Glossary of Buddhist Terms

A list with most known and popular Buddhist terms and concepts.

Welcome to Ajapala Glossary of Buddhist Terms! Here you will find a comprehensive list of terms and concepts related to Buddhism, one of the world's oldest and most influential religions. Buddhism is a complex and nuanced tradition with a rich history and many branches. The terms and concepts found in this glossary are intended to provide a basic understanding of the fundamental principles and practices of Buddhism. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced practitioner, this glossary is designed to help you deepen your understanding of this ancient tradition. Please feel free to browse and learn more about Buddhism's rich history, teachings, and practices.

Abhava - Means non-existence, negation, nothing or absence. It is the negative of Bhava which means being, becoming, existing or appearance.

Abhayagiri-vihara - A Buddhist Monastery in Sri Lanka.

Abhidharma-kosha - The Treasury of Abhidharma, a text that presents the systematic classification of Buddhist teachings.

Abhidharma-pitaka - The collection of texts in the Buddhist canon that deals with the underlying principles of reality.

Abhidharma - The analytical and systematic study of Buddhist doctrine and psychology.

Abhijna - A Buddhist term generally translated as direct knowledge, higher knowledge or supernormal knowledge. In Buddhism, such special knowledge is obtained through virtuous living and meditation.

Adharma - The opposite of Dharma, meaning unwholesome, negative or non-virtuous actions or states of mind.

Adhisthana - The spiritual power or blessings of a teacher or spiritual guide in Vajrayana Buddhism.

Agama - One of the early Buddhist texts, which were originally passed down orally and later written down in the Pali Canon.

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

Ajapala Nigrodha - A famous tree in Buddhist literature and one of the seven important places in Mahabodhi Temple.Lord Buddha spent the fifth week under this tree in meditation after enlightenment.

Akshobhya - One of the Five Wisdom Buddhas, a product of the Adibuddha, who represents consciousness as an aspect of reality.

Alayavijnana - The store consciousness or the eighth consciousness in Yogacara Buddhism.

Amitabha Buddha - A celestial buddha who is the main focus of devotion in Pure Land Buddhism.

Amitabha-sutra - A sutra that describes the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha.

Amitayus - An aspect of the bodhisattva of compassion, who represents the infinite life and longevity of the Buddha.

Anagami - A non-returner, a stage of spiritual development in Theravada Buddhism.

Anapanasati - The practice of mindfulness of breathing.

Anatta - The Buddhist doctrine of non-self, which states that the self is a concept rather than an actual entity.

Anicca - The Buddhist doctrine of impermanence, which states that all things are constantly changing and nothing is permanent.

Anuttarayoga-tantra - The highest class of tantra in Vajrayana Buddhism.

Arhat-bhumis - The stages of spiritual development leading to the attainment of arhatship in Theravada Buddhism.

Arhat - A person who has attained the highest level of spiritual realization in Theravada Buddhism.

Arhatship - The state of being an arhat, an enlightened being in Theravada Buddhism.

Arya Sangha - The community of spiritual practitioners who have attained a high level of realization in Buddhism.

Arya-path - The path to enlightenment in Mahayana Buddhism.

Arya - A term used in Buddhism to refer to a person who has attained a high level of spiritual realization.

Asana - A yoga posture that is used to cultivate physical stability and mental calm in meditation.

Asubha - The contemplation of the impurities of the body in Theravada Buddhism.

Asubha - Unpleasant or foul objects, used in meditation to develop detachment and equanimity.

Asura - A class of demigods or titans in Buddhist cosmology that are known for their aggression and jealousy.

Avalokiteshvara - The bodhisattva of compassion in Mahayana Buddhism.

Avidya - Ignorance or misunderstanding of the true nature of reality.

Bardo - The intermediate state between death and rebirth in Tibetan Buddhism.

Bhava - Becoming or existence in the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

Bhavacakra - The 'wheel of existence' or 'wheel of life' in Buddhism, a diagram that represents the cycle of rebirth.

Bhavana - The practice of developing wholesome mental states such as love, compassion, and mindfulness.

Bhumi - The levels or stages of spiritual development on the path to enlightenment in Mahayana Buddhism.

Bodhi Tree - The tree under which the historical Buddha attained enlightenment.

Bodhi-citta - The mind or intention that is directed towards enlightenment.

Bodhi-mantra - A mantra associated with the attainment of enlightenment.

Bodhi-mind - The mind of enlightenment, the aspiration to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.

Bodhi-pakkhiya-dhamma - The 37 factors of enlightenment, which are the qualities that a person must develop in order to reach enlightenment.

Bodhi-sattva-yana - The vehicle or path of the bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism.

Bodhi-sattva - A being who is dedicated to achieving enlightenment in order to help others.

Bodhi-sila - The vow to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.

Bodhi-tree - The tree under which the historical Buddha attained enlightenment.

Bodhi - Enlightenment, the state of being fully awakened.

Bodhicitta - The aspiration to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.

Bodhisattva-bhumi - The stages of development for a bodhisattva on the path to enlightenment.

Bodhisattva-garbha - The innate potential for enlightenment that all beings possess.

Bodhisattva - A being who is dedicated to achieving enlightenment in order to help others.

Buddha-dhatu - The ultimate reality or truth in Buddhism.

Buddha-field - A realm or pure land where a buddha resides.

Buddha-Nature - The inherent potential for enlightenment that all beings possess.

Buddha-wisdom - The wisdom or understanding of ultimate reality that is attained upon enlightenment.

Buddha - Awakened One or Enlightened One, is the masculine form of budh - to be awake, observe, heed, attend, learn, become aware of, to know, be conscious again.

Ch'an - A school of Buddhism that originated in China and is similar to Zen Buddhism.

Chakra - A center of energy located in the body, according to some forms of Buddhism and Hinduism.

Dalai Lama - The spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, considered to be the reincarnation of the bodhisattva of compassion.

Dana - Generosity or giving in Buddhism, especially to give food and resources to monks, priests and contemplatives.

Deva - Different types of non-human beings who have are more powerful, longer-lived, and, in general, living more contentedly than any human being.

Dharma king - A title given to a highly respected teacher of Buddhism.

Dharma wheel - A symbol that represents the teachings of the Buddha and the cycle of the law of cause and effect.

Dharma-dhara - A holder or custodian of the teachings of Buddhism.

Dharma-dhatu - The ultimate reality or truth in Buddhism.

Dharma-discourse - A formal teaching given by a Buddhist teacher.

Dharma-Door - The specific teaching or method through which one enters the Buddhist path.

Dharma-ending age - The period of time in which the teachings of Buddhism will decline and eventually disappear.

Dharma-kaya - The 'truth body' or ultimate reality of the Buddha in Mahayana Buddhism.

Dharma-king - A title given to a highly respected teacher of Buddhism.

Dharma-megha - The cloud of dharma, symbolizing the spread of the Buddha's teachings.

Dharma-nidhi - A treasury or storehouse of the teachings of Buddhism.

Dharma-realization - The direct experience and understanding of the true nature of reality.

Dharma-seal - The ultimate stamp or certification of the authenticity of the teachings of Buddhism.

Dharma-transmission - The formal transmission of teachings and authorization to teach from one teacher to a student in Buddhism.

Dharma-vessel - A person who is capable of receiving and preserving the teachings of Buddhism.

Dharma-wheel - The symbol of the Buddhist teachings, which is said to turn the wheel of the Dharma.

Dharma-yana - The vehicle or path of Buddhism.

Dharma - The teachings of the Buddha.

Dharmakaya - One of the three bodies of a Buddha, representing the ultimate nature of reality or emptiness.

Dharmakaya - The ultimate reality or truth in Buddhism, often referred to as the 'body of truth' or 'body of reality'.

Dukkha-nirodha - The cessation of suffering, one of the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism.

Dukkha - The suffering and dissatisfaction of beings in Samsara due to aging, sickness, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and despair.

Dzogchen - A form of Tibetan Buddhism that emphasizes the innate state of enlightenment and the direct experience of reality.

Ehi-passiko - A Pali phrase which means 'Come and see' and is used to invite people to learn about Buddhism.

Ekayana - The one vehicle or path to enlightenment in Mahayana Buddhism.

Emanation body - A form taken by a being in order to teach and help sentient beings.

Emptiness - The nature of all phenomena according to the Madhyamaka school of Buddhism, which is free from any inherent existence.

Engaged Buddhism - A form of Buddhism that emphasizes the application of Buddhist principles to social and political issues.

Five Aggregates - The five aspects of human existence which are believed to create the illusion of a separate self: form, feeling, perception, mental formations and consciousness.

Five Precepts - The ethical guidelines of Buddhism which include not taking life, not stealing, not engaging in sexual misconduct, not lying and not consuming intoxicants.

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Five Skandhas - The five aggregates of form, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness that constitute the human experience and self.

Five Strengths - The five powers or faculties that are developed on the path to enlightenment: faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom.

Fo - The Chinese word for Buddha, which is often used to refer to the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama.

Four Dharmas of Gampopa - The four essential practices for attaining enlightenment in the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Four Foundations of Mindfulness - The practice of focusing one's awareness on the body, feelings, mind, and phenomena in order to gain insight and understanding.

Four Noble Truths - The foundational teachings of Buddhism, which are the truth of suffering, the cause of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the path to the cessation of suffering.

Four Right Efforts - The practice of making an effort to prevent the arising of unarisen unwholesome states, to abandon unwholesome states that have already arisen, to arouse wholesome states that have not yet arisen, and to maintain and perfect wholesome states already arisen.

Gandavyuha Sutra - A sutra that describes the journey of the bodhisattva Sudhana to visit various spiritual teachers in order to gain insight into the nature of ultimate reality.

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

Gomchen - A lay master of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

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.

Guhyamantra - The secret or hidden mantra teachings of Vajrayana Buddhism.

Guru-yoga - The practice of connecting with and receiving blessings from one's spiritual teacher in Tibetan Buddhism.

Hakuin Ekaku - A Japanese Zen master who revitalized the Rinzai school of Zen in the 18th century.

Hara - The physical center of balance and energy located in the lower abdomen in Zen Buddhism.

Heart Sutra - A short sutra that summarizes the teachings of the Prajnaparamita sutras.

Hevajra-tantra - A tantra of the Anuttarayoga class in Vajrayana Buddhism.

Hinayana - The 'Lesser Vehicle' of Buddhism, which emphasizes the practice of meditation and the attainment of the state of arhat.

Hua-yen - A school of Buddhism that emphasizes the interdependence of all phenomena.

Indra's jewel - A metaphor used in Buddhism to describe the preciousness and rarity of the teachings.

Indra's net - A metaphor used in Mahayana Buddhism to describe the interconnectedness of all phenomena.

Jataka Tales - Stories that depict the previous lives of the Buddha, which are used to illustrate moral and spiritual themes.

Jataka - Stories of the previous lives of the Buddha and other enlightened beings.

Jhana - A state of deep concentration and mental stillness that is cultivated through meditation.

Jikido - The timekeeper or administrator in a Zen monastery.

Jina - A term used to refer to a buddha or an arhat in Jainism and Buddhism.

Kalpa - A cosmic era or eon in Buddhist cosmology, which can last incalculable billions of years.

Karma-vipaka - The effects of past actions on current and future lives in Buddhism.

Karma - The law of cause and effect in Buddhism, in which actions have consequences in this life or future lives.

Karmamudra - A tantric practice in which one engages in sexual union as a means to attain enlightenment.

Karmashaya - The store consciousness in Buddhism, where all past karmic actions and their potential future effects are stored.

Karmic residue - The accumulated effects of past actions that determine the nature of one's present and future experiences.

Karmic-seed - The potential for a certain type of experience or result to arise due to past actions.

Karuna - Compassion, the special kindness shown to those who suffer, one of the four brahma vihara.

Kasina - A meditation object used in Theravada Buddhism to develop concentration.

Kassapa Buddha (Pāli) - Known as Kāsyapain Sanskrit, is one of the ancient Buddhas whose biography is chronicled in chapter 24of the Buddhavamsa, one of the books of the Pali Canon.

Kaya-traya - The three bodies of a Buddha, the Dharmakaya, the Sambhogakaya, and the Nirmanakaya.

Kensho - A Japanese term for a sudden realization of one's true nature, often used in Zen Buddhism.

Kleshas - Mental defilements, afflictions or disturbances in Buddhism.

Koan practice - A form of Zen meditation that uses paradoxical statements or questions to provoke a breakthrough to deeper understanding.

Koan - A paradoxical statement or question used in Zen meditation to challenge the mind and provoke a breakthrough to deeper understanding.

Koan - A story, dialogue, question, or statement in Zen Buddhism used as a meditation tool.

Lama - A teacher of Tibetan Buddhism, who may be either a monk or a layperson.

Lankavatara Sutra - An important Mahayana text that emphasizes the role of the mind in creating our experience of reality.

Lojong - A method of mind training in Tibetan Buddhism that emphasizes the development of compassion and the altruistic intention to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.

Lokottaravada - The belief in the transcendent nature of the Buddha in Mahayana Buddhism.

Madhyamaka - The 'Middle Way' school of Buddhism, which emphasizes the doctrine of emptiness and the rejection of extreme views.

Madyamika - The 'Middle Way' philosophy of Nagarjuna in Mahayana Buddhism.

Maha-atma - A great being, a term used to refer to highly advanced bodhisattvas.

Mahamudra - The 'Great Seal' of tantra, a meditation practice that emphasizes the realization of the ultimate nature of reality.

Mahaparinirvana-sutra - A sutra that describes the final enlightenment and passing away of the historical Buddha.

Mahaparinirvana - The final death and complete release from the cycle of rebirth of a Buddha.

Mahasamadhi - The final death and complete release from the cycle of rebirth of a realized master.

Mahasatva - A great being, a term used to refer to highly advanced bodhisattvas.

Mahayana-parinirvana-sutra - A sutra that describes the final enlightenment and passing away of the historical Buddha.

Mahayana-shastra - A treatise or commentary on the Mahayana teachings of Buddhism.

Mahayana-sutra - A sutra or scripture of the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism.

Mahayana - The 'Great Vehicle' of Buddhism, which emphasizes the potential for all beings to achieve enlightenment.

Mala - A string of beads that is used to keep count of recitations of a mantra or the name of a buddha.

Mandala - A geometric diagram used as a spiritual and ritual symbol in Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Manjushri - A bodhisattva associated with wisdom and the teachings of the Perfection of Wisdom sutras in Mahayana Buddhism.

Mantra Yoga - The use of mantras as a form of meditation or devotion.

Mantra - A word or phrase that is repeated as a form of meditation or devotion.

Mara-kalpa - A ritual in which a practitioner visualizes themselves as the Buddha and defeats the forces of delusion and negativity.

Mara - A demon in Buddhism who represents the forces of temptation and delusion that seek to prevent enlightenment.

Metta - Loving-kindness, a practice of developing compassion and goodwill towards all beings, one of the four brahma vihara or noble virtues or divine abodes of the mind.

Mindfulness - The practice of being present and aware of one's thoughts, feelings, and surroundings.

Moksha - The ultimate goal of liberation from the cycle of rebirth in Hinduism and Jainism.

Mudita - Sympathetic joy, being happy for others, without a trace of envy. One of the four brahma vihara.

Mudra - A symbolic hand gesture used in Buddhism, Hinduism, and other spiritual traditions.

Naga - A strong, stately, and heroic animal, such as an elephant or a magical serpent. In Buddhism, it is also used to refer to those who have attained the goal of the practice.

Nagarjuna - An Indian philosopher who founded the Madhyamaka school of Buddhism and wrote the Mulamadhyamakakarika.

Naraka - A term in Buddhist cosmology usually referred to in English as hell or purgatory.

Nirmanakaya - One of the three bodies of a Buddha, representing the form body of a Buddha in which he appears in the world to teach.

Nirmanakaya - The physical manifestation of a Buddha, often referred to as the 'emanation body'.

Nirodha - The cessation of suffering in Buddhism.

Nirvana-dhatu - The ultimate reality in Buddhism, the realm of the ultimate peace, freedom and happiness.

Nirvana-paramita - The 'Perfection of Nirvana' which is the ultimate goal in Buddhism.

Nirvana-samadhi - The state of deep concentration and mental unification that is said to lead to the attainment of Nirvana.

Nirvana-shatakam - A poem attributed to the Indian philosopher Adi Shankara, which describes the nature of ultimate reality.

Nirvana-sutra - A Buddhist text which explains the nature of ultimate reality.

Nirvana - The ultimate goal of enlightenment and liberation from suffering.

Nyingma - The oldest school of Tibetan Buddhism, which emphasizes the continuity of the teachings of the historical Buddha.

Padmasambhava - An 8th-century Indian master who brought Buddhism to Tibet and is considered the founder of Tibetan Buddhism.

Padmasambhava - The 'lotus-born' Indian master who is credited with spreading Buddhism in Tibet and Bhutan.

Pali Canon - The collection of texts comprising the earliest recorded teachings of the Buddha.

Paramita - A perfection or perfect virtue that is cultivated by a bodhisattva on the path to enlightenment.

Parinirvana - The final Nirvana in which the mind is extinguished and the body dies.

Prajna-paramita - The 'Perfection of Wisdom' texts, which are considered to be among the most important in Mahayana Buddhism.

Prajna - The wisdom or insight that comes from understanding the true nature of reality.

Prajnaparamita - The perfection of wisdom in Mahayana Buddhism.

Pratimoksha - The fundamental code of ethics for Buddhist monks and nuns.

Pratityasamutpada - The principle of dependent origination, which explains how all things arise in dependence upon causes and conditions.

Pratyekabuddha - A type of buddha who attains enlightenment through their own efforts and without the guidance of a teacher.

Pudgala - The concept of a person or self in Buddhism, which is ultimately seen as non-existent.

Puja - Honor; respect; devotional observance. Most commonly, the devotional observances that are conducted at monasteries daily (morning and evening), on uposatha days, or on other special occasions.

Punarbhava (or punabbhava - Rebirth or reincarnation, the process of beings being reborn again and again is called wandering about.

Puṇya (Sanskrit) or puñña (Pali) - A fundamental concept to Buddhist ethics.

It is a beneficial and protective force which accumulates as a result of good deeds, acts, or thoughts.

Pure Land Buddhism - A form of Buddhism that emphasizes the devotion to Amitabha Buddha and the goal of being reborn in his Pure Land.

Pure Land - A realm or pure land where a buddha resides.

Ratnakuta - The collection of sutras in Mahayana Buddhism that teach the path to buddhahood.

Rinpoche - A title for a highly respected teacher in Tibetan Buddhism.

Rupakaya - The two 'form bodies' of a buddha, the sambhogakaya and the nirmanakaya.

Sadhana - A spiritual practice or method used to cultivate spiritual realization.

Sakyamuni - The 'Sage of the Sakyas', another name for the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama.

Samadhi-bhumi - The levels of meditative concentration and absorption in the Theravada tradition.

Samadhi - A state of deep concentration and mental unification that is said to lead to greater insight and understanding.

Samatha-bhavana - The development of concentration in Buddhism.

Samatha-vipassana - The practice of developing serenity and insight through meditation.

Samatha - A form of meditation focused on calming the mind.

Samaya - A spiritual commitment or vow taken in Vajrayana Buddhism.

Sambhogakaya - The body of enjoyment, one of the three bodies of a buddha in Mahayana Buddhism.

Sambhogakaya - The enjoyment or bliss body of a buddha, which is only accessible to advanced practitioners.

Samsara - The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth in which beings are trapped until they attain enlightenment.

Samskara - The mental and emotional patterns that shape our experience of the world.

Sangha - The community of Buddhist practitioners, including both monks and laypeople.

Satori - A sudden awakening or breakthrough to a deeper understanding of reality, often used to refer to the experience of enlightenment in Zen Buddhism.

Satori - A sudden enlightenment experience in Zen Buddhism.

Shikantaza - A form of Zen meditation that emphasizes simply sitting and being present with one's experience without trying to manipulate it in any way.

Shravaka - A listener, a term used in Buddhism to refer to those who follow the teachings of the historical Buddha.

Shunyata - The Buddhist doctrine of emptiness, which states that all phenomena lack inherent existence.

Siddhartha Gautama - The actual name of the Buddha when he was a prince, before becoming a wandering ascetic and spiritual teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE.

Sila - Ethical conduct, one of the three trainings in Buddhism along with concentration and wisdom.

Sravaka - A listener or hearer, a term used in Theravada Buddhism to refer to those who seek to attain enlightenment through listening to the teachings of the Buddha.

Sukha-dukkha - The Buddhist concept of pleasure and pain.

Sukhavati - The Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha in Pure Land Buddhism.

Sunyata - Emptiness or voidness in Mahayana Buddhism.

Sutra - A scripture; originally referred to short aphoristic sayings and collections of usually sacred texts.

Sutta Pitaka - One of the three baskets of the Pali Canon, containing the discourses of the Buddha.

Sutta - A discourse or teaching given by the Buddha, recorded in the Pali Canon.

Svatantrika - A sub-school of Madhyamaka Buddhism that emphasizes the use of logical reasoning in the pursuit of enlightenment.

Tantra Yoga - A form of Buddhism that uses ritual, visualization, and other practices to achieve enlightenment in a single lifetime.

Tantra - A form of Buddhism that uses ritual, visualization, and other practices to achieve enlightenment in a single lifetime.

Tathagata - A term used to refer to the Buddha, which means 'one who has thus come' or 'one who has thus gone'.

Tathagatagarbha - The potential for enlightenment within all beings, a central teaching in the Mahayana tradition.

Tathagatagarbha - The womb or matrix of the Tathagatas, or buddhas, in Mahayana Buddhism.

Tathata - The true nature or ultimate reality in Madhyamika Buddhism.

Theravada - The 'Way of the Elders' of Buddhism, which emphasizes the practice of meditation and the attainment of the state of arhat.

Trikaya - The three bodies of a Buddha: the Dharmakaya, the Sambhogakaya and the Nirmanakaya.

Upaya - Skilful means, a concept in Buddhism that refers to the methods used by a teacher to guide a student to enlightenment.

Upeka (upekkha) - Equanimity, levelness, or grace. One of the four brahma vihara.

Uposatha - Observance day, corresponding to the phases of the moon, on which Buddhist lay people gather to listen to the Dhamma and to observe special precepts.

Vajra-dhatu - The ultimate reality in Vajrayana Buddhism, the realm of ultimate indestructibility.

Vajra-sattva - A bodhisattva associated with purification in Vajrayana Buddhism.

Vajra - A symbol of indestructibility and the ultimate nature of reality in Vajrayana Buddhism.

Vajrasattva - A bodhisattva associated with purification in Vajrayana Buddhism.

Vajrayana - The 'Diamond Vehicle' of Buddhism, which emphasizes the use of tantra and the attainment of enlightenment in one lifetime.

Vinaya Pitaka - One of the three baskets of the Pali canon, containing the rules for monastic conduct.

Vinaya-vibhanga - The rules for monastic conduct in Buddhism.

Vinaya - The Buddhist monastic code that regulates the behavior of Buddhist monks and nuns.

Vipassana - Insight meditation, a technique for developing self-awareness and insight into the nature of reality.

Yidam - A personal deity or meditational focus in Tibetan Buddhism.

Yoga - A practice of physical and mental discipline that is often incorporated into Buddhist meditation practice.

Yogacara - A school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes the practice of meditation and the cultivation of mental states.

Zen - A school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition.