Glossary of Buddhism

March 19, 2024 · updated March 19, 2024

abhaya mudra
Buddhist hand gesture representing fearlessness.
adharma
(also papa). Evil, sin, or misfortune, including both natural and moral evil.
Amida Buddha
(Japanese; Sanskrit Amitabha; "infinite light"). Celestial buddha who, while a bodhisattva, vowed to lead all beings to the Pure Land.
arhat
(Sanskrit, "foe-destroyer"). One who has attained nirvana; the goal of Theravada Buddhism.
avidya
(Sanskrit, "ignorance"). Ignorance, which is the root of all suffering.
Basic Points of Buddhism
(full name: "Basic Points Unifying the Theravada and Mahayana"). A Buddhist creed agreed upon by leading monks from the Theravada and Mahayana traditions in Sri Lanka in 1966, identifying the essential points of agreement.
begging bowl
Bowl used by Buddhist monks to collect alms from laypeople; also has symbolic significance.
bhumisparsha mudra
Buddhist hand gesture representing calling the earth to witness.
black
Symbolizes death, darkness, sin, and hate.
blue
Symbolizes the sky, heaven, eternity and spirituality.
bodhisattva
In Mahayana Buddhism, one who attains the enlightenment of a Buddha but chooses to postpone entering nirvana and instead stays in the world for the compassionate purpose of helping lesser beings attain enlightenment.
buddha
(Sanskrit, Pali, "Awakened One") A fully enlightened being.
buddha-dharma
Teaching of the Buddha. Another name for Buddhism.
buddha-sasana
Buddha-discipline; another name for Buddhism.
Buddhist New Year
The first day of the year in Buddhism; its date varies by Buddhist tradition (Mahayana, Theravada, or Tibetan).
conch shell
Symbol of the fame of the Buddha's teachings.
Dalai Lama
Head of the dominant school of Tibetan Buddhism, the Gelugpa (or Yellow Hats), and from 1642 to 1959, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet.
Dharma Day
Buddhist festival on the full moon day of the eighth lunar month (usually July), commemorating the "turning of the wheel of the Dharma" (the Buddha's first sermon) at the Deer Park in Sarnath
dharma wheel
(Sanskrit dharmachakra). Buddhist symbol representing the Buddha's teachings. Often used as a symbol of Buddhism.
dharmachakra mudra
Buddhist hand gesture representing the turning of the wheel (of dharma).
dhyana
(Sanskrit; Pali jhana, Chinese ch'an, Japenese zen). Meditative concentration.
dhyana mudra
Buddhist hand gesture representing meditation.
Dipamkara
First and most popular of the many Buddhas who preceded Gautama.
duhkha
(Sanskrit; Pali dukkha). Suffering - the first of the Four Noble Truths.
endless knot
Buddhist symbol representing the Buddha's endless wisdom and compassion.
Five Aggregates
(Sanskrit skandha; Pali khandha, "group"). The five aspects that make up human appearance: material composition; sensations; perceptions; mental formations; and consciousness.
Five Deadly Sins
In Buddhism, five offenses that cause rebirth in hell: patricide; matricide; killing an arhat; injuring a buddha; and creating schism in the sangha.
five hindrances
Sanskrit, nivaranas. Mental and emotional obstacles that must be removed in order to attain knowledge and enlightenment: desire; anger; sloth; worry; and doubt.
Five Precepts
Sanskrit, sila. Obligations that both monks and laypersons undertake. They are to abstain from: harming any living being; taking anything not given; sensual misconduct; false speech; and losing control through intoxication.
Four Noble Truths
Foundational Buddhist doctrines taught by the Buddha in the first sermon after his enlightenment: 1. All of life is marked by suffering. 2. Suffering is caused by desire and attachment. 3. Suffering can be stopped. 4.
gold
Symbolizes the sun and great value.
golden fishes
(Sanskrit suvarnamatsya). Buddhist symbol of good fortune, fertility and salvation.
gray
Symbolizes repentance.
green
Symbolizes life and action.
hell-beings
Beings in the lowest of the six realms of existence, who have accumulated massive amounts of bad karma due to extremely harmful actions such as murder. Hell-beings experience the most suffering of any of the realms.
lotus
Decorative motif of highly conventionalized flowers or buds derived from certain Egyptian plants; common in ancient Egyptian art and, in classicizing styles, in anthemions.
mandalas
Generally, geometric motifs, often circular and symbolic of the Universe, capable of innumerable variation and meaning in a variety of media.
mantra
Sacred sound believed to possess supernatural powers.
meditation
Act or process of serious and sustained mental reflection or contemplation, often as a private devotional practice. Meditation is regarded as conducive to increased spiritual awareness or somatic calm.
Nichiren Buddhism
A school of Japanese Buddhism founded by the militant Japanese Buddhist reformer Nichiren (1222-82). Today there are almost 40 sub-sects, with Nichiren Shoshu being the largest and most important.
Noble Eightfold Path
In Buddhism, the way to permanently escape suffering and the cycle of rebirth: right knowledge; right intention; right speech; right action; right livelihood; right effort; right mindfulness; right concentration.
Panchen Lama
Second highest ranking figure in the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama.
parasol
Buddhist symbol of royalty and spiritual power.
pretas
Hungry ghosts, who populate the second to the lowest of the six realms of existence in Mahayana Buddhism. Usually depicted as having small mouths or necks and giant stomachs, hungry ghosts experience continual frustration and unsatisfied craving.
purple
Symbolizes royalty and associated concepts.
rainbow body
The penultimate transitional state of meditation in which matter begins to be transformed into pure light. It is said to be the highest state attainable in the realm of samsara before the "clear light" of Nirvana.
red
Symbolizes blood, fire, and related concepts.
samsara
(Sanskrit, Pali "wandering"). The cycle of death and rebirth.
samudaya
Second of the Four Noble Truths: Suffering is caused by desire.
Sangha Day
celebrating the gathering of 1,250 disciples to hear the Buddha's sermon on the sangha (monastic community).
skandha
(Sanskrit; Pali, khandha, "group"). The five aggregates that make up human appearance: material composition; sensations; perceptions; mental formations; and consciousness. These are impermanent, constantly changing, and do not constitute a "self."
stupa
(Sanskrit) Monument containing relics, usually of the Buddha.
swastika
(Sanskrit svastika, "all is well") Ancient symbol of good fortune and well-being, with a variety of uses and meanings in Hinduism, Buddhism and many other faiths.
Tara
Buddhist savior-goddess especially popular in Tibet, Nepal and Mongolia
Tendai
A Japanese school of Buddhism named after Tien Tai mountain in China and the Tien Tai school of Chinese Buddhism that arose there. In 805 Tendai was introduced in Japan by Saicho at his Enryakuji temple on Mount Hiei near Kyoto.
Theravada
The form of Buddhism practiced in the South Asian countries of Sri Lanka, Burma, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos. Theravada's main distinction from later Mahayana is its rejection of bodhisattvas.
Tibetan Book of the Dead
A text that describes in detail the stages of death from the Tibetan point of view.
Tibetan Buddhism
A distinctive form of Buddhism that draws heavily on Mahayana Buddhism, which was introduced to Tibet in the seventh century. The monastic disciplines of early Theravada Buddhism are also an important part of Tibetan Buddhism.
treasure vase
Buddhist symbol of spiritual and material wealth, abundance, and good fortune.
Tripitaka
(Sanskrit; Pali Tipitaka, "three baskets"). The collection of Buddha's teachings, in three sections: sutra, vinaya, and Abhidharma. They are the oldest collection of Buddhist teachings, written around the 3rd century BCE.
triratna
Symbol representing the Triple Gem or Three Jewels of Buddhism
vajra
(Sanskrit; Tibetan rdo-rje, "diamond" or "thunderbolt). Double-headed ritual instrument in Tibetan Buddhism used along with a ritual bell.
varada mudra
Buddhist hand gesture representing "boon-granting."
Vesak
The birthday of the Buddha and the most important festival in Buddhism, celebrated in May.
victory banner
Buddhist symbol of the victory of wisdom over ignorance.
vinaya
(Sanskrit, Pali) The Buddha's teachings about monastic rules, ethics and karma.
white
Symbolizes purity, innocence and holiness.
wind horse
Tibetan symbol of the soul, the four cardinal directions, well-being and good fortune.
yellow
Symbolizes daylight and divinity but also corruption and humility.
Zen
A school of meditative Buddhism introduced to Japan in the 12th century by monks returning from China. Originating in India, it spread to China where elements of Taoism were added. There are two main branches of Zen in Japan: Rinzai and Soto..
Zen
A school of meditative Buddhism introduced to Japan in the 12th century by monks returning from China. Originating in India, it spread to China where elements of Taoism were added. There are two main branches of Zen in Japan: Rinzai and Soto..
zendo
Large hall in Zen monasteries, in which zazen is practiced.