Bhikkhu A Buddhist monk who depends on the generosity of others for his basic necessities.

Bikkhuni  A female monastic.

Bodhi tree Ficus religiosa, the banyan tree that sheltered the Buddha as he attained spiritual awakening.  The image of the Bodhi tree as an icon of enlightenment predates the use of Buddha statues.  A sapling can be found in many Buddhist temples. A cutting of the original survives at Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

Bodhisattva In Mahayana Buddhism, one who postpones attaining nirvana in order to help others achieve this goal. In Theravada Buddhism, one who is on the way to becoming a Buddha. Siddhatha Gotama was called a Bodhisattva before he attained enlightenment.

Buddha "Awakened one"- This title was given to Siddhatha Gotama upon his enlightenment and refers to anyone who reaches the state of nibbana without following a prescribed path.

Dāna Giving without expectation. A practitioner may give dana to any creature, but the term most often refers to a gift to the monastic order. To give selflessly brings lasting happiness to the giver, thus it is central to Buddhist practice.

Dhamma (Sanskrit: Dharma) The unchanging, everlasting truth that pervades all realms of life. In a more mundane sense, the teachings of the Buddha.

Dukkha The unsatisfactory nature of all phenomena. This Pali term is often translated as "suffering," which does not convey the full meaning of the word. Literally, it is that which is difficult to endure: du-difficult, kha-to endure.

Jhāna (Sanskrit: Dhyāna) Stages of concentration in meditation. The Buddha passed through successive jhanas before he reached enlightenment.

Kamma (Sanskrit: Karma) "Action." The universal law that every deed has a consequence that will come back to the doer. The force that drives the cycle of rebirth.

Mahāyāna "Greater Vehicle." The form of Buddhism prevalent in Mongolia, China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam.

Metta The virtue of loving kindness and friendliness toward all beings that is cultivated by Buddhists. A quality of all Buddhas.

Nibbāna (Sanskrit: Nirvana) "Unbound." Liberation from the cycle of samsara. The highest spiritual state one can attain. A blissful spiritual condition in which the heart extinguishes passion, hatred, and delusion.

Pāli  The language spoken by Gotama Buddha and his contemporaries. No longer in use except as preserved in the Buddhist doctrines.

Pāli Canon another term for the Tipitaka, which is written in Pali.

Parinibbāna (Sanskrit: Parinirvāna) "Completed nibbana." The death of one who is enlightened, never to be reborn again.

Samsārā The endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

Sangha The Buddhist monastic order. Literally translated as "group" or "community." Also may refer to the lay community.

Sīla The observance of precepts of moral behavior, which lays the foundation for the development of the mind through meditation.

Sutta (Sanskrit: Sūtra) A discourse of the Buddha. Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism hold additional sutras of great spiritual teachers following the Buddha.

Theravāda "Teachings of the Elders." The form of Buddhism that arose early among Buddha's disciples. Also referred to as Hinayāna (Lesser Vehicle), a derogatory term. Prevails in Sri Lanka, Burma, and Thailand.

Tipitaka (Sanskrit: Tripitika) "Three Baskets." Refers to the set of three texts that are central to Buddhist doctrine.

Vajrayāna "Diamond Vehicle." Tibetan Buddhism, which draws its origins from a combination of Mahayana Buddhism and Hindu practices utilizing Mantra and Tantra.

Wheel of Dhamma  Symbol of the Eightfold Path. Each step of the Path is linked together forming the spoke of a wheel to symbolize the interconnected nature of each step and the way each propels the others forward.

Though this page has been carefully researched, the author does not claim expertise on Buddhism.

Please send questions, comments, and corrections to emuseum@mnsu.edu and include the URL of this page.

References

    2007  Buddhist Studies. Electronic Document, http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/index.htm,

Bowker, John, ed.

    1997  The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. Oxford University Press.

Written by Melissa Lorentz, 2007

Page design by Pardhasaradhi Thokala