Glossary of Buddhist words

 Glossary

1. Buddha
   The founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, after his enlightenment. It is a title which means the enlightened or awakened one.
2. CE
   Common Era.
3. chant
   Repeating religious phrases or quotations from sacred texts.
4. conscience
   An inner sense (or 'voice') which communicates what is right or wrong in one's behaviour.
5. Dhammapada
   The most famous of the Buddhist scriptures in the West, with 423 verses in the Pali canon.
6. dharma
   This word has various meanings which have to be understood from the context in which it is used. It can mean religious duty. In Buddhism it is most widely used to mean the Buddha’s teaching. It can also mean ‘the truth’.
7. enlightenment
   The realisation of the truth about life. In Buddhism it releases a person from the cycle of rebirth.
8. founder
   The person who is regarded as founding or starting a religion, eg Jesus was the founder of Christianity; the Buddha was the founder of Buddhism.
9. Jakata Tales (Jakata stories)
   A large collection of writings about the Buddha's previous lives. It is part of the Pali Canon.
10. Kalama Sutta
    A Buddhist scripture.
11. Kalamas
    The people of Kesaputta who are being taught the Kalama Sutta by the Buddha.
12. lay community
    People of the community who are not ordained; those who are not priests, monks or nuns.
13. Mahayana
    Teachings that spread from India into Tibet, parts of Asia and the Far East, characterised by the Bodhisatta ideal and the teaching of ‘emptiness’.
14. Mahayana sutras
    Sacred Buddhist scriptures.
15. meditation
    Thinking quietly as a spiritual or religious exercise. Connection of the mind and soul with the Divine using breathing and other techniques. In Buddhism, using one of a set of techniques or exercises for calming the mind, developing positive emotions and understanding the way things are.
16. monk
    A person who is a member of a monastic order, living under religious obedience.
17. nun
    A member of a religious community of women, living under communal rules.
18. ordained
    To become a member of the clergy in a religious ceremony. To take vows as a monk or nun.
19. rational thinking
    Using reason and evidence to think through an issue and make a decision.
20. Sangha
    The Buddhist community of practitioners, usually used to mean the community of monks.
21. Sanskrit
    An ancient language that is the root of most Indian languages.
22. scripture(s)
    A piece of writing that has religious significance.
23. sources of authority
    Religious texts or bodies responsible for guiding people on how to live.
24. sutras
    A Buddhist scripture.
25. Theravada
    Meaning ‘teachings of the elders'. It is primarily focused on the Arhat path to enlightenment. This branch of Buddhism can be found in Sri Lanka and South East Asia.
26. Three Refuges
    The three most important features of the Buddhist life, recited as an expression of belief and commitment: I take refuge in the Buddha, I take refuge in the Sangha, I take refuge in the dhamma (teaching).
27. Tibetan Buddhism
    Buddhism originating in Tibet. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.
28. tradition
    The beliefs, teachings and behaviour of a group. It may include scripture, oral teachings, laws and ritual practices.
29. Tripitaka
    Three baskets. A threefold collection of Buddhist texts (Vinaya, Sutta, Abhidhamma).