..续本文上一页the human and heaven realms, and can be carried with us from one life to another but it cannot help us to transcend rebirth within samsara.

ignorance or delusion. In the Mahayana tradition, this term comprises two aspects: the first is wrong views and knowledge; the second is lack of correct knowledge. To eradicate ignorance of delusion, we need to eliminate our incorrect views and to uncover our innate, all-knowing wisdom.

Infinite Life Sutra. One of the three primary sutras of the Pure Land school, the Infinite Life Sutra is often called the longer Amitabha Sutra. The shorter version is called the Amitabha Sutra. The Amitabha sutras are unusual in that they were self-spoken. Shakyamuni Buddha, knowing that the time was right for this teaching, initiated the teaching himself. This was unusual because almost all of the teachings by the Buddha were the result of a question being raised by one of his students.

karma. A deed. Karma is pided into three types: good, bad, or pure—that which is neither good nor bad. Good karma leads to favorable results and rebirth in the higher realms of samsara. Bad karma leads to bad results and rebirth in the lower realms of samsara. Pure karma leads to enlightenment and enables one to transcend samsara.

Mahayana. One of the two major branches of Buddhism, it is the bodhisattva path of aspiring to help all sentient beings to attain enlightenment.

merits and virtues. Merits are accumulated by selflessly doing good deeds without wandering thoughts, discriminations, or attachments, as well as through the correction of our erroneous thoughts and behavior. Virtues arise from deep concentration and wisdom.

phenomena. Things, events, happenings: everything in the universe. Noumenon is the principle or essence and is perceived through intuition or thought while phenomena is the event or form and is perceived through the senses. Noumenon is the theory: Phenomena is the reality.

precepts. In Buddhism, precepts are rules that were laid down by the Buddha to guide his students from erroneous thoughts, speech, and behavior. However, one need not be a Buddhist to uphold these precepts. In the more general sense, precepts are rules or principles that prescribe a particular course of action or conduct.

pure mind. The mind without wandering thoughts, discriminations, or attachments. The pure mind has no thoughts of like or dislike, favorable or unfavorable. It has no greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, doubt, or wrong views. It is the calm mind that is no longer affected by the environment. It is the serene and natural state of all beings.

root of goodness. Good qualities or seeds sown in a good life to be reaped later. The ultimate benefit of deep roots of goodness for Pure Land practitioners is rebirth in the Western Pure Land.

samsara. The relentless cycle of rebirth in which ordinary beings are deeply entangled. The three upper realms are heavens, demi-gods, and humans. The three lower realms are animals, hungry ghosts, and hells.

Sangha. A group of four or more people who properly practice the Buddha”s teaching together, especially the Six Harmonies.

Sanskrit. A language of ancient India.

sentient-being. A living being that is self-aware and that can experience feeling or sensation.

Six Harmonies. The Six Harmonies, the second of our five practice guidelines, are the basis for harmonious interaction in the family, the Sangha, and in groups. Especially for practitioners, they harmony in (1) having the same viewpoints, (2) observ…

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