Buddhist Glossary

A

• Amitabha Buddha (阿弥陀佛): Known as the Buddha of Infinite Light and Infinite Life, revered in Pure Land Buddhism. Practitioners believe that sincere devotion to Amitabha can lead to rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
• Anatta (无我): The doctrine of non-self; the belief that there is no permanent, unchanging soul or essence in living beings.
• Anicca (无常): Impermanence; the idea that all things are transient and constantly changing.

B

• Bodhisattva (菩萨): A being who seeks enlightenment not only for themselves but also for all sentient beings. They vow to help others achieve liberation from suffering before attaining Buddhahood themselves.
• Brahma Viharas (四无量心): The four immeasurable virtues: loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity.
• Buddha (佛陀): The enlightened one who has fully awakened to the true nature of reality and freed themselves from the cycle of rebirth.

C

• Citta (心): Refers to the mind or heart; the seat of consciousness and emotions.
• Craving (贪欲): A source of suffering in Buddhism, representing attachment and desire.
• Compassion (慈悲): A fundamental Buddhist virtue; the heartfelt wish for all beings to be free from suffering.

D

• Dharma (法): The teachings of the Buddha, which provide the path to enlightenment.
• Dukkha (苦): Suffering, dissatisfaction, or stress; one of the fundamental truths of existence in Buddhism.

E

• Enlightenment (觉悟): The ultimate realization of truth and liberation from Samsara through the cessation of ignorance, desire, and suffering.

F

• Five Poisons (五毒): The five fundamental afflictions in Buddhism that obstruct enlightenment and cause suffering:
  1. Greed (贪): An insatiable desire for material or emotional satisfaction.
  2. Hatred (嗔): Anger, resentment, and ill-will toward others.
  3. Ignorance (痴): Lack of wisdom and understanding of the true nature of reality.
  4. Pride (慢): Arrogance or an inflated sense of self-importance.
  5. Doubt (疑): Distrust or uncertainty regarding the teachings of the Buddha.

Practices to Overcome the Five Poisons:

1. Overcoming Greed: Practice generosity (布施), offering time, resources, or compassion to others.
2. Overcoming Hatred: Cultivate loving-kindness (慈心观) through meditation and acts of forgiveness.
3. Overcoming Ignorance: Engage in study of the Dharma, attend teachings, and practice mindfulness (正念).
4. Overcoming Pride: Practice humility by serving others and acknowledging interconnectedness.
5. Overcoming Doubt: Strengthen faith through study, reflection, and participation in the Sangha community.

Meditative Techniques:

• Metta Bhavana (慈心观): Cultivates loving-kindness to dissolve anger and resentment.
• Vipassana (内观): Insight meditation to see through ignorance and develop wisdom.
• Nianfo (念佛): Reciting Amitabha Buddha’s name to focus the mind and overcome doubts and distractions.
• Controlling the Six Senses (度摄六根): A practice of guarding the six sense faculties (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind) to prevent attachment and distractions from arising. By remaining mindful of sensory input, practitioners develop inner peace and clarity.
• Continuous Pure Mindfulness (净念相继): The practice of maintaining unbroken, pure mindfulness through constant recollection of the Buddha, allowing for mental focus and spiritual clarity that transcends worldly distractions.
• Mind-Only Manifestation and Conscious Transformation (唯心所现，为识所变): A core concept from Yogacara (Consciousness-Only School) in Mahayana Buddhism. It teaches that all phenomena arise from the mind and are shaped by consciousness. External experiences are projections of the mind, and by transforming consciousness, one can fundamentally change their perception of reality.

Illustrative Parables:

A famous Buddhist story tells of a wealthy man consumed by greed. Despite his wealth, he remained unsatisfied until one day, a wandering monk offered him a lesson in generosity. By sharing his wealth with the poor, the man experienced true joy for the first time, gradually freeing himself from greed’s grip.

Another story highlights a warrior haunted by anger who sought the guidance of a compassionate monk. Through loving-kindness meditation, the warrior learned to let go of hatred and transformed into a peaceful protector of his village, dedicating his life to helping others.

Overcoming Pride: In the Lotus Sutra, the story of Devadatta, a cousin of the Buddha, illustrates the dangers of pride. Devadatta’s jealousy and arrogance led him to oppose the Buddha, ultimately causing his downfall. However, through the Buddha’s compassion, Devadatta was prophesied to attain Buddhahood in the distant future, demonstrating that even those consumed by pride can be redeemed through humility and sincere practice.

Overcoming Ignorance: A parable from the Jataka tales recounts the story of a blind man who denied the existence of light since he had never seen it. A wise teacher guided him patiently until the blind man realized the limits of his perception. This story reflects how ignorance can be overcome through openness to learning and direct experience.

Manifestation of Mind-Only: In a famous Yogacara story, a monk constantly experienced fear of being attacked by wild beasts during meditation in the forest. A wise teacher explained that the fear was not caused by external dangers but by his own mind’s projections. When the monk learned to calm his thoughts through mindfulness and compassion, his fears vanished, demonstrating how transforming consciousness can reshape reality.

Consciousness Transformation: A lay practitioner, plagued by visions of suffering and despair, sought guidance from a compassionate master. The master taught her the principle of “唯心所现，为识所变”—that her suffering was a manifestation of her own mind. Through meditation, chanting, and acts of compassion, she transformed her inner consciousness, eventually finding peace and joy within.

K

• Karma (业): The law of cause and effect, where actions in past lives influence one’s current and future circumstances.

M

• Meditation (禅修): A practice of cultivating mindfulness, concentration, and insight to achieve clarity and spiritual awakening.
• Mara (魔王): The embodiment of temptation, distraction, and death; symbolizes inner obstacles to enlightenment.
• Master Chin Kung (净空法师): A renowned modern Buddhist master who taught Pure Land Buddhism and emphasized the importance of reciting Amitabha Buddha’s name and cultivating a compassionate heart.

N

• Nirvana (涅槃): The ultimate goal in Buddhism—freedom from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (Samsara).
• Nianfo (念佛): The practice of reciting Amitabha Buddha’s name with sincerity, aiming for rebirth in the Pure Land.

P

• Pure Land (净土): A blissful, pure realm created by Amitabha Buddha where beings can easily cultivate the path to enlightenment.
• Pure Mind (清净心): A state of clarity, free from defilements and attachments. In Mahayana Buddhism, cultivating a pure mind is essential for realizing one’s Buddha-nature and achieving enlightenment.
• Paramitas (波罗蜜多): The six perfections that Bodhisattvas practice: generosity, morality, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom.
• Puxian’s Ten Great Vows (普贤十愿): The ten vows made by Samantabhadra Bodhisattva (普贤菩萨), representing the highest ideals of practice in Mahayana Buddhism. These vows are:
• Illustrative Story: According to Buddhist teachings, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva embodies universal virtue and compassion. It is said that by following these ten vows diligently, practitioners accumulate boundless merit and can help countless beings escape suffering. A notable story tells of a monk who, through lifelong devotion to the Ten Great Vows, attained deep spiritual insight and inspired countless followers to embrace compassion and wisdom.
• Another tale recounts a devoted follower who, after committing to Samantabhadra’s vows, transformed their entire community by practicing compassion and selflessness. Through acts of kindness and sharing the Dharma, they fostered harmony among neighbors, turning conflict into peace and suffering into joy.

R

• Rebirth (轮回): The process of being born into a new existence after death, influenced by one’s karma.
• Ten Dharma Realms (十法界): The ten levels of existence, divided into ordinary and enlightened beings:

1. Hell (地狱).
2. Hungry Ghosts (饿鬼).
3. Animals (畜生).
4. Asuras (阿修罗): Jealous gods.
5. Humans (人).
6. Devas (天): Heavenly beings.
7. Sravakas (声闻): Disciples who achieve enlightenment through hearing the Buddha’s teachings.
8. Pratyekabuddhas (缘觉): Solitary realizers.
9. Bodhisattvas (菩萨): Enlightened beings devoted to saving all sentient beings.
10. Buddhas (佛): Fully enlightened beings.

• Four Holy Realms (四圣法界): The realms of enlightened beings within the Ten Dharma Realms:

1. Sravakas (声闻).
2. Pratyekabuddhas (缘觉).
3. Bodhisattvas (菩萨).
4. Buddhas (佛).

S

• Samsara (六道轮回): The endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth that all beings are trapped in until enlightenment is achieved.
• Sangha (僧伽): The community of Buddhist practitioners, including monks, nuns, and lay followers.
• Sila (戒): Moral discipline or ethical conduct, one of the three key aspects of Buddhist practice.
• Six Realms of Samsara (六道): The six categories of rebirth: gods, asuras (jealous gods), humans, animals, hungry ghosts, and hell beings.
• Samadhi (三昧): Deep concentration and meditative absorption; an essential practice for achieving enlightenment.
• Sutras (佛经): The canonical scriptures of Buddhism, containing the teachings of the Buddha.

T

• Three Jewels (三宝): The foundation of Buddhist faith—Buddha (the enlightened one), Dharma (the teachings), and Sangha (the community).
• Three Poisons (三毒): The root causes of suffering—greed (贪), hatred (嗔), and ignorance (痴).
• Threefold Training (三学): The core Buddhist practices—morality (sila), concentration (samadhi), and wisdom (prajna).

V

• Vipassana (内观): Insight meditation aimed at gaining a deep understanding of the true nature of reality.

W

• Western Pure Land (西方极乐世界): The paradise created by Amitabha Buddha where practitioners strive to be reborn, offering the best conditions for attaining enlightenment.

Z

• Zen (禅宗): A school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing meditation, intuition, and direct experience rather than doctrinal study.

Rituals and Practices

• Offering (供养): A ritual of making offerings (such as incense, food, or flowers) to the Buddha or Bodhisattvas as an expression of devotion and gratitude.
• Chanting (诵经): The vocal recitation of Buddhist scriptures, mantras, or sutras as a form of meditation and spiritual cultivation.
• Prostration (礼拜): A physical act of devotion and respect, often performed in front of images of the Buddha or during meditation practice.
• Walking Meditation (经行): A meditative practice involving slow, mindful walking while focusing on breathing and bodily sensations to cultivate awareness and presence.
• Metta Bhavana (慈心观): A meditation practice that cultivates loving-kindness by mentally sending goodwill and compassion to oneself and all beings.

Notable Sutras

• Infinite Life Sutra (无量寿经): A key scripture in Pure Land Buddhism detailing the vows of Amitabha Buddha and the nature of the Western Pure Land.
• Heart Sutra (心经): A profound Mahayana text that teaches the concept of emptiness (Śūnyatā) and the nature of reality.
• Diamond Sutra (金刚经): A Mahayana sutra focusing on non-attachment and the impermanent nature of reality.
• Lotus Sutra (法华经): A significant Mahayana text emphasizing the universal potential for enlightenment and the importance of compassion and wisdom.

Notable Figures

• Shakyamuni Buddha (释迦牟尼佛): The historical founder of Buddhism, who attained enlightenment and shared the teachings that became the foundation of the Buddhist tradition.
• Avalokiteshvara (观世音菩萨): The Bodhisattva of Compassion, revered for hearing the cries of suffering beings and responding with mercy.
• Ksitigarbha (地藏菩萨): The Bodhisattva of the Earth, known for his vow to help beings trapped in hell until all suffering is alleviated.
• Manjushri (文殊菩萨): The Bodhisattva of Wisdom, symbolizing clarity of mind and intellectual enlightenment.

Precepts

• Four Great Vows (四弘誓愿): Fundamental vows in Mahayana Buddhism that every practitioner aspires to fulfill:
  1. Sentient beings are innumerable; I vow to save them all.
  2. Delusions are inexhaustible; I vow to end them all.
  3. Dharma gates are boundless; I vow to master them all.
  4. The Buddha’s Way is unsurpassable; I vow to attain it.
• Four Foundations of Mindfulness (四念处): A practice of meditation and contemplation to develop insight:
  1. Contemplation of the body (观身不净): Recognizing the body’s impermanent and impure nature.
  2. Contemplation of feelings (观受是苦): Understanding the suffering inherent in sensations.
  3. Contemplation of the mind (观心无常): Observing the mind’s changing nature.
  4. Contemplation of phenomena (观法无我): Understanding that all phenomena lack a permanent self.
• Three Acts of Respectful Practice (敬业三福): Three essential virtues for cultivating merit and preparing for rebirth in the Pure Land:
  1. Respect for parents, teachers, and elders.
  2. Compassion and non-violence toward all beings.
  3. Diligent practice of the Ten Wholesome Actions and cultivation of good karma.
• Six Harmonies of Respect (六和敬): Principles to maintain harmony within the Buddhist community:
  1. Harmony in views (见和同解): Sharing common understanding.
  2. Harmony in precepts (戒和同修): Practicing ethical conduct together.
  3. Harmony in living (身和同住): Living together peacefully.
  4. Harmony in speech (口和无诤): Speaking kindly and truthfully.
  5. Harmony in mind (意和同悦): Maintaining mutual respect.
  6. Harmony in sharing benefits (利和同均): Sharing resources equally.
• Five Precepts and Ten Wholesome Actions (五戒十善): Fundamental ethical guidelines for lay practitioners:
  • Five Precepts (五戒):
    1. No killing.
    2. No stealing.
    3. No sexual misconduct.
    4. No false speech.
    5. No intoxicants.
  • Ten Wholesome Actions (十善):
    1. No killing.
    2. No stealing.
    3. No sexual misconduct.
    4. No false speech.
    5. No divisive speech.
    6. No harsh speech.
    7. No idle talk.
    8. No covetousness.
    9. No ill-will.
    10. No wrong views.