Buddhist Topics
Explore Buddhist scriptures by theme and topic
Compassion
Karuna
300 verses
Compassion in Buddhism is the wish for all beings to be free from suffering. It is one of the Four …
Dependent Origination
Paticca Samuppada
150 verses
Dependent Origination is the teaching that all phenomena arise in dependence upon causes and conditions. The twelve-link chain describes how …
Ethics
Sila
350 verses
Buddhist ethics are based on the Five Precepts for laypeople (abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, and intoxicants) …
Impermanence
Anicca
200 verses
Impermanence is one of the Three Marks of Existence. All conditioned phenomena arise, exist momentarily, and pass away. Contemplating impermanence …
Liberation
Vimutti
200 verses
Liberation in Buddhism refers to freedom from the cycle of rebirth (samsara) and all forms of suffering. It is achieved …
Meditation
Bhavana
500 verses
Buddhist meditation encompasses a wide range of practices for training the mind. The two main categories are samatha (tranquility/concentration) and …
Middle Way
Majjhima Patipada
180 verses
The Middle Way is the path between the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification, proclaimed by the Buddha in his first …
Mindfulness
Sati
250 verses
Mindfulness is the quality of bare attention — present-moment awareness without judgment. The Satipatthana Sutta outlines four foundations of mindfulness: …
Suffering
Dukkha
350 verses
The truth of suffering is the first of the Four Noble Truths. Buddhism identifies three types: ordinary suffering (pain), suffering …
Wisdom
Panna
400 verses
Wisdom (prajna/panna) is the direct insight into the nature of reality — seeing the Three Marks of Existence (impermanence, suffering, …