Buddhism Terms

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Tripitaka

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Three baskets-refers to the three categories of scriptures in the Buddhist tradition. Sutra, Vinaya, Abidharma.

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Sutra pitaka

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Discourses and sermons from the life of the Buddha.

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Vinaya pitaka

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Discipline of the Buddhist community. Rules of practice. Contains more than just rules but the stories behind each rule.

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Abidharma pitaka

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a detailed analysis of the principles that govern physical and mental processes. While the Vinaya and Sutra are a detailed explanation of the Buddha's path to enlightenment, the Abidharma is a theoretical framework to explain the causal underpinnings of that path.

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Five Skandhas

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Five aggregates: Rupa (material), Vedana (sensation), Samjna (Perception), Samskara (Impulses), Vijnana (Consciousness). A person is an amalgamation of the five skandhas. It is this amalgamation that results in the illusion of self.

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Rupa

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Material-things that can be seen, heard, smelled, felt

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Vedana

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Sensation–mental or physical–that results from contact with the external world.

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Samjna

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Perception- this is the skandha that recognizes, it is the capacity to recognize and relate to one thing to another.

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Samskara

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Impulse or mental formation resulting in action.

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Vijnana

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Conciousness- vijnana is dependent on the other five skandhas, it is an awareness that results from an interation with one of the other aggregates.

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Anitya

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Impermanence- all things in life, including self, are impermanent. It is the dependence on these impermanent things that results in dukkha.

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Pratimoksa

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the list of rules,contained in the vinaya, that govern the conduct of members of the Songha. A major part of the pratimoksa is dedicated to the 4 defeats: steling, killing, sexual misconduct, and falsely laying claim to spiritual attainment.

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Trisika

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The three learnings- the three main subdivisions of the eightfold path: Prajna (wisdom), Sila (conduct), Samadhi (meditation).

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Prajna

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Wisdom: Right view; seeing the four noble truths. Right intention; Desirelessness, Friendliness, Compassion

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Sila

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Conduct: Right speech; Refraining from False, divisive, hurtful speech, and idle chatter. Right action; Refrain from Harming living things, and spoken and sexual misconduct. Right livelihood; livelihood not based on wrong speech or action

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Samadhi

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Meditation: Right mindfulness, right effort, right concentration.

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Bhavana

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Mental/spiritual development Buddhist meditation. There are two main types: Vipasyana and samatha.

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Vipasyana

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Insight meditation which adds to wisdom and leads to awakening

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Samatha

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Calming meditation adding to equanimity or peace of mind (one of the four immeasurables).

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Mahaprajapati

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The first ordained Buddhist nun. Mahaprajapati had a following of women from wealthy heiresses to prostitutes. She sought to join the songha and was denied by Buddha several times for practical reasons. She was eventually supported by Ananda who convinced the Buddha.

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Prajna

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Wisdom, one of the Trisiksa, prajna is comprised of right view and right intention.

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Ananda

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Sakyamuni Buddha's cousin and personal attendant, Ananda was said to be handsome and to possess a photographic memory. Ananda dictated from memory, most of the Sutras. Ananda advocated for ordination of Mahaprajapati by asking Buddha if women could not also attain awakening.

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Samannaphala Sutta

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The discourse that tells of a king that took an action so evil that it would result in his rebirth in one of the lowest levels of hell. This discourse shows the Buddhas sensitivity to the needs of those he taught. The kings first question to the Buddha showed such great ignorance that the Buddha started at the beginning with the very basic principles and worked from there. At the end of the conversation the king embrace the three jewels and upon Buddhas death the king sponsored the first council. As a result of the merit of the deed, upon rebirth from hell, he would eventually attain enlightenment.

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The Four Noble Truths

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These four statements, along with the noble eightfold path, provide the framework for the entirety of the dharma.

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First noble truth

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Life is dukkha

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Second noble truth

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In order to combat dukkha one must understand that dukkha results from attachment and desire for impermanent things.

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Third noble truth

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Since the origin of dukkha can be understood, we can also systematically eliminate the causes of dukkha. The elimination of dependence and desire for impermanent things leads to the cessation of dukkha.

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Fourth noble truth

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contains the path to the cessation of dukkha. The fourth noble truth expounds on the noble eightfold path.

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Anatman

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Translated as no self, anatman is different than no identity. The Buddha recognized identity, but taught that self was an illusion created by the amalgamtion of the five skandhas. Buddha told the parable of the chariot: a chariot is a combination of wheels, an axel, a frame, etc., but it was none of those things. The self is the same. The illusion of self is caused by awareness resulting from the combination of form, sensation, perception, mental formation, and consciousness. When these were divided the self ceases to be. Thus the self is impermanent and above all the illusion of self must be forgotten.

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Triratna

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the 3 jewels or 3 refuges: Buddha, dharma, and songha.

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Buddha

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The historical Buddha or Sakyamuni Buddha

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Dharma

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The teaching of the Buddha that leads to enlightenment.

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Songha

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the Buddhist community

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Sramana

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Agnostic ascetics in ancient India.

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Punya

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merit- merit along with wisdom leads to awakening. Punya was primarily practiced by Buddhist laypeople because laypeople did not typically have the time to dedicate to wisdom seeking meditation.

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Pratityasamutpada

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Dependent arising- When this is, that is. From the arising of this, comes the arising of that. When this isn't, that isn't. Dependent arising is the Buddhas articulation of the butterfly effect. Lost job-went to school.

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The four parisat

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Monks & Nuns, who focus on seeking wisdom, and laymen & laywomen who practice merit.

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Kalamas Sutta

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The discourse of Buddhas instruction to the Kalamas. It famously encourages free inquiry and puts forth the source of true knowledge. It discourages coming to knowledge simply through tradition or from a source that seems reliable. It encourages one to come to knowledge through experience. It says that leading a virtuous life is not necessay because of karma and rebirth, but because leading a virtuous life leads to mental wellbeing.

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jnana

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knowledge

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Therigatha

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the book of poetry created by Mahaprajapati's following.