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.

Languages and traditions dealt with here:

A

Definition Etymology In other languages
abhidhamma A category of scriptures that attempts to use Buddhist teachings to create a systematic, abstract description of all worldly phenomena

  • abhi is “above” or “about”, dhamma is “teaching”
  • Pāli: abhidhamma
  • Sanskrit: abhidharma
  • Khmer: អភិធម្ម

| style=“width:200px” |

  • Bur:

    abhidhamma (

    )

  • Tib: ཆོས་མངོན་པ chos mngon pa
  • Mn: их ном, билиг ухаан; ikh nom, bilig ukhaan
  • Thai: อภิธรรม a-pi-tam
  • 阿毘達磨／阿毗昙
    • Cn: Āpídámó
    • Jp: Abidatsuma
    • Ko: 아비달마, Abidalma
    • Vi: a-tì-đạt-ma

|- valign=“top”

 Abhidhamma Pitaka The third basket of the Tripitaka canon, the reorganization of all doctrines in a systematic way

  • Pāli:

  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Bur:

    Abidhamma Pitakat (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Thai: อภิธรรมปิฎก a-pi-tam-pi-dok
  • 論藏, 論蔵
    • Cn: Lùnzàng
    • Jp: Ronzō
    • Ko: 논장, Nonjang
    • Vi: Luận tạng, Tạng luận, tạng thứ ba trong ba tạng là kinh, luật và luận
  • Mn: Илт ном, Ilt nom

|- valign=“top”

 acariya, lit. “teacher”, One of the two teachers of a novice monk - the other one is called upādhyāya

|

  • Bur:

    saya (

    )

  • Shan:

    atsariya (

    )

  • Thai: อาจารย์ ajahn
  • 阿闍梨 or 阿闍梨耶
    • Cn: āshélí or āshélíyē
    • Jp: ajari or ajariya
    • Ko: 아사리, asari or 아사리야 asariya
    • Vi: a-xà-lê or a-xà-lê-da

|- valign=“top”

 adhitthana Determination, to pray, to wish

  • Pāli:

  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Bur:

    (

    )

  • Thai: อธิษฐาน ah-tid-taan
  • 決心 or 決意
    • Cn: Juéxīn, juéyì
    • Jp: kesshin
    • Ko: 결심, gyeolsim or 결의, gyeolui
    • Vi:

|- valign=“top”

 Agama The non-Mahayana divisions of the Sutra Pitaka

  • Sanskrit: Āgama

|

  • Pāli: Āgama (but usually called Nikāya)
  • 阿含
    • Cn: Āhán
    • Jp: Agon
    • Ko: 아함, Aham
    • Vi: A-hàm

|- valign=“top”

 ahimsa The devotion to non-violence and respect for all forms of life. Practicers of ahimsa are often vegetarians or vegans

  • Sanskrit:

  • Pāli:

|

  • Thai: อหิงสา 'ah-hing-sa'
  • 不害
    • Cn: bù hài
    • Jp: fugai
    • Ko: 불해, bulhae
    • Vi: bất hại

|- valign=“top”

 Akshobhya

  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Mn: ᠬᠥᠳᠡᠯᠦᠰᠢ ᠦᠭᠡᠢ᠂ ᠦᠯᠦ ᠬᠥᠳᠡᠯᠦᠭᠴᠢ;<br /> <small>Үл Хөдлөгч, Хөдөлшгүй;</small>
  • 阿閦如來
    • Cn: Āchùrúlái
    • Jp: Ashuku Nyorai

<small>Ködelüsi ügei, Ülü hödelügci</small>
alayavijnana, see store consciousness

  • Sanskrit: ālayavijñāna

|

  • Tib:

    <br />kun gzhi rnam par shes pa

  • 阿賴耶識, 阿頼耶識
    • Cn: ālàiyēshí
    • Jp: araya-shiki
    • Ko: 아뢰야식, aroeyasik
    • Vi: a-lại-da thức

|- valign=“top”

 Amitabha Lit. “The Buddha of Infinite Light”. The main buddha of the Pure Land school, but is popular in other Mahayana sects as well. The image is of light as the form of wisdom, which has no form. Also interpreted as the Tathagata of Unhindered Light that Penetrates the Ten Quarters by Tan Luan, Shinran and others

  • Sanskrit: amitābha (lit. “limitless light”) and amitāyus (lit. “limitless life”)

|

  • 阿彌陀 or 阿彌陀佛, 阿弥陀 or 阿弥陀仏
    • Cn: Ēmítuó or Ēmítuó fó
    • Jp: Amida or Amida-butsu
    • Ko: 아미타, Amita or 아미타불, Amitabul
    • Vi: A-Di-Đà, A-Di-Đà Phật, or Phật A-Di-Đà
  • Tib:
  • Mn: ᠠᠮᠢᠨᠳᠠᠸᠠ᠂ ᠴᠠᠭᠯᠠᠰᠢ ᠦᠭᠡᠢ ᠭᠡᠷᠡᠯᠲᠦ;<br /><small>Аминдаваа, Цаглашгүй гэрэлт</small>;<br /><small>Amindava, Tsaglasi ügei gereltü</small>

|- valign=“top”

 Amoghasiddhi

  • Sanskrit: Amoghasiddhi

|

  • Tib: Dön yö drub pa
  • Mn: ᠲᠡᠭᠦᠰ ᠨᠥᠭᠴᠢᠭᠰᠡᠨ᠂ ᠦᠢᠢᠯᠡ ᠪᠦᠲᠦᠭᠡ᠋᠌᠋᠋ᠺᠴᠢ;<br /><small>Төгс Нөгчигсөн, Үйл Бүтээгч;<br />Tegüs nögcigsen, Üyile Bütügegci</small>

|- valign=“top”

 anagarika A white-robed student in the Theravada tradition who, for a few months, awaits being considered for Samaneras ordination

  • Pāli: anāgarika

|

  • Thai: อนาคาริก a-na-ka-rik

|- valign=“top”

 anapanasati Mindfulness of the breath meditation

  • Pāli: ānāpānasati
  • Sanskrit: ānāpānasmṛti
  • Bur:

    anapana (

    )

|
anatta The principle denial of the soul in any phenomena. See also negative theology.

  • Pāli: anattā
  • Sanskrit: anātman

|

  • Bur:

    anatta (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • 無我
    • Cn: wúwǒ
    • Jp: muga
    • Ko: 무아, mua
    • Vi: vô ngã

|- valign=“top”

 anicca Impermanence

  • Pāli: anicca
  • Sanskrit: anitya

|

  • Bur:

    aneissa (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • 無常
    • Cn: wúcháng
    • Jp: mujō
    • Ko: 무상, musang
    • Vi: vô thường

|- valign=“top”

 anuttara Unsurpassing

  • Pāli: anuttara
  • Sanskrit: anuttara

|

  • 阿耨多羅／阿耨多罗 (無上／无上)
    • Cn: Ānòuduōluó (“wǔshàng”)
    • Jp: anokutara
    • Ko: 아뇩다라, anyokdara
    • Vi: A-nậu-đà-la (vô thượng)
    • Fi: Ylittämätön

|- valign=“top”

 arhat, lit. “the Worthy One”, A living person who has reached Enlightenment

  • Pāli: arahat or arahant
  • Sanskrit: arhat or arhant

|

  • Bur:

    yahanda (

    )

  • Shan:

    rahanta (

    )

  • Tib:

    , dgra com pa

  • Mn: архад, arkhad
  • 阿羅漢
    • Cn: āluóhàn
    • Jp: arakan
    • Ko: 아라한, arahan
    • Vi: a-la-hán

|- valign=“top”

 anuttara samyak sambodhi, unsurpassable, complete, perfect enlightenment; unsurpassable, right, and full enlightenment

  • Pāli:
  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Tib: ,
  • Thai: อรหันต์ uh-ra-hann
  • 阿耨多罗三藐三菩提 (or 無上正等正覺)
    • Cn: ānòuduōluó sānmiǎosānpútí (or wúshàng zhèngděng zhèngjué)
    • Jp: anokutara sanmyakusanbodai
    • Ko: 아뇩다라삼먁삼보리, Anyokdara sammyak sambori
    • Vi: A-nậu-đà-la tam-miệu tam-bồ-đề, Vô-thượng chánh-đẳng chánh-giác, Sáng-suốt giác-ngộ hoàn-toàn

|- valign=“top”

 atman literally “self”, sometimes “soul” or “ego”. In Buddhism, the predominant teaching is the negating doctrine of anatman, that there is no permanent, persisting atman, and that belief in atman is the prime consequence of ignorance, the foundation of samsara

  • Pāli: atta
  • Sanskrit: ātman

|

  • Bur:

    atta (

    )

  • 我
    • Cn: wǒ
    • Jp: ga
    • Ko: 아, a
    • Vi: ngã

|- valign=“top”

 Avalokitesvara, lit. “One Who Hears the Suffering Cries of the World”, The bodhisattva of compassion (see also Guan Yin)

  • Sanskrit: Avalokiteśvara
  • Bur:

    lawka nat (

    )

|

  • Tib:

    spyan ras gzigs

  • Mn: Жанрайсиг, Janraisig
  • 觀世音 or 觀音
    • Cn: Guānshì Yīn or Guān Yīn
    • Jp: Kanzeon or Kannon
    • Ko: 관세음, Gwanse-eum or 관음, Gwaneum
    • Vi: “Quan Thế Âm Bồ Tát” , “Quán Thế Âm Bồ Tát' or “Quan Âm”

|- valign=“top”

 avidya “ignorance” or “delusion”

  • Sanskrit: avidyā

|

  • Pāli: avijjā
  • Bur:

    aweizza (

    )

  • Shan:

    awitsa (

    )

  • Thai: อวิชชา aa-wit-sha
  • Tib:

    ma rig-pa

  • 無明
    • Cn: wúmíng
    • Jp: mumyō
    • Ko: 무명, mumyeong
    • Vi: vô minh

|}

==B==

Definition Etymology In other languages
bardo, lit. “intermediate state” or “in-between state”, According to Tibetan tradition, the state of existence intermediate between two lives

  • Tib:

    bar ma do'i srid pa

| style=“width:200px” |

  • Sanskrit: antarābhava
  • Mn: зуурд, zuurd
  • 中有,中陰身
    • Cn: zhongyǒu
    • Jp: chūu
    • Ko: 중유 jungyu or 바르도 bareudo
    • Vi: trung hữu, trung ấm thân, thân trung-ấm

|- valign=“top”

 bhavacakra/bhavacakka A circular symbolic representation of samsara, also known as Wheel of becoming

  • Pāli: bhavacakka
  • Sanskrit: bhava-cakra

|

  • Bur:

    bawa set (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Tib:
  • Mn: Орчлонгийн хүрдэн, Orchlongiin khurden
  • 有輪
    • Cn: yǒulún
    • Jp: ariwa
    • Ko: 유륜, yuryun
    • Vi: hữu luân

|- valign=“top”

 bhante The polite particle used to refer to Buddhist monks in the Theravada tradition. Bhante literally means “Venerable Sir.”

  • Pāli

|

  • Bur:

    bhante (

    )

|- valign=“top”

 bhava Becoming, being, existing; the 10th link of Pratitya-samutpada

  • Pāli, Sanskrit: bhava

|

  • Bur:

    bawa (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Thai: ภาวะ pa-wah
  • 有(十二因緣)
    • Cn: yǒu
    • Jp: u
    • Ko: 유, yu
    • Vi: hữu (thập nhị nhân duyên)

|- valign=“top”

 bhikkhu/bhikshu, lit. “beggar”, A Buddhist monk

  • Pāli: bhikkhu
  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Bur:

    bheikkhu (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Tib:

    dge slong

  • Mn: гэлэн, gelen
  • Thai: ภิกขุ bhikku
  • 比丘
    • Cn: bǐ qiū
    • Jp: biku
    • Ko: 비구, bigu or 스님 seunim, also 중, jung (pejorative)
    • Vi: tỉ-khâu, tỉ-khưu or tì-kheo, tăng

|- valign=“top”

 bhikkhuni/bhikshuni A Buddhist nun

  • from bhikkhu
  • Pāli: bhikkhuni
  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Bur:

    bheikkhuni (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Tib:

    sde slong ma

  • Mn: гэлэнмаа, gelenmaa
  • Thai: ภิกษุณี bhiksuni
  • 比丘尼
    • Cn: bǐqiūní”
    • Jp: bikuni
    • Ko: 비구니, biguni, 여승 (女僧), yeoseung
    • Vi: tỉ-khâu-ni, tỉ-khưu-ni or tì-kheo-ni, ni

|- valign=“top”

 bija, lit. “seed”, A metaphor for the origin or cause of things, used in the teachings of the Yogacara school

  • Sanskrit: bīja

|

  • Bur:

    biza (

    )

  • 種子
    • Cn: zhŏngzi
    • Jp: shūji
    • Ko: 종자, jongja
    • Vi: chủng tử, hạt giống, hột giống

|- valign=“top”

 bodhi Awakening or Enlightenment

  • Pāli, Sanskrit: bodhi

|

  • Bur:

    bawdhi (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Thai: โพธิ์ poe
  • Tib:

    byang chub

  • Mn: бодь, bodi
  • 菩提
    • Cn: pútí
    • Jp: bodai
    • Ko: 보리, bori
    • Vi: bồ-đề, giác, giác ngộ

|- valign=“top”

 Bodhi tree The Sacred Fig (Ficus religiosa) tree under which Gautama reached Enlightenment

|

  • Bur:

    bawdhi nyaung (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • 菩提樹
    • Cn: Pútíshù
    • Jp: Bodaiju
    • Ko: 보리수, Borisu
    • Vi: Bồ-đề thụ, Bồ-đề thọ, cây Bồ-đề

|- valign=“top”

 bodhicitta The motivation of a bodhisattva

  • Pāli, Sanskrit: bodhicitta

|

  • Bur:

    bawdhi seitta (

    )

  • Tib:

    , byang chub kyi sems

  • Mn: бодь сэтгэл, bodi setgel
  • 菩提心
    • Cn: pútíxīn
    • Jp: bodaishin
    • Ko: 보리심, borisim
    • Vi: bồ-đề tâm

|- valign=“top”, tâm bồ đề

 bodhisattva One with the intention to become a Buddha in order to liberate all other sentient beings from suffering

  • Pāli: bodhisatta
  • Sanskrit: bodhisattva

|

  • Bur:

    bawdhi that (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Thai: โพธิสัตว์ poe-ti-satt
  • Tib:

    , byang chub sems dpaʼ

  • Mn: бодьсад(ва), bodisad(va)
  • 菩薩
    • Cn: púsà
    • Jp: bosatsu
    • Ko: 보살, bosal
    • Vi: bồ-tát

|- valign=“top”

 Boghda Holy, living Buddha, living Boddhisattva. The title of Jebtsundamba Khutuktu; also title used with the names of highest Buddhist masters, e.g. boghda Tsongkhapa, Panchen boghda

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Mn: богд, bogd

|

  • Tib:

    bogda

|- valign=“top”

 Buddha A Buddha; also, the Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama.

  • from √budh: to awaken
  • Pāli, Sanskrit: buddha

|

  • Bur:

    bodha (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Tib:

    sangs rgyas

  • Mn: бурхан, burhan
  • 佛, 仏, 仏陀
    • Cn: fó
    • Jp: butsu or hotoke or budda
    • Ko: 불, Bul or 부처, Bucheo
    • Vi: Phật or Bụt

|- valign=“top”

 buddha nature The uncreated and deathless Buddhic element or principle concealed within all sentient beings to achieve Awakening; the innate (latent) Buddha essence (esp. in the Tathagatagarbha sutras, Tendai/Tiantai, Nichiren thought)

  • Sanskrit: buddha-dhatu, buddha-svabhāva, “tathagata-dhatu”, or tathagatagarbha.

|

  • 佛性, 仏性
    • Cn: fóxìng
    • Jp: busshō
    • Ko: 불성, bulseong
    • Vi: Phật tính, Phật tánh, Cái tánh sáng-suốt giác-ngộ hoàn-toàn

|- valign=“top”

 Buddhism

  • from √budh: to awaken
  • Pāli, Sanskrit:

|

  • Bur:

    boddha batha (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Tib:
  • Mn: Бурханы Шашин, Burhanii Shashin
  • 佛教, 仏教
    • Cn: Fójiào
    • Jp: bukkyō
    • Ko: 불교, bulgyo
    • Vi: Phật-giáo

|}

==C==

Definition Etymology In other languages
cetana Volition

  • Pali:

| style=“width:200px” |

  • Bur:

    sedana (

    )

|- valign=“top” style=“width:450px”

 Cetiya A reliquary holding holy objects of veneration

  • Pali:

  • Sanskrit:

| style=“width:200px” |

  • Bur:

    zedi (

    )

  • Khm:
  • Mon:

    setaow (

    )

  • Shan:

    tseti (

    )

  • Sin: චෛත්‍යයය chedi
  • Thai: เจดีย์ chedi
  • Tib:

    mchod rten (chorten)

  • 塔
    • Zh: Ta
    • Vi: Tháp
    • Ko: Tap
    • Jp: 卒塔婆 sotōba

|}

==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:

| style=“width:200px” |

  • Mn: дагина, dagina
  • 空行女, 荼枳尼天
    • Cn: kong xing mu
    • Jp: Dakini-ten
    • Ko: 다키니 dakini or 공행녀 gonghaengnyeo
    • Vi: không hành nữ

|- valign=“top”

 Dalai Lama, lit. “the lama with wisdom like an ocean”, secular and spiritual leader of Tibet as nominated by the Mongols

  • Mn: далай, dalai, lit. “ocean”
  • Tibetan:

    taa-la'i bla-ma

|

  • 達賴喇嘛
    • Cn: Dálài Lǎma
    • Jp: Darai Rama
    • Ko: 달라이 라마 dalai nama
    • Vi: Đạt Lai Lạt Ma or Đạt-lại Lạt-ma

|- valign=“top”

 dana Generosity or giving; in Buddhism, it also refers to the practice of cultivating generosity

  • Pāli, Sanskrit: dāna

|

  • Bur:

    dana (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    ) or

    (

    )

  • Thai: ทาน taan
  • 布施
    • Cn: bùshī
    • Jp: fuse
    • Ko: 보시 bosi
    • Vi: bố thí
  • Mn: өглөг

|- valign=top

 deva many different types of non-human beings who share the characteristics of being more powerful, longer-lived, and, in general, living more contentedly than the average human being

  • Pāli and Sanskrit: deva

|

  • Bur:

    dewa (

    )

  • Khmer: ទេព or preah (ព្រះ)
  • Mn: тэнгэр tenger
  • Mon:

    tewetao (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • 天
    • Zh: tiān
    • Ko: cheon
    • Jp: ten
    • Vi: thiên

|- valign=“top”

 dependent origination, see Pratityasamutpada

  • Pāli:

  • Sanskrit: pratītya-samutpāda

|

  • Bur:

    padeissa thamopad (

    )

  • Tib: rten.cing.'brel.bar.'byung.ba
  • Mn: шүтэн барилдлага shuten barildlaga
  • 因縁, also 緣起, 縁起
    • Cn: yīnyuan, also yuánqǐ
    • Jp: innen, also engi
    • Ko: 인연 inyeon, also 연기 yeongi
    • Vi: nhân duyên, duyên khởi

|- valign=“top”

 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

    : to hold

  • Pāli: dhamma
  • Sanskrit: dharma

|

  • Bur:

    dhamma (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Thai: ธรรมะ tam-ma
  • Mn: дээдийн ном, deediin nom
  • 法
    • Cn: fă
    • Jp: hō
    • Ko: beop
    • Vi: pháp

|- valign=“top”

 dhammavinaya The dharma and vinaya (roughly “doctrine and discipline”) considered together. This term essentially means the whole teachings of Buddhism as taught to monks

  • Mn: суртгаал номхотгол, surtgaal nomkhotgol

|- valign=“top”

 dhammacakka/dharmacakra A symbolic representation of the dharma, also known as the Wheel of Dharma

  • Sanskrit: dharmacakra
  • Pāli: dhammacakka

|

  • Bur:

    dhamma sekya (

    )

  • Mn: номын хүрдэн, momiin khurden
  • 法輪
    • Cn: Fǎlún
    • Jp: hōrin
    • Ko: beomnyun
    • Vi: pháp luân

|- valign=top

 Dhammapada a versified Buddhist scripture traditionally ascribed to the Buddha

  • Pāli: Dhammapada
  • Sanskrit: Dharmapada

|

  • Bur:

    Dhammapada (

    )

  • 法句經
    • Jp: Hokkukyō (shin. 法句経)
    • Ko: Beopgugyeong
    • Vi: Kinh Pháp Cú

|- valign=“top”

 dhammapala/dharmapala A fearsome deity, known as protector of the Dharma

  • Sanskrit: dharmapāla
  • Pāli: dhammapāla

|

  • Tib:

    chos skyong

  • Mn: догшид, dogshid; хангал, khangal
  • 護法
    • Cn: hùfǎ
    • Jp: gohō
    • Ko: hobeop
    • Vi: Hộ Pháp

|- valign=“top”

 Dhyana, see jhana

  • Pāli: jhāna
  • Sanskrit: dhyāna

|

  • Bur:

    zan (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Mn: дияан, diyan
  • 禪 or 禪那, 禅 or 禅那
    • Cn: Chán or Chánnà
    • Jp: Zen or Zenna
    • Ko: Seon
    • Vi: Thiền or Thiền-na

|- valign=top

 Dīpankara Buddha

  • Pāli: Dīpamkara
  • Sanskrit: Dīpankara

|

  • Bur:

    dipankara (

    )

  • Thai: พระทีปังกรพุทธเจ้า
  • 燃燈佛
    • Cn: Rándēng Fo
    • Jp: Nentōbutsu

|- valign=“top”

 doan In Zen, a term for person sounding the bell that marks the beginning and end of Zazen

  • Japanese: 堂行 dōan

|
dokusan A private meeting between a Zen student and the master. It is an important element in Rinzai Zen training, as it provides an opportunity for the student to demonstrate understanding

  • Japanese: 独参 dokusan

|

  • 獨參
    • Cn: dúcān
    • Ko: dokcham
    • Vi: độc tham

|- valign=“top”

 dudie official certificate for monks and nuns issued by government

  • 度牒
    • Cn: dùdié
    • Jp: dochō
    • Ko: ??
    • Vi: ??

|- valign=“top”

 dukkha Suffering, dissatisfaction, stress

  • Pāli: dukkha
  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Bur:

    doukkha (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Thai: ทุกข์ took
  • Tib:

    sdug bsngal

  • Mn: зовлон, zovlon
  • 苦
    • Cn: kǔ
    • Jp: ku
    • Ko: go
    • Vi: khổ

|- valign=“top”

 dzogchen The natural, intrinsic state of every sentient being

  • Tibetan:

    rdzogs pa chen po

|

  • Sanskrit: atiyoga
  • 大究竟
    • Cn: dàjiūjìng
    • Jp: daikukyō
    • Ko: daegugyeong
    • Vi: đại cứu cánh

|}

==F==

Definition Etymology In other languages
Five Five-Hundred-Year Periods Five sub-divisions of the three periods following the Buddha's passing (三時繫念 Cn: sānshí; Jp: sanji; Vi: tam thời), significant for many Mahayana adherents:

  1. Age of enlightenment (解脱堅固 Cn: jiětuō jiāngù; Jp: gedatsu kengo)
  2. Age of meditation (禅定堅固 Cn: chándìng jiāngù; Jp: zenjō kengo)<br />These two ages comprise the Former Day of the Law (正法時期 Cn: zhèngfǎ; Jp: shōbō)
  3. Age of reading, reciting, and listening (読誦多聞堅固 Cn: sòngduōwén jiāngù; Jp: dokuju tamon kengo)
  4. Age of building temples and stupas (多造塔寺堅固 Cn: duōzào tǎsì jiāngù; Jp: tazō tōji kengo)<br />These two ages comprise the Middle Day of the Law (像法時期 Cn: xiàngfǎ; Jp: zōhō)
  5. 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.<br />This age corresponds to the beginning of the Latter Day of the Law (末法時期 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).

| style=“width:150px” |

  • 五箇五百歲, 五箇五百歳
    • Cn: 五箇五百歲 wǔ ge wǔbǎi suì
    • Jp: 五箇の五百歳 go no gohyaku sai
    • Vi: ??

|- valign=top

 Four Noble Truths

  1. Truth of dukkha (suffering, anxiety, stress) (Sanskrit:

    ; Bur:

    dokkha; Thai: ทุกข์; 苦諦 Cn: kǔdì; Jp: kutai; Vi: khổ đế; Mn: зовлон, zovlon)

  2. Truth of the origin (samudaya) of dukkha (Sanskrit: samudayāryasatya; Bur:

    thamodaya; Thai: สมุทัย; 集諦 Cn: jídì; Jp: jittai; Vi: tập khổ đế; ; Mn: зовлонгийн шалтгаан, zovlongiin shaltgaan)

  3. Truth of the cessation (nirodha) of dukkha (Sanskrit:

    ; Bur:

    niyawdha; Thai: นิโรธ; 滅諦 Cn: mièdì; Jp: mettai; Vi: diệt khổ đế; Mn: гэтлэх, getlekh)

  4. The path (marga) that leads out of dukkha (Sanskrit:

    ; Bur:

    meg; Thai: มรรค; 道諦 Cn: dàodì; Jp: dōtai; Vi: đạo đế; Mn: мөр, mör)

|

  • Pāli: cattāri ariya-saccāni
  • Sanskrit: चत्वारि आर्यसत्यानि catvāry āryasatyāni
  • Bur:

    thissa lei ba (

    )

  • Khmr: អរិយសច្ចៈទាំង៤
  • 四諦, 四聖諦, 苦集滅道
    • Cn: Sìdì
    • Jp: shitai, shishōtai, kujūmetsudō
    • Vi: Tứ diệu đế
  • Mn: Хутагтын дөрвөн үнэн, khutagtiin dörvön unen

|- valign=top

 fukudo In Zen, term for person who strikes the han

  • Japanese: 副堂 fukudō

|

==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: Añjali Mudrā, Namaste, Sampeah and Wai.

| style=“width:200px” |

  • Sanskrit: anjali
  • 合掌
    • Cn: hézhǎng (more common to say 合十 héshí)
    • Vi: hiệp chưởng

|- valign=top

 Gautama Buddha

  • Pāli: Gotama
  • Sanskrit: Gautama

|

  • Bur:

    (

    )

  • 瞿曇 悉達多
    • Jp: Kudon Shiddatta

|- valign=top

 geshe A Tibetan Buddhist academic degree in the Gelug tradition, awarded at the conclusion of lengthy studies often lasting nine years or more

  • Tibetan:

| style=“width:200px” |

  • Mn: гэвш gevsh
  • 格西

|- valign=top

 gongan, lit. “public case”, A meditative method developed in the Chán/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

|- valign=top

 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

|}

==H==

Definition Etymology In other languages
han In Zen monasteries, wooden board that is struck announcing sunrise, sunset and the end of the day

  • Japanese: 板

| style=“width:200px” |
Hinayana, lit. “small vehicle”, A coinage by the Mahayana for the Buddhist doctrines concerned with the achievement of Nirvana as a Śrāvakabuddha or a Pratyekabuddha, as opposed to a Samyaksambuddha. While sometime thought as derogatory, it means in fact that the Hinayana doctrine is made to save but 1 individual, the one who follows its teachings, just like a 1 place vehicle, while the Mahayana allow the monk to take other people along with him, like a bus or a great plane.

  • Sanskrit: hīnayāna

|

  • Bur:

    hinayana (

    )

  • 小乘 or 小乗, 二乘
    • Cn: Xiǎoshèng
    • Jp: Shōjō
    • Vi: Tiểu thừa
  • Mn: Бага хөлгөн, Baga hölgön

|}

==I==

Definition Etymology In other languages
Ino, Jp. lit. “bringer of joy to the assembly.” Originally from Sanskrit karmadana, lit. bestower of conduct [karma]. In Zen, the supervisor of the meditation hall [sodo]. One of the six senior temple administrators.

  • Japanese: 維那

| style=“width:200px” |

<ref>

</ref>

==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

| style=“width:200px” |

  • Bur:

    zan (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Thai: ฌาน chaan
  • 禪 or 禪那, 禅 or 禅那
  • Sinhala: ජාන jhāna
    • Cn: Chán or Chánnà
    • Jp: Zen or Zenna
    • Ko: Seon
    • Vi: Thiền or Thiền-na
  • Mn: дияан, diyan

|- valign=top

 jisha In Zen, a senior priest's attendant

  • Japanese: 侍者 jisha

|
jukai Zen public ordination ceremony wherein a lay student receives certain Buddhist precepts.

  • Chinese: 受戒, shou jie
  • Korean: 수계, sugye

|

==K==

Definition Etymology In other languages
Kakusandha Buddha

  • Pāli: Kakusandha
  • Sanskrit: Krakkucchanda

|

  • Bur:

    Kakuthan (

    )

  • 拘留孙佛
    • Zh: Jūliúsūn Fó

|- valign=top

 karma, lit. “action”, The law of cause and effect in Buddhism

  • from √kri: to do
  • Sanskrit: karma
  • Pāli: kamma

| style=“width:200px” |

  • Bur:

    kan (

    ) or

    kyamma (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    ) or

    (

    )

  • Thai: กรรม gum
  • Tib:

    , las

  • Mn: үйлийн үр, uiliin ür
  • 業¹, 因果²
    • Cn: ¹yè, comm.: ²yīnguǒ
    • Jp: gō, inga
    • Ko: 업 eob
    • Vi: nghiệp

|- valign=top

 Kassapa Buddha

  • Pāli: Kassapa

Sanskrit: Kasyapa

  • Bur:

    Kathapa (

    )

  • 迦葉佛
    • Cn: Jiāyè Fó
    • Jp: Kashōbutsu

|- valign=top

 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

|- valign=top

 khyenpo, also khenpo, An academic degree similar to a doctorate in theology, philosophy, and psychology

  • Tibetan

|
khanti patience

  • Bur:

    khanti (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Thai: ขันติ kanti
  • 耐心
    • Cn: Nàixīn
    • Vi:

|- valign=top

 kinhin Zen walking meditation

  • Japanese: 経行 kinhin or kyōgyō

|

  • 經行
    • Cn: jīngxíng
    • Vi: ??

|- valign=top

 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

|- valign=top

 ksanti The practice of exercising patience toward behaviour or situations that might not necessarily deserve it&mdash;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

|

  • 忍辱
    • Jp: ninniku

|- valign=top

 Koṇāgamana Buddha

  • Pāli and Sanskrit: Koṇāgamana

|

  • Bur:

    Kawnagon (

    )

  • 拘那含佛
    • Zh: Jūnàhán Fó

|- valign=top

 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

|

  • 香板
    • Cn: xiangban

|}

==L==

Definition Etymology In other languages
lama A Tibetan teacher or master; equivalent to Sanskrit “guru”

  • Tibetan: བླ་མ་ bla ma

| style=“width:200px” |

  • Sanskrit: guru
  • 喇嘛
    • Cn: lǎma
    • Jp: rama
    • Vi: lạt-ma
  • Mn: лам, lam

|- valign=top

 lineage The official record of the historical descent of dharma teachings from one teacher to another; by extension, may refer to a tradition

  • 傳承

|}

==M==

Definition Etymology In other languages
Madhyamaka Buddhist philosophical school, founded by Nagarjuna. Members of this school are called Madhyamikas

  • Sanskrit: mādhyamika

| style=“width:200px” |

  • Tib: དབུ་མ་པ་ dbu ma pa
  • Mn: төв үзэл, töv üzel
  • 中觀宗, 中観派
    • Cn: Zhōngguānzōng
    • Jp: Chūganha
    • Vi: Trung quán tông

|- valign=top

 mahabhuta four great elements in traditional Buddhist thought

  • Pāli and Sanskrit: Mahābhūta

|

  • Bur:

    Mahabhot (

    )

|- valign=top

 mahamudra A method of direct introduction the understanding of sunyata, of samsara and that the two are inseparable

  • Sanskrit: mahāmudrā

|

  • Bur:

    maha modra (

    )

  • Tib: ཕྱག་རྒྱ་ཆེན་པོ་ chag-je chen-po
  • Mn: махамудра, mahamudra
  • 大手印
    • Cn: dàshŏuyìn
    • Jp: daishuin
    • Vi: đại thủ ấn

|- valign=top

 mahasiddha litt. great spiritual accomplishment. A yogi in Tantric Buddhism, often associated with the highest levels of enlightenment

  • Sanskrit: mahāsiddha

|

  • Bur:

    maha theidda (

    )

  • Thai: มหายาน
  • 大成就
    • Cn: dàchéngjiù
    • Jp: daijōju
    • Vi: đại thành tựu

|- valign=top

 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

  • Sanskrit: mahāyāna

|

  • Bur:

    mahayana (

    )

  • 大乘 or 大乗
    • Cn: Dàshèng
    • Jp: Daijō
    • Vi: Đại thừa
  • Mn: Ikh khölgön

|- valign=top

 Maitreya The Buddha of the future epoch

  • Pāli: Metteyya
  • Sanskrit: Maitreya

|

  • Bur:

    arimetteya (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Tib: བྱམས་པ, byams pa
  • Mn: Майдар, maidar
  • 彌勒 or 彌勒佛, 弥勒 or 弥勒仏
    • Cn: Mílè or Mílè Fó
    • Jp: Miroku or Miroku-butsu
    • Vi: Di-lặc or Phật Di-lặc

|- valign=top

 makyo In Zen, unpleasant or distracting thoughts or illusions that occur during zazen

  • Japanese: 魔境 makyō

|
Māna conceit, arrogance, misconception

  • Pāli and Sanskrit: Māna

|

  • Bur:

    mana (

    )

  • Mon:

    man (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • 慢
    • Jp: man

|- valign=top

 mandala a spiritual and ritual symbol representing the Universe

  • Sanskrit: मण्डल Maṇḍala (lit. “circle”)

|

  • 曼荼羅
    • Cn: màntúluó
    • Jp: mandara
    • Vi: ??

|- valign=top

 mantra Chant used primarily to aid concentration, to reach enlightenment. The best-known Buddhist mantra is possibly Om mani padme hum

  • Sanskrit: mantra

|

  • Thai: มนตร์ moan
  • Mn: маань, тарни; maani, tarni
  • 咒, 真言
    • Cn: zou
    • Jp: shingon, ju
    • Vi: chân âm

|- valign=top

 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: ??

|- valign=top

 merit

  • Pāli: puñña
  • Sanskrit: puṇya

|

  • Bur:

    kutho (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    ) or

    (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    ) or

    (

    ) or

    (

    )

  • 功徳
    • Jp: kudoku

|- valign=top

 metta loving kindness

  • Pāli:
  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Bur:

    myitta (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    ) or

    (

    )

  • Thai: เมตตา metta
  • 慈
    • Ch: Cí
    • Jp: ji
    • Vi:

|- valign=top

 Middle Way The practice of avoidance of extreme views and lifestyle choices

  • Pāli:

  • Sanskrit: madhyamāpratipad

|

  • Bur:

    myizima badi bada (

    )

  • 中道
    • Ch: zhōngdào
    • Jp: chūdō
    • Vi: trung đạo
  • Mn: дундаж зам мөр, dundaj zam mör

|- valign=top

 (right) 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

  • Pāli: (sammā)-sati
  • Sanskrit:

  • Bur:

    thadi (

    )

  • Thai: สัมมาสติ samma-sati
  • 正念
    • Cn: zhèngniàn
    • Jp: shōnen
    • Vi: chính niệm

|- valign=top

 moksha Liberation

  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Pāli: vimutti
  • Bur:

    wimouti (

    )

  • 解脱
    • Cn: jiětuō
    • Jp: gedatsu
    • Vi: giải thoát

|- valign=top

 mokugyo A wooden drum carved from one piece, usually in the form of a fish

  • Japanese: 木魚 mokugyo

|

  • 木魚
    • Cn: mùyú
    • Vi: mõ

|- valign=top

 mondo In Zen, a short dialogue between teacher and student

  • Japanese: 問答　mondō

|

  • 問答
    • Cn: wèndǎ
    • Vi: ??

|- valign=top

 mudra lit. “seal”, A gesture made with hands and fingers in meditation

  • Sanskrit: mudrā

|

  • Bur:

    modra (

    )

  • Tib: ཕྱག་རྒྱ་ phyag rgya
  • Mn: чагжаа, chagjaa
  • 手印
    • Cn: sohyìn (commonly only yìn)
    • Jp: shuin
    • Vi: ấn

|}

==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

| style=“width:150px” |

  • Pāli: namo
  • Sanskrit:

    or namas

Derivatives:

  • Sanskrit: namo-'mitābhāya

| style=“width:200px” |

  • Bur:

    namaw (

    )

  • Tib: ཕྱག་འཚལ་(ལོ), chag tsal (lo)
  • Mn: мөргөмү, mörgömü
  • 南無
    • Cn: nánmó
    • Jp: namu or nam
    • Ko: namu
    • Vi: nam-mô

Derivatives:

  • 南無阿弥陀佛
    • Cn: Nánmó Ēmítuó fó
    • Jp: Namu Amida butsu
    • Ko: Namu Amita Bul
    • Vi: Nam-mô A-di-đà Phật
  • 南無觀世音菩薩
    • Cn: Nánmó Guán Syr Yín Pū Sá
    • Jp: Namu Kanzeon Butsu
    • Ko: Namu Gwan Se Eum Bo Sal
    • Vi: Nam-mô Quan Thế Âm Bồ Tát

|- valign=top

 nekkhamma renunciation

  • Pāli:
  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Bur:

    neikhama (

    )

  • Thai: เนกขัมมะ nekkamma
  • Mn: магад гарахуй, magad garahui
  • 出世
    • Cn: Chūshì
    • Jp: shusse
    • Vi:

|- valign=top

 Nirvana/Nibbana Extinction or extinguishing; ultimate enlightenment in the Buddhist tradition

  • from

    : to extinguish

  • Pāli: nibbāna
  • Sanskrit: nirvana

|

  • Bur:

    neibban (

    )

  • Thai: นิพพาน nípphaan
  • Tib: མྱ་ངན་ལས་འདས་པ, mya-ngan-las-'das-pa
  • Mn: нирван, nirvan
  • 涅槃
    • Cn: Nièpán
    • Jp: Nehan
    • Ko: Yeolban
    • Vi: Niết-bàn

|- valign=top

 Nikaya, lit. “volume”, The Buddhist texts in Pāli

  • Pāli: nikāya

|

  • Sanskrit: Āgama
  • Bur:

    nikaya (

    )

  • 部經
    • Cn: Bùjīng
    • Jp: bukyō
    • Vi: Bộ kinh

|- valign=top

 Noble Eightfold Path

  1. Right View (Pāli:

    ; Sanskrit:

    ; 正見 Cn: zhèngjiàn; Vi: chính kiến)

  2. Right Thought (Pāli:

    ; Sanskrit:

    ; 正思唯 Cn: zhèngsīwéi; Vi: chính tư duy)<br />These 2 constitute the path of Wisdom (Pāli: paññā; Sanskrit: prajñā)

  3. Right Speech (Pāli: sammā-vācā; Sanskrit: samyag-vāk; 正語 Cn: zhèngyǔ; Vi: chính ngữ)
  4. Right Action (Pāli: sammā-kammanta; Sanskrit: samyak-karmānta; 正業 Cn: zhèngyè; Vi: chính nghiệp)
  5. Right Living (Pāli: sammā-ājīva; Sanskrit: samyag-ājīva; 正命 Cn: zhèngmìng; Vi: chính mệnh)<br />These 3 constitute the path of Virtue (Pāli: sīla; Sanskrit: śīla)
  6. Right Effort (Pāli: sammā-vāyāma; Sanskrit: samyag-vyāyāma; 正精進 Cn: zhèngjīngjìn; Vi: chính tinh tiến)
  7. Right Mindfulness (Pāli: sammā-sati; Sanskrit:

    ; 正念 Cn: zhèngniàn; Vi: chính niệm)

  8. Right Concentration (Pāli: sammā-samādhi; Sanskrit: samyak-samādhi; 正定 Cn: zhèngdìng; Vi: chính định)<br />The last 3 constitute the path of Concentration (Pāli, Sanskrit: samādhi)

|

  • Pāli:

  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Bur:

    meggin (

    )

  • Thai: อริยมรรค ariya-mak
  • 八正道
    • Cn: Bāzhèngdào
    • Jp: Hasshōdō
    • Ko: Paljeongdo
    • Vi: Bát chính đạo

|}

==O==

Definition Etymology In other languages
oryoki A set of bowls used in a Zen eating ceremony

  • Japanese: 応量器 ōryōki

| style=“width:200px” |
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

|

==P==

Definition Etymology In other languages
pabbajja, (a layperson) leaving home to join a community of monks and nuns (lit. “to go forth”)

  • Sanskrit: pravrajya
  • Pali: Pabbajja

| style=“width:150px” |

  • 出家
    • Cn: chūjiā
    • Jp: shukke
    • Vi: ??

|- valign=top

 panca skandha The five constituent elements into which an individual is analyzed. They are:

  1. “form”: Pāli, Sanskrit: rūpa; Bu:

    yupa; 色 Cn: sè; Jp: shiki

  2. “sensation”: Pāli, Sanskrit: vedanā; Bu:

    wedana; 受 Cn: shòu; Jp: ju

  3. “cognition”: Pāli: saññā; Sanskrit:

    ; Bu:

    thinnya; 想 Cn: xiàng; Jp: sō

  4. “mental formations”: Pāli:

    ; Sanskrit:

    ; Bu:

    thinkhaya; 行 Cn: xíng; Jp: gyō

  5. “consciousness”: Pāli:

    ; Sanskrit: vijñāna; Bu:

    winyin; 識 Cn: shí; Jp: shiki

|

  • Sanskrit: pañca skandha
  • Pāli: pañca khandha

|

  • Bur:

    khanda nga ba (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • 五蘊, 五陰, 五薀
    • Cn: wǔyùn
    • Jp: go-on, sometimes go-un
    • Vi: ngũ uẩn

|- valign=top

 Panchen Lama The second highest ranking lama in the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. after the Dalai Lama

  • Tibetan: པན་ཆེན་བླ་མ་ pan-chen bla-ma

|

  • Sanskrit:

  • Mn: Банчин Богд, Banchin Bogd
  • 班禪喇嘛
    • Cn: Bānchán Lǎma
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: Ban-thiền Lạt-ma

|- valign=top

 paññā, see prajna

  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Bur:

    pyinnya (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Tibetan: ཤེས་རབ་ shes rab
  • Mn: билиг, bilig
  • 智慧 or 知恵 or 般若
    • Cn: Zhìhuì, zhīhuì, bōrě
    • Jp: chie,hannya
    • Vi:

|- valign=top

 paramartha Absolute, as opposed to merely conventional, truth or reality; see also samvrti

  • Sanskrit: paramārtha

|

  • Bur:

    paramat (

    )

  • Thai: ปรมัตถ์ paramutt
  • 真諦
    • Jp: shintai

|- valign=top

 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

  • Pāli: pāramī
  • Sanskrit: pāramitā

|

  • Bur:

    parami (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Thai: บารมี baramee
  • Mn: барамид, baramid
  • 波羅蜜 or 波羅蜜多
    • Cn: bōluómì or bōluómìduō
    • Jp: haramitsu or haramita
    • Vi: ba-la-mật or ba-la-mật-đa

|- valign=top

 parinibbana/parinirvana The final nibbana/nirvana

  • from nibbana/nirvana above
  • Pāli: parinibbāna
  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Bur:

    pareineibban (

    )

  • Thai: ปรินิพพาน pari-nippaan
  • 般涅槃
    • Cn: bōnièpán
    • Jp: hatsunehan
    • Vi: bát-niết-bàn

|- valign=top

 Perfection of Wisdom

  • from pāramitā (“perfection”) above and prajñā/paññā (“wisdom”) below
  • Sanskrit: prajñāpāramitā
  • Pāli: paññāparami

|

  • Bur:

    pyinnya parami (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Mn: билиг барамид, bilig baramid
  • 般若波羅蜜 or 般若波羅蜜多
    • Cn: bōrě-bōluómì or bōrě-bōluómìduō
    • Jp: hannya-haramitsu or hannya-haramita
    • Vi: bát-nhã-ba-la-mật or bát-nhã-ba-la-mật-đa

|- valign=top

 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

  • Tibetan: ངོ་སྤྲོད་ ngo-sprod

|
prajna/paññā “wisdom”, “insight”

  • Pāli: paññā
  • Sanskrit: prajñā

|

  • Bur:

    pyinnya (

    )

  • Thai: ปัญญา pun-ya
  • Tibetan: ཤེས་རབ་ shes rab
  • Mn: хөтлөх, khötlökh
  • 般若
    • Cn: bōrě or bānruò
    • Jp: hannya
    • Vi: bát-nhã

|- valign=top

 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:

; 十二因緣, 十二因縁 Cn: shíàr yīnyuán; Jp: jūni innen; Vi: thập nhị nhân duyên), which are:

  1. Ignorance (Pāli: avijjā; Sanskrit: avidyā; 無明 Cn: wúmíng; Jp: mumyō; Vi: vô minh; Mn: мунхрахуй, munhrahui)
  2. Ignorance creates Mental Formation (Pāli:

    ; Sanskrit:

    ; 行 Cn: xíng; Jp: gyō; Vi: hành; Mn: хуран үйлдэхүй, khuran uildehui)

  3. Mental Formation creates Consciousness (Pāli:

    ; Sanskrit: vijñāna; 識 Cn: shí; Jp: shiki; Vi: thức; Mn: тийн мэдэхүй, tiin medehui)

  4. Consciousness creates Name & Form (Pāli, Sanskrit: nāmarūpa; 名色 Cn: míngsè; Jp: myōshiki; Vi: danh sắc; Mn: нэр өнгө, ner öngö)
  5. Name & Form create Sense Gates (Pāli:

    ; Sanskrit:

    ; 六入 or 六処 Cn: liùrù; Jp: rokunyū or rokusho; Vi: lục căn; Mn: төрөн түгэхүй, törön tugehui)

  6. Sense Gates create Contact (Pāli: phassa; Sanskrit: sparśa; 觸, 触 Cn: chù; Jp: soku; Vi: xúc; Mn: хүрэлцэхүй, khureltsehui)
  7. Contact creates Feeling (Pāli, Sanskrit: vedanā; 受 Cn: shòu; Jp: ju; Vi: thụ; Mn: сэрэхүй, serehui)
  8. Feeling creates Craving (Pāli:

    ; Sanskrit:

    ; 愛 Cn: ài; Jp: ai; Vi: ái; Mn: хурьцахуй, khuritsahui)

  9. Craving creates Clinging (Pāli, Sanskrit: upādāna; 取 Cn: qǔ; Jp: shu; Vi: thủ; Mn: авахуй, avahui)
  10. Clinging creates Becoming (Pāli, Sanskrit: bhava; 有 Cn: yǒu; Jp: u; Vi: hữu; Mn: сансар, sansar)
  11. Becoming creates Birth (Pāli, Sanskrit: jāti; 生 Cn: shēng; Jp: shō; Vi: sinh; Mn: төрөхүй, töröhui )
  12. Birth leads to Aging & Death (Pāli, Sanskrit:

    ; 老死 Cn: láosǐ; Jp: rōshi; Vi: lão tử; Mn: өтлөх үхэхүй, ötlöh uhehui)

|

  • Pāli:

  • Sanskrit: pratitya-samutpāda

|

  • Bur:

    padeissa thamopad (

    )

  • Tib:

    rten cing `brel bar `byung ba

  • Mn: шүтэн барилдлага, shuten barildlaga
  • 緣起 (thought to be an abbreviation for 因緣生起), 縁起
    • Cn: yuánqǐ
    • Jp: engi
    • Vi: duyên khởi
  • Also called 因緣, 因縁
    • Cn: yīnyuán
    • Jp: innen
    • Vi: nhân duyên

|- valign=top

 Pratyekabuddha/Paccekabuddha, lit. “a buddha by his own”, A buddha who reaches enlightenment on his own

  • Pāli: paccekabuddha
  • Sanskrit: pratyekabuddha

|

  • Bur:

    pyiseka boddha (

    )

  • 辟支佛
    • Cn: Bìzhī Fó
    • Jp: Hyakushibutsu
    • Vi: Bích-chi Phật

|- valign=top

 Pure Land Buddhism A large branch of Mahayana, dominantly in East Asia. The goal of Pure Land Buddhism is to be reborn in the Western sukhavati of Amitabha, either as a real place or within the mind, through the other-power of repeating the Buddha's name, nianfo or nembutsu.

  • 净土宗(Ch), 浄土教(Jp)
    • Cn: Jìngtǔ-zōng
    • Jp: Jōdo-kyo
    • Ko: Jeongtojong
    • Vi: Tịnh độ tông

|- valign=top

 purisa The practicing Buddhist community as a whole; sangha and laity

==R==

Definition Etymology In other languages
rebirth The process of continuity of life after death

  • Pāli: punabbhava
  • Sanskrit: punarbhava

|

  • 輪廻
    • Cn: lunhui
    • Jp: rinne
    • Vi: luân hồi

|- valign=top

 Ratnasambhava

  • Sanskrit: Ratnasambhava

|

  • Tib: རིན་ཆེན་འབྱུང་གནས Rinchen Jung ne
  • Mn: ᠡᠷᠳᠡᠨᠢ ᠭᠠᠷᠬᠣ ᠢᠢᠨ ᠣᠷᠣᠨ᠂ ᠲᠡᠭᠦᠰ ᠡᠷᠳᠡᠨᠢ;<br /><small>Эрдэнэ гарахын орон, Төгс Эрдэнэ;<br />Erdeni garkhu yin oron, Tegüs Erdeni</small>
  • 寶生佛, 宝生如来
    • Jp: Hōshō Nyorai

|- valign=top

 refuge Usually in the form of “take refuge in the Three Jewels”

  • Pāli:

  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Bur:

    tharanagon (

    )

  • Mn: аврал, avral
  • Tib: skyabs
  • Thai: สรณะ sorana
  • 歸依
    • Cn: guīyī
    • Jp: kie
    • Vi: quy y

|- valign=top

 Rigpa, the knowledge that ensues from recognizing one's nature

  • Tibetan: རིག་པ (rig pa)

|

  • Sanskrit: विद्या (vidyā)

|- valign=top

 Rinpoche, lit. “precious one”, An honorific title for a respected Tibetan lama, such as a tulku

  • Tibetan: རིན་པོ་ཆེ་, rin-po-che

|

  • Mn: римбүчий, rimbuchii
  • 仁波切
    • Cn: rénbōqiē
    • Jp: リンポチェ rinpoche
    • Vi: ??

|- valign=top

 Rinzai Zen sect emphasizing koan study; named for master Linji Yixuan

  • Japanese: 臨済宗 Rinzai-shū

|

  • 臨濟宗
    • Cn: Línjì-zōng
    • Vi: Lâm Tế tông

|- valign=top

 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 or Rohachi

|
roshi, lit. “Master”, An honorific given to Zen teachers in the Rinzai and Obaku sects.

  • Japanese 老師 Rōshi

|

  • 禅師
    • Cn: '’chan shī (lit., old master)

|}

==S==

Definition Etymology In other languages
sacca truthfulness

  • Sanskrit: Satya

| style=“width:200px” |

  • Bur:

    thissa (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Thai: สัจจะ sadja
  • 真
    • Cn: zhēn
    • Jp: shin
    • Vi:

|- valign=top style=“width:450px”

 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:

| style=“width:200px” |

  • Bur:

    (shin) thamane (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Thai: สามเณร sama-naen
  • 沙彌
    • Cn: shāmí
    • Jp: shami
    • Vi: ??

|- valign=top

 samatha Mental stabilization; tranquility meditation. Distinguished from vipassanā meditation

  • Pāli: samatha
  • Sanskrit: śamatha

|

  • Bur:

    thamahta (

    )

  • Thai: สมถะ samatha
  • 舍摩他
    • Cn: shěmótā
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: ??

|- valign=top

 samsara The cycle of birth and rebirth; the world as commonly experienced

  • Pāli, Sanskrit:

|

  • Bur:

    thanthaya (

    )

  • Thai: สังสารวัฏ sung-sara-wat
  • Tib: འཁོར་བ khor ba
  • Bur: သံသရာ
  • Mn: орчлон, orchlon
  • 輪迴, 輪廻
    • Cn: lúnhúi
    • Jp: rinne
    • Vi: luân hồi

|- valign=top

 samu Work, conceived as a part of Zen training.://www.mbzc.org/glossary#samu

  • Japanese: 作務 samu

|

  • 作務
    • Cn: zuòwù
    • Vi: ??

|- valign=top

 samvrti Conventional, as opposed to absolute, truth or reality; see also paramartha

  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Bur:

    thamudi (

    )

  • Thai: สมมุติ sommoot
  • 俗諦
    • Jp: zokutai

|- valign=top

 sangha The community of Buddhist monks and nuns. Teachers and practitioners.

  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Bur:

    thangha (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Thai: สงฆ์ song
  • Tib: ཚོགས་ཀ་མཆོག tsog gyu chog
  • Mn: хуврагийн чуулган, khuvragiin chuulgan
  • 僧團
    • Cn: sēng tuan
    • Jp: sō, sōryō
    • Vi: tăng già

|- valign=top

 Sanlun Buddhist philosophical school based on the Madhyamaka school

  • Chinese: 三論 sānlùn

|

  • 三論宗
    • Cn: Sānlùnzōng
    • Jp: Sanron-shū
    • Vi: Tam luận tông

|- valign=top

 sanzen A formal interview with a teacher in many traditions of Zen. Similar to dokusan

  • Japanese

|
satori Awakening; understanding. A Japanese term for enlightenment

  • Japanese: 悟り satori

|

  • 悟
    • Cn: wú
    • Vi: ngộ

|- valign=top

 sayadaw Burmese meditation master

  • Bur:

    sayadaw (

    )

|
seichu In the Zen Buddhist calendar, a period of intensive, formal monastic training. It is typically characterized by week-long Daisesshins and periodic sanzen

  • Japanese: 制中 seichu

|
sesshin A Zen retreat where practitioners meditate, eat and work together for several days

  • Japanese: 接心, 摂心

|

  • 佛七
    • Cn: '’fóqī
  • 坐臘/坐腊
    • Cn: zuòlà

|- valign=top

 shikantaza Soto Zen. “Only concentrated on sitting” is the main practice of the Soto school of Japanese Zen Buddhism

  • Japanese: 只管打座

|

  • 默照
    • Cn: mòzhào

|- valign=top

 shunyata Emptiness; see also Nagarjuna

  • Pāli: suññatā
  • Sanskrit: śūnyatā

|

  • Bur:

    ' (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Tib: stong pa nyid
  • Mn: хоосон чанар, khooson chanar
  • 空
    • Cn: kōng
    • Jp: kū
    • Vi: tính Không

|- valign=top

Sikhī Buddha Buddha of Knowledge

  • Pāli: Sikhī Buddha
  • Sanskrit: Śikhīn Buddha

|

  • Jp: Shiki Butsu

|- valign=top

sila “morals”, “morality”, “ethics”: precepts

  • Pāli: sīla
  • Sanskrit: śīla

|

  • Bur:

    thila (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Thai: ศีล seen
  • 尸羅,戒
    • Cn: jiè
    • Jp: kai
    • Vi: giới
  • Mn: шагшаабад, shagshaabad

|- valign=top

 Sōtō Sect of Zen emphasizing shikantaza as the primary mode of practice; see also Dōgen

  • Japanese: 曹洞宗 Sōtō-shū

|

  • 曹洞宗
    • Cn: Cáodòng-zōng
    • Vi: Tào Động tông

|- valign=top

 store consciousness The base consciousness (alayavijnana) taught in Yogacara Buddhism

  • Pāli, Sanskrit: ālayavijñāna

|

  • 阿頼耶識
    • Cn: āyēshí
    • Jp: arayashiki
    • Vi: a-lại-da thức

|- valign=top

 sukha happiness; ease; pleasure; bliss

  • Pāli: sukha
  • Sanskrit: sukha

|

  • Bur: ??
  • Mon: ??
  • Mn: ??
  • 樂
    • Cn: lè
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: ??

|- valign=top

 sutra Scripture; originally referred to short aphoristic sayings and collections thereof

  • from √siv: to sew
  • Sanskrit: sutra
  • Pāli: sutta

|

  • Bur:

    thoht (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Thai: สูตร soothe
  • Mn: судар, sudar
  • 經, 経
    • Cn: jīng
    • Jp: kyō
    • Vi: kinh

|- valign=top

 Sutra Pitaka The second basket of the Tripiṭaka canon, the collection of all Buddha's teachings

  • Pāli:

  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Bur:

    thoht (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Mn: Судрын аймаг Sudriin aimag
  • 經藏, 経蔵
    • Cn: jīngcáng
    • Jp: kyōzō
    • Vi: Kinh tạng

|}

==T==

Definition Etymology In other languages
tangaryō A period of waiting for admission into a Zen monastery at the gate, lasting anywhere from one day to several weeks&mdash;depending on the quality of one's sitting. Refers to the room traveling monks stay in when visiting, or await admittance into the sōdō.

  • Japanese: 旦過寮　

| style=“width:200px” |

|- valign=top style=“width:450px”

 tanha Craving or desire

  • Pāli:

  • Sanskrit:

| style=“width:200px” |

  • Bur:

    tahna (

    )

  • Thai: ตัณหา tunha
  • Mn: хурьцахуй, khuritsahui
  • 愛
    • Cn: ài
    • Jp: ai
    • Kr: 애 ae
    • Vi: ái

|- valign=top

 Tanto In Zen, one of the main temple leaders, lit.“head of the tan.” In a Zen temple, the Tanto is one of two officers (with the Godo) in charge monks' training.<ref>

</ref>

  • Japanese:単頭

| style=“width:200px” |

|- valign=top

 tantra Esoteric religious practices, including yoga, mantra, etc. See also Vajrayana.

  • Sanskrit: tantra

|

  • Mn: тарнийн ёс, дандар, tarniin yos, dandar
  • 續部,怛特羅
    • Cn: dátèluó
    • Jp: ??
    • Vi: đát-đặc-la

|- valign=top

 Tathagata one of the Buddha's ten epithets

  • Sanskrit: tathāgata; The “Thus-Gone One”

|

  • Bur:

    tahtagata (

    )

  • Thai: ตถาคต tatha-kohd
  • Mn: түүнчлэн ирсэн, tuunchlen irsen
  • 如来
    • Cn: rúlái
    • Jp: nyorai
    • Vi: như lai

|- valign=top

 tathagatagarbha Buddha-nature or the seed of enlightenment

  • Sanskrit: tathāgatagarbha

|

  • 佛性, 仏性
    • Cn: fóxìng
    • Jp: busshō
  • Also 覚性
    • Cn: juéxìng
    • Jp: kakushō
    • Vi: giác tính
  • Also 如来藏, 如来蔵
    • Cn: rúláizàng
    • Jp: nyuoraizō
    • Vi: như lai tạng

|- valign=top

 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: diǎnzuò
    • Vi: điển toạ

|- valign=top

 Theravada, lit. “words of the elders”, Most popular form of Buddhism in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka.

  • Pāli: theravāda
  • Sanskrit: sthaviravāda

|

  • Bur:

    hterawada (

    or

    )

  • Thai: เถรวาท tera-waad
  • 上座部
    • Cn: shàngzuòbù
    • Jp: jōzabu
    • Vi: Thượng toạ bộ

|- valign=top

 thera or their, lit. “elder”, Honorific applied to senior monks and nuns in the Theravada tradition.

  • Pāli: thera

|

  • Bur:

    htera (

    )

|- valign=top

 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

|

  • Bur:

    tharanagon thon ba (

    ) OR

    yadana thon ba (

    )

  • Thai: ไตรรัตน์ trai-rut
  • Tib: དཀོན་མཆོག་གསུམ, dkon mchog gsum
  • Mn: чухаг дээд гурав chuhag deed gurav
  • 三寶
    • Cn: sānbăo
    • Jp: sanbō
    • Vi: tam bảo

|- valign=top

 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 suì; Jp: go no gohyaku sai), the fifth and last of which was prophesied to be when the Buddhism of Sakyamuni would lose 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 jīng; 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

|- valign=top

 Three Poisons or Three Fires :The three primary causes of unskillful action that lead to the creation of “negative” karma; the three root kleshas:

  1. Attachment (Pāli:

    ; Sanskrit:

    ; Tib.: འདོད་ཆགས་ dod chags)

  2. Aversion (Pali: doha; Sanskrit:

    ; Tib.: ཞེ་སྡང་ zhe sdang; Mn: урин хилэн, urin khilen; 瞋 Cn: chēn; Jp: jin; Vi: sân)

  3. Ignorance (Pāli: moha; Sanskrit: moha; Tib.: གཏི་མུག་ gti mug)

|

  • Pāli: kilesa (Defilements)
  • Sanskrit: kleśa

|

  • Sanskit: triviṣa
  • Tib: düsum (

    )

  • Bur:

    mi thon ba (

    )

  • Mn: гурван хор, gurvan khor
  • 三毒
    • Cn: Sāndú
    • Jp: Sandoku
    • Vi: Tam độc

|- valign=top

 Tiantai/Tendai A Mahayana school of China that teaches the supremacy of the Lotus Sutra

  • Chinese: 天台 tiāntái

|

  • 天台宗
    • Cn: tiāntái zōng
    • Jp: tendai-shū
    • Vi: Thiên Thai tông

|- valign=top

 trailõkya The 3 “regions” of the world:

  1. Kamaloka or Kamadhatu: world of desires (Sanskrit, Pāli: kāmaloka, kāmadhātu; Tibetan: འདོད་ཁམས་ `dod khams; Mn: амармагийн орон, amarmagiin oron; 欲界 Cn: yùjiè, Jp: yokkai Vi: dục giới)
  2. Rupaloka or Rupadhatu: world of form (Sanskrit: rūpaloka, rūpadhātu; Tibetan: གཟུགས་ཁམས་ gzugs khams; Mn: дүрстийн орон, durstiin oron; 色界 Cn: sèjiè; Jp: shikikai , Vi: sắc giới)
  3. Arupaloka or Arupadhatu: world without form or desire (Sanskrit: arūpaloka, arūpadhātu; Tibetan: གཟུགས་མེད་ཁམས་ gzugs med khams; Mn: дүрсгүйн орон, dursquin oron; 無色界 Cn: wú sèjiè, Jp: mushikikai Vi: vô sắc giới)

|

  • Sanskrit: triloka

|

  • Pāli: tisso dhātuyo
  • Tibetan: ཁམས་གསུམ་ khams gsum
  • Mn: гурван орон, gurvan oron
  • 三界
    • Cn: sānjiè
    • Jp: sangai
    • Vi: tam giới

|- valign=top

 trikaya The 3 “bodies” of Buddha:

  • Dharma-kaya (Sanskrit: dharmakāya; 法身 Cn: fǎshēn; Jp: hosshin; Vi: pháp thân)
  • Sambhoga-kaya (Sanskrit:

    ; 報身 Cn: bàoshēn; Jp: hōshin; Vi: báo thân)

  • Nirmana-kaya (Sanskrit:

    ; 應身,化身,応身 Cn: yìngshēn; Jp: ōjin; Vi: ứng thân)

|

  • Sanskrit: trikāya

|

  • 三身
    • Cn: sānshēn
    • Jp: sanjin
    • Vi: tam thân

|- valign=top

 Tripitaka The “Three Baskets”; canon containing the sacred texts for Buddhism (Pāli)

  • Vinaya Pitaka (Pāli, Sanskrit:

    ; Tib: འདུལ་བའི་སྡེ་སྣོད་ `dul ba`i sde snod; Mn: винайн аймаг сав vinain aimag sav; 律藏, 律蔵 Cn: lǜzàng; Jp: Ritsuzō; Vi: Luật tạng)

  • Sutra Pitaka (Pāli:

    ; Sanskrit:

    ; Tib: མདོ་སྡེའི་སྡེ་སྣོད་ mdo sde`i sde snod; Mn: судрын аймаг сав sudriin aimag sav; 經藏, 経蔵 Cn: jīngzàng; Jp: Kyōzō; Vi: Kinh tạng)

  • Abhidhamma Pitaka (Pāli:

    ; Sanskrit:

    ; Tib: མངོན་པའི་སྡེ་སྣོད་ mngon pa`i sde snod; Mn: авидармын аймаг сав avidarmiin aimag sav; 論藏, 論蔵 Cn: lùnzàng; Jp: Ronzō; Vi: Luận tạng)

|

  • Pāli:

  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Burmese:

    Tipitaka (

    )

  • Thai: ไตรปิฎก Traipidok
  • སྡེ་སྣོད་་གསུམ, sde snod gsum
  • Mn: гурван аймаг сав, gurvan aimag sav
  • 三藏, 三蔵
    • Cn: Sānzàng
    • Jp: Sanzō
    • Ko: Samjang
    • Vi: Tam tạng

|- valign=top

 Triratna/Tiratana, see Three Jewels above

  • Pāli: tiratana
  • Sanskrit: triratna

|

  • Tib: དཀོན་མཆོག་གསུམ, dkon mchog gsum
  • Mn: гурван эрдэнэ, gurvan erdene

|- valign=top

 trsna, see tanha above
tulku A re-incarnated Tibetan teacher

  • Tibetan: སྤྲུལ་སྐུ་ tulku

|

  • Mn: хувилгаан, khuvilgaan
  • 再來人 (轉世再來的藏系師長)
    • Cn: Zài lái rén
    • Jp: keshin
    • Vi: hoá thân

|}

==U==

Definition Etymology In other languages
upadana Clinging; the 9th link of Pratitya-Samutpada; the Ninth Twelve Nidanas

  • Pāli, Sanskrit: upādāna

| style=“width:200px” |

  • Bur:

    upadan (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Thai: อุปาทาน u-pa-taan
  • Tib: ལེན་པ, len pa
  • Mn: авахуй, avahui
  • 取(十二因緣第九支)
    • Cn: qǔ
    • Jp: shu
    • Vi: thủ

|- valign=top

 Upajjhaya spiritual teacher

  • Pāli: Upajjhaya
  • Sanskrit: upādhyāy

|

  • Bur:

    Upyizesaya (

    )

|- valign=top

 upasaka A lay follower of Buddhism

  • Sanskrit: upāsaka

|

  • Bur:

    upathaka (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Thai: อุบาสก u-ba-sok
  • 近事男, 優婆塞
    • Cn: jìnshìnán
    • Jp: ubasoku
    • Vi: cận sự nam

|- valign=top

 upasika A female lay follower

  • from upasaka above
  • Sanskrit: upāsika

|

  • Bur:

    upathika (

    )

  • Thai: อุบาสิกา u-ba-sika
  • 近事女, 優婆夷
    • Cn: jìnshìnǚ
    • Jp: ubai
    • Vi: cận sự nữ

|- valign=top

 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

|

  • Bur:

    upe (

    )

  • Tib: ཐབས, thabs
  • Mn: арга, arga
  • 方便
    • Cn: fāngbiàn
    • Jp: hōben
    • Vi: phương tiện

|- valign=top

 upekkha equanimity

  • Pāli: upekkhā
  • Sanskrit: upekṣā

|

  • Bur:

    upyikkha (

    )

  • Thai: อุเบกขา u-bek-kha
  • Tib: བཏང་སྙོམས་, btang snyoms
  • Mn: тэгшид барихуй, tegshid barihui
  • 镇定，沉着, 捨
    • Cn: Zhèndìng, chénzhuó
    • Jp: sha

|- valign=top

 urna A concave circular dot on the forehead between the eyebrows

  • Sanskrit: urna

|

  • Mn: билгийн мэлмий, bilgiin melmii
  • 白毫
    • Jp: byakugō

|}

==V==

Definition Etymology In other languages
Vajrayana, The third major branch, alongside Hinayana and Mahayana, according to Tibetan Buddhism's view of itself

  • Sanskrit: vajrayāna, lit. “diamond vehicle”

| style=“width:200px” |

  • Bur:

    wazeirayana (

    )

  • Thai: วชิรญาณ wachira-yaan
  • Mn: Очирт хөлгөн, ochirt khölgön
  • 金剛乘
    • Cn: Jīngāng shèng
    • Jp: Kongō jō
    • Vi: Kim cương thừa

|- valign=top

 Vairocana,

  • Sanskrit:

|

  • Tib: རྣམ་པར་སྣང་མཛད། rNam-par-snang mdzad
  • Mn: ᠪᠢᠷᠦᠵᠠᠨ᠎ ᠠ᠂ ᠮᠠᠰᠢᠳᠠ ᠋᠋ᠭᠡᠢᠢᠭᠦᠯᠦᠨ ᠵᠣᠬᠢᠶᠠᠭᠴᠢ᠂ ᠭᠡᠭᠡᠭᠡᠨ ᠭᠡᠷᠡᠯᠲᠦ; <br /><small>Бярузана, Машид Гийгүүлэн Зохиогч, Гэгээн Гэрэлт; <br />Biruzana, Masida Geyigülün Zohiyaghci, Gegegen Gereltü</small>
  • 毗盧遮那佛, 大日如來
    • Cn: Pílúzhēnàfó
    • Jp: Dainichi Nyorai, Birushana-butsu

|- valign=top

 Vāsanā habitual tendencies or dispositions

  • Pāli and Sanskrit: Vāsanā

|

  • Bur:

    wathana (

    )

  • 習気
    • Jp: jikke

|- valign=top

 Vinaya Pitaka, The first basket of the Tripitaka canon, which deals with the rules of monastic life

  • Pāli, Sanskrit:

    , lit. “discipline basket”

|

  • Bur:

    wini pitakat (

    )

  • Mon:

    (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Thai: วินัย wi-nai
  • Tib: འདུལ་བའི་སྡེ་སྣོད་ dul-bai sde-snod
  • Mn: Винайн аймаг сав, vinain aimag sav
  • 律藏
    • Cn: Lǜzàng
    • Jp: Ritsuzō
    • Vi: Luật tạng

|- valign=top

 vipassana Usually translated as “Insight” meditation, most associated with the Theravāda tradition, but also present in some other traditions such as Tiantai. Often combined with śamatha meditation

  • from

    : to see apart

  • Pāli: vipassanā
  • Sanskrit: vipaśyanā, vidarśanā

|

  • Bur:

    wipathana (

    )

  • Shan:

    (

    )

  • Thai: วิปัสสนา wipadsana
  • Tib: ལྷག་མཐོངlhag mthong
  • Mn: үлэмж үзэл, ulemj uzel
  • 觀,観
    • Cn: guān
    • Jp: kan
    • Vi: quán

|- valign=top

 viriya energy, enthusiastic perseverance

  • from
  • Pāli: viriya
  • Sanskrit: vīrya,

|

  • Tib: brtson-grus
  • Thai: วิริยะ wiriya
  • 能量
    • Cn: néngliàng
    • Jp: nōryō
    • Vi: năng-lượng

|}

==Y==

Definition Etymology In other languages
yāna divisions or schools of Buddhism according to their type of practice (lit. “vehicle”)

  • Pāli: yāna
  • Sanskrit: yāna

| style=“width:200px” |

  • 乘
    • Cn: shèng
    • Jp: jō
    • Vi: ??

|}

==Z==

Definition Etymology In other languages
zazen Sitting meditation as practiced in the Zen School of Buddhism

  • Japanese: 坐禅

| style=“width:200px” |

  • 坐禪
    • Cn: zuòchán
    • Kr: jwaseon
    • Vi: toạ thiền

|- valign=top

 Zen School A branch of Mahayana originating in China that originally emphasizes non-dualism and intuition. Modern monastic forms have a strong emphasis on zazen (Korean) or on zazen combined with militaristic top-down hazing (Japanese)

  • Japanese: 禅宗 Zen-shu

|

  • 禪宗
    • Cn: Chánzōng
    • Vi: Thiền tông

|- valign=top

 zendo In Zen, a hall where zazen is practiced

  • Japanese: 禅堂

|

  • 禪堂
    • Cn: chántáng
    • Vi: thiền đường

|}

==See also==

==References==

==External links==

Buddhist terminology Buddhism Zen Buddhist terminology Buddhist philosophical concepts