Vaisya == 吠舍
the third of the four Indian Castes at the time of Shakyamuni. They were merchant, entrepreneurs, traders, farmers, manufacturers, etc., but not well-educated.
Wisdom == 智慧
the highest of Paramita; the virtue of wisdom as the principal means of attaining Nirvana. It connotes a knowledge of the illusory character of everything earthly, and destroys error, ignorance, prejudice and heresy.
bodhisatta == 菩萨
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.
Five Wisdoms == 五智
1.Wisdom of the Embodied Nature of Dharma Realm法界体性智
- derived from amala-vijanana, i.e. pure consciousness (or mind).
2.Wisdom of the Great Round Mirror大圆镜智
- derived from alaya-vijanana, (8th consciousness) reflecting all things.
3.Wisdom in regard to all things equally and universally平等性智
- derived from manovijanana (7th consciousness).
4.Wisdom of profound insight, or discrimination, for exposition and doubt - destruction妙观察智
- derived from the mind consciousness (6th consciousness).
5.Wisdom of perfecting the double work of self welfare and the welfare of others成所作智
- derived from the five senses (1st to 5th consciousness).
Three Wisdom == 三智(一切智、道种智、一切种智)
There are three kinds of wisdom:
1.Sravaka and Praetyka-Buddha knowledge that all the Dharmas or laws are void and unreal
2.Bodhisattva knowledge of all things in proper discrimination
3.Buddha knowledge or perfect knowledge of all things in their every aspect and relationship past, present and future.
In Tien Tai Sect, the Three Wisdom is associated with the Three Dogmas of Void, Unreal and Mean.
Bhaisajyaguru == 药师佛
Sanskrit word, the Buddha of Medicine, who quells all diseases and lengthens life. His is the Buddha in the Pure Land of the Paradise of the East.
Three Poisons == 三毒(贪、嗔、痴)
or Three Roots
1.Greed or wrong desire
2.Hatred or anger
3.Illusion or stupidity or ignorance
These are the source of all the passions and delusions.
anupadisesa-nibbana == 无余(依)涅槃
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.
sa-upadisesa-nibbana == 有余(依)涅槃
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
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
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.
Three Universal Characteristics == 三法印(诸行无常,诸法无我,寂静涅槃)
The Three Universal Characteristics are connected with the existence. They are:
1.All phenomena are impermanent.
2.All Dharma are not-self.
3.All sensations are suffering.
Four Aspects (of Buddhist Dharma) == 四法
(1) the teaching
(2) the principle
(3) the practice
(4) the fruit/reward/result
Eight Divisions of Gods and Dragons == 天龙八部
Devas (gods), Nagas (Dragons) and others of eight divisions (classes): deva, nagas, yakas, ganharvas, asuras, gaudas, kinaras, mahoragas.
Four Ways (of learning Buddhist Dharma) == 四法
(1) Belief/faith
(2) Interpretation/discernment
(3) Practice/performance
(4) Verification/assurance
These are the cyclic process in learning a truth.
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.
Four Reliance (to learning Buddhist Dharma) == 四依
The four standards of Right Dharma which buddhist should rely on or abide by:
1.to abide by the Dharma, not the person
2.to abide by the sutras of ultimate truth, not the sutras of incomplete truth
3.to abide by the meaning, not the word
4.to abide by the wisdom, not the consciousness