Buddhism Flashcards
(40 cards)
anatman
“no-soul,” the doctrine that the human person is impermanent, a changing combination of components
Arhat/lohan
saint, someone who has realized the ideal of spiritual perfection
bhikshu, bhikshuni
an ordained buddhist monk and nun, respectively. Need to recite triple refuge (chastity, poverty, obedience)
bodhisattva
in Theravada, a being who is on the way to enlightenment or buddhahood but has not yet achieved it; in Mahayana, a celestial being who forgoes nirvana in order to save others
Chan/Seon/Zen
a tradition centered on the practice of meditation and the teaching that ultimate reality is not expressible in words or logic, but must be grasped through indirect intuition; see also koan and zazen
dana
a “giving” ritual, in which Theravada families present gifts of food, at their homes or a temple, to bhikshus who conduct rituals including chanting and merit transfer
dharma
in Buddhist usage, teaching or truth concerning the ultimate nature of things (teachings of the Buddha)
dukkha
the suffering, psychological as well as physical, that characterizes human life
Hinayana
“Lesser Vehicle”; the pejorative name given by the Mahayana (“greater vehicle”) school to the earlier Indian Buddhist sects, of which Theravada became the most important
karma
the energy of the individual’s past thoughts and actions, good or bad; it determines rebirth within the “wheel” of samsara or cycle of rebirth that ends only when parinirvana is achieved
Good karma is also called “merit
koan/gongan
a paradoxical thought exercise used in the Chan-Zen tradition to provoke a breakthrough in understanding by forcing students past the limitations of verbal formulations and logic
lama
“wise teacher”; a title given to advanced teachers as well as the heads of various Tibetan ordination lineages
Mahayana
“Greater Vehicle”; the form of Buddhism that emerged around the first century in India and spread first to China then Korea and Japan. Buddha has 3 bodies (trikaya): heavenly body, dharma body, appearance body. Lay people can achieve enlightenment. Zen buddhism
mandala
a chart-like representation of cosmic buddha figures that often serves as a focus of meditation and devotion in the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions
mudra
a pose or gesture in artistic representations of Buddha figures; by convention, each mudra has a specific symbolic meaning
nirvana
The state of bliss associated with final enlightenment; nirvana “with remainder” is the highest level possible in this life, and nirvana “with remainder” is the highest level possible in this life, and nirvana “without remainder” is the ultimate state (see parinirvana)
pagoda
a multi-storey tower, characteristic of Southeast and east asian buddhism, that developed out of the south asian mound or stupa
parinirvana
the ultimate perfection of bliss, achievable only on departing this life, as distinct from the nirvana with the “remainder” achievable while one is still in the present existence
prajna
the spiritual wisdom or insight necessary for enlightenment
Pure Land
the comfortable realm in the western region of the heavens reserved for those who trust in the merit and grace of its lord, the celestial buddha Amitabha (amida)
sangha
the “congregation” or community of Buddhist monks and nuns. Some schools also refer to the congregation of laypersons as a sangha
Shakyamuni
“Sage of the Shakya clan” a title used to refer to the historical Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha
shunyata
the emptiness that is held to be ultimately characteristic of all things, stressed especially by Madhyamaka doctrine
stupa
Originally a hemispherical mound built to contain cremation ashes or a sacred relic; in East Asia the stupa developed into the tower-like pagoda
