all beings. Since all beings possess buddha-nature, it is possible for them to attain enlightenment and become a buddha, regardless of what level of existence they occupy ... The answer to the question whether buddha-nature is immanent in beings is an essential determining factor for the association of a given school with Theravada or Mahayana, the two great currents within Buddhism. In Theravada this notion is unknown; here the potential to become a buddha is not ascribed to every being. By contrast the Mahayana sees the attainment of buddhahood as the highest goal; it can be attained through the inherent buddha-nature of every being through appropriate spiritual practice. (The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen.)See also "Dharma Nature."Buddha RecitationSee "Buddha-Remembrance".Buddha-RemembranceGeneral term for a number of practices, such as i) oral recitation of Amitabha Buddha's name and ii) visualization/contemplation of His auspicious marks and those of the Pure Land.In reciting the buddha-name you use your own mind to be mindful of your own true self: how could this be considered seeking outside yourself?Reciting the buddha-name proceeds from the mind. The mind remembers Buddha and does not forget. That's why it is called buddha remembrance, or reciting the buddha-name mindfully.The most common Pure Land technique is recitation of Amitabha Buddha's name. See also "Amitabha," "Pure Land."BuddhadharmaLit., Teaching of Enlightenment.Originally apllied to designate the teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha; supplantedby the term "Buddhism" in its later historical development.BuddharupaA statue or Image of the Buddha,used for devotional purposes. CA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/CaityaTumulus, a mausoleum; a place wherethe relics of Buddha were collected; hence, a place where the sutras orimages are placed.CakravalaThe nine cakravala or concentricmountain ranges or continents, separated by eight seas, of a universe.CandanaWhite candana, or white sandalwood.ChanSee Zen.Ch'an-TingLit., mind still and quiet: theChinese translation of the Sanskrit terms Dhyana-Samadhi, meaning deepcontemplative practice or yogic absorption.Charityor almsgiving, the first Paramitas. There are three kinds of charity in terms of goods, teaching (Dharma) and courage (fearlessness). Out of the three, the merits and virtues of the teaching of the Buddha Dharma is the most surpassing. Charity done for no reward here and hereafter is called pure or unsullied, while the sullied charity is done for the purpose of personal benefits. In Buddhism, the merits and virtues of pure charity is the best. ChiliocosmCountless Universes.Chih-KuanIn practice there are three contemplations; seeing suchabstractions: (1) by fixing the mind on the nose, navel, etc. (2) by stoppingevery thought as it arises; (3) by dwelling on the thought that no thingexists of itself, but from a preceding cause.Chung Yin ShenSee Bardo.CintamaniThe talismanic pearl, a symbol of bestowing fortune andcapable of fulfilling every wish.CittaMind or heart. the two terms beingsynonymous in Asian religious philosophy.Conditioned (compounded)Describes all the various phenomenain the world - made up of separate, discrete elements, "with outflows,"with no intrinsic nature of their own. Conditioned merits and virtues leadto rebirth within samsara, whereas unconditioned merits and virtues arethe causes of liberation from Birth and Death. See also "Unconditioned." DA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/DanaThe practice of generosity or charity:one of the Paramitas as well as one of the All-Embracing Virtues, whereit means, in the latter, giving others what they want just to lead themtowards the truth.Dedication of MeritSee "Transference of Merit."Delusion (Ignorance)"Delusion refers to belief in something that contradicts reality. In Buddhism, delusion is ... a lack of awareness of the true nature or Buddha nature of things, or of the true meaning of existence. "According to the Buddhist outlook, we are deluded by our senses-- among which intellect (discriminating, discursive thought) is included as a sixth sense. Consciousness, attached to the senses, leads us into error by causing us to take the world of appearances for the world of reality, whereas in fact it is only a limited and fleeting aspect of reality." (The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen.) DemonsEvil influences which hinder cultivation.These can take an infinite number of forms, including evil beings or hallucinations.Disease and death, as well as the three poisons of greed, anger and delusionare also equated to demons, as they disturb the mind.The Nirvana Sutra lists four typesof demon: i) greed, anger and delusion; ii) the five skandas, or obstructionscaused by physical and mental functions; iii) death; iv) the demon of theSixth Heaven (Realm of Desire).The Self-Nature has been described in Mahayana sutras as a house full of gold and jewelry. To preserve the riches, i.e., to keep the mind calm, empty and still, we should shut the doors to the three thieves of greed, anger and delusion. Letting the mind wander opens the house to "demons," that is, hallucinations and harm. Thus, Zen practitioners are taught that, while in meditation, "Encountering demons, kill the demons, encountering Buddhas, kill the Buddhas." Both demons and Buddhas are mind-made, Mind-Only. For a detailed discussion of demons,see Master Thich Thien Tam, Buddhism of Wisdom and' Faith, sect. 51.DevakanyaGoddess in general attendance onthe regents of the sun and moon.DevaLit., "A shining one". An inhabitantof the heavenly realms, which is characterized by long life, joyous surroundingsand blissful states of mind. In the Buddhist tradition, these states areunderstood to be impermanent, not eternal.Deva KingThe four Deva Kings in the first,or lowest, Devaloka on its four sides are the following: East-Dhrtarastra;South-Virodhaka; West-Viropaksa; North-Dhanada, or Vaisravana.DhariniExtended mantra used in esotericbranch of Buddhism to focus and expand the mind. Its words, or sounds,should not communicate any recognizable meaning.Dharmaa) The teachings of the Buddhas(generally capitalized in English); b) duty, law, doctrine; c) things,events, phenomena, everything.Dharma-dhatuThe Law-doctrine that is the realitybehind being and non-being. It is interpenetrative and all-inclusive, justas the rotation of the earth holds both night and day.Dharma-Ending Age, DegenerateAge, Last Age.The present spiritually degenerateera, twenty-six centuries after the demise of Shakyamuni Buddha. The conceptof decline, dissension and schism within the Dharma after the passing ofthe Buddha is a general teaching of Buddhism and a corollary to the Truthof Impermanence. See, for example, the Diamond Sutra (sect. 6 in the translationby A.F. Price and Wong Mou-lam). The time following Buddha Shakyamuni'sdemise is divided into three periods: i) the Perfect Age of the Dharma,lasting 500 years, when the Buddha's teaching (usually meditation) wascorrectly practiced and Enlightenment often attained; ii) the Dharma SemblanceAge, lasting about 1,000 years, when a form of the teaching was practicedbut Enlightenment seldom attained; iii) the Dharma-Ending Age, lastingsome ten thousand years, when a diluted form of the teaching exists andEnlightenment is rarely attained.Dharma GateSchool, method, tradition.Dharma NatureThe intrinsic nature of all things.Used interchangeably with "emptiness," "reality." See also "Buddha Nature."DharmakaraThe Bodhisattva who later became Amitabha Buddha, as related in the Longer Amitabha Sutra. The Bodhisattva Dharmakara is famous for forty-eight Vows, particularly the eighteenth, which promises rebirth in the Pure Land to anyone who recites His name with utmost sincerity and faith at the time of death. DharmakayaSee "Three bodies of the Buddha."DhyanaThe practice of concentration--i.e.,meditation. Also, more specifically, the four form concentrations and thefour formless concentrations.Diamond Sutra"An independent part of the Prajnaparamita Sutra, which attained great importance, particularly in East Asia. It shows that all phenomenal appearances are not ultimate reality but rather illusions, projections of one's own mind ... The work is called Diamond Sutra because it is 'sharp like a diamond that cuts away all unnecessary conceptualizations and brings one to the further shore of enlightenment.'" (The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen.) Difficult Path of Practice (Pathof the Sages, Self-Power Path)According to Pure Land teaching,all conventional Buddhist ways of practice and cultivation (Zen, Theravada,the Vinaya School ...), which emphasize self-power and self-reliance. Thisis contrasted to the Easy Path of Practice, that is, the Pure Land method,which relies on both self-power and other-power (the power and assistanceof the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas).DuskrtaWrongdoing, evil action, misdeed,sin; external sins of the body and the mouth; a light sin.Dusts (Worldly Dusts)A metaphor for all the mundanethings that can cloud our bright Self-Nature. These include form, sound,scent, taste, touch, dharmas (external opinions and views). These dustscorrespond to the five senses and the discriminating, everyday mind (thesixth sense, in Buddhism).DviyanaLit., two vehicles. The two vehiclesor practice paths of Sravakayana and Pratyekabuddhayana.Dwo-ShihAn unusual term indicating onewho has practiced the Tao with great diligence and blessing duringhis lifetime and who, after his death, does not want to enter justany womb, but prefers to wait for some auspicious condition, usurping such a good position from another, less highly developed spirit. EA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/Easy Path of PracticeRefers to Pure Land practice. The Easy Path involves reliance on the power of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, in particular Buddha Amitabha ("other-power") in addition to one's own cultivation("self-power"). Usually contrasted with primary reliance on self-power (Difficult Path of Practice), taught in other Buddhist schools. Equal reliance on self-power and other-power distinguishes the Pure Land School from most other schools of Buddhism. The distinction is, however, a matter of emphasis, as all schools of Buddhism rely, to a greater or lesser extent, on both self-power and other-power. See also "Other-power". Eight Divisions of Gods and DragonsDevas (gods), Nagas (Dragons) andothers of eight divisions (classes): deva, nagas, yakas, ganharvas, asuras,gaudas, kinaras, mahoragas.Eight Sufferings(1) Suffering of Birth; (2) Sufferingof Old Age; (3) Suffering of Sickness; (4) Suffering of Death; (5) Sufferingof being apart from the loved ones; (6) Suffering being together with thedespised ones; (7) Suffering of not getting what one wants; (8) Sufferingof the flouishing of the Five Skandhas.Eight WindsWinds of Eight Directions. Mostpeople are usually moved by the winds of the eight directions: (1) Praise;(2) Ridicule; (3) Suffering; (4)Happiness; (5) Benefit; (6) Destruction;(7) Gain; (8) Loss.Eightfold PathThe eight right ways leading tothe cessation of sufferings. (1) Right View; (2) Right Thought; (3) RightSpeech; (4) Right Action; (5) Right Livelihood; (6) Right Effort; (7) RightRemembrance; (8) Right Concentration.Endurance (World)See "Saha World."EnlightenmentSee "Awakening vs. Enlightenment."Evil PathsThe paths of hells, hungry ghosts,animality. These paths can be taken as states of mind; i.e., when someonehas a vicious thought of maiming or killing another, he is effectivelyreborn, for that moment, in the hells.Expedient means (Skillful means,Skill-in-means, Upaya)Refers to strategies, methods,devices, targetted to the capacities, circumstances, likes and dislikesof each sentient being, so as to rescue him and lead him to Enlightenment."Thus, all particular formulations of the Teaching are just provisionalexpedients to communicate the Truth (Dharma) in specific contexts." (J.C.Cleary.) "The Buddha's words were medicines for a given sickness at a giventime," always infinitely adaptable to the conditions of the audience.ExternalistsLiterally, followers of non-Buddhistpaths. This term is generally used by Buddhists with reference to followersof other religions. FA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/Five BhikshusThe first five of Buddha's converts:Ajnata-Kaundinya, Asvajit, Bhadrika, Dasabala-Kasyapa, and Mahanama-Kulika.They were the first five disciples that Shakyamuni preached when he becameBuddha.Five CorruptionsSee "Five Turbidities."Five Desires (Five Sensual Pleasures)Desires connected with the fivesenses, i.e., form, sound, aroma, taste and touch.Five Eyes1. human eye; 2. devine eye; 3.dharma eye; 4. wisdom eye; 5. Buddha eye.Five Fundamental Conditions ofPassions and Delusions1. Wrong views which are commonto triloka; 2. Clinging or attachment in the desire realm; 3. Clingingor attachment in the form realm: 4. Clinging or attachment in the formlessrealm which is still mortal; 5. The state of unenlightenment which is theroot-cause of all distressful delusion.Five NaturesThe natures of (1) Bodhisattvas, (2) Sravakas and Pratyekabuddhas, (3) ordinary good people, (4) agnostics, (5) heretics. Five OffensesThe five rebellious acts or deadly sins: (1) parricide; (2) matricide; (3) killing an arhat; (4) shedding the blood of a Buddha; (5) destroying the harmony of the sangha, or fraternity. Five PreceptsThe precepts taken by lay Buddhists,prohibiting i) killing, ii) stealing iii) lying, iv) sexual misconduct,v) ingesting intoxicants. See also "Ten Precepts."Five SkandhasThe five groups of elements (Dharmas) into which all existences are classified in early Buddhism. The five are: Rupa (matter), Vedana (feeling), Sanjna (ideation); Samskara (forces or drives) Vijnana (consciousness or sensation). Group, heap, aggregate; the five constituents of the personality; form, feeling, perception, impulses, consciousness; the five factors constituting the individual person.Five Turbidities (Corruptions,Defilements, Depravities, Filths, Impurities)They are. 1. the defilement ofviews, when incorrect, perverse thoughts and ideas are predominant; 2.the defilement of passions, when all kinds of transgressions are exalted;3. the defilement of the human condition, when people are usually dissatisfiedand unhappy; 4. the defilement of the life-span, when the human life-spanas a whole decreases; S. the defilement of the world-age, when war andnatural disasters are rife. These conditions, viewed from a Buddhist angle,however, can constitute aids to Enlightenment, as they may spur practitionersto more earnest cultivation.Flower Store WorldThe entire cosmos, consisting ofworlds upon worlds ad infinitum, as described in the Avatamsaka Sutra.It is the realm of Vairocana Buddha, the transcendental aspect of BuddhaShakyamuni and of all Buddhas. The Saha World, the Western Pure Land and,for that matter, all lands and realms are within the Flower Store World.Four Aspects (of Buddha Dharma)(1) the teaching; (2) the principle;(3) the practice; (4) the fruit/reward/result.Four ElementsAll matters are formed and arecomposed by four conditioned causes :(1) earth, which is characterizedby solidity and durability; (2) water, which is characterized by liquid/fluidand moisture; (3) fire, which is characterized by energy and warmth; (4)wind, which is characterized by gas/air movement.Four Fruits of the ArhatSee under Arhat entry.Four Great BodhisattvaThey represent the four major charactersof Bodhisattva:1.Manjusri - Universal Great WisdomBodhisattva;2.Samantabhadra - Universal WorthyGreat Conduct Bodhisattva;3.Ksitigarbha - Earth Store KingGreat Vow Bodhisattva;4.Avalokitesvara - Guan Shr YinGreat Compassion Bodhisattva.Four Great Vows (Four UniversalVows)The four vows held by all Bodhisattvas.These vows are called great because of the wondrous and inconceivable compassioninvolved in fulfilling them. They are as follows: Sentient beings withoutnumber we vow to enlighten; Vexations without end we vow to eradicate;Limitless approaches to Dharma we vow to master; The Supreme Awakeningwe vow to achieve.Four Noble Truths1)Sufferings; 2)Cause of Sufferings;3)Cessation of sufferings; 4)The Path leading to the cessation of sufferings.Four Pure LandsA classification by the Pure Landand T'ien T'ai schools of the pure realms subsumed under the Land of AmitabhaBuddha, as described in the sutras. They are:i) the Land of Common Residence of Beings and Saints (Land Where Saints and Ordinary Beings Dwell Together), where all beings, from the six lower worlds (hells, hungry ghosts ...) to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, live together (further divided into two, the Common Residence Pure Land and Common Residence Impure Land); ii) the Land of Expediency (Landof Expedient Liberation), inhabited by Arhats and lesser Bodhisattvas;iii) the Land of Real Reward, inhabitedby the highest Bodhisattvas;iv) the Land of Eternally QuiescentLight, in which the Buddhas dwell.These distinctions are at the phenomenallevel. At the noumenon level, there is, of course, no difference amongthem.Four Reliance (to learning BuddhistDharma)The four standards of Right Dharmawhich buddhist should rely on or abide by:(1) to abide by the Dharma,not the person;(2) to abide by the sutras of ultimatetruth, not the sutras of incomplete truth;(3) to abide by the meaning, notthe word;(4) to abide by the wisdom, notthe consciousness.Four Unlimited MindThe mind of Bodhisattva: 1. Kindness;2. Compassion; 3. Delight; 4. Renunciation.Four VirtuesThe four Nirvanic virtues: (1)Eternity or permanence; (2) Joy; (3) Personality; (4) Purity. These fourimportant virtues are affirmed by the sutra in the transcendental or nirvana-realm.Four Ways (of learning BuddhistDharma)(1) Belief/faith; (2) Interpretation/discernment;(3) Practice/performance; (4) Verification/assurance. These are the cyclicprocess in learning a truth.Four WisdomThe forms of wisdom of a Buddha. (1) the Great- Mirror wisdom of Aksobhya; (2) the Universal Wisdom of Ratnaketu; (3) the Profound Observing Wisdom of Amitabha; (4) the Perfecting Wisdom of Amoghsiddhi. Fourfold AssemblyOr the Four Varga (groups) arebhiksu, bhiksuni, upasaka and upasika, i.e. monks, nuns, male and femaledevotees. GA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/Good Spiritual AdvisorGuru, virtuous friend, wise person,Bodhisattva, Buddha -- anyone (even an evil being!) who can help the practitionerprogress along the path to Enlightenment. This notwithstanding, wisdomshould be the primary factor in the selection of such an advisor: the advisormust have wisdom, and both advisor and practitioner must exercise wisdomin selecting one another.Great AwakeningSee "Awakening vs. Enlightenment."Great VehicleSee Mahayana.HA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/Hua T'ouLit., ante word. The reality priorto the arising of thought.Heaven of the Thirty-ThreeA heaven in the Realm of Desire,with thirty-two god-kings presided over by Indra, thus totaling thirty-three,located at the summit of Mt. Sumeru (G.C.C. Chang).Heretical viewsThe sutras usually refer to sixty-twosuch views. They are the externalist (non-Buddhist) views prevalent inBuddha Shakyamuni's time.HinayanaThe 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 Buddha. Holy OneHoly or Saintly One; One who hasstarted on the path to Nirvana. IA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/IcchantikaOne who has no interest in thepath to Awakening, or one whose good roots are completely covered. JA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/Jambunada-suvarnaJambu River gold; the golden sandof the Jambu river.JetavanaA park near the city of Sravasti,said to have been obtained from Prince Jeta by Anathapindika, in whichmonasterial buildings were erected; the favorite resort of Sakyamuni.Jewel Net of IndraThis is a net said to hang in thepalace of Indra, the king of the gods. At each interstice of the net isa reflecting jewel, which mirrors not only the adjacent jewels but themultiple images reflected in them. This famous image is meant to describethe unimpeded interpenetration of all and everything. KA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/KalpaPeriodic manifestations and dissolutions of universes which go on etemally. Great kalpas consist of four asamkhiya kalpas corresponding to childhood. maturity, old age and the death of the universe. KarmaVolition, volitional or intentionalactivity. Karma is always followed by its fruit, Vipaka. Karma and Vipakaare oftentimes referred to as the law of causality, a cardinal concernin the Teaching of the Buddha.Common karma: the differencebetween personal and common karma can be seen in the following example:Suppose a country goes to war to gain certain economic advantages and inthe process, numerous soldiers and civilians are killed or maimed. If aparticular citizen volunteers for military service and actually participatesin the carnage, he commits a personal karma of killing. Other citizens,however, even if opposed to the war, may benefit directly or indirectly(e.g., through economic gain). They are thus said to share in the commonkarma of killing of their country.Fixed karma: in principle,all karma is subject to change. Fixed karma, however, is karma which canonly be changed in extraordinary circumstances, because it derives froman evil act committed simultaneously with mind, speech and body. An exampleof fixed karma would be a premeditated crime (versus a crime of passion).KasayaThe monkšs robe, or cassock. KsanaAn inconceivably short mind-moment.KsantiPatience or forbearance, one ofthe Six Paramitas.KsatriyaThe second of the four Hindi Castesat the time of Shakyamuni, they were the royal caste, the noble landlord,the warriors and the ruling castes. LA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/LaksanaA distinctive mark, sign, indication,characteristic or designation. A Buddha is recognized by his thirty-twocharacteristic physiological marks.Lankavatara SutraThe only sutra recommended by Bodhidharma,the First Zen Patriarch in China. It is a key Zen text, along with theDiamond Sutra (recommended by the Sixth Patriarch), the Surangama Sutra,the Vimalakirti Sutra, the Avatamsaka Sutra ... The last four sutras arereferred to frequently in Pure Land commentaries.Last AgeSee "Dharma-Ending Age."Law of Interdependent CausationIt states that all phenomena arisedepending upon a number of casual factors. In other word, a phenomenonexists in condition that the other exist; it has in condition that othershave; it extinguishes in condition that others extinguish; it has not incondition that others have not. For existence, there are twelve links inthe chain:Ignorance is the condition for karmicactivity;Karmic activity is the condition forconsciousness;Consciousness is the condition forthe name and form;Name and form is the condition forthe six sense organs;Six sense organs are the conditionfor contact;Contact is the condition for feeling;Feeling is the condition for emotionallove/craving;Emotional love/craving is the conditionfor grasping;Grasping is the condition for existing;Existing is the condition for birth;Birth is the condition for old ageand death;Old age and death is the conditionfor ignorance; and so on.Lesser VehicleThe early Buddhism. A term coinedby Mahayanists to distinguish this school of Buddhism [whose modern descendentis Theravada] from Mahayana. It is so called because the teaching of thisschool puts emphasis on one's own liberation, whereas the teaching of Mahayanastresses the attainment of Buddhahood for all sentient beings. Theravadais now prevalent in southeast Asia, while Mahayana has spread over thenorthern area (China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan ...) (G.C.C. Chang).Lotus GradesThe nine possible degrees of rebirth in the Western Pure Land. The more merits and virtues the practitioner accumulates, the higher the grade. Lotus SectA Buddhist sect founded by the great Master Hui Yuan about 390 A.D. at his monastery on Mount Lu in Kiangsi Province in China. The Lotus Sect believes in and honors Amitabha Buddha and declares that, through the chanting of his name and by purifying and finally ridding oneself of desire, one can be reborn in the Pure Land. There one is born of a lotus, and, depending on one's degree of purification and practice, one is born into one of the nine grades of the lotus: upper superior, middle superior, lower superior, etc.Lotus SutraOr Saddharma-pundarika, DharmaFlower, or "The Lotus of the True Law." The sutra is the basis for theLotus sect (T'ien-t'ai in Chinese). Among the sutras of the Mahayana canon.One of the earliest andmost richly descriptive of the Mahayana sutras of Indian origin. It becameimportant for the shaping of the Buddhist tradition in East Asia, in particularbecause of its teaching of the One Vehicle under which are subsumed theusual Hinayana [Theravada] and Mahayana divisions. It is the main textof the Tendai [T'ien T'ai] school. (Joji Okazaki.)This School has a historically closerelationship with the Pure Land School. Thus, Master T'ai Hsu taught thatthe Lotus Sutra and the Amitabha Sutras were closely connected, differingonly in length.Lotus Treasury WorldSee "Ocean-Wide Lotus Assembly." MA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/Maha-BodhisattvaAlso, Mahasattva; a great Bodhisattva who has reached the advanced stage of Enlightenment. MahakarunaGreat compassion.MahakasyapaAlso, Kasyapa; one of Buddha's disciples. The Ch'an Sect, according to its tradition, claims him as its first patriarch. MaharajaA great or superior king.MahayamaThe mother of Shakaymuni. She wasa Koliyan Princess and married to Suddhodana.MahayanaLit., great vehicle; the dominantBuddhist tradition of East Asia. Special characteristics of Mahayana are1. Emphasis on bodhisattva ideal, 2. The accession of the Buddha to a superhumanstatus, 3. The development of extensive philosophical inquiry to counterBrahmanical and other scholarly argument, 4. The development of elaboratedevotional practice.MahasattvaSee Maha-Bodhisattva.Mahasthamaprapta (Shih Chih,Seishi)One of the three sages in PureLand Buddhism, recognizable by the water jar (jeweled pitcher) adorningHer crown. Usually represented in female form in East Asian iconography.Amitabha Buddha is frequently depicted standing between the BodhisattvasAvalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta.MaitreyaSanskrit word, literally meansfriendly and benevolent. He will be the next Buddha in our world. He isnow preaching in Tusita Heaven. In China, he is usually represented asthe fat laughing Buddha.MaitriLoving-kindness.ManasThe name of the seventh of the eight consciousnesses. I refers to the faculty of thought, the intellectual function of consciousness. ManiA jewel, gem, precious stone; especiallya pearl bead or other globular ornament.MantraA syllable, word or verse whichhas been revealed to a seer in meditation, embodiment in sound of a deity;spell or incantation.MarksCharacteristics, forms, physiognomy. Marks are contrasted with essence, in the same way that phenomena are contrasted with noumenon. True Mark stands for True Form, True Nature, Buddha Nature, always unchanging. The True Mark of all phenomena is like space: always existing but really empty; although empty, really existing. The True Mark of the Triple World is No-Birth/No-Death, not existent/not non-existent, not like this/not like that. True Mark is also called "Self-Nature," "Dharma Body," the "Unconditioned," "True Thusness," "Nirvana," "Dharma Realm.11 See also "Noumenon/Phenomena." Meditation SutraOne of the three core sutras of the Pure Land school. It teaches sixteen methods of visualizing Amitabha Buddha, the Bodhisattvas and the Pure Land. This sutra stresses the element of meditation in Pure Land. See also "Three Pure Land Sutras," "Vaidehi," "Visualization."Merit and VirtueThese two terms are sometimes used interchangeably. However, there is a crucial difference: merits are the blessings (wealth, intelligence, etc.) of the human and celestial realms; therefore, they are temporary and subject to Birth and Death. Virtues, on the other hand, transcend Birth and Death and lead to Buddhahood. Four virtues are mentioned in Pure Land Buddhism: eternity; happiness; True Self; purity. An identical action (e.g., charity) can lead either to merit or virtue, depending on the mind of the practitioner, that is, on whether he is seeking mundane rewards (merit) or transcendence (virtue). Thus, the Pure Land cultivator should not seek merits for by doing so, he would, in effect, be choosing to remain within samsara. This would be counter to his very wish to escape Birth and Death. Middle VehicleAlso called Middle Doctrine Schoolor Madhyarnika; one of the two main schools of Mahayana thought; it upholdsthe Void as the only really real or independent, unconditioned Reality.MindKey concept in all Buddhist teaching.Frequent term in Zen, usedin two senses: (1) the mind-ground, the One Mind ... the buddha-mind, themind of thusness ... (2) false mind, the ordinary mind dominated by conditioning,desire, aversion, ignorance, and false sense of self, the mind of delusion... (J.C. Cleary, A Buddha from Korea.)The ordinary, deluded mind (thought) includes feelings, impressions, conceptions, consciousness, etc. The Self-Nature True Mind is the fundamental nature, the Original Face, reality, etc. As an analogy, the Self-Nature True Mind is to mind what water is to waves -- the two cannot be dissociated. They are the same but they are also different. To approach the sutras "making discriminations and nurturing attachments is no different from the Zen allegory of a person attempting to lift a chair while seated on it. If he would only get off the chair, he could raise it easily. Similarly, the practitioner truly understands the Dharma only to the extent that he "suspends the operation of the discriminating intellect, the faculty of the internal dialogue through which people from moment to moment define and perpetuate their customary world of perception." (See this book, Introduction.) See also the following passage:The mind ... "creates"the world in the sense that it invests the phenomenal world with value.The remedy to this situation, according to Buddhism, is to still the mind,to stop it from making discriminations and nurturing attachments towardcertain phenomena and feelings of aversion toward others. When this stateof calmness of mind is achieved, the darkness of ignorance and passionwill be dispelled and the mind can perceive the underlying unity of theabsolute. The individual will then have achieved the state of enlightenmentand will be freed from the cycle of birth and death, because such a personis now totally indifferent to them both. (Burton Watson, The Zen Teachingsof Master Lin-Chi.)Mindfulness of the BuddhaSynonymous with Buddha Recitation.See "Buddha Recitation."Mount SumeruThe central mountain of every universe.Also called Wonderful Height, Wonderful Brilliancy, etc. NA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/Nagarjuna (2nd/3rd cent.)"One of the most important philosophers of Buddhism and the founder of the Madhyamika school. Nagarjuna's major accomplishment was his systematization of the teaching presented in the Prajnaparamita Sutras. Nagarjuna's methodological approach of rejecting all opposites is the basis of the Middle Way (Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen.) NarayanaName of a deva, a strong, manlyhero having divine power.NirmanakayaSee "Three bodies of the Buddha."NirvanaThe deathless; the cessation ofall suffering. The very opposite of the Wheel of Birth-and-Death; it iswhat those in the Buddhist tradition aspire to experience. The Absolute,which transcends designation and mundane characterization.Nirvana SutraThe last of the sutras in the Mahayanacanon. It emphasizes the importance of Buddha-nature, which is the sameas Self-Nature.Non-Birth (No-Birth)"A term used to describe the natureof Nirvana. In Mahayana Buddhism generally, No-Birth signifies the 'extinction'of the discursive thinking by which we conceive of things as arising andperishing, forming attachments to them." (Ryukoku University.) Seealso "Tolerance of Non-Birth." OA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/Ocean-Wide Lotus AssemblyThe Lotus Assembly represents thegathering of Buddha Amitabha, the Bodhisattvas, the sages and saints andall other superior beings in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. This Assemblyis "Ocean-Wide" as the participants are infinite in number -- spreadingas far and wide as the ocean. The term Ocean-Wide Assembly is generallyassociated with the Avatamsaka Sutra, a text particularly prized by thePure Land and Zen schools alike.Once-returnerA sage who has only one rebirthleft before reaching Arhatship and escaping birth and death.One-Life BodhisattvaA Bodhisattva who is one lifetime away from Buddhahood. The best known example is the Bodhisattva Maitreya. One-Vehicle DharmaThe one Yana, the vehicle of Oneness. The one Buddhayana, the One Vehicle, i.e., Mahayana, which contains the final or complete Law of the Buddha and not merely a part, or preliminary stage, as in Hinayana. Other-PowerThe issue of other-power (Buddhas' power) is often misunderstood and glossed over by many Buddhists. However, it must be pointed out that, in Buddhism, other-power is absolutely necessary if a Bodhisattva is to attain Ultimate Enlightenment. The Lankavatara Sutra (the only sutra recommended by Bodhidharma) and the Avatamsaka Sutra (described by D.T. Suzuki as the epitome of Buddhist thought) are emphatically clear on this point: As long as [conversion] is an experience and not mere understanding, it is evident that self-discipline plays an important role in the Buddhist life . but .. we must not forget the fact that the Lanka [Lankavatara Sutra] also emphasizes the necessity of the Buddha's power being added to the Bodhisattvas', in their upward course of spiritual development and in the accomplishment of their great task of world salvation. (Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki, tr., The Lankavatara Sutra, p. xviii.) The Avatamsaka Sutra states:Having purified wisdom and meansin the seventh stage ...The great sages attain acceptanceof non-origination ...On the basis of their previousresolution, the buddhas further exhort them ...:"Though you have extinguished theburning of the fire of affliction,Having seen the world still afflicted,remember your past vows;Having thought of the welfare ofthe world, work in quest Of the cause of knowledge, for the liberationof the world."(T. Cleary, tr., The Flower OrnamentSutra, Vol II, p. 86)See also "Easy Path of Practice." PA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/ParajikaLit., defeat or the conditionsleading to the defeat of the Bodhicitta. Also. the conditions leading tothe defeat of the Bhiksu's life.Paramita: Refers to the six practices, the perfection of which ferries one beyond the sea of suffering and mortality to Nirvana. The six Paramitas are the following: (1) Dana, charity or giving, including the bestowing of truth on others; (2) Sila, keeping the discipline; (3) Ksanti, patience under suffering and insult; (4) Virya, zeal and progress; (5) Dhyana, meditation or contemplation; (6) Prajna, wisdom, the power to discern reality or truth. It is the perfection of the last one -- Prajna -- that ferries sentient beings across the ocean of Samsara (the sea of incarnate life) to the shores of Nirvana. ParinirvanaThe Buddha's final Nirvana, enteredby him at the time of death.Polar MountainIn Buddhist cosmology, the universeis composed of worlds upon worlds7 ad infinitum. (Our earth is only a smallpart of one of these worlds). The Polar Mountain is the central mountainof each world.PolarisThe North Star, polestar; starof the second magnitude, standing alone and forming the end of the tailof the constellation Ursa Minor; it marks very nearly the position of thenorth celestial pole.PrajnaTrue or transcendental wisdom.Last of the paramitas. One of the highest attainments of Buddhist practice.Pratyeka BuddhaA solitary Buddha; one who hasachieved Awakening through insight into the dependent origination of mindand body. Pratyekabuddhas lead only solitary lives, and they do not teachthe Dharma to others nor do they have any desire to do so.PretasHungry ghosts. who are tormentedby continual and unsatisfied cravings. The preta-realm is one of the threestates of woe (apaya-bhumi) and one of the six realms of existence.PriyavacanaLit., loving or affectionate speech.This beautiful and affectionate speech is one of the Four All-EmbracingVirtues and is used to lead sentient beings toward the truth.Pure LandGeneric term for the realms ofthe Buddhas. In this text it denotes the Land of Ultimate Bliss or WesternLand of Amitabha Buddha. It is not a realm of enjoyment, but rather anideal place of cultivation, beyond the Triple Realm and samsara, wherethose who are reborn are no longer subject to retrogression. This is thekey distinction between the Western Pure Land and such realms as the TusitaHeaven. There are two conceptions of the Pure Land: as different and apartfrom the Saha World and as one with and the same as the Saha World. Whenthe mind is pure and undefiled, any land or environment becomes a pureland (Vimalakirti, Avatamsaka Sutras ...). See also "Triple Realm."Pure Land SchoolWhen Mahayana Buddhism spread to China, Pure Land ideas found fertile ground for development. In the fourth century, the movement crystallized with the formation of the Lotus Society, founded by Master Hui Yuan (334-416), the first Pure Land Patriarch. The school was formalized under the Patriarchs T'an Luan (Donran) and Shan Tao (Zendo). Master Shan Tao's teachings, in particular, greatly influenced the development of Japanese Pure Land, associated with Honen Shonin (Jodo school) and his disciple, Shinran Shonin (Jodo Shinshu school) in the 12th and 13th centuries. Jodo Shinshu, or Shin Buddhism, places overwhelming emphasis on the element of faith. [Pure Land comprises theschools] of East Asia which emphasize aspects of Mahayana Buddhism stressingfaith in Amida, meditation on and recitation of his name, and the religiousgoal of being reborn in his "Pure Land" or "Western Paradise." (Keith Crim.)Note: An early form of Buddha Recitationcan be found in the Nikayas of the Pali Canon:In the Nikayas, the Buddha... advised his disciples to think of him and his virtues as if they sawhis body before their eyes, whereby they would be enabled to accumulatemerit and attain Nirvana or be saved from transmigrating in the evil paths... (D.T. Suzuki, The Eastern Buddhist, Vol.3, No.4, p.317.)Pure Land SutrasSee "Three Pure Land Sutras." QA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/ RA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/ SA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/Saddharma-pundarikaSee entry under Lotus Sutra.Saha WorldWorld of Endurance. Refers to thisworld of ours, filled with suffering and afflictions, yet gladly enduredby its inhabitants.SakraGod of the sky who fights the demonswith his vajra, or thunderbolt.SageA wise and virtuous person, an accomplished one who is second in rank to a saint. SalaOr Salavana, the grove of sal(teak)trees near Kusinagara, the place of the Buddha's death.SamadhiDeep concentration: the state ofone-pointedness of mind characterized by peace and imperturbability. Samadhiis also one of the Paramitas and is indispensable on the path to Bodhi.SamanarthataCooperation with and adaptationto others for the sake of leading them towards the truth. Samanarthatais one of the Four All-Embracing Virtues.SamantabhadraAlso called Universal Worthy or, in Japanese, Fugen. A major Bodhisattva, who personifies the transcendental practices and vows of the Buddhas (as compared to the Bodhisattva Manjusri, who represents transcendental wisdom). Usually depicted seated on an elephant with six tusks (six paramitas). Best known for his "Ten Great Vows." SamathaQuiet, tranquillity, calmness of mind, absence of mind.SambhogakayaSee "Three bodies of the Buddha."SamsaraCycle of rebirths; realms of Birthand Death.SanghaLit., harmonious community. In the Buddhadharma, Sangha means the order of Bhiksus, Bhiksunis, Sramaneras and Sramanerikas. Another meaning is the Arya Sangha, made up of those individuals, lay or monastic, who have attained one of the four stages of sanctity. Also, the Bodhisattva Sangha. Sangharama BodyA monastery with its garden or grove, a universal body. SanskritLearned language of India. Canonicaltexts of Mahayana Buddhism in its Indian stage were written in Sanskrit.SariputraMajor disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha,foremost in wisdom among His Arhat disciples.SastraCommentary; the commentaries constituteone of the three parts of the Buddhist canonical scrptures.Self-NatureOne's own Original Nature, one's own Buddha Nature.Self-PowerSee "Difficult Path of Practice."Seven TreasuresGold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal,agate, red pearl and carnelian. They represent the seven powers of faith,perseverance, sense of shame, avoidance of wrongdoing, mindfulness, concentrationand wisdom.SiddhamBlessed, endowed with supernaturalfaculties. This same term refers to the Sankrit alphabet also and is, likewise,transliterated as Hsi-ta in Chinese.SiddhantaThe four siddhanta. The Buddha taught by (1) mundane of ordinary modes of expression; (2)individual treatment, adapting his teaching to the capacity of his hearers; (3) diagnostic treatment of their moral diseases; and (4) the perfect and highest truth. SiksamanaA lay-disciple who maintains theeight precepts, either temporarily or as preparation for leaving home.SilaMoral precepts. These number 5,8,10,250or 350. Also, one of the Paramitas.Six DirectionsNorth, South, East, West, aboveand below, i.e., all directions. In the Avatamsaka Sutra, they are expandedto include points of the compass in between and are referred to as theTen Directions.Six DustsSee "Dusts."Six OrgansThe six indriyas, or sense organs:eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind.Six Planes of Existence (SixPaths)The paths within the realm of Birthand Death. Includes the three Evil Paths (hells, hungry ghosts, animality)and the paths of humans, asuras and celestials. These paths can be understoodas states of mind. See also "Evil Paths."Sixth PatriarchHui Neng (638-713), the Sixth Patriarchof the Chinese Zen school and author of the Platform Sutra.SkandhasAs taught by the Buddha, the skandhasare the components of the human so-called entity that is constantly changing.They are: I. Name/form; 2. Feeling; 3. Conception; 4. Impulse; 5. Consciousness.Skillful MeansSee "Expedient Means."Small VehicleSee entry under Hinayana.Spiritual powerAlso called miraculous power. Includes,inter alia, the ability to see all forms (deva eye), to hear all sounds(deva ear), to know the thoughts of others, to be anywhere and do anythingat will.SramanaLit., laborer; applied to thosewho wholeheartedly practice toward enlightenment; root word of the designationfor novice monk.SramaneraA novice monk holding the 10 precepts.SramanerikaA novice nun holding the 10 precepts.Sravakas"Lit., 'voice-hearers': those who follow [Theravada] and eventually become arhats as a result of listening to the buddhas and following their teachings" (A. Buzo and T. Prince.) See also "Arhat." Sudhana (Good Wealth)The main protagonist in the next-to-lastand longest chapter of the Avatamsaka Sutra. Seeking Enlightenment, hevisited and studied with fifty-three spiritual advisors and became theequal of the Buddhas in one lifetime. Both his first advisor and his lastadvisor (Samantabhadra) taught him the Pure Land path.SuddhodanaPure Rice King, the father of Shakyamuni,ruled over the Sakyans at Kapilavatthu on the Nepalese border.SudraThe lowest of the four Hindi Castesat the time of Shakyamuni. They were peasants, slaves and serfs.SumeruLit., exalted, excellent; the mythical"world mountain" that rises through the center of a Buddhist universe.Surangama SutraAlso called Heroic Gate Sutra.The "Sutra of the Heroic One" exercised a great influence on the development of Mahayana Buddhism in China [and neighboring countries]. It emphasizes the power of samadhi, through which enlightenment can be attained, and explains the various methods of emptiness meditation through the practice of which everyone ... can realize ... enlightenment ä (Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen.)SutraAn aphorism; a thread of suggestivewords or phrases summarizing religious and philosophical instruction. Inbuddhism, it refers to a discourse by the Buddha or one of his major disciples.The Sutra collection is one of the three divisions of the Buddhist scriptures. TA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/TaoPath or Way. The Sanskrit equivalentto this Chinese term is marga.TathagataUsually translated as "Thus ComeOne."He who came as did all Buddhas,who took the absolute way of cause and effect, and attained to perfectwisdom; one of the highest titles of a Buddha (Charles Luk).Ten DirectionsNorth, South. East, West; N-F,N-W, S-F, S-W, Zenith and Nadir.Ten Evil Acts (Ten Evil Deeds,Ten Sins)1. Killing; 2.stealing; 3. sexualmisconduct; 4. lying; 5. slander; 6. coarse language; 7. empty chatter;8. covetousness; 9. angry speech; 10. wrong views. See also "Ten Precepts."Ten Great VowsThe famous vows of the BodhisattvaSamantabhadra in the Avatamsaka Sutra. These vows represent the quintessenceof this Sutra and are the basis of all Mahayana practice. Studying thevows and putting them into practice is tantamount to studying the AvatamsakaSutra and practicing its teachings. See also "Samantabhadra."Ten PreceptsInclude an expanded version ofthe Five Precepts of body and mouth (not to kill, steal, engage in illicitsex, lie, or take intoxicants) with the addition of the virtues of themind (elimination of greed, anger and delusion). See also "Five Precepts,""Ten Evil Acts."Ten Stages of a Bodhisattva'sProgressThey are the following: (1) Joy at having overcome former difficulties and at now entering the path to Buddhahood; (2) Freedom from all possible defilement, the stage of purity; (3) The stage of further enlightenment; (4) Glowing wisdom; (5) Mastery of the utmost or final difficulties; (6) The open way of wisdom that is beyond purity and impurity; (7) Proceeding afar, above the concept of "self" in order to save others; (8) Attainment of calm imperturbability; (9) Achievement of the finest discriminatory wisdom; knowing, expediently, where and how to save; possessing the ten powers; (10) Attainment of the fertilizing powers of the Law Cloud. Ten VirtuesThe virtuous modes of behavior,which are the positive counterparts to the Five Precepts.TheravadaLit., the School of the Elders;one of the two main forms of Buddhism known in the world today; practicedchiefly in south-east Asia; has the Pali Canon for textual foundation;this tradition advocates the Arahantship.Third LifetimeIn the first lifetime, the practitionerengages in mundane good deeds which bring ephemeral worldly blessings (wealth,power, authority, etc.) in the second lifetime. Since power tends to corrupt,he is likely to create evil karma, resulting in retribution in the thirdlifetime. Thus, good deeds in the first lifetime are potential "enemies"of the third lifetime. To ensure that mundane good deeds do not become"enemies the practitioner should dedicate all merits to a transcendentalgoal, i.e., to become Bodhisattvas or Buddhas or, in Pure Land teaching,to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land -- a Buddha land beyond Birth and Death.In a mundane context, these threelifetimes can be conceived of as three generations. Thus, the patriarchof a prominent family, through work and luck, amasses great power, fortuneand influence (first lifetime). His children are then able to enjoy a leisurely,and, too often, dissipated life (second lifetime). By the generation ofthe grandchildren, the family's fortune and good reputation have all butdisappeared (third lifetime).Thirty-seven Limbs of EnlightenmentThese are: a. the four mindfulnesses;b. the four right efforts; c. the four bases of miraculous powers; d. thefive roots; e. the five powers; f. the seven factors of enlightenment;and g. the eightfold noble path (G.C.C. Chang).Three bodies of the Buddha (Skt.trikaya)1. Dharmakaya: The Dharma-body,or the "body of reality", which is formless, unchanging, transcendental,and inconceivable. Synonymous with suchness, or emptiness. 2. Sambhogakaya:the "body of enjoyment", the celestial body of the Buddha. Personificationof eternal perfection in its ultimate sense. It "resides" in the Pure Landand never manifests itself in the mundane world, but only in the celestialspheres, accompanied by enlightened Bodhisattvas. 3. Nirmanakaya: the "incarnatedbody" of the Buddha. In order to benefit certain sentient beings, a Buddhaincarnates himself into an appropriate visible body, such as that of SakyamuniBuddha.The incarnated body of the Buddhashould not be confused with a magically produced Buddha. The former isa real, tangible human body which has a definite life span, The latteris an illusory Buddha-form which is produced with miraculouspowers and can be withdrawn withmiraculous powers (G.C.C. Chang).Three Evil PathsSee "Evil Paths."Three Jewels (Three PreciousOnes, Three Treasures)In Sanskrit, Rathatraya. Buddha,Dharma and Sangha; sometimes referred to as the Teacher, the Teaching andthe Taught.Three KarmasThe three conditions, inheritancesor karmas, of which there are several groups, including the karmas of deeds,words and thoughts.Three PoisonsCraving, aversion and delusion; also, these are termed the three root-stains or the three roots of unskillfulness.Three Pure Land SutrasPure Land Buddhism is based onthree basic sutras:a) Amitabha Sutra (or ShorterAmitabha Sutra, or Smaller Sukhavati-Vyuha, or the Sutra of Amida);b) Longer Amitabha Sutra (or LongerSukhavati-Vyuha, or the Teaching of Infinite Life);c) Meditation Sutra (or the Meditationon the Buddha of Infinite Life, or the Amitayus Dhyana Sutra).Sometimes the last chapter of the AvatamsakaSutra ("The Practices and Vows of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra") is consideredthe fourth basic sutra of the Pure Land tradition. Note: in Pure Land,the Longer Amitabha Sutra is considered a shorter form of the Lotus Sutra.Three Realms (Triple Realm, ThreeWorlds)The realms of desire (our world),form (realms of the lesser deities) and formlessness (realms of the higherdeities). The Western Pure Land is outside the Triple Realm, beyond samsaraand retrogression. See also "Pure Land."Three RefugesTaking refuge and possessing confidencein the Buddha's Awakening, in his Teaching and in the Sangha of enlighteneddisciples.Three VehiclesThe yanas of Sravakas, Pratyekabuddhasand Bodhisattvas.T'ien T'ai (Tendai) SchoolA major school that takes the LotusSutra as its principal text. Historically, it has had a close relationshipwith Pure Land. See also "Lotus Sutra."Tolerance of Non-Birth"Tolerance" (insight) that comesfrom the knowledge that all phenomena are unborn. Sometimes translatedas "insight into the non-origination of all existence/non-origination ofthe dharmas."A Mahayana Buddhist termfor the insight into emptiness, the non-origination or birthlessness ofthings or beings realized by Bodhisattvas who have attained the eighthStage [Ground] of the path to Buddhahood. When a Bodhisattva realizes thisinsight he has attained the stage of non-retrogression. (Ryukoku University.)The Pure Land School teachesthat anyone reborn in the Pure Land attains the Tolerance of Non-Birthand reaches the stage of non-retrogression, never to fall back into samsara.See also "Non-Birth."Transference of MeritThe concept of merit transference,or sharing one's own merits and virtues with others, is reflected in thefollowing passage:Some of us may ask whetherthe effect of [evil] karma can be... [changed] by repeating the name ofKuan-Yin. This question is tied up with that of rebirth in Sukhavati [thePure Land] and it may be answered by saying that invocation of Kuan-Yin'sname forms another cause which will right away offset the previous karma.We know, for example) that if there is a dark, heavy cloud above, the chancesare that it will rain. But we al50 know that if a strong wind should blow,the cloud will be carried away somewhere else and we will not feel therain. Similarly, the addition of one big factor can alter the whole courseof karmaIt is only by accepting the ideaof life as one whole that both Theravadins and Mahayanists can advocatethe practice of transference of merit to others. With the case of Kuan-Yinthen, by calling on Her name we identify ourselves with Her and as a resultof this identification, Her merits flow over to us. These merits whichare now ours then counterbalance our bad karma and save us from calamity.The law of cause and effect still stands good. All that has happened isthat a powerful and immensely good karma has overshadowed the weaker one.(Lecture on Kuan-Yin by Tech Eng Soon - Penang Buddhist Association, c.1960. Pamphlet.)Triloka or TrailokaSee "Threee Realms."TripitakaLit., three baskets: The earliestBuddhist canonical text consisting of three sections: 1. Buddha's discourses(sutras), 2 Rules of Discipline (Vinaya), 3. Analytical and explanatorytexts or commentaries (sastras); usually referred to as the Pali canon.Triple JewelSee "Three Treasures."Two Truths1) Relative or conventional, everydaytruth of the mundane world subject to delusion and dichotomies and 2) theUltimate Truth, transcending dichotomies, as taught by the Buddhas.According to Buddhism,there are two kinds of Truth, the Absolute and the Relative. The AbsoluteTruth (of the Void) manifests "illumination but is always still," and thisis absolutely inexplicable. On the other hand, the Relative Truth (of theUnreal) manifests "stillness but is always illuminating," which means thatit is immanent in everything. (Hsu Heng Chi/P.H. Wei).Pure Land thinkers such as the Patriarch Tao Ch'o accepted "the legitimacy of Conventional Truth as an expression of Ultimate Truth and as a vehicle to reach Ultimate Truth. Even though all form is nonform, it is acceptable and necessary to use form within the limits of causality, because its use is an expedient means of saving others out of one's compassion for them and because, even for the unenlightened, the use of form can lead to the revelation of form as nonform" (David Chappell). Thus to reach Buddhahood, which is formless, the cultivator can practice the Pure Land method based on form. TzungA term originally used to mean "sect", but later appropriated by the intuitional school known as Ch'an (Japanese, Zen) for use in special contexts. UA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/Unconditioned (Transcendental)Anything "without outflows," i.e., free of the three marks of greed, anger and delusion. See also "Conditioned." Upasaka/UpasikaBuddhist lay disciple (man/woman),who formally received five precepts or rules of conduct. VA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/VaidehiThe Queen of King Bimbisara ofMagadha, India. It was in response to her entreaties that Buddha Shakyamunipreached the Meditation Sutra, which teaches a series of sixteen visualizations(of Amitabha Buddha, the Pure Land ...) leading to rebirth. in the Landof Ultimate Bliss.VaiduryaA precious substance, perhaps lapislazuli or beryl.VairocanaThe main Buddha in the AvatamsakaSutra. Represents the Dharma Body of Buddha Shakyaniuni and all Buddhas.His Pure Land is the Flower Store World, i.e., the entire cosmos.VaisravanaOne of the four maharaja-deva graudiansof the first or lowest devaloka on its four sides. Vaisravana guards thenorth.VaisyaThe third of the four Hindi Castesat the time of Shakyamuni. They were merchant, entrepreneurs, traders,farmers, manufacturers, etc., but not well-educated.VarunaGod of the sea and of the waters;guardian of the western quarter of the compass.VedaTrue or sacred knowledge or lore;name of celebrated works which constitute the basis of the first periodof the Hindu religion.Vimalakirti SutraAlso called Vimalakirti NirdesaSutra. A key Mahayana sutra particularly popular with Zen and to a lesserextent Pure Land followers. The main protagonist is a layman named Vimalakirtiwho is the equal of many Bodhisattvas in wisdom, eloquence, etc. He explainedthe teaching of Emptiness in terms of non-duality ... "The true natureof things is beyond the limiting concepts imposed by words." Thus, whenasked by Manjusri to define the non-dual Truth, Vimalakirti simply remainedsilent.VinayaDisciplined conduct, referringspecifically to the monastic rules for the disciples who have left home;also, one of the three divisions of the Buddhist scriptures.VipasyanaDiscernment; also, insight, correct perception or view.VirtueSee "Merit and Virtue."Virya: EnergyThe energy necessary to maintainand progress in spiritual development. Also, one of the Paramitas.VisualizationSee Meditation Sutra for explanation.The visualizations [in the Meditation Sutra] are distinguished into sixteen kinds [shifting from earthly scenes to Pure Land scenes at the third Visualization]: (1) visualization of the sun, (2) visualization of water, (3) visualization of the ground [in the Pure Land], (4) visualization of the trees, (5) visualization of the lake[s], (6) unified visualization of the [50 billion] storied-pavilions, trees, lakes, and so forth, (7) visualization of the [lotus throne of Amitabha Buddha], (8) visualization of the images of the Buddha [Amitabha] and Bodhisattvas [Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta], (9) visualization of the [Reward body of Amitabha Buddha, i.e., the form in which He appears in the Pure Land], (10) visualization of Avalokitesvara, (11) visualization of Mahasthamaprapta, (12) visualization of one's own rebirth, (13) [see below], (14) visualization of the rebirth of the highest grades, (15) visualization of the rebirth of the middle grades and (16) visualization of the rebirth of the lowest grades. (K.K. Tanaka, The Dawn of Chinese Pure Land Doctrine.) The 13th Visualization has been summarizedas follows:If one cannot visualizethe [Reward body of Amitabha Buddha], focus on the small body, which issixteen cubits high (the traditional height of Shakyamuni while he dwelton earth); contemplate an intermingling of the [Reward] and small bodies.(1oji Okazaki, p.52.)Visualizations 14-16 refer to the ninelotus grades (of rebirth), divided into three sets of three grades each. WA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/Way (Path, Tao)The path leading to Supreme Enlightenment,to Buddhahood.Wisdom-lifeThe life of a Buddha or Bodhisattva,which is sustained by wisdom, just as the life of an ordinary being issustained by food. XA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/ YA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/YamaIn the Vedas, the god of the dead.YanaSankrit term, commonly translatedas vehicle; means spiritual vehicle, path or career.YasodharaThe wife of Siddhartha Goutama.Later became a nun.Yogacara School.Another name for the Mind-Onlyschool, founded in the fourth century by the brothers Asanga and Vasubandhu. ZA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/NO/P/Q/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z/Zen.A major school of Mahayana Buddhism,with several branches. One of its most popular techniques is meditationon koans, which leads to the generation of the Great Doubt. According tothis method:The master gives the studenta koan to think about, resolve, and then report back on to the master.Concentration intensifies as the student first tries to solve the koanintellectually. This initial effort proves impossible, however, for a koancannot be solved rationally. Indeed, it is a kind of spoof on the humanintellect. Concentration and irrationality -- these two elements constitutethe characteristic psychic situation that engulfs the student wrestlingwith a koan. As this persistent effort to concentrate intellectually becomesunbearable, anxiety sets in. The entirety of one's consciousnessand psychic life is now filled with one thought. The exertion of the searchis like wrestling with a deadly enemy or trying to make one's way througha ring of flames. Such assaults on the fortress of human reason inevitablygive rise to a distrust of all rational perception. This gnawingdoubt [Great Doubt], combined with a futile search for a way out, createsa state of extreme and intense yearning for deliverance. The state maypersist for days, weeks or even years; eventually the tension has to break.(Dumoulin, Zen Buddhism, Vol. I, p.253.)An interesting koan is the koan ofBuddha Recitation. Unlike other koans, it works in two ways. First of all,if a cultivator succeeds in his meditation through this koan, he can achieveawakening as with other koans. However, if he does not succeed, and experienceshows that many cultivators do not, then the meditation on the Buddha'snarne helps him to achieve rebirth in the Pure Land. This is so providedhe believes (as most practitioners in Asia do) in Amitabha and the expedientPure Land. Thus, the Buddha Recitation koan provides a safety net,and demonstrates the underlying unity of Zen and Pure Land.Please address your comments to buddhism@ic.sunysb.edu, thank you.var sc_project=3347612; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=36; var sc_security="7f540532"; |
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