BUDDHIST TERMS AND CONCEPTS

Several 'Buddhist terms and concepts' lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term. Below are given a number of important Buddhist terms, short definitions, and the languages in which they appear. In this list, an attempt has been made to organize terms by their original form and give translations and synonyms in other languages along with the definition.
Languages and traditions dealt with here:

★ English (Eng.)

★ Pāli: Theravāda Buddhism

★ Sanskrit (or Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit): primarily Mahāyāna Buddhism

★ Tibetan (Tib): Tibetan Buddhism

★ Thai: Theravāda Buddhism

★ Burmese (Bur): Theravada Buddhism

★ CJKV languages

★
★ Chinese (Cn): Chinese Buddhism

★
★ Japanese (Jp): Japanese Buddhism

★
★ Korean (Ko): Korean Buddhism

★
★ Vietnamese (Vi): Vietnamese Buddhism

Contents

A

B

D

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

V

Z

See also

External links

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'' ★ 阿毗達磨 ★ ★ 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: '' ★ Sanskrit: ''	★ 論藏, 論蔵 ★ ★ 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: ''saya'' ★ Thai: อาจารย์ ''ajahn'' ★ 阿闍梨 or 阿闍梨耶 ★ ★ Cn: ''āshélí'' or ''āshélíyē'' ★ ★ Jp: ''ajari'' or ''ajariya'' ★ ★ Vi: ''a-xà-lê'' or ''a-xà-lê-da''
'adhitthana' determination	★ Pāli: '' '' ★ Sanskrit: '' ''	★ Bur: '' '' ★ Thai: '' '' ★ 决心 ★ ★ Cn: '' '' ★ ★ Jp: '' '' ★ ★ Vi: '' ''
'addiction', see tanha
'Agama' The Buddhist texts in Sanskrit	★ Sanskrit: ''Āgama''	★ Pāli: ''Nikāya'' ★ 阿含 ★ ★ 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: '' ★ Pāli: ''	★ 不害 ★ ★ 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, 阿頼耶識 ★ ★ 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 阿弥陀仏 ★ ★ 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''	★ 無常 ★ ★ 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'' ★ 阿羅漢 ★ ★ Cn: ''āluóhàn'' ★ ★ Jp: ''arakan'' ★ ★ Vi: ''a-la-hán''
'arahato samasam buddhasa',	★ Pāli: '' '' '' '' ★ Sanskrit: '' '' '' ''	★ Tib: , '' '' ★ 阿耨多罗三藐三菩提 ★ ★ 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'' ★ 我 ★ ★ 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 觀音 ★ ★ 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'' ★ 無明 ★ ★ Cn: ''wúmíng'' ★ ★ Jp: ''mumyō'' ★ ★ Vi: ''vô minh''

B

bhavacakra>bhavacakra>bhavacakra>bhavacakra>bhavacakra>bhavacakra>bhavacakra>bhavacakra>bhavacakra>bhavacakra>bhavacakra>

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'' ★ 中有 ★ ★ 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''	★ 有輪 ★ ★ 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: ภาวนา ★ 有 ★ ★ Cn: ''yǒu'' ★ ★ Jp: ''u'' ★ ★ Vi: ''hữu''
'bhikkhu/bhikshu', lit. "beggar", A Buddhist monk	★ Pāli: ''bhikkhu'' ★ Sanskrit: ''	★ Tib: དགེ་སློང་ ''dge slong'' ★ Thai: ภิกขุ ''bhikku'' ★ 比丘 ★ ★ Cn: ''bǐ qiū'' ★ ★ Jp: ''biku'' ★ ★ Vi: ''tỉ-khâu'' or ''tỉ-khưu''
'bhikkhuni/bhikshuni' A Buddhist nun	★ from bhikkhu ★ Pāli: ''bhikkhuni'' ★ Sanskrit: ''	★ Tib: དགེ་སློང་མ་ ''sde slong ma'' ★ Bur: ''bikuni'' ★ Thai: ภิกษุณี ''bhiksuni'' ★ 比丘尼 ★ ★ 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''	★ 種子 ★ ★ Cn: ''zhŏngzi'' ★ ★ Jp: ''shushi'' ★ ★ Vi: ''chủng tử''
'bodhi' Awakening or Enlightenment	★ Pāli, Sanskrit: ''bodhi''	★ 菩提 ★ ★ Cn: ''pútí'' ★ ★ Jp: ''bodai'' ★ ★ Vi: ''bồ-đề''
'Bodhi tree' The Sacred Fig (''Ficus religiosa'') tree under which Gautama reached Enlightenment	★ from bodhi above	★ 菩提樹 ★ ★ 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'' ★ 菩提心 ★ ★ 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: ''bawditat'' ★ 菩薩 ★ ★ Cn: ''púsà'' ★ ★ Jp: ''bosatsu'' ★ ★ Vi: ''bồ-tát''
'Buddha' A Buddha; also, the Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama.	★ from ''√budh'': to awaken ★ Pāli, Sanskrit: ''buddha''	★ Bur: ''boda'' ★ 佛, 仏 ★ ★ 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, 仏性 ★ ★ Cn: ''fóxìng'' ★ ★ Jp: ''busshō'' ★ ★ Vi: ''phật tính''

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: ''	★ Tib: མཁའ་འགྲོ་མ་ ''mkha` `gro ma'' ★ 空行女 ★ ★ 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''	★ 達賴喇嘛 ★ ★ 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: ''dana'' ★ 布施 ★ ★ Cn: ''bùshī'' ★ ★ Jp: ''fuse'' ★ ★ Vi: ''bố thí''
'dependent origination', see Pratitya-Samutpada	★ Pāli: '' ★ Sanskrit: ''pratītya-samutpāda''	★ 因縁, also 緣起, 縁起 ★ ★ 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 '': to hold ★ Pāli: ''dhamma'' ★ Sanskrit: ''dharma''	★ Bur: ''dha ma'' ★ 法 ★ ★ 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''	★ 法輪 ★ ★ Cn: ''Fǎlún'' ★ ★ Jp: ?? ★ ★ Vi: ''pháp luân''
'dhammapala/dharmapala' A fearsome deity, known as protector of the Dharma	★ Sanskrit: ''dharmapāla'' ★ Pāli: ''dhammapāla''	★ 護法 ★ ★ Cn: ''hùfǎ'' ★ ★ Jp: ?? ★ ★ Vi: ''Hộ Pháp''
'Dhyana', see jhana	★ Pāli: ''jhāna'' ★ Sanskrit: ''dhyāna''	★ 禪 or 禪那, 禅 or 禅那 ★ ★ 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''	★ 獨參 ★ ★ Cn: ''dúcān'' ★ ★ Vi: ''độc tham''
'dukkha' Suffering, dissatisfaction, stress	★ Pāli: ''dukkha'' ★ Sanskrit: ''	★ Bur: ''doka'' ★ 苦 ★ ★ 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'' ★ 大究竟 ★ ★ Cn: ''dàjiūjìng'' ★ ★ Jp: ?? ★ ★ Vi: ''đại cứu cánh''

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, 五箇五百歳 ★ ★ 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: ''; Bur: ''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: ''; Thai: นิโรธ; 滅諦 Cn: ''mièdì''; Jp: ''mettai''; Vi: ''diệt khổ đế'')# The path that leads out of suffering: Magga (Sanskrit: ''; Thai: มรรค; 道諦 Cn: ''dàodì''; Jp: ''dōtai''; Vi: ''đạo đế'')		★ Pāli: ''cattāri ariya-saccāni'' ★ Sanskrit: चत्वारि आर्यसत्यानि ''catvāry āryasatyāni'' ★ 四諦 ★ ★ Cn: ''Sìdì'' ★ ★ Jp: ''Shitai'' ★ ★ Vi: ''Tứ diệu đế''
'fukudo' In Zen, term for person who strikes the han	★ Japanese

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'' ★ 合掌 ★ ★ Cn: ''hézhǎng'' (more common to say 合十 ''héshí'') ★ ★ Vi: ''hiệp chưởng''
'geshe' A Tibetan Buddhist academic degree in the Gelug traddition, 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''	★ 公案 ★ ★ 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 觀世音 ★ ★ Jp: ''Kannon'' or ''Kanzeon'' ★ ★ Ko: ''Gwaneum'' or ''Gwanse-eum'' ★ ★ Vi: ''Quan Âm'' or ''Quan Thế Âm''

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''	★ 小乘 ★ ★ Cn: ''Xiǎoshèng'' ★ ★ Jp: ''Shōjō'' ★ ★ Vi: ''Tiểu thừa''

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

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''	★ 禪 or 禪那, 禅 or 禅那 ★ ★ Cn: ''Chán'' or ''Chánnà'' ★ ★ Jp: ''Zen'' or ''Zenna'' ★ ★ Vi: ''Thiền'' or ''Thiền-na''
'jisha' In Zen, a senior priest's attendant	★ Japanese

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 ''kam'' ★ 業¹, 因果² ★ ★ Cn: ¹''yè'', comm.: ²''yīnguǒ'' ★ ★ 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''	★ 見性 ★ ★ Cn: ''jiànxìng'' ★ ★ Vi: ''kiến tính''
'khyenpo', also ''khenpo'', An academic degree similar to a doctorate in theology, philosophy, and psychology	★ Tibetan
'khanti' patientce	★ Japanese: '' '' '' ''	★ 耐心 ★ ★ Cn: '' '' ★ ★ Vi:
'kinhin' Zen walking meditation	★ Japanese: 經行 ''kinhin'' or ''kyōgyō''	★ 經行 ★ ★ 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''	★ 公案 ★ ★ 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	★ 警策 ★ ★ Cn: ''jǐngcè'' ★ ★ Vi: ??

L

Definition	Etymology	In other languages
'lama' A Tibetan teacher or master; equivalent to Sanskrit "guru"	★ Tibetan: བླ་མ་ ''lama''	★ Sanskrit: ''guru'' ★ 喇嘛 ★ ★ 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

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'' ★ 中觀宗 ★ ★ 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'' ★ 大手印 ★ ★ 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: มหายาน ★ 大成就 ★ ★ 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''	★ 大乘 ★ ★ 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 弥勒仏 ★ ★ 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''	★ 真言 ★ ★ 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''	★ 末法 ★ ★ Cn: ''mòfǎ'' ★ ★ Vi: ??
'metta' loving kindness		★ Pāli: '' '' ★ Sanskrit: '' '' ★ 慈爱 ★ ★ Ch: '' '' ★ ★ Jp: '' '' ★ ★ Vi: '' ''
'Middle way' The practice of avoidance of extreme views and lifestyle choices		★ Pāli: '' ★ 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: '' ★ 正念 ★ ★ Cn: ''zhèngniàn'' ★ ★ Jp: ?? ★ ★ Vi: ''chính niệm''
'moksha' Liberation	★ Sanskrit: ''	★ Pāli: ''vimutti'' ★ 解脱 ★ ★ Cn: ''jiětuō'' ★ ★ Jp: ''gedatsu'' ★ ★ Vi: ''giải thoát''
'mokugyo' A wooden drum carved from one piece, usually in the form of a fish	★ Japanese: 木魚	★ 木魚 ★ ★ Cn: ''mùyú'' ★ ★ Vi: ''mõ''
'mondo' In Zen, a short dialogue between teacher and student	★ Japanese: 問答　''mondō''	★ 問答 ★ ★ Cn: ''wèndǎ'' ★ ★ Vi: ??
'mudra' lit. "seal", A gesture made with hands and fingers in meditation	★ Sanskrit: ''mudrā''	★ Tib: ཕྱག་རྒྱ་ ''phyag rgya'' ★ 印相 ★ ★ Cn: ''yìnxiàng'' (commonly only ''yìn'') ★ ★ Jp: ''inzō'' ★ ★ Vi: ''ấn''

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 toDerivatives: ★ Namo Amitabha	★ Pāli: ''namo'' ★ Sanskrit: '' or ''namas''Derivatives: ★ Sanskrit: ''namas amitābha''	★ 南無 ★ ★ Cn: ''nánmó'' ★ ★ Jp: ''namu'' or ''nam'' ★ ★ Vi: ''nam-mô''Derivatives: ★ 南無阿弥陀佛 ★ ★ Cn: ''Nánmó Ēmítuó fó'' ★ ★ Jp: ''Namu Amida butsu'' ★ ★ Vi: ''Nam-mô A-di-đà Phật''
'nekkhamma' renunciation	★ Pāli: '' ''	★ Sanskrit: '' '' ★ 出世 ★ ★ Cn: '' '' ★ ★ Jp: ★ ★ Vi: '' ''
'Nibbana/Nirvana' Extinction or extinguishing; ultimate enlightenment in the Buddhist tradition	★ from '': to extinguish ★ Pāli: ''nibbāna'' ★ Sanskrit: ''nirvana''	★ Bur: ''neiban''/Burmese Pali: ''nibbana'' ★ Thai: นิพพาน ''nípphaan'' ★ 涅槃 ★ ★ Cn: ''Nièpán'' ★ ★ Jp: ''Nehan'' ★ ★ Vi: ''Niết-bàn''
'Nikaya', lit. "volume", The Buddhist texts in Pāli	★ Pāli: ''nikāya''	★ Sanskrit: ''Āgama'' ★ 部經 ★ ★ Cn: ''Bùjīng'' ★ ★ Jp: ?? ★ ★ Vi: ''Bộ kinh''
'Noble Eightfold Path'# Right View (Pāli: ''; Sanskrit: ''; 正見 Cn: ''zhèngjiàn''; Vi: ''chính kiến'')# Right Thought (Pāli: ''; Sanskrit: ''; 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: ''; 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: '' ★ Sanskrit: '' ★ Thai: อริยมรรค ''ariya-mak'' ★ 八正道 ★ ★ Cn: ''Bāzhèngdào'' ★ ★ Jp: ''Hasshōdō'' ★ ★ Vi: ''Bát chính đạo''

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''

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: ''; 想 Cn: ''xiàng''; Jp: ''sō''#"mental formations": Pāli: ''; Sanskrit: ''; 行 Cn: ''xíng''; Jp: ''gyō''#"consciousness": Pāli: ''; Sanskrit: ''vijñāna''; 識 Cn: ''shí''; Jp: ''shiki''	★ Sanskrit: ''pañca skandha'' ★ Pāli: ''pañca khandha''	★ 五蘊, 五陰, 五薀 ★ ★ 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: '' ★ 班禪喇嘛 ★ ★ Cn: ''Bānchán Lǎma'' ★ ★ Jp: ?? ★ ★ Vi: ''Ban-thiền Lạt-ma''
'panna', see prajna	★ Tibetan: '' ''	★ Sanskrit: '' '' ★ 智慧 ★ ★ Cn: '' '' ★ ★ Jp: ★ ★ Vi: '' ''
'paramartha' Absolute, as opposed to merely conventional, truth or reality; see also samvrti	★ Sanskrit: ''paramārtha''
'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''	★ 波羅蜜 or 波羅蜜多 ★ ★ 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: ''	★ 般涅槃 ★ ★ 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 般若波羅蜜多 ★ ★ 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: ''pin nya'' ★ 般若 ★ ★ 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: ''; 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: ''; Sanskrit: ''; 行 Cn: ''xíng''; Jp: ''gyō''; Vi: ''hành'')# Mental Formation creates Consciousness (Pāli: ''; 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: ''; Sanskrit: ''; 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: ''; Sanskrit: ''; 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: ''; 老死 Cn: ''láosǐ''; Jp: ''rōshi''; Vi: ''lão tử'')	★ Pāli: '' ★ 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'), 縁起 ★ ★ Cn: ''yuánqǐ'' ★ ★ Jp: ''engi'' ★ ★ Vi: ''duyên khởi'' ★ Also called 因緣, 因縁 ★ ★ 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''	★ 辟支佛 ★ ★ 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		★ 净土宗 ★ ★ Cn: ''Jìngtǔ-zōng'' ★ ★ Jp: ''Jōdo-shū'' ★ ★ Ko: ''Jeongtojong'' ★ ★ Vi: ''Tịnh độ tông''
'purisa' The practicing Buddhist community as a whole; sangha and laity

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: '' ★ Sanskrit: '' ★ Tib: ''skyabs'' ★ 歸依 ★ ★ 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་	★ 仁波切 ★ ★ Cn: ''rénbōqiē'' ★ ★ Jp: ?? ★ ★ Vi: ??
'Rinzai' Zen sect emphasizing sudden enlightenment and koan study; named for master Linji	★ Japanese: 臨濟宗 ''Rinzai-shū''	★ 臨濟宗 ★ ★ 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''	★ 老師 ★ ★ Cn: ''lǎo shī'' (lit., old master) ★ ★ Vi: ''lão sư''

S

Definition	Etymology	In other languages
'sacca' truthfulness	★ Sanskrit: '' ''	★ 真 ★ ★ 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: ''	★ 沙彌 ★ ★ Cn: ''shāmí'' ★ ★ Jp: ?? ★ ★ Vi: ??
'samatha' Mental stabilization; tranquility meditation. Distinguished from vipassana meditation	★ Pāli: ''samatha'' ★ Sanskrit: ''śamatha''	★ 舍摩他 ★ ★ Cn: ''shěmótā'' ★ ★ Jp: ?? ★ ★ Vi: ??
'samsara' The cycle of birth and rebirth; the world as commonly experienced	★ Pāli, Sanskrit: ''	★ 輪迴, 輪廻 ★ ★ Cn: ''lúnhúi'' ★ ★ Jp: ''rinne'' ★ ★ Vi: ''luân hồi''
'samu' Work, conceived as a part of Zen training.[1]	★ Japanese: 作務	★ 作務 ★ ★ Cn: ''zuòwù'' ★ ★ Vi: ??
'samvrti' Conventional, as opposed to absolute, truth or reality; see also paramartha	★ Sanskrit: ''
'sangha' The community of Buddhist monks and nuns. Teachers and practitioners.	★ Sanskrit: ''	★ Bur: ''than ga'' ★ 僧, 僧侶 ★ ★ Cn: ''sēnglǚ'' ★ ★ Jp: ''sō'', ''sōryō'' ★ ★ Vi: ''tăng già''
'Sanlun' Buddhist philosophical school based on the Madhyamaka school	★ Chinese: 三論 ''sānlùn''	★ 三論宗 ★ ★ 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''	★ 悟 ★ ★ 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: 先生
'sesshin' A Zen retreat where practitioners meditate, eat and work together for several days	★ Japanese: 接心, 摂心	★ 接心 ★ ★ 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: 只管打座
'shunyata' Emptiness; see also Nagarjuna	★ Pāli: ''suññatā'' ★ Sanskrit: ''śūnyatā''	★ 空 ★ ★ Cn: ''kōng'' ★ ★ Jp: ''kū'' ★ ★ Vi: ''tính Không''
'sila' "morals", "morality", "ethics": precepts	★ Pāli: ''sīla'' ★ Sanskrit: ''śīla''	★ Bur: ''thi la'' ★ 戒 ★ ★ 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''	★ 曹洞宗 ★ ★ Cn: ''Cáodòng-zōng'' ★ ★ Vi: ''Tào Ðộng tông''
'store consciousness' The base consciousness (alayavijnana) taught in Yogacara Buddhism	★ Pāli, Sanskrit: ''ālayavijñāna''	★ 阿頼耶識 ★ ★ 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''	★ 經, 経 ★ ★ Cn: ''jīng'' ★ ★ Jp: ''kyō'' ★ ★ Vi: ''kinh''
'Sutra Pitaka' The second basket of the Tripitaka canon, the collection of all Buddha's teachings	★ Pāli: '' ★ Sanskrit: ''	★ 經藏, 経蔵 ★ ★ Cn: ''jīngcáng'' ★ ★ Jp: ''kyōzō'' ★ ★ Vi: ''Kinh tạng''

T

Definition	Etymology	In other languages
'tanha' Craving or desire	★ Pāli: '' ★ Sanskrit: ''	★ 愛 ★ ★ 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''	★ 怛特羅 ★ ★ 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''	★ 如来 ★ ★ Cn: ''rúlái'' ★ ★ Jp: ''nyorai'' ★ ★ Vi: ''như lai''
'tathagatagarbha' Buddha-nature or the seed of enlightenment	★ Sanskrit: ''tathāgatagarbha''	★ 佛性, 仏性 ★ ★ Cn: ''fóxìng'' ★ ★ Jp: ''busshō'' ★ Also 覚性 ★ ★ Cn: ''juéxìng'' ★ ★ Jp: ''kakushō'' ★ ★ Vi: ''giác tính'' ★ Also 如来藏, 如来蔵 ★ ★ 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''	★ 典座 ★ ★ Cn: ''diǎnzuò'' ★ ★ Vi: ''điển toạ''
'Theravada', lit. "words of the elders", The most orthodox branch of Buddhism	★ Pāli: ''theravāda'' ★ Sanskrit: ''sthaviravāda''	★ 上座部 ★ ★ 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'' ★ 三寶 ★ ★ 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).		★ 三時 ★ ★ 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: ''; Sanskrit: ''; 貪 Cn: ''tān''; Jp: ''ton''; Vi: ''ái'')#Hatred or anger (Sanskrit: ''; 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'' () ★ 三毒 ★ ★ 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''	★ 天台宗 ★ ★ 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'' ★ 三界 ★ ★ 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: ''; 報身 Cn: ''bàoshēn''; Jp: ''hōshin''; Vi: ''báo thân'') ★ Nirmana-kaya (Sanskrit: ''; 應身, 応身 Cn: ''yìngshēn''; Jp: ''ōjin''; Vi: ''ứng thân'')	★ Sanskrit: ''trikāya''	★ 三身 ★ ★ Cn: ''sānshēn'' ★ ★ Jp: ''sanjin'' ★ ★ Vi: ''tam thân''
'Tripitaka' The "Three Baskets"; canon containing the sacred texts for Buddhism (Pāli) ★ Vinaya Pitaka (Pāli, Sanskrit: ''; Tib: འདུལ་བའི་སྡེ་སྣོད་ ''`dul ba`i sde snod''; 律藏, 律蔵 Cn: ''lǜzàng''; Jp: ''Ritsuzō''; Vi: ''Luật tạng'') ★ Sutra Pitaka (Pāli: ''; Sanskrit: ''; Tib: མདོ་སྡེའི་སྡེ་སྣོད་ ''mdo sde`i sde snod''; 經藏, 経蔵 Cn: ''jīngzàng''; Jp: ''Kyōzō''; Vi: ''Kinh tạng'') ★ Abhidhamma Pitaka (Pāli: ''; Sanskrit: ''; Tib: མངོན་པའི་སྡེ་སྣོད་ ''mngon pa`i sde snod''; 論藏, 論蔵 Cn: ''lùnzàng''; Jp: ''Ronzō''; Vi: ''Luận tạng'')	★ Pāli: '' ★ Sanskrit: ''	★ Burmese: ''Tipitaka'' (IPA: ) ★ Thai: ไตรปิฎก ''Traipidok'' ★ 三藏, 三蔵 ★ ★ Cn: ''Sānzàng'' ★ ★ Jp: ''Sanzō'' ★ ★ Ko: ''Samjang'' ★ ★ Vi: ''Tam tạng''
'Triratna/Tiratana', see Three Jewels above	★ Pāli: ''tiratana'' ★ Sanskrit: ''triratna''
'trsna', see tanha above
'tulku' A re-incarnated Tibetan teacher	★ Tibetan: སྤྲུལ་སྐུ་ ''tulku''	★ Sanskrit: '' ★ 化身 (Note: 化身 usually refers to any reincarnation.) ★ ★ Cn: ''huàshēn'' ★ ★ Jp: ''keshin'' ★ ★ Vi: ''hoá thân''

U

Definition	Etymology	In other languages
'upadana' Clinging; the 9th link of Pratitya-Samutpada; also one of the Twelve Nidanas	★ Pāli, Sanskrit: ''upādāna''	★ 取 ★ ★ Cn: ''qǔ'' ★ ★ Jp: ''shu'' ★ ★ Vi: ''thủ''
'upasaka' A lay follower of Buddhism	★ Sanskrit: ''upāsaka''	★ 近事男 ★ ★ Cn: ''jìnshìnán'' ★ ★ Jp: ?? ★ ★ Vi: ''cận sự nam''
'upasika' A female lay follower	★ from upasaka above ★ Sanskrit: ''upāsika''	★ 近事女 ★ ★ Cn: ''jìnshìnǚ'' ★ ★ Jp: ?? ★ ★ Vi: ''cận sự nữ''
'upaya' Expedient though not necessarily ultimately true. Originally used as a polemical device against other schools - calling them "merely" expedient, lacking in ultimate truth, later used against ones own school to prevent students form forming attachments to doctrinesIn Mahayana, exemplified by the Lotus Sutra, upaya are the useful means that Buddhas (and Buddhist teachers) use to free beings into enlightenment	★ Sanskrit: ''upāya''	★ 方便 ★ ★ Cn: ''fāngbiàn'' ★ ★ Jp: ''hōben'' ★ ★ Vi: ''phương tiện''
'upekkha' equanimity	★ Sanskrit: '' ''	★ 镇定，沉着
'urna' A concave circular dot on the forehead between the eyebrows	★ Sanskrit: ''urna''

V

Definition	Etymology	In other languages
'Vajrayana', lit. "diamond vehicle", The third major branch, alongside Hinayana and Mahayana	★ Sanskrit: ''vajrayāna''	★ 金剛乘 ★ ★ Cn: ''Jīngāng shèng'' ★ ★ Jp: ?? ★ ★ Vi: ''Kim cương thừa''
'Vinaya Pitaka', lit. "discipline basket", The first basket of the Tripitaka canon, which deals with the rules of monastic life	★ Pāli, Sanskrit: ''	★ 律藏 ★ ★ Cn: ''Lǜzàng'' ★ ★ Jp: ''Ritsuzō'' ★ ★ Vi: ''Luật tạng''
'vipassana' Usually translated as "Insight" meditation, most associated with the Theravada tradition, but present throughout Buddhism as an evolved tradition. Distinguished from samatha meditation	★ from '': to see apart ★ Pāli: ''vipassanā'' ★ Sanskrit: ''vipaśyanā'', ''vidarśanā''	★ 觀,観 ★ ★ Cn: ''guān'' ★ ★ Jp: ''kan'' ★ ★ Vi: ''quán''
'viriya' energy	★ from '' '' ★ Pāli: '' '' ★ Sanskrit: '' '', '' ''	★ 能量 ★ ★ Cn: '' '' ★ ★ Jp: '' '' ★ ★ Vi: '' ''

Z

Definition	Etymology	In other languages
'zazen' Sitting meditation as practiced in the Zen School of Buddhism	★ Japanese: 坐禪	★ 坐禪 ★ ★ Cn: ''zuòchán'' ★ ★ Vi: ''toạ thiền''
'Zen School' A Japanese branch of Mahayana that emphasizes meditation in the pursuing of enlightenment	★ Japanese: 禪宗 ''Zen-shu''	★ 禪宗 ★ ★ Cn: ''Chánzōng'' ★ ★ Vi: ''Thiền tông''
'zendo' In Zen, a hall where Zen (usually meaning zazen) is practiced (see Dojo)	★ Japanese: 禅堂	★ 禪堂 ★ ★ Cn: ''chántáng'' ★ ★ Vi: ''thiền đường''

See also

★ Buddhism

★ Buddhist texts

External links

★ Pali Text Society Dictionary (Be sure to check the "Unicode font" option, and to have one; also, if looking for a word, choose "words that match")

★ Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

★ Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (Login with userid "guest")

★ Kadampa Glossary of Buddhist Terms