Arhat == 阿罗汉
There are two kinds of arhats, namely, the Sound-hearing arhat (Sravaka) and the Enlightened-to-condition arhat (Praetyka-Buddha). The former attains the wisdom to understand the Four Noble Truth, while the latter attains the wisdom to understand the Law of Dependent Origination or the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination. They represent two vehicles, who "comprehend for their own sake". As they pay attention to themselves and not to others, they are incapable of genuine and equal enlightenment.
There are four noble stages of fruition in the Arhat Path.
anatta == 无我
Jataka == 本生经
the sutra to narrate the birth stories of Shakyamuni in present life, past lives, and effects related to the past lives and the present lives.
Matter == 色
Or Form or Thing. The Sanskrit word is Rupa. It is defined as that which has resistence, or which changes and disappear, i.e., the phenomenal. There are inner and outer forms representing the organs and objects of sense respectively.
Rupa is one of the Six Bahya-ayatanna or Six Gunas and also one of the Five Skandhas.
Ksatriya == 刹帝利
the second of the four Indian Castes at the time of Shakyamuni, they were the royal caste, the noble landlord, the warriors and the ruling castes.
Patience == 忍辱
endurance, the third Paramita. There are groups of two, three, four, five, six, ten and fourteen, indicating various forms of patience, equanimity, repression, forbearance, both in mundane and spiritual things. Patience refers to bearing insult and distress without resentment.
Sensation == 受
or Feeling. The Sanskrit word is Vedana. One of the Five Skandhas. See Five Skandhas.
Six Paths == 六道
see Six Directions of Reincarnation.
bodhisatta == 菩萨
Mahasattva == 摩诃萨
These are great Bodhisattvas, who attain higher stages of fruition and enlightenment. See also Ten Stages of Bodhisattva.
Meditation == 静虑
the fifth Paramita. There are numerous methods and subjects of meditation. See also Contemplation.
Two Deaths == 二死
Two Deaths refer to
1.share-sectioned birth and death
2.changed birth and death
anapanasati == 安那般那念, 安般念, 入出息念
Bodhisattva == 菩萨
A Future Buddha who is a being destined to Buddhahood. Bodhi means Enlightenment and Sattva means Sentient and Conscious. Therefore Bodhisattva refers to the sentient being of or for the great wisdom and enlightenment. Bodhisattva”s vow/aim is the pursuit of Buddhahood and the salvation of others and of all. He seeks enlightenment to enlighten others. He will sacrifice himself to save the others. He is devoid of egoism and devoted to help the others. The way and discipline of Bodhisattva is to benefit the self and the others, leading to Buddhahood.
Middle Path == 中道
See Middle Way.
Renunciation == 舍
One of the Four Unlimited Mind. As one of the chief Buddhist virtues, renunciation leads to a state of "undifferent without pleasure or pain". It is also an equality in mind with no distinction of self and others.
Contemplation == 观想
Abstract contemplation. There are four levels through which the mind frees itself from all subjects and objective hindrances and reaches a state of absolute indifference and annihilation of thought, perception, and will. See also Meditation.
Eightfold Path == 八正道
The eight right ways for the Arhat leading to Nirvana. The eight are:
(1) Right View
(2) Right Thought
(3) Right Speech
(4) Right Action
(5) Right Livelihood
(6) Right Effort
(7) Right Remembrance
(8) Right Concentration
Eight Negations == 八不
The eight negations of Nagarjuna, founder of Madhyamika, are actually four pairs of neither birth nor death, neither end nor permanence, neither identity nor difference, neither coming nor going. This is one of the important concepts of the Middle Way, the ultimate truth of Buddhism and the reality character of all Dharma.
Four Great Vows == 四弘誓愿
1.Vow to take across the numberless living beings.
2.Vow to cut off the endless afflictions.
3.Vow to study the countless Dharma doors.
4.Vow to realize the supreme Buddha Way.
Pratyeka-Buddha == 辟支佛
the second stage in Hinayana, the first or initial being that of Sravaka. He is enlightened to the conditions, i.e. the Law of Dependent Origination. He seeks enlightenment for himself and understands deeply Nidanas. He attains his enlightenment alone, independently, or a teacher, and with the object of attaining Nirvana and his own salvation rather than that of others.
Shatika Shastra == 百论
one of the Three Shastra of Madhyamika School, so called because of its 100 verses, each of 32 words. It was written in Sanskrit by Vasubandhu and translated by Kumarajiva, but the versions differ.
Avatamsaka Sutra == 华严经
One of the great sutras in Buddhism. It was sermoned in heaven by Buddha Shakyamuni soon after his attainment of Buddhahood. The sutra reveals different causes and ways of cultivation of many great Bodhisattvas, such as Ten Grades of Faith, Ten Stages of Wisdom, Ten Activities, Ten Transference of Merits, Ten Stages of Bodhisattva, Absolute Universal Enlightenment, Wonderful Enlightenment, etc. It also reveals how to enter Avatamsaka World (Buddha”s world) from Saha World (our world).
Three Evil Paths == 三恶道
They are the three lowest realms of the Nine Realms: hell, hungry ghost and animal.(地狱,饿鬼,畜牲)
Three Good Paths == 三善道
They are Man, Asura and Deva Paths.(人,阿修罗,天道)
Two Forms of Death == 二死
1.Natural death of the life
2.Death form external cause and conditions
Four Great Elements == 四大
All matters are formed and are composed by four conditioned causes :
(1) earth, which is characterized by solidity and durability
(2) water, which is characterized by liquid/fluid and moisture
(3) fire, which is characterized by energy and warmth
(4) wind, which is characterized by gas/air movement
Right Concentration == 正定
right abstraction, the eighth of the Eightfold Path; meditation, focusing the mind without distraction, preparing the mind to attain wisdom.
Satyasiddhi Shastra == 成实论
written by Harivarman and translated by Kumarajiva, on which the Satyasiddhi Sect bases its doctrine. It was a Hinayana variation of the Sunya (emptiness) doctrine. The term is defined as perfectly establishing the real meaning of the Sutras.
Ten Great King Vows == 十大愿王
The vows of Visvabhadra Bodhisattva:(普贤菩萨)
1.To worship and respect all Buddhas.
2.To praise the Thus Come One.
3.To practise offerings.
4.To repent all karmic hindrance.
5.To rejoice and follow merits and virtue.
6.To request that the Dharma wheel be turned.
7.To request that the Buddha remain in the world.
8.To follow the Buddha”s teachings.
9.To live in accord with all living beings.
10.To spread all merits and virtue.
Manjusri Bodhisattva == 文殊菩萨
As one of the Four Great Bodhisattva, he is the one with the greatest wisdom. Manjusri is said to have: wonderful head, universal head, glossy head, revered head, wonderful virtue and wonderfully auspicious. Manjusri, the guardian of wisdom, is often placed on the left of Shakyamuni, while Visvabhadra, the guardian of law, is on the right. Manjusri always rides on a lion. He is also described as the ninth predecessor or Buddha-ancestor of Shakyamuni. He is the Chief of the Bodhisattva, and the chief disciple of the Buddha. He is the object for the pilgrimages visiting the Wu Tai Shan of Shansi Province in China.
Sukhavativyuha Sutra == 无量寿经
It is one of the main Sutras for Pure Land Sect. It stipulates the Forty-eight Vows of Amitabha Buddha, which give rise to the characteristic of the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss in the West.
Three Classifications == 三科
Buddha shows that a person is nothing more than a combination of various elements which come together under suitable conditions. They are
1.the Five Skandhas五蕴
2.the Twelve Bases十二处
3.the Eighteen Fields十八界
Four Great Bodhisattva == 四大菩萨
They represent the four major characters of Bodhisattva:
1.Manjusri - Universal Great Wisdom Bodhisattva
2.Samantabhadra - Universal Worthy Great Conduct Bodhisattva
3.Ksitigarbha - Earth Treasury King Great Vow Bodhisattva
4.Avalokitesvara - Guan Shr Yin Great Compassion Bodhisattva
Sixteen Contemplations == 十六观经
see Vipasyana Sukhavativyha Sutra.
Five Basic Afflications == 五根本烦恼
The five fundamental conditions of the passions and delusions:
1.wrong view, which are common to the Trailokya
2.clinging or attachment in the Desire Realm
3.clinging or attachment in the Form Realm
4.clinging or attachment in the Formless Realm
5.the state of unenlightenment or ignorance in Trailokya, which is the root-cause of all distressful delusion.
Six States of Existence == 六道
see Six Directions of Reincarnation.
Visvabhadra Bodhisattva == 普贤菩萨
As one of the Four Great Bodhisattva, he is the one with the highest conduct. Visvabhadra, also known as Samantabhadra, means universal worthy. He is the lord of the fundamental law, the dhyana ( taking precepts) and the practice of all Buddhas. Visvabhadra, the guardian of law, is often placed on the right of Shakyamuni, while Manjusri, the guardian of wisdom, is the left. He always rides on a white elephant, is the patron of the Lotus Sutra, and its devotees, and has close connection with Hua-yen Sutra. He has Ten Great King Vows, which give an excellent guideline to all Buddhists to practice and cultivate the Buddha Way.
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva == 普贤菩萨
Also called Visvabhadra Bodhisattva, Universally Worthy Bodhisattva. Being one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas, he is the Bodhisattva of Great Conduct, representing the Law. He has Ten Great King Vows, which are the guidelines in practising Buddhism, and cultivating the Buddhist Way.
Ten Stages of Bodhisattva == 十地菩萨
These are the ten stages of development of Bodhisattva depending on their merits and virtues:
1.Pramudita (joy) - job at having overcome the difficulties and sufferings, now entering on the path to Buddhahood
2.Vimala (purity) - freedom from all possible defilement
3.Prabhakari (enlightenment) - stage of further enlightenment
4.Arcismati (widsom) - stage of glowing wisdom
5.Sudurjaya (no difficulty) - stage of mastering the utmost difficulties
6.Abhimukhi (open way) - the open way of wisdom above definitions of impurity and purity
7.Duramgama (proceeding afar) - getting above ideas of self in order to save others
8.Acala (unperturbed) - attainment of being unperturbed
9.Sadhumati (discriminatory wisdom) - the finest discriminatory wisdom, knowing where and how to save, and possessing the Ten Powers
10.Dharma megha (law cloud) - attainment of the fertilizing powers of law cloud
Ten Vehicles of Meditation == 十乘观
Vehicles is the means to take living beings across from suffering to Nirvana. Though there are ten vehicles, there is only one teaching (Dharma), i.e., Inconceivable Virtues of the Self-mind, and the other nine are supplementary. According to Tien Tai Sect, the ten vehicles are:
1.Meditation of Inconceivable Virtue of the Self-mind * - * highest order for superior roots
2.Meditation of Real Bodhicitta
3.Meditation of Expedient Dwelling of Mind
4.Meditation of Breaking Universal Dharma
5.Meditation of Penetrating through Obstructed Consciousness
6.Meditation of Commissioning all Chapters of Paths
7.Meditation of Confronting Delusion and Advocating Enlightenment
8.Meditation of Understanding the Stages of Fruition
9.Meditation of Calmness and Endurance
10.Meditation of Non-attachment of Dharma
Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss == 极乐世界/净土
This is the Buddha Land of Amitabha Buddha. In Amitabha Sutra, there is full description about this Pure Land. This is the world of utmost joy without suffering. With the spiritual power of Amitabha Buddha, all beings in this world will understand Buddhism easily and practise diligently, and attain enlightenment eventually. Therefore by reciting Amitabha Buddha”s name, Buddhist followers hope that they will be born in this Pure Land after their lives on earth. See also Nine Stages of Lotus Flowers.
Law of Dependent Origination == 缘起法
It states that all phenomenon arise depending upon a number of casual factors. In other word, it exists in condition that the other exist; it has in condition that others have; it extinguishes in condition that others extinguish; it has not in condition that others have not. For existence, there are twelve links in the chain:
Ignorance is the condition for karmic activity; karmic activity is the condition for consciousness; consciousness is the condition for the name and form; name and form is the condition for the six sense organs; six sense organs are the condition for contact; contact is the condition for feeling; feeling is the condition for emotional love/craving; emotional love/craving is the condition for grasping; grasping is the condition for existing; existing is the condition for birth; birth is the condition for old age and death; old age and death is the condition for ignorance; and so on.
Three Meditations of One Mind == 一心三观
Also known as Three Inconceivable Meditations, which is one of the practices in Tien Tai Sect in China. According to Tien Tai, all existence in the universe consists of Three Dogmas (Truths), namely, Void, Unreal and Mean. These three Dogmas are co-existent and interactive, integrated and interrelated. If one can meditate this concept with the whole mind, it is call Three Meditations of One mind, or Inconceivable Profound Meditation.
Vipasyana Sukhavativyuha Sutra == 观无量寿经
It is one of the main sutra for Pure Land Sect. The Sutra indicates that the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha is one of the Buddha Lands. It also describes how to be born in the Pure Land through the Sixteen Contemplations. Therefore, the Sutra is also called "Sixteen Contemplations Sutra".
Six Directions of Reincarnation == 六道轮回
(1) Naraka, i.e. Hell(地狱)
(2) Presta, i.e. Hungry Ghost(饿鬼)
(3) Tiryagyoni, i.e. Animal(畜牲)
(4) Asura, i.e. Malevolent nature spirits(阿修罗)
(5) Manusya, i.e. Human Existence(人)
(6) Deva, i.e. Heavenly Existence(天,梵天)
Nirvana of pure, clear self-nature == 自性涅槃
It is commonly possessed by all individual sentient beings. It is not subject to birth and death, nor increase and decrease.
Five Categories of Untranslated Terms == 五不翻
Chinese T"ang Dynasty Master of the Tripitaka Hsuan-Tsang established five categories of words which should be left untranslated
1.the esoteric
2.words having multiple meanings
3.words for things not existing in China
4.words not translated in accord with already established precedent
5.words left untranslated in order to give rise to wholesomeness and respect
Twelve Links of Dependent Origination == 十二因缘
see the Law of Dependent Origination.
Ten Great Disciples of Skakyamuni Buddha == 十大弟子
They are:
1.Mahakasyapa摩诃伽叶
first in ascetism.
2.Ananda阿难陀
first in having heard the words of Buddha.
3.Sariputra舍利弗
first in wisdom.
4.Subhuti须菩提
first in expressing emptiness.
5.Purna富楼那
first in explaining good law.
6.Maudgalyayana目犍连
first in supernatural power.
7.Katyayana迦旃延
first in preaching.
8.Aniruddha阿那律
first in the sharpness of his divine eyes.
9.Upali优波离
first in taking precepts.
10.Rahula罗睺罗
first in esoteric practices and in desire for instruction in the law.