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.
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
atman literally "self", sometimes "soul" or "ego". In Buddhism, the inappropriate belief in atman is the prime consequence of ignorance, the foundation of samsara
bodhisattva One with the intention to become a Buddha in order to liberate all other sentient beings from suffering
Pāli: bodhisatta
Sanskrit: bodhisattva
Bur: ဗောဓိသတ္bawditat
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: ဗုဒ္ဓboda
佛, 仏
Cn: fó
Jp: butsu or hotoke
Vi: Phật or bụt
buddha nature The ability shared by sentient beings to achieve Enlightenment; the innate (latent) Buddha nature (esp. in Tendai/Tiantai, Nichiren thought)
Sanskrit: buddhatā or buddha-svabhāva
佛性, 仏性
Cn: fóxìng
Jp: busshō
Vi: phật tính
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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: ḍākinī
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
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 √dhṛ: to hold
Pāli: dhamma
Sanskrit: dharma
Bur: ဓမ္မာdha 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
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 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
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
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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: 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).
The path that leads out of suffering: Magga (Sanskrit: duḥkhanirodhagāminī pratipad; 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
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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 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
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 Chan/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
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H
Definition
Etymology
In other languages
han In Zen monasteries, wooden board that is struck announcing sunrise, sunset and the end of the day
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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
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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, 禅
Ch: chán
Jp: Zen
Vi: thiền-na or thiền
jisha In Zen, a senior priest's attendant
Japanese
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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: ¹yè, comm.: ²yīnguǒ
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
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: ??
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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
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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
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: ??
Middle way The practice of avoidance of extreme views and lifestyle choices
Pāli: majjhimāpaṭipadā
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
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
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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 to
Derivatives:
Namo Amitabha
Pāli: namo
Sanskrit: namaḥ or namas
Derivatives:
Sanskrit: namas amitābha
南無
Cn: nammu
Jp: namu or nam
Vi: nam-mô
Derivatives:
南無阿弥陀佛
Cn: Nàmó Āmítuó fó
Jp: Namu Amida butsu
Vi: Nam-mô A-di-đà Phật
Nibbana/Nirvana Extinction or extinguishing; ultimate enlightenment in the Buddhist tradition
Right View (Pāli: sammā-diṭṭhi; Sanskrit: samyag-dṛṣṭi; 正見 Cn: zhèngjiàn; Vi: chính kiến)
Right Thought (Pāli: sammā-saṅkappa; Sanskrit: samyak-saṃkalpa; 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: samyag-smṛti; 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: aṭṭhāṅgika-magga
Sanskrit: aṣṭāṅgika-mārga
Thai: อริยมรรค ariya-mak
八正道
Cn: Bāzhèngdào
Jp: Hasshōdō
Vi: Bát chính đạo
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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
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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
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: paṇḍitaguru
班禪喇嘛
Cn: Bānchánlǎma
Jp: ??
Vi: Ban-thiền Lạt-ma
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
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
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: shísānyīn; Jp: jūni innen; Vi: thập nhị nhân duyên), which are:
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
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S
Definition
Etymology
In other languages
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: śrāmaṇera
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: saṃsāra
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
seichu In the ZenBuddhist calendar, a period of intensive, formal monastic training. It is typically characterized by week-long Daisesshins and periodic sanzen
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
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: diànzuò
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; 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:
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)
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
Sanskrit: upāya
方便
Cn: fāngbiàn
Jp: hōben
Vi: phương tiện
urna A concave circular dot on the forehead between the eyebrows
Sanskrit: urna
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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 chéng
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: vinaya-piṭaka
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 vi-√dṛś: to see apart
Pāli: vipassanā
Sanskrit: vipaśyanā, vidarśanā
觀,観
Cn: guān
Jp: kan
Vi: quán
Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
