佛教 | 时代渊源 | 哲学 | 仪式 | 佛教问题解答 | 词汇
Amitabha 阿弥佗佛：Sanskrit; Amida (Japanese). He is one of the major Buddhas of the Mahayana school, and presides over the Western Pure Land.
Ananda 阿难：One of Sakyamuni Buddha’s Ten Great Disciples. He recorded the Buddha’s teachings as sutras.
Anatta 诸法无我：There is no permanent self or soul. This belief is one of the Three Marks of Existence, along with Anicca and Dukkha.
Anicca 诸行无常：No existence is permanent.
Arhat (Arhant) 阿罗汉：Sanskrit; literally, "worthy one". A Buddhist saint who has attained Nirvana.
Asura (Ashura) 阿修罗：Powerful demons, and one of the Six Realms of Existence.
Attachment 执、众生执：The cause of suffering.
Avalokitesvara 观世音菩萨：Sanskrit; Kannon (Japanese), Chenrezig (Tibetan), Kwan Um (Korean), Kuan Yin (Chinese). The Bodhisattva of Compassion.
Avatamsaka 华严经：Literally, “Flower Ornament” Sutra. One of the longest sutras in the Buddhist Canon, and the epitome of Buddhist thought, sentiment, and experience. It is cited by all Mahayana Buddhist schools.
Avijja 无明：Sanskrit; Avidya (Pali). Ignorance and delusion, See Delusion.
Bhikshu, Bhikshuni 比丘，比丘尼：Buddhist monk or nun who renounces the worldly to pursue liberation.
Bodhi 菩提：Sanskrit for “enlightenment”.
Bodhi Mind 菩提心:Bodhicitta, or Great Mind. The spirit of Enlightenment and the aspiration to achieve it.
Bodhidharma 菩提达摩 (ca. 470-543)：The first patriarch of Zen Buddhism. According to legend, he was the "Barbarian from the West" who brought Zen from India to China. "Why did Bodhidharma come from the West?" is a well-known Zen koan.
Bodhisattva 菩萨：Sanskrit; one who postpones his or her own Enlightenment, to help liberate other sentient beings from their cyclic existence. Compassion is the main characteristic of the Bodhisattva.
Brahma Net Sutra 梵网经：Contains the Ten Major and 48 Minor Bodhisattva precepts. These 58 precepts constitute the Bodhisattva vows taken by most Mahayana nuns and monks, and some advanced lay practitioners.
Buddha 佛：Sanskrit; Butsu (Japanese). Literally, "awakened one". A Buddha is a person who has been released from the world of cyclic existence, samsara, and has been liberated from desire and attachment in nirvana.
Buddha Nature 佛性: The true, immutable nature of all beings.
Buddha Recitation 诵经法会 (Buddha Remembrance)：Recitation of Amitabha Buddha's name, or contemplation of His auspicious marks.
Chakra 轮：The Dharma wheel.
Dedication of Merit 普回向:见 施福移转、功德回向。
Degenerate Age 衰退时期：See Dharma Ending Age.
Delusion (Ignorance) 惑：Unawareness of the meaning of existence, or the true nature – Buddha nature – of things.
Demons 魔：Influences which disturb the mind and hinder cultivation.
Devas 天：Literally, "shining one". Deities, gods.
Dharma 法：Sanskrit; dhamma (Pali). The central idea of Buddhism, and the cosmic law underlying all existence and, therefore, the teaching of the Buddha. One of the three "jewels" of Buddhism, and often used as a general name for Buddhism.
Dharma Discourse (Dharma Talk) 论法：Formal discussion of a koan by a spiritual teacher.
Dharma Ending Age 末法时期：Present age. The time following Sakyamuni Buddha's age is divided into (1) the Perfect Age of the Dharma, which lasted 500 years, (2) the Dharma Semblance Age, which lasted about 1000 years, and (3) the Dharma Ending Age, lasting about 10,000 years.
Dharma Nature 法性：The nature of all things. "Emptiness" and "Reality". See also Buddha Nature.
Dharmakara 昙摩迦，法藏菩萨：The Bodhisatva who became Amitabha Buddha. See the Longer Amitabha Sutra, famous for its 48 vows. The 18th vow promises rebirth in the Pure Land to those who recite His name with utmost sincerity and faith at the time of death.
Diamond Sutra 金刚经：A self-contained section of the Prajnaparamita Sutra. It shows that phenomenal appearances are not the ultimate reality, but rather illusions of one's own mind.
Dogen 道元禅师 (1200-1253)：Brought the Soto school of Zen Buddhism to Japan. He emphasized meditation as the means to Enlightenment.
Dukkha 有为皆苦：Suffering and discontent. Duhhka is central to human life, and one of the Three Marks of Existence.
Dusts 尘、六尘：All mundane things that can cloud our otherwise bright self-nature, including form, sound, scent, taste, touch, and external opinion. Dusts correspond to the six senses.
Dzogchen 大圆满：Tibetan; literally, "great perfection". The supreme teachings of the Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Adherents believe that these teachings are superior, and that no other means are necessary.
Easy Path of Practice 净土：Also Pure Land Practice. It is called the “Easy Path” as it involves reliance on the power of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to attain enlightenment.
Eightfold Path (Noble Eightfold Path) 圣道、八圣道：The way to Enlightenment consists of right understanding, right motives, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation.
Endurance World 世：See Saha World.
Enlightenment 悟道、成佛：Translation of the Sanskrit term bodhi ("awakened"). Generally used by Mahayanists. It is an awakening to the true nature of reality, rather than the extinguishing of desire implied by the Theravada term nirvana.
Evil Paths 三恶道：The paths of hells, hungry ghosts, and animality. Can be interpreted as states of mind.
Expedient Means 方便法：Or Skillful Means, skill-in-means, Upaya. Methods targetted to the capacities of individualso as to lift them to Enlightenment.
Externalists 外在派：Followers of non-Buddhist paths.
Five Desires (Five Sensual Pleasures) 五蕴：Desires of the five senses – form, sound, aroma, taste, and touch. The sixth sense is the mind itself.
Five Precepts 五戒：Precepts taken by lay Buddhists vowing to abstain from killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct, and consuming intoxicants. See Ten Precepts.
Flower Store World 花花世界：The entire cosmos as described in the Avatamsaka Sutra.
Four Noble Truths 四圣谛：There will always be suffering, or dukkha, in life. Suffering stems from desire. If there is no desire, suffering will cease. The Noble Eightfold Path will lead to the extinguishing of desire.
Gelugpa 藏佛黄教，格鲁巴: One of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama is considered the spiritual head of the Gelugpa school.
Guru 宗师：Spiritual teacher.
Heretical Views 六十二见：The 62 externalist views prevalent in Sakyamuni Buddha's time.
Jodo-shin-shu 净土真宗：Literally, the "True School of the Pure Land". Founded by Shinran, it is the dominant school of Japanese Buddhism today. It is a lay community with no monastics, and emphasizes reliance on Amida Buddha (Amitabha) for salvation.
Jodo-shu 净土宗：Literally, "School of the Pure Land". A school of Japanese Buddhism, derived from the Pure Land School of China in the 9th century. It was officially founded by Honen in the 12th century, to provide an easier path to liberation by invoking the Amida Buddha (Amitabha). In contrast to the Jodo-shin-shu school, Jodo-shu adherents enter the monastic life, and consider Buddha Recitation as an act of gratitude rather than a way to strengthen trust in Amida.
Kagyupa 藏佛白教、噶举巴：One of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It emphasizes the transfer of knowledge from master to student.
Karma 业：Sanskrit; literally, "action". Universal law of cause and effect that governs rebirth and the world of samsara.
Kensho 见性：Japanese; sudden realization of one’s nature and enlightenment in Zen Buddhism.
Koan 公案：A paradoxical story or riddle used as a training device in Zen, to force the mind to abandon logic and dualistic thought.
Lama 喇嘛：Tibetan Buddhist monk of higher rank.
Lankavatara Sutra 楞伽经：The only sutra recommended by Bodhidharma, the First Zen Patriarch of China.
Last Age 末期：See Dharma Ending Age.
Lotus Grades 九品之莲台：Nine grades of rebirth in the Western Pure Land.
Lotus Sutra 妙法莲华经：Major Buddhist text, and one of the most widely read sutras today.
Lotus Treasury World 莲华藏世界：See Ocean-Wide Lotus Assembly.
Mahayana 北传佛教、大乘佛教：Sanskrit; literally, "the Great Vehicle". One of the three major schools of Buddhism which developed in the 1st century C.E., in India. It is called the Great Vehicle for its all-inclusive approach to liberation, as embodied in the bodhisattva desire to liberate all beings. The Mahayana school introduced the notion of sunyata, and places less emphasis on monasticism than the Theravada school.
Mahasthamaprapta (Shih Chih, Seishi) 大势至菩萨：One of the three sages in Pure Land Buddhism. She is recognized by the jewelled pitcher adorning her crown.
Maitreya 弥勒菩萨：The fifth and last of the earthly Buddhas. Expected to arrive about 30,000 years from now, and believed to reside in the Tushita heaven until then.
Marks 相：Characteristics, forms, physiognomy.
Meditation Sutra 观无量寿佛经：One of the three core sutras of the Pure Land School. The others are the Amitabha Sutra and the Longer Amitabha Sutra.
Merit and Virtue 施与善： Merits are the blessings of the human and celestial realms. They are temporary, and subject to birth and death. Virtues transcend birth and death and lead to Buddhahood.
Mindfulness of the Buddha 念佛 ：See Buddha Recitation.
Nagarjuna 龙树菩萨：Founder of the Madhyamika school of Buddhism.
Nirvana 寂静涅槃：Sanskrit; literally, "extinction, blowing out". It is the goal of Buddhist spiritual practice, which is liberation from the cycle of rebirth and suffering.
Non-Birth (No-Birth) 无生：The nature of Nirvana. No-birth is the elimination of discursive thinking.
Nyingmapa 藏佛红教，宁玛巴：One of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
Ocean-Wide Lotus Assembly 华严会：The gathering of Amitabha Buddha, the Bodhisattvas, the sages and the saints, and all other superior beings in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. The term is generally associated with the Avatamsaka Sutra.
Once Returner 一来：A sage who has but one rebirth left before reaching Arhatship, and escaping birth and death.
One-life Bodhistava 等觉菩萨：A Bodhisattva who is one lifetime away from Buddahood. Maitreya is a One-life Bodhisattva.
Paramita 波罗蜜多：Perfection in virtue.
Prajnaparamita Hrdaya 般若波罗蜜多心经：The Heart Sutra.
Pure Land 净土：A realm free from suffering, in which it is easier to attain nirvana. Sukhavati is the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha; individuals need only to call out His name to be reborn in it. Pure Land Buddhism is based on this devotion to Amitabha.
Pratyeka Buddhas 辟支佛：Buddhas who become enlightened by meditating upon the principle of causality, but do not exert themselves to teach others.
Pure Land 净土：The realms of the Buddhas. When the mind is pure, any environment can be a pure land.
Rinzai 临济宗：Japanese; Lin-chi (Chinese). One of the two major schools of Zen Buddhism which uses koan meditation as the means to achieve Enlightenment.
Saha World 娑婆世界：World of Endurance. It refers to this world of suffering and afflictions.
Sakyamuni 释迦牟尼佛 (ca. 563-422 BCE)：The historical Buddha. Theravadin Buddhists believe that He was the first person to attain Enlightenment in this age.
Sakyapa 藏佛花教，萨迦巴：One of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
Samadhi 三摩地：Meditative absorption; usually the final stage of pure concentration.
Samantabhadra 普贤菩萨：A major Bodhisattva who personifies the transcendental practices of the Buddhas. Usually depicted as being seated on an elephant with six tusks, for the six paramitas.
Samatha (Vipasyana) 止观：Tranquility after stopping evil thoughts and meditating on truth.
Samsara 轮回转世：Sanskrit; the cyclic existence of birth, death, and rebirth, from which nirvana provides liberation.
Sangha 僧伽：Sanskrit; the Buddhist monastic community, which has come to include all Buddhist practitioners. It is one of the three jewels of Buddhism, along with the Buddha and the Dharma.
Sariputra 舍利弗：One of the great disciples of Sakyamuni Buddha.
Satori 悟：Enlightenment and the realization of truth, in Zen Buddhism.
Seven Treasures 七宝：Gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, agate, red pearl, and carnelian. They represent the seven powers of faith, perseverance, the sense of shame, avoidance of wrongdoings, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom.
Six Directions 六方：North, South, East, West, above, and below.
Six Dusts 六尘：See Dusts.
Six Planes of Existence 六道：The paths within the realm of birth and death. They include the three paths of evil (hells, hungry ghosts, animality), and the paths of humans, asuras, and celestials. These paths can be regarded as states of mind.
Sixth Patriarch 六祖慧能 Hui Neng (638-713)：The Sixth Patriarch of the Chinese Zen school, and author of the Platform Sutra.
Shinran 亲鸾 (1173-1262)：Founder of the Jodo-shin-shu school of Japanese Buddhism.
Skillful Means 善巧方便：See Expedient Means.
Soto 曹洞宗：Japanese; Ts'ao-tung (Chinese). One of the two major schools of Zen Buddhism, brought to Japan by Dogen in the 13th century. Its emphasis is on zazen, or sitting meditation.
Sunyata 空：Sanskrit; sunnata (Pali). Literally, "emptiness". Sunyata is a core Buddhist idea which states that all phenomena are "empty". Theravadin Buddhists apply this idea to the individual, to assert the non-existence of a soul. Mahayanists expanded on the idea and declared that all existence is empty. Emptiness is the focus of the Madhyamika school.
Surangama Sutra (Heroic Gate Sutra) 大佛顶首楞严经：Emphasizes the power of Samadhi meditation through which Enlightenment can be attained.
Sutra 经：Sanskrit; a discourse attributed to the Buddha. Sutras comprise the first part of the Buddhist canon, or Tripitaka, and generally begin with "Thus have I heard". They are believed to have been recorded by the Buddha's disciple Ananda a hundred years after Sakyamuni Buddha's death.
Tantrayana 密续乘：See Vajrayana.
Tathagata 如来：“Thus Come One”. One of the highest titles for a Buddha.
Theravada 南传佛教、小乘佛教：Sanskrit; literally, "the School of the Elders". One of the three major schools of Buddhism. It is widely practiced in Southeast Asia, and its teachings focus on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Theravada Buddhism emphasizes personal, rather than collective, liberation.
T'ien T'ai (Tendai) 天台宗：A major school that uses the Lotus Sutra as its main text.
Transference of Merit 回向、施福移转：Sharing one's merits and virtues with others.
Triple Jewel 三宝：The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
Tripitaka 三藏（经、律、论）：Sanskrit; literally, "the three baskets". It refers to the Buddhist canon, which has three parts: the sutras, the Vinaya, or monastic code, and the Abhidharma – Buddhist philosophical treatise.
Vaidehi 毗提希：Consort of King Bimbisara of Magadha, India. The Meditation Sutra records Sakyamuni Buddha’s preachings in response to the queen’s entreaties.
Vajrayana 金刚乘：Sanskrit; literally, "the Diamond Vehicle". One of the three major schools of Buddhism. It developed from Mahayana teachings in northwest India around 500 C.E., and then spread to Tibet, China, and Japan. It involves esoteric visualizations, rituals, and mantras, which can only be learned from a master. Vajrayana Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism due to the use of tantras, or sacred texts.
Vairocana 卢舍那佛，毗卢遮那佛
：Represents the Dharma Body of Sakyamuni Buddha, and all Buddhas.
Vimalakirti Sutra 维摩诘经：An important Mahayana sutra popular with Zen and Pure Land followers.
Vipassana (Vipashyana) 毗钵舍那、内观：Meditation upon one’s own thoughts and actions, or insight into the Three Marks of Existence.
Virtue 德、贤良：See Merit and Virtue.
Way, The 道：The path to Buddhahood.
Wisdom Life 慧命：As an ordinary person's life is sustained by food, the life of a Buddha or Bodhisattva is sustained by wisdom.
Yogacara School 法相宗、唯识宗、慈恩宗：Also the Mind Only School, founded in the 4th century.
Zazen 坐禅：Seated meditation in Zen Buddhism.
Zen 禅、禅宗：Japanese; Ch'an (Chinese). A branch of Mahayana Buddhism which developed in China during the 6th and 7th centuries after the arrival of Bodhidharma. It later divided into the Soto and Rinzai schools. Zen stresses the importance of Enlightenment, and the futility of trying to attain it through rational thought, intellectual study, or religious ritual. The heart of Zen is zazen, which helps to free the mind of all thought. Zen buddhists also hold that everything has Buddha Nature.
