佛教术语表
佛教经典中使用的巴利语与梵语术语
三宝
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 …
三藏（经律论）
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 …
上座部佛教
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. …
僧伽（僧团）
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 …
大乘佛教
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, …
戒律
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 …
禅定（三摩地）
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 …
菩萨
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 …
达摩（法）
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 …
阿罗汉
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 …