बौद्ध शब्दावली
बौद्ध धर्मग्रंथों में प्रयुक्त पाली और संस्कृत शब्द
अभिधम्म
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 …
अरहत
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 …
थेरवाद
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 …
पालि
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 …
बोधिसत्त्व
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 …
महायान
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, …
वज्रयान
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. …
विनय
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 …
संस्कृत
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 …
सूत्र
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 …