Buddhism Midterm – Part 1

Front 1

alayavijnana

Back 1

The basic consciousness in Vijnanavada philosophy

Front 2

anatman

Back 2

The Buddhist teaching that there is no real, permanent, unchanging Self within individuals.

Front 3

anitya

Back 3

One of the three characteristics of existence, along with anatman and dukkha.

Front 4

Avalokitesvara

Back 4

Savior bodhisattva who embodies compassion

Front 5

buddhavacana

Back 5

"Word of the Buddha", or teachings attributed to the Buddha.

Front 6

cetasikas

Back 6

Mental states that arise and are associated with consciousness

Front 7

citta

Back 7

Consciousness in the form of discrete moments of mental activity

Front 8

deva

Back 8

A god, a divinity, a status which is pleasurable and powerful, but ultimately impermanent and still caught up in the cycle of samsara.

Front 9

dharani

Back 9

Verses, or magical utterances that contain the teaching of the Buddha.

Front 10

Dharma

Back 10

Revolves around the notion of anything that is fundamentally true or real.

Front 11

dharmakaya

Back 11

The "truth body" of the Buddha, or the "body of the doctrine,"

Front 12

dharmas

Back 12

Physical and mental factors that constitute the basic experience and reality of samsara.

Front 13

dhyana

Back 13

Meditation; 1 of 4 or 8 levels of trance attained in meditative absorption.

Front 14

duhkkha

Back 14

The Pali term for suffering, dissatisfaction, or discomfort that is held to be inevitable for sentient beings who exist in the cycle of birth and death.

Front 15

Gautama

Back 15

The clan name of the historical Buddha Sakyamuni; his personal name was Siddhartha

Front 16

Hinayana

Back 16

"Lesser Vehicle"; a derogatory term used by Mahayanists.

Front 17

karma

Back 17

"Action", any deed that will bring about certain corresponding effects in this life or a future lifetime

Front 18

Madhyamaka

Back 18

The Middle Way School of Mahayana Buddhist thought.

Front 19

Mahasamghika

Back 19

An early Mainstream Buddhist school:

– arhats were imperfect

– Buddha was transcendent

Front 20

Mahayana

Back 20

The "Great Vehicle"; one of the principle divisions of Buddhism

Front 21

mandala

Back 21

A "circle"; a structured arena for depicting and encountering Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and various other levels of reality

Front 22

Manjusri

Back 22

Savior bodhisattva who embodies wisdom, portrayed as carrying a sword and a book

Front 23

mantra

Back 23

"Spell"; A set of words or sounds with magical potency

Front 24

mudra

Back 24

"Seal"; hand gesture with esoteric significance

Front 25

nirvana

Back 25

The condition of liberation wherein one extinguishes roots of rebirth by bringing all trances of ignorance/desire to an end.

Front 26

paramita

Back 26

1 of 6 or 10 perfections, characterizes the life of bodhisattva

Front 27

paranirvana

Back 27

The final nirvana, occurring at the death of the Buddha or of any enlightened being.

Front 28

prajna

Back 28

Wisdom; understanding of the true nature of reality