Buddhist Terms And Concepts

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A

Definition	Etymology	In other languages
abhidhamma A 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 阿毗達? Cn: Āpídámó Jp: Abidatsuma Vi: a-tì-đạt-ma
Abhidhamma Pitaka The third basket of the Tripitaka canon, the reorganization of all doctrines in a systematic way	Pāli: Abhidhamma-piṭaka Sanskrit: Abhidharma-piṭaka	論藏, 論? 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? Cn: āshélí or āshélíyē Jp: ajari or ajariya Vi: a-xà-lê or a-xà-lê-da
adhitthana determination	Pāli: Sanskrit:	Bur: ဆရာ Thai: อธิษฐาน uh-tid-taan 决? Cn: Jp: Vi:
addiction, see tanha
Agama The Buddhist texts in Sanskrit	Sanskrit: Āgama	Pāli: Nikāya 阿? Cn: Āhán Jp: Agon Vi: A-hàm
ahimsa The devotion to non-violence and respect for all forms of life. Practicers of ahimsa are often vegetarians or vegans	Sanskrit: ahiṃsā Pāli: ahiṃsā	不? 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? Cn: ālàiyēshí Jp: araya-shiki Vi: a-lại-da thức
Amitabha Lit. "The Buddha of Infinite Light". The main buddha of the Pure Land school, but is popular in other Mahayana sects 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? Cn: Ēmítuó or Ēmítuó fó Jp: Amida or Amida-butsu Vi: A-di-đà or Phật A-di-đà
anagarika A white-robed student in the Theravada tradition who, for a few months, awaits being considered for Samaneras ordination	Pāli: anāgarika
anapanasati Mindfulness of the breath meditation	Pāli: ānāpānasati
anatta The 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
anicca Impermanence	Pāli: anicca Sanskrit: anitya	無? Cn: wúcháng Jp: mujō Vi: vô thường
anuttara Unsurpassing	Pāli: anuttara Sanskrit: anuttara	? Cn: ? 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? 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? Cn: Jp: Vi:
atman literally "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 ? Cn: wǒ Jp: ga Vi: ngã
Avalokitesvara, lit. "One Who Hears the Suffering Cries of the World", The bodhisattva of compassion (see also Guan Yin)	Sanskrit: Avalokiteśvara	Tib: སྤྱན་རས་གཟིགས་ spyan ras gzigs 觀世音 or 觀? Cn: Guānshì Yīn or Guān Yīn Jp: Kanzeon or Kannon
avidya "ignorance" or "delusion"	Sanskrit: avidyā	Pāli: avijjā Tib: མ་རིག་པ་ ma rig-pa 無? Cn: wúmíng Jp: mumyō Vi: vô minh

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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? Cn: zhongyǒu Jp: chūu Vi: trung hữu
bhavacakra|/bhavacakka A circular symbolic representation of samsara, also known as Wheel of becoming	Pāli: bhavacakka Sanskrit: bhava-cakra	有? Cn: yǒulún Jp: ?? Vi: hữu luân
bhante The polite particle used to refer to Buddhist monks in the Theravada tradition. Bhante literally means "Venerable Sir."	Pāli
bhava Becoming, being, existing; the 10th link of Pratitya-samutpada	Pāli, Sanskrit: bhava	Thai: ภาวะ pa-wah ? 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? Cn: bǐ qiū Jp: biku Vi: tỉ-khâu or tỉ-khưu
bhikkhuni/bhikshuni A Buddhist nun	from bhikkhu Pāli: bhikkhuni Sanskrit: bhikṣuni	Tib: དགེ་སློང་མ་ sde slong ma Bur: ဘိက္ခုနီ bikuni Thai: ภิกษุณี bhiksuni 比丘? 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 Yogacara school	Sanskrit: bīja	種? Cn: zhŏngzi Jp: shushi Vi: chủng tử
bodhi Awakening or Enlightenment	Pāli, Sanskrit: bodhi	Thai: โพธิ์ poe 菩? Cn: pútí Jp: bodai Vi: bồ-đề
Bodhi tree The Sacred Fig (Ficus religiosa) tree under which Gautama reached Enlightenment	from bodhi above	菩提? Cn: Pútíshù Jp: Bodaiju Vi: Bồ-đề thụ
bodhicitta The motivation of a bodhisattva	Pāli, Sanskrit: bodhicitta	Tib: བྱང་ཆུབ་ཀྱི་སེམས་ byang chub kyi sems 菩提? Cn: pútíxīn Jp: bodaishin Vi: bồ-đề tâm
bodhisattva One 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? Cn: púsà Jp: bosatsu Vi: bồ-tát
Buddha A Buddha; also, the Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama.	from √budh: to awaken Pāli, Sanskrit: buddha	Bur: ဗုဒ္ဓ boda 佛, ? Cn: fó Jp: butsu or hotoke Vi: Phật or bụt
buddha nature The uncreated and deathless Buddhic element or principle concealed within all sentient beings to achieve Awakening; the innate (latent) Buddha essence (esp. in the Tathagatagarbha sutras, Tendai/Tiantai, Nichiren thought)	Sanskrit: buddha-dhatu, buddha-svabhāva, "tathagata-dhatu", or tathagatagarbha.	佛性, 仏? Cn: fóxìng Jp: busshō Vi: phật tính

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D

Definition	Etymology	In other languages
dakini A 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? Cn: ?? Jp: ?? Vi: không hành nữ
Dalai Lama, lit. "the lama with wisdom like an ocean", secular and spiritual leader of Tibet as nominated by the Mongols	Tibetan: ཏཱ་ལའི་བླ་མ་ taa-la'i bla-ma	達賴喇? Cn: Dálài Lǎma Jp: Darai Rama Vi: Đạt Lai Lạt Ma or Đạt-lại Lạt-ma
dana Generosity or giving; in Buddhism, it also refers to the practice of cultivating generosity	Pāli, Sanskrit: dāna	Bur: ဒာန dana Thai: ทาน taan 布? Cn: bùshī Jp: fuse Vi: bố thí
dependent origination, see Pratitya-Samutpada	Pāli: paṭicca-samuppāda Sanskrit: pratītya-samutpāda	因縁, also 緣起, 縁? Cn: yīn, also yuánqǐ Jp: innen, also engi Vi: duyên khởi
dhamma/dharma Often 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 "phenomenological constituent." 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 ? Cn: fă Jp: hō Vi: pháp
dhammavinaya The dharma and vinaya (roughly "doctrine and discipline") considered together. This term essentially means the whole teachings of Buddhism as taught to monks
dhammacakka/dharmacakra A symbolic representation of the dharma, also known as the Wheel of Dharma	Sanskrit: dharmacakra Pāli: dhammacakka	法? Cn: Fǎlún Jp: ?? Vi: pháp luân
dhammapala/dharmapala A fearsome deity, known as protector of the Dharma	Sanskrit: dharmapāla Pāli: dhammapāla	護? Cn: hùfǎ Jp: ?? Vi: Hộ Pháp
Dhyana, see jhana	Pāli: jhāna Sanskrit: dhyāna	禪 or 禪那, 禅 or 禅? 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: doan
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? Cn: dúcān Vi: độc tham
dukkha Suffering, dissatisfaction, stress	Pāli: dukkha Sanskrit: duḥkha	Bur: ဒုက္ခ doka Thai: ทุกข์ took ? Cn: kǔ Jp: ku Vi: khổ
dzogchen The natural, intrinsic state of every sentient being	Tibetan: རྫོགས་པ་ཆེན་པོ་ rdzogs pa chen po	Sanskrit: atiyoga 大究? Cn: dàjiūjìng Jp: ?? Vi: đại cứu cánh

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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 Cn: sānshí; Jp: sanji; Vi: tam thời), significant for many Mahayana adherents: Age of enlightenment (解脱堅固 Cn: jiětuō jiāngù; Jp: gedatsu kengo) 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 Cn: zhèngfǎ; Jp: shōbō) Age of reading, reciting, and listening (読誦多聞堅固 Cn: sòngduōwén jiāngù; Jp: dokuju tamon kengo) 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 Cn: xiàngfǎ; Jp: zōhō) 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 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? 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 Suffering: Dukkha (Sanskrit: duḥkhāryasatya; Bur: ဒုက္ခ doka; Thai: ทุกข์; 苦諦 Cn: kǔdì; Jp: kutai; Vi: khổ đế) Attachment (desire): Samudaya (Sanskrit: samudayāryasatya; Thai: สมุทัย; 集諦 Cn: jídì; Jp: jittai; Vi: tập khổ đế) Elimination of attachment (desire): Nirodha (Sanskrit: duḥkhanirodhāryasatya; Thai: นิโรธ; 滅諦 Cn: mièdì; Jp: mettai; Vi: diệt khổ đế) 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? Cn: Sìdì Jp: Shitai Vi: Tứ diệu đế
fukudo In Zen, term for person who strikes the han	Japanese

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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 Buddhist traditions, 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: gasshō	Sanskrit: anjali 合? Cn: hézhǎng (more common to say 合十 héshí) Vi: hiệp chưởng
geshe A Tibetan Buddhist academic degree in the Gelug tradition, awarded at the conclusion of lengthy studies often lasting nine years or more	Tibetan: དགེ་ཤེས?
gongan, lit. "public case", A meditative method developed in the Chán/Seon/Zen traditions, generally consisting of a problem that defies solution by means of rational thought; see koan	Chinese 公案 gōng-àn	公? Jp: kōan Ko: gong'an Vi: công án
Guan Yin The bodhisattva of compassion in East Asian Buddhism, with full name being Guan Shi Yin. Guan Yin is considered to be the female form of Avalokiteshvara but has been given many more distinctive characteristics.	Chinese 觀音 Guān Yīn or 觀世音 Guān Shì Yīn	觀音 or 觀世? 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
Hinayana, lit. "inferior vehicle", A coinage by the Mahayana for the Buddhist doctrines concerned with the achievement of Nirvana as a Śrāvakabuddha or a Pratyekabuddha, as opposed to a Samyaksambuddha	Sanskrit: hīnayāna	小? 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

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J

Definition	Etymology	In other languages
jhana Meditative 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? Cn: Chán or Chánnà Jp: Zen or Zenna Vi: Thiền or Thiền-na
jisha In Zen, a senior priest's attendant	Japanese

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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 Vi: nghiệp
kensho In Zen, enlightenment; has the same meaning as satōri, but is customary used for an initial awakening experience	Japanese: 見性 kenshō	見? Cn: jiànxìng Vi: kiến tính
khyenpo, also khenpo, An academic degree similar to a doctorate in theology, philosophy, and psychology	Tibetan
khanti patience	Thai: ขันติ kanti Japanese:	Thai: ขันติ kanti 耐? Cn: Vi:
kinhin Zen walking meditation	Japanese: 經行 kinhin or kyōgyō	經? Cn: jīngxíng Vi: ??
koan A story, question, problem or statement generally inaccessible to rational understanding, yet may be accessible to Intuition	Japanese: 公案 kōan	公? Cn: gōng-àn Ko: gong'an Vi: công án
ksanti The practice of exercising patience toward behavior 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
kyosaku In 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? Cn: jǐngcè Vi: ??

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L

Definition	Etymology	In other languages
lama A Tibetan teacher or master; equivalent to Sanskrit "guru"	Tibetan: བླ་མ་ lama	Sanskrit: guru 喇? Cn: lǎma Jp: rama Vi: lạt-ma
lineage The official record of the historical descent of dharma teachings from one teacher to another; by extension, may refer to a tradition

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M

Definition	Etymology	In other languages
Madhyamaka Buddhist philosophical school, founded by Nagarjuna. Members of this school are called Madhyamikas	Sanskrit: mādhyamika	Tib: དབུ་མ་པ་ dbu ma pa 中觀? Cn: Zhōngguānzōng Jp: ?? Vi: Trung quán tông
mahamudra A method of direct introduction the understanding of sunyata, of samsara and that the two are inseparable	Sanskrit: mahāmudrā	Tib: ཕྱག་རྒྱ་ཆེན་པོ་ chag-je chen-po 大手? Cn: dàshŏuyìn Jp: ?? Vi: đại thủ ấn
mahasiddha litt. great spiritual accomplishment. A yogi in Tantric Buddhism, often associated with the highest levels of enlightenment	Sanskrit: mahāsiddha	Thai: มหายา? 大成? Cn: dàchéngjiù Jp: ?? 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? Cn: Dàshèng Jp: Daijō Vi: Đại thừa
Maitreya The Buddha of the future epoch	Pāli: Metteyya Sanskrit: Maitreya	彌勒 or 彌勒佛, 弥勒 or 弥勒? Cn: Mílè or Mílè Fó Jp: Miroku or Miroku-butsu Vi: Di-lặc or Phật Di-lặc
makyo In Zen, unpleasant or distracting thoughts or illusions that occur during zazen	Japanese: 魔境 makyō
mantra Chant used primarily to aid concentration, to reach enlightenment. The best-known Buddhist mantra is possibly Om mani padme hum	Sanskrit: mantra	Thai: มนตร์ moan 真? Cn: zhēnyán 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? Cn: mòfǎ Vi: ??
metta loving kindness		Pāli: Sanskrit: Thai: เมตตา metta 慈爱 Ch: Jp: Vi:
Middle way The practice of avoidance of extreme views and lifestyle choices		Pāli: majjhimāpaṭipadā Sanskrit: madhyamāpratipad 中道 Ch: zhōngdào Jp: chūdō Vi: trung đạo
mindfulness The 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? Cn: zhèngniàn Jp: ?? Vi: chính niệm
moksha Liberation	Sanskrit: mokṣa	Pāli: vimutti 解? Cn: jiětuō Jp: gedatsu Vi: giải thoát
mokugyo A wooden drum carved from one piece, usually in the form of a fish	Japanese: 木?	木? Cn: mùyú Vi: mõ
mondo In Zen, a short dialogue between teacher and student	Japanese: 問答　mondō	問? Cn: wèndǎ Vi: ??
mudra lit. "seal", A gesture made with hands and fingers in meditation	Sanskrit: mudrā	Tib: ཕྱག་རྒྱ་ phyag rgya 印? Cn: yìnxiàng (commonly only yìn) Jp: inzō 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? Cn: nánmó Jp: namu or nam Vi: nam-mô Derivatives: 南無阿弥陀? Cn: Nánmó Ēmítuó fó Jp: Namu Amida butsu Vi: Nam-mô A-di-đà Phật
nekkhamma renunciation	Pāli:	Sanskrit: Thai: เนกขัมมะ nekkamma 出? Cn: Jp: Vi:
Nibbana/Nirvana Extinction 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? Cn: Nièpán Jp: Nehan Vi: Niết-bàn
Nikaya, lit. "volume", The Buddhist texts in Pāli	Pāli: nikāya	Sanskrit: Āgama 部? Cn: Bùjīng Jp: ?? Vi: Bộ kinh
Noble Eightfold Path Right View (Pāli: sammā-diṭṭhi; Sanskrit: samyag-dṛṣṭi; 正見 Cn: zhèngjiàn; Vi: chính kiến) 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) Right Speech (Pāli: sammā-vācā; Sanskrit: samyag-vāk; 正語 Cn: zhèngyǔ; Vi: chính ngữ) Right Action (Pāli: sammā-kammanta; Sanskrit: samyak-karmānta; 正業 Cn: zhèngyè; Vi: chính nghiệp) 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) Right Effort (Pāli: sammā-vāyāma; Sanskrit: samyag-vyāyāma; 正精進 Cn: zhèngjīngjìn; Vi: chính tinh tiến) Right Mindfulness (Pāli: sammā-sati; Sanskrit: samyag-smṛti; 正念 Cn: zhèngniàn; Vi: chính niệm) 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? Cn: Bāzhèngdào Jp: Hasshōdō Vi: Bát chính đạo

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O

Definition	Etymology	In other languages
oryoki A 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 Buddhist tradition. 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 skandha The five constituent elements into which an individual is analyzed. They are: "form": Pāli, Sanskrit: rūpa; 色 Cn: sè; Jp: shiki "sensation": Pāli, Sanskrit: vedanā; 受 Cn: shòu; Jp: ju "cognition": Pāli: saññā; Sanskrit: saṃjñā; 想 Cn: xiàng; Jp: sō "mental formations": Pāli: saṅkhāra; Sanskrit: saṃskāra; 行 Cn: xíng; Jp: gyō "consciousness": Pāli: viññāṇa; Sanskrit: vijñāna; 識 Cn: shí; Jp: shiki	Sanskrit: pañca skandha Pāli: pañca khandha	五蘊, 五陰, 五? Cn: wǔyùn Jp: go-on, sometimes go-un Vi: ngũ uẩn
Panchen Lama The second highest ranking lama in the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. after the Dalai Lama	Tibetan: པན་ཆེན་བླ་མ་ panchen blama	Sanskrit: paṇḍitaguru 班禪喇? Cn: Bānchán Lǎma Jp: ?? Vi: Ban-thiền Lạt-ma
panna, see prajna	Tibetan:	Sanskrit: 智? Cn: Jp: Vi:
paramartha Absolute, 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 Mahayana practices for obtaining enlightenment; giving, ethics, patience, effort, concentration and wisdom	Pāli: parami Sanskrit: pāramitā	Thai: บารมี baramee 波羅蜜 or 波羅蜜? Cn: bōluómì or bōluómìduō Jp: haramitsu or haramita Vi: ba-la-mật or ba-la-mật-đa
parinibbana/parinirvana The final nibbana/nirvana	from nibbana/nirvana above Pāli: parinibbāna Sanskrit: parinirvāṇa	Thai: ปรินิพพาน pari-nippaan 般涅? 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? 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 Mahamudra and 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? 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: Ignorance (Pāli: avijjā; Sanskrit: avidyā; 無明 Cn: wúmíng; Jp: mumyō; Vi: vô minh) Ignorance creates Mental Formation (Pāli: saṅkhāra; Sanskrit: saṃskāra; 行 Cn: xíng; Jp: gyō; Vi: hành) Mental Formation creates Consciousness (Pāli: viññāṇa; Sanskrit: vijñāna; 識 Cn: shí; Jp: shiki; Vi: thức) Consciousness creates Name & Form (Pāli, Sanskrit: nāmarūpa; 名色 Cn: míngsè; Jp: myōshiki; Vi: danh sắc) Name & Form create Sense Gates (Pāli: saḷāyatana; Sanskrit: ṣaḍāyatana; 六入 or 六処 Cn: liùrù; Jp: rokunyū or rokusho; Vi: lục căn) Sense Gates create Contact (Pāli: phassa; Sanskrit: sparśa; 觸, 触 Cn: chù; Jp: soku; Vi: xúc) Contact creates Feeling (Pāli, Sanskrit: vedanā; 受 Cn: shòu; Jp: ju; Vi: thụ) Feeling creates Craving (Pāli: taṇhā; Sanskrit: tṛṣṇā; 愛 Cn: ài; Jp: ai; Vi: ái) Craving creates Clinging (Pāli, Sanskrit: upādāna; 取 Cn: qǔ; Jp: shu; Vi: thủ) Clinging creates Becoming (Pāli, Sanskrit: bhava; 有 Cn: yǒu; Jp: u; Vi: hữu) Becoming creates Birth (Pāli, Sanskrit: jāti; 生 Cn: shēng; Jp: shō; Vi: sinh) 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? Cn: yuánqǐ Jp: engi Vi: duyên khởi Also called 因緣, 因? 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? Cn: Bìzhī Fó Jp: Hyakushibutsu Vi: Bích-chi Phật
Pure Land Buddhism A large branch of Mahayana, dominantly in East Asia. The goal of Pure Land is to be reborn in the Western sukhavati of Amitabha		净土? Cn: Jìngtǔ-zōng Jp: Jōdo-shū Ko: Jeongtojong Vi: Tịnh độ tông
purisa The practicing Buddhist community as a whole; sangha and laity

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R

Definition	Etymology	In other languages
rebirth The process of continuity of life after death		Pāli: punabbhava Sanskrit: punarbhava
refuge Usually in the form of "take refuge in the Three Jewels"		Pāli: saraṇa Sanskrit: śaraṇa Tib: skyabs Thai: สรณะ sorana 歸? Cn: guīyī Jp: ?? 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? Cn: rénbōqiē Jp: ?? Vi: ??
Rinzai Zen sect emphasizing sudden enlightenment and koan study; named for master Linji	Japanese: 臨濟宗 Rinzai-shū	臨濟? Cn: Línjì-zōng Vi: Lâm Tế tông
Rohatsu A 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
roshi, lit. "teacher", An honorific given to Japanese Buddhist teachers	Japanese 老師 rōshi	老? Cn: lǎo shī (lit., old master) Vi: lão sư

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S

Definition	Etymology	In other languages
sacca truthfulness	Sanskrit:	Thai: สัจจะ sadja ? Cn: Jp: Vi:
samanera/shramanera A male novice monk, who, after a year or until the ripe age of 20, will be considered for the higher Bhikkhu ordination	Sanskrit: śrāmaṇera	Thai: สามเณร sama-naen 沙? Cn: shāmí Jp: ?? Vi: ??
samatha Mental stabilization; tranquility meditation. Distinguished from vipassana meditation	Pāli: samatha Sanskrit: śamatha	Thai: สมถะ samatha 舍摩? Cn: shěmótā Jp: ?? Vi: ??
samsara The cycle of birth and rebirth; the world as commonly experienced	Pāli, Sanskrit: saṃsāra	Thai: สังสารวัฏ sung-sara-wat 輪迴, 輪? Cn: lúnhúi Jp: rinne Vi: luân hồi
samu Work, conceived as a part of Zen training.[1]	Japanese: 作?	作? Cn: zuòwù Vi: ??
samvrti Conventional, as opposed to absolute, truth or reality; see also paramartha	Sanskrit: saṃvrti	Thai: สมมุติ sommoot
sangha The community of Buddhist monks and nuns. Teachers and practitioners.	Sanskrit: saṅgha	Bur: သံဃာ than ga Thai: สงฆ์ song 僧, 僧? Cn: sēnglǚ Jp: sō, sōryō Vi: tăng già
Sanlun Buddhist philosophical school based on the Madhyamaka school	Chinese: 三論 sānlùn	三論? Cn: Sānlùnzōng Jp: Sanron-shū Vi: Tam luận tông
sanzen A formal interview with a teacher in many traditions of Zen. Similar to dokusan	Japanese
satori Awakening; understanding. A Japanese term for enlightenment	Japanese: 悟り satori	? Cn: wú Vi: ngộ
sayadaw Burmese meditation master
seichu In the Zen Buddhist calendar, a period of intensive, formal monastic training. It is typically characterized by week-long Daisesshins and periodic sanzen	Japanese
sensei Teacher; Zen teacher	Japanese: 先?
sesshin A Zen retreat where practitioners meditate, eat and work together for several days	Japanese: 接心, 摂?	接? Cn: jiēxīn Vi: tiếp tâm
shikantaza Soto Zen. "Only concentrated on doing sitting" is the main meditation-method of Soto school of Japanese Zen Buddhism	Japanese: 只管打?
shunyata Emptiness; see also Nagarjuna	Pāli: suññatā Sanskrit: śūnyatā	? Cn: kōng Jp: kū Vi: tính Không
sila "morals", "morality", "ethics": precepts	Pāli: sīla Sanskrit: śīla	Bur: သီလ thi la Thai: ศีล seen ? Cn: jiè Jp: kai Vi: giới
Soto Sect of Zen emphasizing shikantaza as the primary mode of practice; see also Dogen	Japanese: 曹洞宗 Sōtō-shū	曹洞? Cn: Cáodòng-zōng Vi: Tào Ğộng tông
store consciousness The base consciousness (alayavijnana) taught in Yogacara Buddhism	Pāli, Sanskrit: ālayavijñāna	阿頼耶? Cn: āyēshí Jp: arayashiki Vi: a-lại-da thức
sutra Scripture; originally referred to short aphoristic sayings and collections thereof	from √siv: to sew Sanskrit: sutra Pāli: sutta	Thai: สูตร soothe 經, ? Cn: jīng Jp: kyō Vi: kinh
Sutra Pitaka The second basket of the Tripitaka canon, the collection of all Buddha's teachings	Pāli: Sutta-piṭaka Sanskrit: Sūtra-piṭaka	經藏, 経? Cn: jīngcáng Jp: kyōzō Vi: Kinh tạng

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T

Definition	Etymology	In other languages
tanha Craving or desire	Pāli: taṇhā Sanskrit: tṛṣṇā	Thai: ตัณหา tunha ? 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
tantra Esoteric religious practices, including yoga, mantra...	Sanskrit: tantra	怛特? Cn: dátèluó Jp: ?? Vi: đát-đặc-la
Tathagata The "Thus-Come One" or "Thus-Gone One"; one of the Buddha's ten epithets	Sanskrit: tathāgata	Thai: ตถาคต tatha-kohd 如? Cn: rúlái Jp: nyorai Vi: như lai
tathagatagarbha Buddha-nature or the seed of enlightenment	Sanskrit: tathāgatagarbha	佛性, 仏? Cn: fóxìng Jp: busshō Also 覚? Cn: juéxìng Jp: kakushō Vi: giác tính Also 如来藏, 如来? 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? 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? Cn: shàngzuòbù Jp: jōzabu Vi: Thượng toạ bộ
Three Jewels Three 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? 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 a when the Buddhism of Sakyamuni would loose 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; 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? Cn: Sānshí Jp: Sanji Vi: Tam thời
Three Poisons or Three Fires The three primary causes of unskillful action or creation of "negative" karma: Greed or selfish desire (Pāli: taṇhā; Sanskrit: tṛṣṇā; 貪 Cn: tān; Jp: ton; Vi: ái) Hatred or anger (Sanskrit: dveṣa; 瞋 Cn: chēn; Jp: jin; Vi: sân) Ignorance or delusion (Pāli: avijjā; Sanskrit: avidyā; Tib.: མ་རིག་པ་ ma rig-pa; 癡 Cn: chī; Jp: chi; Vi: vô minh)	Pāli: Kilesa (Defilements) Sanskrit: kleśa	Tib: düsum () 三? Cn: Sāndú Jp: Sandoku Vi: Tam độc
Tiantai/Tendai A Mahayana school of China that teaches the supremacy of the Lotus Sutra	Chinese: 天台 tiāntāi	天台? Cn: tiāntāi-zōng Jp: tendai-shū Vi: Thiên Thai tông
trailõkya The 3 "regions" of the world: Kamaloka or Kamadhatu: world of desires (Sanskrit, Pāli: kāmaloka, kāmadhātu; Tibetan: འདོད་ཁམས་ `dod khams; 欲界 Cn: yùjiè, Vi: dục giới) Rupaloka or Rupadhatu: world of form (Sanskrit: rūpaloka, rūpadhātu; Tibetan: གཟུགས་ཁམས་ gzugs khams; 色界 Cn: sèjiè; Vi: sắc giới) 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? Cn: sānjiè Jp: ?? Vi: tam giới
trikaya The 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, 応身 Cn: yìngshēn; Jp: ōjin; Vi: ứng thân)	Sanskrit: trikāya	三? Cn: sānshēn Jp: sanjin Vi: tam thân
Tripitaka The "Three Baskets"; canon containing the sacred texts for Buddhism (P&