Buddhism Flashcards
(21 cards)
Buddha
The Enlightened One; title given to Siddhartha Gautama after achieving enlightenment.
Dharma
Teachings of Buddha, the path to enlightenment.
Sangha
A congregation of people assembled for religious worship.
Sutra
A discourse of the Buddha.
Skandha
The five categories of physical and mental existence.
Karma
The law of moral; cause and effect.
Samsara
The cycle of life driven by karma and cravings.
Nirvana
The ultimate goal in Buddhism, the cessation of suffering and release from samsara.
merit-making
Accumulating good karma through virtuous deeds, generosity, and devotion.
vipasyana or vipassana
Insight Meditation, a practice aimed at gaining deep understanding of impermanence, suffering, and no-self.
shamatha or samatha
Calm-abiding Meditation, a practice focused on concentration and mental tranquility.
Vesak
A festival celebrating major events in the life of the Buddha.
Bodhisattva
Those who have dedicated themselves to achieving Buddhahood and those who vowed to seek enlightenment but have not yet attained it.
Upaya
Skillful means, the adaptable and compassionate way of teaching the Dharma. (story about Dad and the kids in the burning house)
Vajrayana
Diamond Vehicle, a form of Buddhism incorporating esoteric practices, mainly in Tibet and Mongolia.
Mandala
A sacred, symbolic geometric diagram used in meditation and rituals.
Pure Land
A Buddhist tradition focused on rebirth in a blissful realm called the Pure Land through devotion to Amitabha Buddha.
Who is ‘Amitabha’ or ‘Amida’?
The Buddha of Infinite Light; central figure in Pure Land Buddhism.
Nembutsu
The recitation of Amitabha Buddha’s name ‘Namu Amida Butsu’ as an act of devotion.
Zen
A school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing meditation (zazen) and direct experience over scriptures.
Koan
A riddle or puzzling anecdote used in Zen meditation.
