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 below the definition.
Languages and traditions dealt with here:
- English (Eng.)
- Pāli: Theravāda Buddhism
- Sanskrit (or Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit): primarily Mahāyāna Buddhism
- Thai: Theravāda Buddhism
- Tibetan (Tib): Tibetan Buddhism
- CJKV languages
- Chinese (Cn): Chinese Buddhism
- Japanese (Jp): Japanese Buddhism
- Korean (Ko): Korean Buddhism
- Vietnamese (Vi): Vietnamese Buddhism
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A
| Definition | Etymology | In other languages |
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| Abhidhamma Pitaka The third basket of the Tripitaka canon, the reorganization of all doctrines in a systematic way |
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論藏, 論蔵
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| acariya, lit. “teacher”, One of the two teachers of a starting out monk – the other one is called upādhyāya |
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阿闍梨, 阿闍梨耶
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| addiction, see tanha | ||
| agama The Buddhist texts in Sanskrit |
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阿含
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| alayavijnana, see Store consciousness |
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阿賴耶識, 阿頼耶識
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| Amitabha The main buddha of the Pure Land school |
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阿彌陀 or 阿彌陀佛, 阿弥陀 or 阿弥陀仏
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| anagarika A white-robed student in the Theravada tradition who, for a few months, awaits being considered for Samaneras ordination |
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| anapanasati Mindfulness of the breath meditation |
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| anatta Doctrine of the nonexistence of the soul |
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無我
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| anicca Impermanence |
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無常
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| arhat, lit. “the Worthy One”, A living person who has reached Enlightenment |
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阿羅漢
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B
| Definition | Etymology | In other languages |
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| bhavana Becoming, being, existing; the 10th link of Pratitya-Samutpada |
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有
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| bhikkhu, lit. “beggar”, A Buddhist monk |
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比丘
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| bhikkhuni A Buddhist nun |
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比丘尼
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| bija, lit. “seed”, A metaphor for the origin or cause of things, used in the teachings of the Yogacara school |
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種子
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| bodhi Awakening or Enlightenment |
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菩提
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| bodhi tree The Sacred Fig (Ficus religiosa) tree under which Gautama reached Enlightenment |
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菩提樹
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| bodhicitta The motivation of a bodhisattva |
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菩提心
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| bodhisattva One with the intention to become a Buddha in order to liberate all other sentient beings from suffering |
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菩薩
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| Buddha A Buddha; also, the Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama. |
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佛, 仏
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| buddha nature The ability shared by sentient beings to achieve Enlightenment; the innate (latent) Buddha nature (esp. in Tendai/Tiantai, Nichiren thought) |
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佛性, 仏性
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D
| Definition | Etymology | In other languages |
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| Dalai Lama, lit. “the lama with wisdom like an ocean”, The most important spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism |
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達賴喇嘛
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| dana generosity or giving; in Buddhism, it also refers to the practice of cultivating generosity |
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布施
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| dependent origination, see Pratitya-Samutpada |
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因縁, also 緣起, 縁起
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| 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 |
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法
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| dhammavinaya The dharma and vinaya (roughly “doctrine and discipline”) considered together. This term essentially means the whole teachings of Buddhism as taught to monks | ||
| dhyana, see jhana |
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禪, 禅
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| doan In Zen, a term for person sounding the bell that marks the beginning and end of Zazen |
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| dokusan A private interview between a Zen student and his master. It is an important element in the Zen training, as it provides an opportunity for the student to discuss problems in his practice and to demonstrate his understanding |
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獨參
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| dukkha Suffering, dissatisfaction, stress |
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苦
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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: ??; Jp: sanji; Vi: tam thời), significant for many Mahayana adherents:
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五箇五百歳
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Four Noble Truths
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四諦
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| fukudo In Zen, term for person who strikes the han |
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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 the Zen tradition, but also common in many cultures in the East. It expresses greeting, request, thankfulness, reverence and prayer. Also a mudra or inkei of Japanese Shingon. See also: Namaste |
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合掌
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| geshe An academic degree awarded at the conclusion of lengthy studies often lasting nine years or more |
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| gongan, lit. “public case”, a meditative method developed in the Chan/Seon/Zen traditions, generally consisting of a problem that defies solution by means of rational thought; see koan |
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公案
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H
| Definition | Etymology | In other languages |
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| han In Zen monasteries, wooden board that is struck announcing sunrise, sunset and the end of the day |
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| Hinayana, lit. “inferior vehicle”, A coinage by the Mahayana for the Buddhist doctrines concern with the achievement of Nirvana as a Sravaka-Buddha or a Pratyeka-Buddha, as opposed to a Samyaksam-Buddha |
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小乘
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I
| Definition | Etymology | In other languages |
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| 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 |
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J
| Definition | Etymology | In other languages |
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| jhana Meditative contemplation; more often associated with śamatha practices than vipaśyana. See also: shamata, samadhi, samapatti |
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禪, 禅
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| jisha In Zen, a senior priest’s attendant |
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K
| Definition | Etymology | In other languages |
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| karma, lit. “action”, The law of cause and effect in Buddhism |
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業
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| kensho In Zen, enlightenment; has the same meaning as satōri, but is customary used for an initial awakening experience |
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見性
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| khyenpo, also khenpo, an academic degree similar to a doctorate in theology, philosophy, and psychology |
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| kinhin Zen walking meditation |
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經行
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| koan A story, question, problem or statement generally inaccessible to rational understanding, yet may be accessible to Intuition |
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公案
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| kyosaku In Zen, a flattened stick used to strike the shoulders during zazen, to help overcome fatigue or reach satori |
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L
| Definition | Etymology | In other languages |
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| lama A Tibetan teacher or master; equivalent to Sanskrit “guru” |
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喇嘛
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| lineage The official record of the historical descent of dharma teachings from one teacher to another; by extension, may refer to the sect of a set of practitioners |
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M
| Definition | Etymology | In other languages |
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| Madhyamaka Buddhist philosophical school, founded by Nagarjuna. Members of this school are called Madhyamikas |
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中觀宗
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| mahasiddha An eccentric yogi in Tantric Buddhism, often associated with the highest levels of enlightenment |
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大成就
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| Mahayana, lit. “great vehicle”, A major branch of Buddhism practiced in China, Tibet, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan |
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大乘
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| Maitreya The Buddha of the future epoch |
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彌勒 or 彌勒佛, 弥勒 or 弥勒仏
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| makyo In Zen, unpleasant or distracting thoughts or illusions that occur during zazen |
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| 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: ??; Jp: shōbō) and of Middle Day of the Law (像法 Cn: ??; 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 |
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末法
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| Middle way The practice of avoidance of extreme views and lifestyle choices |
中道
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| 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 |
正念
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| moksha Liberation |
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解脱
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| mokugyo A wooden drum carved from one piece, usually in the form of a fish |
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木魚
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| mondo In Zen, a short dialogue between teacher and student |
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N
| Definition | Etymology | In other languages |
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| 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 to
Derivatives:
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Derivatives:
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南無
Derivatives:
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| nibbana/nirvana Extinction or extinguishing; ultimate enlightenment in the Buddhist tradition |
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涅槃
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| nikaya, lit. “volume”, The Buddhist texts in Pāli |
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部經
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Noble Eightfold Path
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八正道
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O
| Definition | Etymology | In other languages |
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| oryoki A set of bowls used in a Zen eating ceremony |
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| 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 |
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P
| Definition | Etymology | In other languages |
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panca skandha The five constituent elements into which an individual is analyzed. They are:
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五蘊, 五陰, 五薀
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| paramartha Absolute, as opposed to merely conventional, truth or reality; see also samvrti |
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| paramita, lit. “reaching the other shore,” usually rendered in English as “perfection.” The Mahayana practices for obtaining enlightenment |
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波羅蜜
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| parinibbana/parinirvana The final nibbana/nirvana |
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般涅槃
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| prajna/panna “wisdom” |
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般若
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| 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: dvādaśāṅgapratītyasamutpāda; 十二因縁 Cn: ??; Jp: jūni innen; Vi: thập nhị nhân duyên), which are:
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縁起 (thought to be an abbreviation for 因縁生起)
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| purisa The practicing Buddhist community as a whole; sangha and laity |
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R
| Definition | Etymology | In other languages |
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| rebirth The process of continuity of life after death | ||
| rinpoche, lit. “precious one”, a recognized rebirth of a Tibetan Buddhist teacher (also called tulku) or Tibetan teacher |
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仁波切
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| Rinzai Zen sect emphasizing sudden enlightenment and koan study; named for master Linji |
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臨済宗
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| 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. |
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| roshi, lit. “teacher”, an honorific given to Japanese Buddhist teachers |
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老師
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S
| Definition | Etymology | In other languages |
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| 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 |
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| samatha Mental stabilization; tranquility meditation. Distinguished from vipassana meditation |
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| samsara The cycle of birth and rebirth; the world as commonly experienced |
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輪迴, 輪廻
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| samu Work, conceived as a part of Zen training. |
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| samvrti Conventional, as opposed to absolute, truth or reality; see also paramartha |
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| sangha The community of Buddhist monks and nuns |
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僧, 僧侶
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| satori Awakening; understanding. A Japanese term for enlightenment |
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悟
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| sayadaw Burmese meditation master | ||
| sensei Teacher; Zen teacher |
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| sesshin A Zen retreat where practitioners meditate, eat and work together for several days |
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接心
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| shikantaza Soto Zen. “Only concentrated on doing sitting” is the main meditation-method of Soto school of Japanese Zen Buddhism |
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| shunyata Emptiness; see also Nagarjuna |
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空
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| sila “morals”, “ethics”: precepts |
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戒
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| Soto Sect of Zen emphasizing shikantaza as the primary mode of practice; see also Dogen |
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曹洞宗
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| store consciousness The base consciousness (alayavijnana) taught in Yogacara Buddhism |
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阿頼耶識
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| sutra Scripture; originally referred to short aphoristic sayings and collections thereof |
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經, 経
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| Sutra Pitaka The second basket of the Tripitaka canon, the collection of all Buddha’s teachings |
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經藏, 経蔵
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T
| Definition | Etymology | In other languages |
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| tanha Craving or desire |
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愛
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| 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 |
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| tantra Esoteric religious practices, including yoga, mantra.. |
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怛特羅
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| Tathagata The “Thus-Come One” or “Thus-Gone One”; One of the Buddha‘s ten epithets |
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如来
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| tathagatagarbha Buddha-nature or the seed of enlightenment |
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仏性
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| 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 |
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| tenzo In Zen, the head cook for a sesshin. In Zen temples, the officer in charge of the kitchen |
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典座
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| Theravada, lit. “words of the elders”, The most orthodox branch of Buddhism |
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上座部
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Three periods
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三時
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Three poisons The three primary causes of unskillful action or creation of “negative” karma:
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三毒
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trailõkya The 3 “regions” of the world:
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三界
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trikaya The 3 “bodies” of Buddha:
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三身
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Tripitaka The “Three Baskets”; canon containing the sacred texts for Buddhism (Pāli)
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三蔵
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| trsna, see tanha above | ||
| tulku A re-incarnated Tibetan teacher |
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化身 (Note: 化身 usually refers to any reincarnation.)
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U
| Definition | Etymology | In other languages |
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| upadana Clinging; the 9th link of Pratitya-Samutpada; also one of the Twelve Nidanas |
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取
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| upasaka A lay follower of Buddhism |
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近事男
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| upasika A female lay follower |
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近事女
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| 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 doctrines
In Mahayana, exemplified by the Lotus Sutra, upaya are the useful means that Buddhas (and Buddhist teachers) use to free beings into enlightenment |
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方便
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| urna a concave circular dot on the forehead between the eyebrows |
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V
| Definition | Etymology | In other languages |
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| Vajrayana, lit. “diamond vehicle”, The third major branch, alongside Hinayana and Mahayana |
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金剛乘
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| Vinaya Pitaka, lit. “discipline basket”, The first basket of the Tripitaka canon, which deals with the rules of monastic life |
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律藏
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| vipassana Usually translated as “Insight” meditation, most associated with the Theravada tradition, but present throughout Buddhism as an evolved tradition. Distinguished from samatha meditation |
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觀,観
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Z
| Definition | Etymology | In other languages |
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| zazen Sitting meditation as practiced in the Zen School of Buddhism |
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坐禪
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| Zen School A Japanese branch of Mahayana that emphasizes zazen in the pursuing of enlightenment |
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禪宗
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| zendo In Zen, a hall where Zen (usually meaning zazen) is practiced (see Dojo) |
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禅堂
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See also
- Buddhism
- Buddhist texts
Boeddhistische termen (pali en sanskriet) 仏教用語一覧
