Glossary        

S= Sanskrit

P=Pali

Ahimsa (S): Non-violence. The first precept.

Akausalya (S)/Akusala(P): Unskillful action. Those actions which are rooted in craving or selfish desire, in hatred or avarice and in mental confusion or bewilderment.

Anariyapariyesana (P): The Ignoble Quest.

Anatman (S)/Anatta (P): No-self, or non-self. All condtioned things are devoid of a permanent unchanging selfhood.

Anitya (S)/ Anicca (P): Impermanent. The second laksana.

Anti-gods: Asuras (S).

Arising: Utpada (S).

Ariyapariyesanta (P): The Noble Quest.

Arupaloka (S): The plane of no archetyal form.

Asura (S): Anti-gods.

Atakkavacara (S): Beyond the reach of thought, beyond the reach of understanding and conception, the unfathomable.

Au: "Speech" - a Seed Syllable.

Awakening: Utpada (S).

Bhavana (S): Developing or creating.

Bodhi (S): Enlightenment, spiritual awakening.

Bodhicitta-utpada (S): Will to Enlightenment, Bodhi Heart. The Bodhicitta is said to asise as a result of a coalescence between two trends of experience: reflection on the faults of conditioned existence and reflection on the sufferings of sentient beings. (See also Four Great Vows of the Bodhisattva).

Bodhisattva (S): One who seeks to gain Enlightenment. Particularly one who seeks to gain Enlightenment not just for him/herself but for the sake of all sentient beings.

Brahmacarya (S)/Brahmacariya (P): Faring, practising or living like Brahma. Celibacy.

Brahmas (S): A class of spiritual being superior to the gods.

Brahma-viharas (S): Karuna, mudita, upeska (S)/upekkha (P). Compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity.

Breath: Prana (S)

Celibacy: Brahmacarya (S)/Brahmacariya (P).

Citta (S): Mind, thought, consciouness, heart.

Compassion: Karuna (S).

Conditioned Reality: samskrta (S): put together or compounded. The three characteristics (laksanas) are dukha, anitya and anatman.

Consciousness: Vijnana (S): The fifth of the Five Aggregates/Skandhas.

Contentment: Santutthi (S).

Dana (S): Generousity.

Developing: Bhavana (S).

Development of calm: Samatha-bhavana (S).

Dhyanas (S): superconscious states. Higher states of consciousness. Meditation.

Duhkha (S)/Dukkha (P): unsatisfactoriness. Sometimes translated as "suffering". There are seven levels of duhkha.


Equanimity: Upeksa (S)/Upekkha (P).

Esana (P): quest, serach, will, desire, urge, aspiration

Ethics: Sila (S).

Faith: Sradhha (S)/Saddha (P).

Feeling: Vedana (S): The second of the Five Aggregates/Skandhas.

The Five Aggregates: skandhas (S): form (rupa (S)), feeling (vedana (S)), perceptions (samjna (S)), volitions (samskaras (S)) and consciousness (vijnana (S)). Make up the totality of condiotned sentient existence

The Five Dharmas/Ethical Precepts: Refer also to the Five Silas. The First Ethical Prcept is love or friendliness - maitri (S)/metta (P). The Second Ethical prcept is generousity - dana (S/P). The Third Ethical Precept is contentment - samtushti (S)/santutthi (P). The Fourth Ethical Precept is truthfulness - satya (S)/sacca (P). The Fifth Ethical Precept is mindfulness - smrti (S)/sati (P).

Five Hindrances to Meditation: 1) Desire for sense experience; 2) ill will: 3) restlessness and anxiety; 4) sloth and torpor; 5) doubt and indecision. See also Methods of Working on the Five HIndrances.

The Five Mental Poisons: Craving, hatred, doubt/distraction, ignorance, conceit.

The Five Precepts/Silas: Refer also to the Five Dharmas. The First Precept is abstention from harming living beings - ahimsa (S). The Second Precept is abstention from the taking of the not given. The Third Precept is abstention from sexual misconduct. The Fourth Precept is abstention from false speech. The Fifth Prcept is abstention from the taking of that which results in a loss of awareness.

Form: Rupa (S). The first of the Five Aggregates/Skandhas.

Foundations of Mindfulness: The body, feelings, emotions and thoughts.

The Four Great Vows of the Bodhisattva: Firstly, the Bodhisattva vows that he will deliver all beings from difficulties. Secondly, he vows that he will destroy within his own mind and through his advice, within the minds of other living beingd, all spiritual defilements.Thirdly he vows that he will learn the Dharma in all its aspects, practice it, realize it and teach it to others. Fourthly, he vows that in all possible ways he will help to lead all beings in the direction of unsurpassed, Perfect Enlightenment.

The Four Noble Truths: 1) Dukkha: the truth of the existence of pain, unsatisfactoriness, suffering. 2) Dukkha-samudaya: the truth of the arising of suffering - in dependence on craving. 3) Dukkha-nirodha: the truth of the cessation of suffering - the ceasing of craving. 4) Dukkha-nirodha-gamini-patipada: the truth of the path leading to the end of suffering - the Noble Eightfold Path.

Friendliness: maitri (S)/metta (P). The First Ethical Precept. Also "loving kindness".

Gacchami: I go.

Generousity: Dana (S).

Go, I go: Gacchami

Homage: Namo.

Hum: "Heart, mind" Seed Syllable.

Ignoble Quest: anariyapariyesana (P) ; when the conditioned goes in search of the conditioned, the mortal pursues the mortal. Corresponds to the round of existence, the Wheel of Life.

Insight: Prajna (S).

Insight Meditations: Vipasyana (S)/Vipassana (P).

Kamaloka (S): The plane of sensuous desire.

Karuna (S): Compassion.

Kausalya (S)/Kusala (P): Skillful action. Those which are free from craving, free from hatred, free from mentl confusion, and which are motivated by generousity, love and compassion.

Meditation: Samadhi (S/P).

Methods of Working on the Five Hindrances: 1) Acknowledge the hindrance is there; 2) consider the consequences of allowing the hindrance to cotinue unchecked; 3) cultivate the opposite quality; 4) cultivate a sky-like attitude; 5) suppression.

Metta Bhavana (S): Developing/creating friendliness/loving kindness.

Mind: Citta (S).

Mindfulness: Sati (S).

Morality: Sila (S)/ Sila (P).

Mudita (S): Sympathetic joy.

Mundane existence: Samsara (S). Traditionally divided into three horizontal layers: the second of which is higher - more refined, positive, luminous - than the first, and the third of which is higher than the second. The three layers/planes/worlds are those of sensuos desire (kamaloka (S)); archetypal form (rupaloka (S)) and of no archetypal form (arupaloka (S)).

Nama: Name.

Name: Nama.

Namo: Hommage, praise.

The Noble Eightfold Path: 1) Complete Vision. 2) Complete Emotion. 3) Complete Speech. 4) Complete Action. 5) Complete Livelihood. 6) Complete Effort. 7) Complete Awareness/Mindfulness. 8) Complete Concentration. Also divided into Threefold and Twofold Paths.

Noble Quest: ariyapariyesanta (P) ; when the conditioned goes in search of the Unconditioned, the mortal pursues the immortal. Corresponds to the path leading from the Wheel of Life, up through the Spiral, to the Goal of Enlightenment.

Non-Returner: Those great spiritual beings who have developed transcendental insight to such an extent as to break the five fetters binding them to the plane of sensuous desire, so that they will be no more born there.

Om: "Body" Seed Syllable.

Path of the Bodhisattva:

The Path of Irregular Steps: On the Path of Irregular Steps progress is not systematic. Usually involves trying to force the process of spiritual development.

The Path of Regular Steps: The path from samsara to nirvana, from condtioned to Uncondtiioned being, from unenlightened humanity to the Enlightened humanity of the Buddha. It is traditionally divided into three stages: the stage of sila (S)/sila (P) or morality, the stage of samadhi (S/P) or meditation and the stage of prajna (S)/panna (P) or wisdom. On the Path of Regular Steps progress is systematic.

Perception: Samjna (S): The third of the Five Aggregates/Skandhas.

The Plane of Archetypal Form: rupaloka (S): The second plane of mundane existence. Comprises sixteen sub-planes, from the heaven of the gods belonging to the company of Brahma up to and including the five pure abodes which are inhabited by Non-Returners.

The Plane of No-Archetypal Form: arupaloka (S): The highest plane of mundane existence. Comprises four sub-planes, all of which are inhabited by Brahmas, a class of spiritual being superior to the gods.

The Plane of Sensous Desire: kamaloka (S): The lowest plane of mundane existence. Comprises (in ascending order) the hell-world; the world of hungry ghosts; the world of asuras or anti-gods; the animal world; the human world and the world of the lower gods.

Prajna (S)/Panna (P): Wisdom, insight. Means direct insight into the nature of reality. When fully developed this wisdom is what is called bodhi or Enlightenment. The third and final stage of the Path of Regular Steps.

Prana (S): Breath.

Praise: Namo.

Refuge: Sarana/Saranam (S).

Rupa (S): Form.

Rupaloka (S): The plane of archetypal form.

Sacca (S): Truth.

Samadhi (S/P): Meditation. Has many different meanings on a number of different levels. First of all it consists in the gathering together of all one's scattered energies and bringing them together into a single focus. Next it consists in the experience of progressive higher states of consciousness, states extending into what are called the dhyanas. Finally samadhi includes the development of supernormal powers of the mind. The second stage of the Path of Regular Steps.

Samatha (S/P): Tranquility meditations.

Samatha-bhavana (S): Development of calm.

Samjna (S): Perception.

Samskaras (S): Volitional activities.

Samsara (S): the round of mundane existence.

Samyak (S): Right, complete, whole, integral, perfect.

Santutthi (S): Contentment.

Sarana/m (S): Refuge

Sati (S): Mindfulness.

Seed Syllables: Om, au, hum.

Sevenfold Path

Seven Levels of Duhkha: 1) birth 2) decay in the sense of old age 3) sicxkness 4) death 5) to be joined with what one dislikes 6) to be separated from what one likes 7) not to get what one wants. The five aggregates (skhandhas) are also a form of suffering.

Sila (S)/ Sila (P): Morality, ethics. It is simply skillful action, action which benefits oneself and helps one to grow and which benefits others. It is both the mental attitude and the mode of behaviour in which that attitude naturally expresses itself. The first stage of the Path of Regular Steps.

Skandhas: The five skandhas (S) are form, feeling, perceptions, volitions and consciousness. Make up the totality of conditioned sentient existence.

Skillful action: Kausalya (S)/Kusala (P).

Skillful mental states: Those based on contentment, friendliness and clarity.

Sradhha (S)/Saddha (P): Faith.

Sunyata (S): Void.

Sunyata Meditations:

Sympathetic joy: Mudita (S).

The Threefold Path: Prajna (insight): Complete Vision. Sila (ethics): Complete Emotion, Complete Speech, Complete Action, Complete Livelihood. Samadhi (meditation): Complete Effort, Complete Awareness/Mindfulness, Complete Concentration.

The Three Laksanas: laksanas (S)/lakkanas (P): characteristics of conditioned reality. Dukha, anitya and anatman

Tranquility mediations: Samatha (S/P).

Truth: Sacca (S).

The Twofold Path: Insight: Complete Vision. Transformation: Complete Emotion,, Complete Speech, Complete Action, Complete Livelihood, Complete Effort, Complete Awareness/Mindfulness, Complete Concentration.

Unconditioned Reality: asamskrta (S): not put together or compounded

Unsatisfactoriness: Duhkha (S)/Dukkha (P).

Unskillful action: Akausalya (S)/Akusala(P).

Unskillful mental states: Those which are rooted in craving, aversion and ignorance.

Upeksa (S)/Upekkha (P): Equanimity.

Utpada (S): Arising, awakening.

Vedana (S): Feeling or emotion.

Vijnana (S): Consciouness.

Vipasyana (S)/Vipassana (P): Insight Meditations.

Void: Sunyata (S).

Volitional Activities: Samskaras (S): The fourth of the Five Aggregates/Skandhas.

Wheel of Life:

Will to Enlightenment: Bodhicitta-utpada (S).

Wisdom: Prajna (S)/Panna (P).

Terms and definitions are adapted from A Guide to the Buddhist Path, by Sangarakshita (Windhorse Publications).

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