法雲資訊網 - Glossary for Buddhist Terms

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The Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra said, ��By contemplating that all phenomena are empty of self-nature ...

(39) The Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra said, ��By contemplating that all phenomena are empty of self-nature, no birth, no permanent form, and no changeability, one will be able to realize the ultimate truth of all things. All phenomena are without action and without form arising.�� If we only read this without reflection it would be useless. However, if we can reflect on the teachings during daily actions , living, sitting, and sleeping, and maintain attentiveness accordingly, with the help of Samatha (serenity), our strength will gradually increase and reach new heights, and finally we will attain the forbearance of no dharma arising.

Home is the hoard of afflictions. Leaving home and living in a temple to enter the monastic life ...

(38) Home is the hoard of afflictions. Leaving home and living in a temple to enter the monastic life, you are only changing your objects of condition. After learning the teachings of the Dharma, we are then able to subdue our problems and not indulge in our afflictions. When we are capable of doing that, then we can be considered to be a virtuous person. When you continuously learn the teachings of the Dharma, you will be able to use the Dharma to subdue and not indulge in our afflictions. Using the Four Foundations of Mindfulness and Prajna wisdom to subdue the mind, we will gradually be able to eliminate all afflictions and become a Noble being.

The method of achieving maximum result within the shortest period of time is to ...

(37) The method of achieving maximum result within the shortest period of time is to have right mindfulness. Right mindfulness should be maintained at every moment: during meditation and outside of meditation.

Glossary for Buddhist Terms

Here is a non-exhaustive list of the terms used in this section. While it is not meant to be authoritative, nevertheless, we hope that it will provide to you an entrance into the world of Buddhism.

Note: The list contains the terms in order of use.

Buddhist Term	English Meaning
prajna	Pali: panna; Wisdom; Insight wisdom
bhikshu	Pali: Bhikkhu; Monk; Buddhist monk
bhikshuni	Pali: Bhikkhuni; Nun; Buddhist nun
Vinaya	Rules and regulations for Buddhist monks and nun
Sutra	Pali: Sutta; 1) Heard 2) Learning; commonly used to refer to the Buddhist Teachings. So named because the initial canonization of the Sutra was based on what the Buddha’s disciples heard and learnt from the Buddha himself.
Mahayana	Greater Vehicle; also commonly referred to as the Northern tradition
Samatha	1) Serenity; 2) stilling (of formations); 3) settlement (of litigation); ~ meditation: A form of meditation that trains one’s mind to focus on a meditation object, ultimately leading to single-pointedness of the mind. See also vipassana.
Enlightenment	Nirvana; final deliverance from suffering.
Vipasyana	Pali: Vipassana; 1) Insight; ~ meditation: A form of meditation that trains one’s mind to contemplate on Buddhist teachings or concepts, ultimately leading to insight wisdom. See also samatha.
Majjhima Nikaya	1) The Middle Length Discourse; 2) The collection of the Middle Length Sayings; part of a five set canonical collection of the Buddha’s discourse. So named as it contains all the discourses that are comparatively middle in length.
Buddha	1) enlightened, Enlightened One; 2) Historical Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha
Dharma	Pali: Dhamma; 1) the Buddha’s Teachings; 2) things, states, factors; 3) mind-objects; 4) qualities; 5) teachings; 6) (as suffix) subject to
Bodhisattva	Pali: Bodhisatta; 1) a future Buddha; 2) a being who aspires to be a Buddha