Buddhist Glossary
Pali and Sanskrit terms used in Buddhist scriptures
Abhidhamma
The 'higher teaching' — a systematic philosophical analysis of mind and matter. The Abhidhamma Pitaka catalogs all phenomena (dhammas) into ultimate realities: consciousness, mental factors, matter, and nibbana. Different Buddhist …
Arhat
A fully enlightened being who has eradicated all defilements (kilesas) and will not be reborn. In Theravada Buddhism, the arahant ideal represents the highest attainment. The Buddha himself is also …
Bodhisattva
A being who aspires to Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. In Theravada Buddhism, bodhisatta refers specifically to the Buddha in his previous lives (Jataka tales). In Mahayana …
Mahayana
The 'Great Vehicle' — a broad movement in Buddhism emphasizing the bodhisattva ideal, the teaching of emptiness (sunyata), and the aspiration to achieve Buddhahood for all beings. Predominant in China, …
Pali
The language of the Theravada Buddhist canon. A Middle Indo-Aryan liturgical language closely related to the language spoken by the Buddha. While not identical to any single ancient dialect, Pali …
Sanskrit
The classical language of Indian civilization, used for many Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist texts. Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit — a form mixing classical Sanskrit with Middle Indo-Aryan features — was used …
Sutra
A discourse attributed to the Buddha or occasionally to a senior disciple. The word literally means 'thread' — a thread of teaching. In the Pali Canon, suttas are organized into …
Theravada
The 'Way of the Elders' — the oldest surviving Buddhist school. Predominant in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. It preserves the Pali Canon as its scriptural authority and …
Vajrayana
The 'Diamond Vehicle' or 'Thunderbolt Vehicle' — a form of Mahayana Buddhism that incorporates tantric practices, deity yoga, and esoteric rituals. Predominant in Tibet, Mongolia, Bhutan, and parts of Nepal. …
Vinaya
The collection of monastic rules and regulations governing the Buddhist monastic community (sangha). The Vinaya Pitaka contains 227 rules for bhikkhus (monks) and 311 for bhikkhunis (nuns), along with the …