Glossary of Buddhism

Several Buddhist terms and concepts lack direct translations into English that cover the breadth of the original term. Below are given a number of important Buddhist terms, short definitions, and the languages in which they appear. In this list, an attempt has been made to organize terms by their original form and give translations and synonyms in other languages along with the definition.
Languages and traditions dealt with here:
* English (Eng.)
* Pāli: Theravāda Buddhism
* Sanskrit (or Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit): primarily Mahāyāna Buddhism
* Tibetan (Tib): Tibetan Buddhism
* Mongolian (Mn): Mongolian Buddhism
* Thai: Theravāda Buddhism
* Burmese (Bur): Theravada Buddhism
* CJKV languages
** Chinese (Cn): Chinese Buddhism
** Japanese (Jp): Japanese Buddhism
** Korean (Ko): Korean Buddhism
** Vietnamese (Vi): Vietnamese Buddhism
==A==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
abhidhamma A category of scriptures that attempts to use Buddhist teachings to create a systematic, abstract description of all worldly phenomena 	
* abhi is "above" or "about", dhamma is "teaching"
* Pāli: abhidhamma
* Sanskrit: abhidharma	
* Tib: chos mngon pa
* Mn: их ном, билиг ухаан; ikh nom, bilig ukhaan
* Thai: อภิธรรม a-pi-tam
* 阿毘達磨
** Cn: Āpídámó
** Jp: Abidatsuma
** Ko: 아미달마, Abidalma
** Vi: a-tì-đạt-ma
Abhidhamma Pitaka The third basket of the Tripitaka canon, the reorganization of all doctrines in a systematic way 	
* Pāli: 
* Sanskrit:	
* Thai: อภิธรรมปิฎก a-pi-tam-pi-dok
* 論藏, 論蔵
** Cn: Lùnzàng
** Jp: Ronzō
** Ko: 논장, Nonjang
** Vi: Luận tạng
* Mn: Илт ном, Ilt nom
acariya, lit. "teacher", One of the two teachers of a novice monk - the other one is called upādhyāya 	
* Pāli: ācāriya
* Sanskrit: ācārya	
* Bur: saya
* Thai: อาจารย์ ajahn
* 阿闍梨 or 阿闍梨耶
** Cn: āshélí or āshélíyē
** Jp: ajari or ajariya
** Ko: 아사리, asari or 아사리야 asariya
** Vi: a-xà-lê or a-xà-lê-da
adhitthana Determination, to pray, to wish 	
* Pāli: 
* Sanskrit:	
* Bur: 
* Thai: อธิษฐาน ah-tid-taan
* 決心 or 決意
** Cn: 
** Jp: kesshin
** Ko: 결심, gyeolsim or 결의, gyeolui
** Vi:
addiction, see tanha 	 	
Agama The divisions of the Sutra Pitaka 	
* Sanskrit: Āgama	
* Pāli: Āgama (but usually called Nikāya)
* 阿含
** Cn: Āhán
** Jp: Agon
** Ko: 아함, Aham
** Vi: A-hàm
ahimsa The devotion to non-violence and respect for all forms of life. Practicers of ahimsa are often vegetarians or vegans 	
* Sanskrit: 
* Pāli:	
* Thai: อหิงสา 'ah-hing-sa'
* 不害
** Cn: bù hài
** Jp: fugai
** Ko: 불해, bulhae
** Vi: bất hại
alayavijnana, see store consciousness 	
* Pāli, Sanskrit: ālayavijñāna	
* Tib: ཀུན་གཞི་རྣམ་པར་ཤེས་པ་kun gzhi rnam par shes pa
* 阿賴耶識, 阿頼耶識
** Cn: ālàiyēshí
** Jp: araya-shiki
** Ko: 아뢰야식, aroeyasik
** Vi: a-lại-da thức
Amitabha Lit. "The Buddha of Infinite Light". The main buddha of the Pure Land school, but is popular in other Mahayana sects as well. 	
* Sanskrit: amitābha (lit. "limitless light") and amitāyus (lit. "limitless life")	
* 阿彌陀 or 阿彌陀佛, 阿弥陀 or 阿弥陀仏
** Cn: Ēmítuó or Ēmítuó fó
** Jp: Amida or Amida-butsu
** Ko: 아미타, Amita or 아미타불, Amitabul, 
** Vi: A-di-đà or Phật A-di-đà
* Tib: འོད་དཔག་མེད།
* Mn: Аминдаваа, Amindavaa; Цаглашгүй гэрэлт, Tsaglashqui gerelt
anagarika A white-robed student in the Theravada tradition who, for a few months, awaits being considered for Samaneras ordination 	
* Pāli: anāgarika	
* Thai: อนาคาริก a-na-ka-rik
anapanasati Mindfulness of the breath meditation 	
* Pāli: ānāpānasati
* Sanskrit: ānāpānasmṛti	
anatta The principle denial of the soul in any phenomena. See also negative theology. 	
* Pāli: anattā
* Sanskrit: anātman	
* 無我
** Cn: wúwǒ
** Jp: muga
** Ko: 무아, mua
** Vi: vô ngã
anicca Impermanence 	
* Pāli: anicca
* Sanskrit: anitya	
* 無常
** Cn: wúcháng
** Jp: mujō
** Ko: 무상, musang
** Vi: vô thường
anuttara Unsurpassing 	
* Pāli: anuttara
* Sanskrit: anuttara	
* 阿耨多羅／阿耨多罗 (無上／无上)
** Cn: Ānòuduōluó ("wǔshàng")
** Jp: ?
** Ko: 아누다라, Anudara 
** Vi: ?
** Fi: Ylittämätön
arhat, lit. "the Worthy One", A living person who has reached Enlightenment 	
* Pāli: arahat or arahant
* Sanskrit: arhat or arhant	
* Tib: དགྲ་ཅོམ་པ་, dgra com pa
* Mn: архад, arkhad 
* 阿羅漢
** Cn: āluóhàn
** Jp: arakan
** Ko: 아라한, arahan
** Vi: a-la-hán
arahato samasam buddhasa, 	
* Pāli: 
* Sanskrit:	
* Tib: , 
* Thai: อรหันต์ uh-ra-hann
* 阿耨多罗三藐三菩提
** Cn: 
** Jp: 
** Ko: 아누다라삼막삼보시, Anudara sammaksambosi
** Vi:
atman literally "self", sometimes "soul" or "ego". In Buddhism, the inappropriate belief in atman is the prime consequence of ignorance, the foundation of samsara	
* Sanskrit: ātman	
* Pāli: atta
* 我
** Cn: wǒ
** Jp: ga
** Ko: 아, a
** Vi: ngã
Avalokitesvara, lit. "One Who Hears the Suffering Cries of the World", The bodhisattva of compassion (see also Guan Yin) 	
* Sanskrit: Avalokiteśvara	
* Tib: སྤྱན་རས་གཟིགས་ spyan ras gzigs
* Mn: Жанрайсиг, Janraisig
* 觀世音 or 觀音
** Cn: Guānshì Yīn or Guān Yīn
** Jp: Kanzeon or Kannon
** Ko: 관세음, Gwanse-eum or 관음, Gwaneum
avidya "ignorance" or "delusion" 	
* Sanskrit: avidyā	
* Pāli: avijjā
* Thai: อวิชชา aa-wit-sha
* Tib: མ་རིག་པ་ ma rig-pa
* 無明
** Cn: wúmíng
** Jp: mumyō
** Ko: 무명, mumyeong
** Vi: vô minh
==B==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
bardo, lit. "intermediate state" or "in-between state", According to Tibetan tradition, the state of existence intermediate between two lives 	
* Tib: བར་མ་དོའི་སྲིད་པ་ bar ma do'i srid pa	
* Sanskrit: antarābhava
* Mn: зуурд, zuurd
* 中有,中陰身
** Cn: zhongyǒu
** Jp: chūu
** Ko: 중유, jungyu 
** Vi: trung hữu
bhavacakra/bhavacakka A circular symbolic representation of samsara, also known as Wheel of becoming 	
* Pāli: bhavacakka
* Sanskrit: bhava-cakra	
* Tib: སྲིད་པའི་འཁོར་ལ
* Mn: Орчлонгийн хүрдэн, Orchlongiin khurden
* 有輪
** Cn: yǒulún
** Jp: ??
** Ko: 유론, yuron
** Vi: hữu luân
bhante The polite particle used to refer to Buddhist monks in the Theravada tradition. Bhante literally means "Venerable Sir." 	
* Pāli 	
bhava Becoming, being, existing; the 10th link of Pratitya-samutpada 	
* Pāli, Sanskrit: bhava	
* Thai: ภาวะ pa-wah
* 有(十二因緣)
** Cn: yǒu
** Jp: u
** Ko: 유, yu
** Vi: hữu
bhikkhu/bhikshu, lit. "beggar", A Buddhist monk 	
* Pāli: bhikkhu
* Sanskrit:	
* Tib: དགེ་སློང་ dge slong
* Mn: гэлэн, gelen
* Thai: ภิกขุ bhikku
* 比丘
** Cn: bǐ qiū
** Jp: biku
** Ko: 비구, bigu, also 중, jung or 스님 seunim
** Vi: tỉ-khâu or tỉ-khưu
bhikkhuni/bhikshuni A Buddhist nun 	
* from bhikkhu
* Pāli: bhikkhuni
* Sanskrit:	
* Tib: དགེ་སློང་མ་ sde slong ma
* Mn: гэлэнмаа, gelenmaa
* Bur: bikuni
* Thai: ภิกษุณี bhiksuni
* 比丘尼
** Cn: bǐqiūní"
** Jp: bikuni
** Ko: 비구니, biguni, 여승 (女僧), yeoseung
** Vi: tỉ-khâu-ni or tỉ-khưu-ni
bija, lit. "seed", A metaphor for the origin or cause of things, used in the teachings of the Yogacara school 	
* Sanskrit: bīja	
* 種子
** Cn: zhŏngzi
** Jp: shuuji
** Ko: 종자, jongja
** Vi: chủng tử
bodhi Awakening or Enlightenment 	
* Pāli, Sanskrit: bodhi	
* Thai: โพธิ์ poe
* Tib: བྱང་ཆུབ་ཀྱི་སེམས་ byang chub
* Mn: бодь, bodi
* 菩提
** Cn: pútí
** Jp: bodai
** Ko: 보리, bori
** Vi: bồ-đề
Bodhi tree The Sacred Fig (Ficus religiosa) tree under which Gautama reached Enlightenment 	
* from bodhi above	
* 菩提樹
** Cn: Pútíshù
** Jp: Bodaiju
** Ko: 보리수, Borisu
** Vi: Bồ-đề thụ
bodhicitta The motivation of a bodhisattva 	
* Pāli, Sanskrit: bodhicitta	
* Tib: བྱང་ཆུབ་ཀྱི་སེམས་, phyang chub kyi sems
* Mn: бодь сэтгэл, bodi setgel
* 菩提心
** Cn: pútíxīn
** Jp: bodaishin
** Ko: 보리심, borisim
** Vi: bồ-đề tâm
bodhisattva One with the intention to become a Buddha in order to liberate all other sentient beings from suffering 	
* Pāli: bodhisatta
* Sanskrit: bodhisattva	
* Bur: bawditat
* Thai: โพธิสัตว์ poe-ti-satt
* Tib: བྱང་ཆུབ་སེམས་དཔའ, phyang chub kyi sems pa
* Mn: бодьсад(ва), bodisad(va)
* 菩薩
** Cn: púsà
** Jp: bosatsu
** Ko: 보살, bosal
** Vi: bồ-tát
Boghda Holy, living Buddha, living Boddhisattva. The title of Jebtsundamba Khutuktu; also title used with the names of highest Buddhist masters, e.g. boghda Tsongkhapa, Panchen boghda 	
* Mn: богд, bogd	
* Tib: བོག་ད་ bogda
Buddha A Buddha; also, the Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama. 	
* from √budh: to awaken
* Pāli, Sanskrit: buddha	
* Bur: boda
* Tib: སངས་རྒྱས sans rgjay
* Mn: бурхан, burhan
* 佛, 仏
** Cn: fó
** Jp: butsu or hotoke
** Ko: 불, Bul or 부처, Bucheo
** Vi: Phật or bụt
buddha nature The uncreated and deathless Buddhic element or principle concealed within all sentient beings to achieve Awakening; the innate (latent) Buddha essence (esp. in the Tathagatagarbha sutras, Tendai/Tiantai, Nichiren thought)	
* Sanskrit: buddha-dhatu, buddha-svabhāva, "tathagata-dhatu", or tathagatagarbha.	
* 佛性, 仏性
** Cn: fóxìng
** Jp: busshō
** Ko: 불생, bulsaeng
** Vi: phật tính
==D==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
dakini A supernatural female with volatile temperament who serves as a muse for spiritual practice. Dakinis are often depicted naked to represent the truth 	
* Sanskrit:	
* Tib: མཁའ་འགྲོ་མ་ mkha` `gro ma
* Mn: дагина, dagina
* 空行女
** Cn: khong xing mu
** Jp: ??
** Ko: none
** Vi: không hành nữ
Dalai Lama, lit. "the lama with wisdom like an ocean", secular and spiritual leader of Tibet as nominated by the Mongols 	
* Mn: далай, dalai, lit. "ocean"
* Tibetan: ཏཱ་ལའི་བླ་མ་ taa-la'i bla-ma	
* 達賴喇嘛
** Cn: Dálài Lǎma
** Jp: Darai Rama
** Ko: Dalroe Ralma
** Vi: Đạt Lai Lạt Ma or Đạt-lại Lạt-ma
dana Generosity or giving; in Buddhism, it also refers to the practice of cultivating generosity 	
* Pāli, Sanskrit: dāna	
* Bur: dana
* Thai: ทาน taan
* 布施
** Cn: bùshī
** Jp: fuse
** Ko: posi or bosi
** Vi: bố thí
dependent origination, see Pratitya-Samutpada 	
* Pāli: 
* Sanskrit: pratītya-samutpāda	
* Tib: rten.cing.'brel.bar.'byung.ba
* Mn: шүтэн барилдлага shuten barildlaga
* 因縁, also 緣起, 縁起
** Cn: yīnyuan, also yuánqǐ
** Jp: innen, also engi
** Ko: inyeon, also yeongi
** Vi: duyên khởi
dhamma/dharma Often refers to the doctrines and teachings of the faith, but it may have broader uses. Also, it is an important technical term meaning something like "phenomenological constituent." This leads to the potential for confusion, puns, and double entendres, as the latter meaning often has negative connotations	
* from : to hold
* Pāli: dhamma
* Sanskrit: dharma	
* Bur: dha ma
* Thai: ธรรมะ tam-ma
* Tib: ཆོས་, choi
* Mn: дээдийн ном, deediin nom
* 法
** Cn: fă
** Jp: hō
** Ko: beop
** Vi: pháp
dhammavinaya The dharma and vinaya (roughly "doctrine and discipline") considered together. This term essentially means the whole teachings of Buddhism as taught to monks 	 	
* Mn: суртгаал номхотгол, surtgaal nomkhotgol
dhammacakka/dharmacakra A symbolic representation of the dharma, also known as the Wheel of Dharma 	
* Sanskrit: dharmacakra
* Pāli: dhammacakka	
* Tib: ཆོས་ཀྱི་འཁོར་ལོ, chai gyi khorlo
* Mn: номын хүрдэн, momiin khurden
* 法輪
** Cn: Fǎlún
** Jp: hōrin
** Ko: beopryun
** Vi: pháp luân
dhammapala/dharmapala A fearsome deity, known as protector of the Dharma 	
* Sanskrit: dharmapāla
* Pāli: dhammapāla	
* Tib: chos-kyong
* Mn: догшид, dogshid; хангал, khangal
* 護法
** Cn: hùfǎ
** Jp: gohou
** Ko: hobeop
** Vi: Hộ Pháp
Dhyana, see jhana 	
* Pāli: jhāna
* Sanskrit: dhyāna	
* Mn: дияан, diyan
* 禪 or 禪那, 禅 or 禅那
** Cn: Chán or Chánnà
** Jp: Zen or Zenna
** Ko: Seon
** Vi: Thiền or Thiền-na
doan In Zen, a term for person sounding the bell that marks the beginning and end of Zazen 	
* Japanese: 堂行	
dokusan A private interview between a Zen student and the master. It is an important element in the Zen training, as it provides an opportunity for the student to discuss problems in his or her practice and to demonstrate understanding 	
* Japanese: 独参 dokusan	
* 獨參
** Cn: dúcān
** Ko: dokcham
** Vi: độc tham
dukkha Suffering, dissatisfaction, stress 	
* Pāli: dukkha
* Sanskrit:	
* Bur: doka
* Thai: ทุกข์ took
* Tib: སྡུག་བསྔལ་ sdug bsngal
* Mn: зовлон, zovlon
* 苦
** Cn: kǔ
** Jp: ku
** Ko: go
** Vi: khổ
dzogchen The natural, intrinsic state of every sentient being 	
* Tibetan: རྫོགས་པ་ཆེན་པོ་ rdzogs pa chen po	
* Sanskrit: atiyoga
* 大究竟
** Cn: dàjiūjìng
** Jp: daikukyou
** Ko: daegugyeong
** Vi: đại cứu cánh
==F==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
Five Five-Hundred-Year Periods Five sub-divisions of the three periods following the Buddha's passing (三時繫念 Cn: sānshí; Jp: sanji; Vi: tam thời), significant for many Mahayana adherents:
# Age of enlightenment (解脱堅固 Cn: jiětuō jiāngù; Jp: gedatsu kengo)
# Age of meditation (禅定堅固 Cn: chándìng jiāngù; Jp: zenjō kengo)These two ages comprise the Former Day of the Law (正法時期 Cn: zhèngfǎ; Jp: shōbō)
# Age of reading, reciting, and listening (読誦多聞堅固 Cn: sòngduōwén jiāngù; Jp: dokuju tamon kengo)
# Age of building temples and stupas (多造塔寺堅固 Cn: duōzào tǎsì jiāngù; Jp: tazō tōji kengo)These two ages comprise the Middle Day of the Law (像法時期 Cn: xiàngfǎ; Jp: zōhō)
# Age of conflict (闘諍堅固 Cn: zhēng jiāngù; Jp: tōjō kengo), an age characterized by unrest, strife, famine, and other natural and human-made disasters.This age corresponds to the beginning of the Latter Day of the Law (末法時期 Cn: mòfǎ; Jp: mappō) when the (historical) Buddha's teachings would lose all power of salvation and perish (白法隠没 Cn: báifǎméi; Jp: byakuhō onmotsu) and a new Buddha would appear to save the people.
* The three periods and the five five-hundred year periods are described in the Sutra of the Great Assembly (大集 Cn: dàjí; Jp: Daishutu-kyō, Daijuku-kyō, Daijikkyō, or Daishukkyō).	 	
* 五箇五百歲, 五箇五百歳
** Cn: 五箇五百歲 wǔ ge wǔbǎi suì
** Jp: 五箇の五百歳 go no gohyaku sai
** Vi: ??
Four Noble Truths
# Suffering: Dukkha (Sanskrit: ; Bur: doka; Thai: ทุกข์; 苦諦 Cn: kǔdì; Jp: kutai; Vi: khổ đế; Mn: зовлон, zovlon)
# Attachment (desire): Samudaya (Sanskrit: samudayāryasatya; Thai: สมุทัย; 集諦 Cn: jídì; Jp: jittai; Vi: tập khổ đế; ; Mn: зовлонгийн шалтгаан, zovlongiin shaltgaan)
# Elimination of attachment (desire): Nirodha (Sanskrit: ; Thai: นิโรธ; 滅諦 Cn: mièdì; Jp: mettai; Vi: diệt khổ đế; Mn: гэтлэх, getlekh)
# The path that leads out of suffering: Magga (Sanskrit: ; Thai: มรรค; 道諦 Cn: dàodì; Jp: dōtai; Vi: đạo đế; Mn: мөр, mör)	 	
* Pāli: cattāri ariya-saccāni
* Sanskrit: चत्वारि आर्यसत्यानि catvāry āryasatyāni
* 四聖諦
** Cn: Sìdì
** Jp: Shitai
** Vi: Tứ diệu đế
* Mn: Хутагтын дөрвөн үнэн, khutagtiin dörvön unen
fukudo In Zen, term for person who strikes the han	
* Japanese: 副堂	
==G==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
gassho A position used for greeting, with the palms together and fingers pointing upwards in prayer position; used in various Buddhist traditions, but also used in numerous cultures throughout Asia. It expresses greeting, request, thankfulness, reverence and prayer. Also considered a mudra or inkei of Japanese Shingon. See also: Añjali Mudrā, Namaste and Wai.	
* Japanese: 合掌 gasshō	
* Sanskrit: anjali
* 合掌
** Cn: hézhǎng (more common to say 合十 héshí)
** Vi: hiệp chưởng
geshe A Tibetan Buddhist academic degree in the Gelug tradition, awarded at the conclusion of lengthy studies often lasting nine years or more 	
* Tibetan: དགེ་ཤེས་	
* Mn: гэвш gevsh
* 格西
gongan, lit. "public case", A meditative method developed in the Chán/Seon/Zen traditions, generally consisting of a problem that defies solution by means of rational thought; see koan 	
* Chinese 公案 gōng-àn	
* 公案
** Jp: kōan
** Ko: gong'an
** Vi: công án
Guan Yin The bodhisattva of compassion in East Asian Buddhism, with full name being Guan Shi Yin. Guan Yin is considered to be the female form of Avalokiteshvara but has been given many more distinctive characteristics. 	
* Chinese 觀音 Guān Yīn or 觀世音 Guān Shì Yīn	
* 觀音 or 觀世音
** Jp: Kannon or Kanzeon
** Ko: Gwaneum or Gwanse-eum
** Vi: Quan Âm or Quan Thế Âm
==H==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
han In Zen monasteries, wooden board that is struck announcing sunrise, sunset and the end of the day 	
* Japanese: 板	
Hinayana, lit. "inferior vehicle", A coinage by the Mahayana for the Buddhist doctrines concerned with the achievement of Nirvana as a Śrāvakabuddha or a Pratyekabuddha, as opposed to a Samyaksambuddha	
* Sanskrit: hīnayāna	
* 小乘 or 小乗, 二乘
** Cn: Xiǎoshèng
** Jp: Shōjō
** Vi: Tiểu thừa
* Mn: Бага хөлгөн, Baga hölgön
==I==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
ino, lit. "bringer of joy to the assembly", In Zen, one of the leaders of a sesshin; in Zen temples, the temple official in charge of maintaining the zendo, or meditation hall	
* Japanese: 維那	
==J==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
jhana Meditative contemplation; more often associated with śamatha practices than vipaśyana. See also: shamata, samadhi, samapatti	
* from √dhyā: to think of, to contemplate, meditate on
* Pāli: jhāna
* Sanskrit: dhyāna	
* Thai: ฌาน chaan
* 禪 or 禪那, 禅 or 禅那
* Sinhala: ජාන jhāna
** Cn: Chán or Chánnà
** Jp: Zen or Zenna
** Ko: Seon
** Vi: Thiền or Thiền-na
* Mn: дияан, diyan
jisha In Zen, a senior priest's attendant 	
* Japanese: 侍者 jisha	
jukai Zen public ordination ceremony wherein a lay student receives certain Buddhist precepts. 	
* Chinese: 受戒, shou jie
* Korean: 수계, sugye	
==K==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
karma, lit. "action", The law of cause and effect in Buddhism 	
* from √kri: to do
* Sanskrit: karma
* Pāli: kamma	
* Thai: กรรม gum
* Tib: ལས, lai
* Mn: үйлийн үр, uiliin ür
* 業¹, 因果²
** Cn: ¹yè, comm.: ²yīnguǒ
** Jp: gō, inga
** Vi: nghiệp
kensho In Zen, enlightenment; has the same meaning as satōri, but is customary used for an initial awakening experience 	
* Japanese: 見性 kenshō	
* 見性
** Cn: jiànxìng
** Vi: kiến tính
khyenpo, also khenpo, An academic degree similar to a doctorate in theology, philosophy, and psychology 	
* Tibetan	
khanti patience 	
* Thai: ขันติ kanti
* Japanese:	
* Thai: ขันติ kanti
* 耐心
** Cn: 
** Vi:
kinhin Zen walking meditation 	
* Japanese: 経行 kinhin or kyōgyō	
* 經行
** Cn: jīngxíng
** Vi: ??
koan A story, question, problem or statement generally inaccessible to rational understanding, yet may be accessible to Intuition 	
* Japanese: 公案 kōan	
* 公案
** Cn: gōng-àn
** Ko: gong'an
** Vi: công án
ksanti The practice of exercising patience toward behaviour or situations that might not necessarily deserve it—it is seen as a conscious choice to actively give patience as a gift, rather than being in a state of oppression in which one feels obligated to act in such a way.	
* Sanskrit	
kyosaku In Zen, a flattened stick used to strike the shoulders during zazen, to help overcome fatigue or reach satori 	
* Japanese: 警策 kyōsaku, called keisaku in Rinzai	
* 警策
** Cn: jǐngcè
** Vi: ??
==L==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
lama A Tibetan teacher or master; equivalent to Sanskrit "guru" 	
* Tibetan: བླ་མ་ lama	
* Sanskrit: guru
* 喇嘛
** Cn: lǎma
** Jp: rama
** Vi: lạt-ma
* Mn: лам, lam
lineage The official record of the historical descent of dharma teachings from one teacher to another; by extension, may refer to a tradition	 	
* 傳承
==M==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
Madhyamaka Buddhist philosophical school, founded by Nagarjuna. Members of this school are called Madhyamikas 	
* Sanskrit: mādhyamika	
* Tib: དབུ་མ་པ་ dbu ma pa
* Mn: төв үзэл, töv üzel
* 中觀宗
** Cn: Zhōngguānzōng
** Jp: ??
** Vi: Trung quán tông
mahamudra A method of direct introduction the understanding of sunyata, of samsara and that the two are inseparable 	
* Sanskrit: mahāmudrā	
* Tib: ཕྱག་རྒྱ་ཆེན་པོ་ chag-je chen-po
* Mn: махамудра, mahamudra
* 大手印
** Cn: dàshŏuyìn
** Jp: daisyuin
** Vi: đại thủ ấn
mahasiddha litt. great spiritual accomplishment. A yogi in Tantric Buddhism, often associated with the highest levels of enlightenment 	
* Sanskrit: mahāsiddha	
* Thai: มหายาน
* 大成就
** Cn: dàchéngjiù
** Jp: daijōjyu
** Vi: đại thành tựu
Mahayana, lit. "great vehicle", A major branch of Buddhism practiced in China, Tibet, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Main goal is to achieve buddhahood or samyaksambuddha 	
* Sanskrit: mahāyāna	
* 大乘 or 大乗
** Cn: Dàshèng
** Jp: Daijō
** Vi: Đại thừa
* Mn: Ikh khölgön
Maitreya The Buddha of the future epoch 	
* Pāli: Metteyya
* Sanskrit: Maitreya	
* Tib: བྱམས་པ, byams pa
* Mn: Майдар, maidar
* 彌勒 or 彌勒佛, 弥勒 or 弥勒仏
** Cn: Mílè or Mílè Fó
** Jp: Miroku or Miroku-butsu
** Vi: Di-lặc or Phật Di-lặc
makyo In Zen, unpleasant or distracting thoughts or illusions that occur during zazen 	
* Japanese: 魔境 makyō	
mantra Chant used primarily to aid concentration, to reach enlightenment. The best-known Buddhist mantra is possibly Om mani padme hum 	
* Sanskrit: mantra	
* Thai: มนตร์ moan
* Mn: маань, тарни; maani, tarni
* 咒
** Cn: zou
** Jp: shingon
** Vi: chân âm
Mappo The "degenerate" Latter Day of the Law. A time period supposed to begin 2,000 years after Sakyamuni Buddha's passing and last for "10,000 years"; follows the two 1,000-year periods of Former Day of the Law (正法 Cn: zhèngfǎ; Jp: shōbō) and of Middle Day of the Law (像法 Cn: xiàngfǎ; Jp: zōhō). During this degenerate age, chaos will prevail and the people will be unable to attain enlightenment through the word of Sakyamuni Buddha. See the Three periods 	
* Japanese: 末法 mappō	
* 末法
** Cn: mòfǎ
** Vi: ??
metta loving kindness 	 	
* Pāli: 
* Sanskrit: 
* Thai: เมตตา metta
* 慈
** Ch: tse
** Jp: ji
** Vi:
Middle way The practice of avoidance of extreme views and lifestyle choices 	 	
* Pāli: 
* Sanskrit: madhyamāpratipad
* 中道
** Ch: zhōngdào
** Jp: chūdō
** Vi: trung đạo
* Mn: дундаж зам мөр, dundaj zam mör
(right) mindfulness The practice whereby a person is intentionally aware of his or her thoughts and actions in the present moment, non-judgmentally. The 7th step of the Noble Eightfold Path 	 	
* Pāli: (sammā)-sati
* Sanskrit: 
* Thai: สัมมาสติ samma-sati
* 正念
** Cn: zhèngniàn
** Jp: syōnen
** Vi: chính niệm
moksha Liberation 	
* Sanskrit:	
* Pāli: vimutti
* 解脱
** Cn: jiětuō
** Jp: gedatsu
** Vi: giải thoát
mokugyo A wooden drum carved from one piece, usually in the form of a fish 	
* Japanese: 木魚 mokugyo	
* 木魚
** Cn: mùyú
** Vi: mõ
mondo In Zen, a short dialogue between teacher and student 	
* Japanese: 問答　mondō	
* 問答
** Cn: wèndǎ
** Vi: ??
mudra lit. "seal", A gesture made with hands and fingers in meditation 	
* Sanskrit: mudrā	
* Tib: ཕྱག་རྒྱ་ phyag rgya
* Mn: чагжаа, chagjaa
* 手印
** Cn: sohyìn (commonly only yìn)
** Jp: syuin
** Vi: ấn
==N==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
namo An exclamation showing reverence; devotion. Often placed in front of the name of an object of veneration, e.g., a Buddha's name or a sutra (Nam(u) Myōhō Renge Kyō), to express devotion to it. Defined in Sino-Japanese as 帰命 kimyō: to base one's life upon, to devote (or submit) one's life to
Derivatives:
* Namo Amitabha	
* Pāli: namo
* Sanskrit: or namas
Derivatives:
* Sanskrit: namas amitābha	
* Tib: ཕྱག་འཚལ་(ལོ), chag tsal (lo)
* Mn: мөргөмү, mörgömü
* 南無
** Cn: nánmó
** Jp: namu or nam
** Vi: nam-mô
Derivatives:
* 南無阿弥陀佛
** Cn: Nánmó Ēmítuó fó
** Jp: Namu Amida butsu
** Vi: Nam-mô A-di-đà Phật
* 南無觀世音菩薩
** Cn: Nánmó Guán Syr Yín Pū Sá
** Jp: Namu Kanzeon Butsu
** Vi: Nam-mô Quan Thế Âm Bồ Tát
nekkhamma renunciation 	
* Pāli: 	
* Sanskrit: 
* Thai: เนกขัมมะ nekkamma
* Mn: магад гарахуй, magad garahui
* 出世
** Cn: 
** Jp: syusse 
** Vi:
Nibbana/Nirvana Extinction or extinguishing; ultimate enlightenment in the Buddhist tradition	
* from : to extinguish
* Pāli: nibbāna
* Sanskrit: nirvana	
* Bur: neiban/Burmese Pali: nibbana
* Thai: นิพพาน nípphaan
* Tib: མྱ་ངན་ལས་འདས་པ, mya-ngan-las-'das-pa
* Mn: нирван, nirvan
* 涅槃
** Cn: Nièpán
** Jp: Nehan
** Vi: Niết-bàn
Nikaya, lit. "volume", The Buddhist texts in Pāli 	
* Pāli: nikāya	
* Sanskrit: Āgama
* 部經
** Cn: Bùjīng
** Jp: ??
** Vi: Bộ kinh
Noble Eightfold Path
# Right View (Pāli: ; Sanskrit: ; 正見 Cn: zhèngjiàn; Vi: chính kiến)
# Right Thought (Pāli: ; Sanskrit: ; 正思唯 Cn: zhèngsīwéi; Vi: chính tư duy)These 2 constitute the path of Wisdom (Pāli: paññā; Sanskrit: prajñā)
# Right Speech (Pāli: sammā-vācā; Sanskrit: samyag-vāk; 正語 Cn: zhèngyǔ; Vi: chính ngữ)
# Right Action (Pāli: sammā-kammanta; Sanskrit: samyak-karmānta; 正業 Cn: zhèngyè; Vi: chính nghiệp)
# Right Living (Pāli: sammā-ājīva; Sanskrit: samyag-ājīva; 正命 Cn: zhèngmìng; Vi: chính mệnh)These 3 constitute the path of Virtue (Pāli: sīla; Sanskrit: śīla)
# Right Effort (Pāli: sammā-vāyāma; Sanskrit: samyag-vyāyāma; 正精進 Cn: zhèngjīngjìn; Vi: chính tinh tiến)
# Right Mindfulness (Pāli: sammā-sati; Sanskrit: ; 正念 Cn: zhèngniàn; Vi: chính niệm)
# Right Concentration (Pāli: sammā-samādhi; Sanskrit: samyak-samādhi; 正定 Cn: zhèngdìng; Vi: chính định)The last 3 constitute the path of Concentration (Pāli, Sanskrit: samādhi)	 	
* Pāli: 
* Sanskrit: 
* Thai: อริยมรรค ariya-mak
* 八正道
** Cn: Bāzhèngdào
** Jp: Hasshōdō
** Vi: Bát chính đạo
==O==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
oryoki A set of bowls used in a Zen eating ceremony 	
* Japanese: 応量器 ōryōki	
osho A term used to address a monk of the Zen Buddhist tradition. Originally reserved for high ranking monks, it has since been appropriated for everyday use when addressing any male member of the Zen clergy	
* Japanese: 和尚 oshō	
==P==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
panca skandha The five constituent elements into which an individual is analyzed. They are:
# "form": Pāli, Sanskrit: rūpa; 色 Cn: sè; Jp: shiki
# "sensation": Pāli, Sanskrit: vedanā; 受 Cn: shòu; Jp: ju
# "cognition": Pāli: saññā; Sanskrit: ; 想 Cn: xiàng; Jp: sō
# "mental formations": Pāli: ; Sanskrit: ; 行 Cn: xíng; Jp: gyō
# "consciousness": Pāli: ; Sanskrit: vijñāna; 識 Cn: shí; Jp: shiki	
* Sanskrit: pañca skandha
* Pāli: pañca khandha	
* 五蘊, 五陰, 五薀
** Cn: wǔyùn
** Jp: go-on, sometimes go-un
** Vi: ngũ uẩn
Panchen Lama The second highest ranking lama in the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. after the Dalai Lama 	
* Tibetan: པན་ཆེན་བླ་མ་ panchen blama	
* Sanskrit: 
* Mn: Банчин Богд, Banchin Bogd
* 班禪喇嘛
** Cn: Bānchán Lǎma
** Jp: ??
** Vi: Ban-thiền Lạt-ma
panna, see prajna 	 	
* Sanskrit: 
* Tibetan: shes rab
* Mn: билиг, bilig
* 智慧 or 知恵 or 般若
** Cn: 
** Jp: chie,hannya
** Vi:
paramartha Absolute, as opposed to merely conventional, truth or reality; see also samvrti 	
* Sanskrit: paramārtha	
* Thai: ปรมัตถ์ paramutt
paramita, lit. "reaching the other shore," usually rendered in English as "perfection." The Mahayana practices for obtaining enlightenment; giving, ethics, patience, effort, concentration and wisdom 	
* Pāli: parami
* Sanskrit: pāramitā	
* Thai: บารมี baramee
* Mn: барамид, baramid
* 波羅蜜 or 波羅蜜多
** Cn: bōluómì or bōluómìduō
** Jp: haramitsu or haramita
** Vi: ba-la-mật or ba-la-mật-đa
parinibbana/parinirvana The final nibbana/nirvana 	
* from nibbana/nirvana above
* Pāli: parinibbāna
* Sanskrit:	
* Thai: ปรินิพพาน pari-nippaan
* 般涅槃
** Cn: bōnièpán
** Jp: hatsunehan
** Vi: bát-niết-bàn
Perfection of Wisdom 	
* from paramita ("perfection") above and prajna/panna ("wisdom") below	
* Sanskrit: prajñāpāramitā
* Pāli: paññāparami
* Mn: билиг барамид, bilig baramid
* 般若波羅蜜 or 般若波羅蜜多
** Cn: bōrě-bōluómì or bōrě-bōluómìduō
** Jp: hannya-haramitsu or hannya-haramita
** Vi: bát-nhã-ba-la-mật or bát-nhã-ba-la-mật-đa
Pointing-out instruction The direct introduction to the nature of mind in the lineages of Essence Mahamudra and Dzogchen. A root guru is the master who gives the 'pointing-out instruction' so that the disciple recognizes the nature of mind	
* Tibetan: ངོ་སྤྲོད་ ngo sprod	
prajna/panna "wisdom", "insight" 	
* Pāli: paññā
* Sanskrit: prajñā	
* Bur: pin nya
* Thai: ปัญญา pun-ya
* Mn: хөтлөх, khötlökh
* 般若
** Cn: bōrě or bānruò
** Jp: hannya
** Vi: bát-nhã
pratitya-samutpada "Dependent origination," the view that no phenomenon exists (or comes about) without depending on other phenomena or conditions around it. In English also called "conditioned genesis," "dependent co-arising," "interdependent arising," etc.
A famous application of dependent origination is the Twelve Nidana, or 12 inter-dependences (Sanskrit: ; 十二因緣, 十二因縁 Cn: shíàr yīnyuán; Jp: jūni innen; Vi: thập nhị nhân duyên), which are:
# Ignorance (Pāli: avijjā; Sanskrit: avidyā; 無明 Cn: wúmíng; Jp: mumyō; Vi: vô minh; Mn: мунхрахуй, munhrahui)
# Ignorance creates Mental Formation (Pāli: ; Sanskrit: ; 行 Cn: xíng; Jp: gyō; Vi: hành; Mn: хуран үйлдэхүй, khuran uildehui)
# Mental Formation creates Consciousness (Pāli: ; Sanskrit: vijñāna; 識 Cn: shí; Jp: shiki; Vi: thức; Mn: тийн мэдэхүй, tiin medehui)
# Consciousness creates Name & Form (Pāli, Sanskrit: nāmarūpa; 名色 Cn: míngsè; Jp: myōshiki; Vi: danh sắc; Mn: нэр өнгө, ner öngö)
# Name & Form create Sense Gates (Pāli: ; Sanskrit: ; 六入 or 六処 Cn: liùrù; Jp: rokunyū or rokusho; Vi: lục căn; Mn: төрөн түгэхүй, törön tugehui)
# Sense Gates create Contact (Pāli: phassa; Sanskrit: sparśa; 觸, 触 Cn: chù; Jp: soku; Vi: xúc; Mn: хүрэлцэхүй, khureltsehui)
# Contact creates Feeling (Pāli, Sanskrit: vedanā; 受 Cn: shòu; Jp: ju; Vi: thụ; Mn: сэрэхүй, serehui)
# Feeling creates Craving (Pāli: ; Sanskrit: ; 愛 Cn: ài; Jp: ai; Vi: ái; Mn: хурьцахуй, khuritsahui)
# Craving creates Clinging (Pāli, Sanskrit: upādāna; 取 Cn: qǔ; Jp: shu; Vi: thủ; Mn: авахуй, avahui)
# Clinging creates Becoming (Pāli, Sanskrit: bhava; 有 Cn: yǒu; Jp: u; Vi: hữu; Mn: сансар, sansar)
# Becoming creates Birth (Pāli, Sanskrit: jāti; 生 Cn: shēng; Jp: shō; Vi: sinh; Mn: төрөхүй, töröhui )
# Birth leads to Aging & Death (Pāli, Sanskrit: ; 老死 Cn: láosǐ; Jp: rōshi; Vi: lão tử; Mn: өтлөх үхэхүй, ötlöh uhehui)	
* Pāli: 
* Sanskrit: pratitya-samutpāda	
* Tib: རྟེན་ཅིང་འབྲེལ་བར་འབྱུང་བ་ rten cing `brel bar `byung ba
* Mn: шүтэн барилдлага, shuten barildlaga
* 緣起 (thought to be an abbreviation for 因緣生起), 縁起
** Cn: yuánqǐ
** Jp: engi
** Vi: duyên khởi
* Also called 因緣, 因縁
** Cn: yīnyuán
** Jp: innen
** Vi: nhân duyên
Pratyekabuddha/Paccekabuddha, lit. "a buddha by his own", A buddha who reaches enlightenment on his own 	
* Pāli: paccekabuddha
* Sanskrit: pratyekabuddha	
* 辟支佛
** Cn: Bìzhī Fó
** Jp: Hyakushibutsu
** Vi: Bích-chi Phật
Pure Land Buddhism A large branch of Mahayana, dominantly in East Asia. The goal of Pure Land is to be reborn in the Western sukhavati of Amitabha 	 	
* 净土宗
** Cn: Jìngtǔ-zōng
** Jp: Jōdo-shū
** Ko: Jeongtojong
** Vi: Tịnh độ tông
purisa The practicing Buddhist community as a whole; sangha and laity 	 	
==R==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
rebirth The process of continuity of life after death 	 	
* Pāli: punabbhava
* Sanskrit: punarbhava
refuge Usually in the form of "take refuge in the Three Jewels" 	 	
* Pāli: 
* Sanskrit: 
* Tib: skyabs
* Mn: аврал, avral
* Thai: สรณะ sorana
* 歸依
** Cn: guīyī
** Jp: kie
** Vi: quy y
rinpoche, lit. "precious one", An honorific title for a respected Tibetan lama, such as a tulku 	
* Tibetan: རིན་པོ་ཆེ་	
* Mn: римбүчий, rimbuchii 
* 仁波切
** Cn: rénbōqiē
** Jp: ??
** Vi: ??
Rinzai Zen sect emphasizing sudden enlightenment and koan study; named for master Linji 	
* Japanese: 臨済宗 Rinzai-shū	
* 臨濟宗
** Cn: Línjì-zōng
** Vi: Lâm Tế tông
Rohatsu A day traditionally honored as the day of the Buddha's enlightenment. While deep in meditation under a bodhi tree, he attained enlightenment upon seeing the morning star just at dawn; celebrated on the 8th day either of December or of the 12th month of the lunar calendar	
* Japanese: 臘八 Rōhatsu or Rohachi	
roshi, lit. "Master", An honorific given to Zen teachers that mastered koan. 	
* Japanese 老師 rōshi	
* 老師
** Cn: lǎo shī (lit., old master)
** Vi: lão sư
==S==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
sacca truthfulness 	
* Sanskrit:	
* Thai: สัจจะ sadja
* 真
** Cn: 
** Jp: shin 
** Vi:
samanera/shramanera A male novice monk, who, after a year or until the ripe age of 20, will be considered for the higher Bhikkhu ordination 	
* Sanskrit:	
* Thai: สามเณร sama-naen
* 沙彌
** Cn: shāmí
** Jp: shami
** Vi: ??
samatha Mental stabilization; tranquility meditation. Distinguished from vipassana meditation 	
* Pāli: samatha
* Sanskrit: śamatha	
* Thai: สมถะ samatha
* 舍摩他
** Cn: shěmótā
** Jp: ??
** Vi: ??
samsara The cycle of birth and rebirth; the world as commonly experienced 	
* Pāli, Sanskrit:	
* Thai: สังสารวัฏ sung-sara-wat
* Tib: འཁོར་བ khor ba
* Mn: орчлон, orchlon
* 輪迴, 輪廻
** Cn: lúnhúi
** Jp: rinne
** Vi: luân hồi
samu Work, conceived as a part of Zen training. 	
* Japanese: 作務 samu	
* 作務
** Cn: zuòwù
** Vi: ??
samvrti Conventional, as opposed to absolute, truth or reality; see also paramartha 	
* Sanskrit:	
* Thai: สมมุติ sommoot
sangha The community of Buddhist monks and nuns. Teachers and practitioners. 	
* Sanskrit:	
* Bur: than ga
* Thai: สงฆ์ song
* Tib: ཚོགས་ཀ་མཆོག tsog gyu chog
* Mn: хуврагийн чуулган, khuvragiin chuulgan
* 僧團
** Cn: sēng tuan
** Jp: sō, sōryō
** Vi: tăng già
Sanlun Buddhist philosophical school based on the Madhyamaka school 	
* Chinese: 三論 sānlùn	
* 三論宗
** Cn: Sānlùnzōng
** Jp: Sanron-shū
** Vi: Tam luận tông
sanzen A formal interview with a teacher in many traditions of Zen. Similar to dokusan 	
* Japanese	
satori Awakening; understanding. A Japanese term for enlightenment 	
* Japanese: 悟り satori	
* 悟
** Cn: wú
** Vi: ngộ
sayadaw Burmese meditation master 	 	
seichu In the Zen Buddhist calendar, a period of intensive, formal monastic training. It is typically characterized by week-long Daisesshins and periodic sanzen	
* Japanese: 制中 seichu	
sensei Teacher; Zen teacher 	
* Japanese: 先生 sensei	
sesshin A Zen retreat where practitioners meditate, eat and work together for several days 	
* Japanese: 接心, 摂心	
* 接心
** Cn: jiēxīn
** Vi: tiếp tâm
shikantaza Soto Zen. "Only concentrated on doing sitting" is the main meditation-method of Soto school of Japanese Zen Buddhism 	
* Japanese: 只管打座	
shunyata Emptiness; see also Nagarjuna 	
* Pāli: suññatā
* Sanskrit: śūnyatā	
* Tib: stong pa nyid
* Mn: хоосон чанар, khooson chanar
* 空
** Cn: kōng
** Jp: kū
** Vi: tính Không
sila "morals", "morality", "ethics": precepts 	
* Pāli: sīla
* Sanskrit: śīla	
* Bur: thi la
* Thai: ศีล seen
* 尸羅,戒
** Cn: jiè
** Jp: kai
** Vi: giới
Soto Sect of Zen emphasizing shikantaza as the primary mode of practice; see also Dogen 	
* Japanese: 曹洞宗 Sōtō-shū	
* 曹洞宗
** Cn: Cáodòng-zōng
** Vi: Tào Ðộng tông
store consciousness The base consciousness (alayavijnana) taught in Yogacara Buddhism 	
* Pāli, Sanskrit: ālayavijñāna	
* 阿頼耶識
** Cn: āyēshí
** Jp: arayashiki
** Vi: a-lại-da thức
sutra Scripture; originally referred to short aphoristic sayings and collections thereof 	
* from √siv: to sew
* Sanskrit: sutra
* Pāli: sutta	
* Thai: สูตร soothe
* Mn: судар, sudar
* 經, 経
** Cn: jīng
** Jp: kyō
** Vi: kinh
Sutra Pitaka The second basket of the Tripitaka canon, the collection of all Buddha's teachings 	
* Pāli: 
* Sanskrit:	
* Mn: Судрын аймаг Sudriin aimag
* 經藏, 経蔵
** Cn: jīngcáng
** Jp: kyōzō
** Vi: Kinh tạng
==T==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
tangaryō A period of waiting for admission into a Zen monastery at the gate, lasting anywhere from one day to several weeks—depending on the quality of one's sitting. Refers to the room traveling monks stay in when visiting, or await admittance into the sōdō.	
* Japanese: 旦過寮　	
*
tanha Craving or desire 	
* Pāli: 
* Sanskrit:	
* Thai: ตัณหา tunha
* Mn: хурьцахуй, khuritsahui
* 愛
** Cn: ài
** Jp: ai
** Vi: ái
tanto In Zen, one of the main leaders of a sesshin. In a Zen temple, the Tanto is the officer in charge of practice standards, i.e. teaching monks and lay practitioners how to sit, walk, bow, and chant in formal situations 	
* Japanese:単頭	
*
tantra Esoteric religious practices, including yoga, mantra, etc. See also Vajrayana. 	
* Sanskrit: tantra	
* Mn: тарнийн ёс, дандар, tarniin yos, dandar
* 續部,怛特羅
** Cn: dátèluó
** Jp: ??
** Vi: đát-đặc-la
Tathagata The "Thus-Come One" or "Thus-Gone One"; one of the Buddha's ten epithets 	
* Sanskrit: tathāgata	
* Thai: ตถาคต tatha-kohd
* Mn: түүнчлэн ирсэн, tuunchlen irsen
* 如来
** Cn: rúlái
** Jp: nyorai
** Vi: như lai
tathagatagarbha Buddha-nature or the seed of enlightenment 	
* Sanskrit: tathāgatagarbha	
* 佛性, 仏性
** Cn: fóxìng
** Jp: busshō
* Also 覚性
** Cn: juéxìng
** Jp: kakushō
** Vi: giác tính
* Also 如来藏, 如来蔵
** Cn: rúláizàng
** Jp: nyuoraizō
** Vi: như lai tạng
teisho A presentation by a Zen master during a sesshin. Rather than an explanation or exposition in the traditional sense, it is intended as a demonstration of Zen realisation 	
* Japanese: 提唱 teishō	
tenzo In Zen, the head cook for a sesshin. In Zen temples, the officer in charge of the kitchen 	
* Japanese: 典座 tenzo	
* 典座
** Cn: diǎnzuò
** Vi: điển toạ
Theravada, lit. "words of the elders", Most popular form of Buddhism in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka. 	
* Pāli: theravāda
* Sanskrit: sthaviravāda	
* Thai: เถรวาท tera-waad
* 上座部
** Cn: shàngzuòbù
** Jp: jōzabu
** Vi: Thượng toạ bộ
thera or theri, lit. "elder", Honorific applied to senior monks and nuns in the Theravada tradition. 	
* Pāli: thera	
Three Jewels Three things that Buddhists take refuge in: the Buddha, his teachings (Dharma) and the community of realized practitioners (Sangha), and in return look toward for guidance (see also Refuge (Buddhism)) 	 	
* Pāli: tiratana
* Sanskrit: triratna
* Thai: ไตรรัตน์ trai-rut
* Tib: དཀོན་མཆོག་གསུམ, dkon mchog gsum
* Mn: чухаг дээд гурав chuhag deed gurav
* 三寶
** Cn: sānbăo
** Jp: sanbō
** Vi: tam bảo
Three periods
* Three divisions of the time following the historical Buddha's passing: the Former (or Early) Day of the Law (正法 Cn: zhèngfǎ; Jp: shōbō), the first thousand years; the Middle Day of the Law (像法 Cn: xiàngfǎ; Jp: zōhō), the second thousand years; and the Latter Day of the Law (末法 Cn: mòfǎ; Jp: mappō), which is to last for 10,000 years.
* The three periods are significant to Mahayana adherents, particularly those who hold the Lotus Sutra in high regard; e.g., Tiantai (Tendai) and Nichiren Buddhists, who believe that different Buddhist teachings are valid (i.e., able to lead practitioners to enlightenment) in each period due to the different capacity to accept a teaching (機根 Cn: jīgēn; Jp: kikon) of the people born in each respective period.
* The three periods are further divided into five five-hundred year periods (五五百歳 Cn: wǔ wǔbǎi suì; Jp: go no gohyaku sai), the fifth and last of which was prophecized to be when the Buddhism of Sakyamuni would lose all power of salvation and a new Buddha would appear to save the people. This time period would be characterized by unrest, strife, famine, and other, natural disasters.
* The three periods and the five five-hundred year periods are described in the Sutra of the Great Assembly (大集経 Cn: dàjí jīng; Jp: Daishutu-kyō, Daijuku-kyō, Daijikkyō, or Daishukkyō). Descriptions of the three periods also appear in other sutras, some of which ascribe different lengths of time to them (although all agree that Mappō will last for 10,000 years).	 	
* 三時
** Cn: Sānshí
** Jp: Sanji
** Vi: Tam thời
Three Poisons or Three Fires The three primary causes of unskillful action or creation of "negative" karma:
# Greed or selfish desire (Pāli: ; Sanskrit: ; Tib.: འདོད་ཆགས་ 'dod chags; Mn: тачаал, tachaal; 貪 Cn: tān; Jp: ton; Vi: ái)
# Hatred or anger (Sanskrit: ; Tib.: ཞེ་སྡང་ zhe sdang; Mn: урин хилэн, urin khilen; 瞋 Cn: chēn; Jp: jin; Vi: sân)
# Ignorance or delusion (Pāli: avijjā; Sanskrit: avidyā; Tib.: གཏི་མུག་ gti mug; Mn: мунхаг, munhag; 癡 Cn: chī; Jp: chi; Vi: vô minh)	
* Pāli: Kilesa (Defilements)
* Sanskrit: kleśa	
* Tib: düsum ()
* Mn: гурван хор, gurvan khor
* 三毒
** Cn: Sāndú
** Jp: Sandoku
** Vi: Tam độc
Tiantai/Tendai A Mahayana school of China that teaches the supremacy of the Lotus Sutra 	
* Chinese: 天台 tiāntái	
* 天台宗
** Cn: tiāntái zōng
** Jp: tendai-shū
** Vi: Thiên Thai tông
trailõkya The 3 "regions" of the world:
# Kamaloka or Kamadhatu: world of desires (Sanskrit, Pāli: kāmaloka, kāmadhātu; Tibetan: འདོད་ཁམས་ `dod khams; Mn: амармагийн орон, amarmagiin oron; 欲界 Cn: yùjiè, Jp: yokkai Vi: dục giới)
# Rupaloka or Rupadhatu: world of form (Sanskrit: rūpaloka, rūpadhātu; Tibetan: གཟུགས་ཁམས་ gzugs khams; Mn: дүрстийн орон, durstiin oron; 色界 Cn: sèjiè; Jp: shikikai , Vi: sắc giới)
# Arupaloka or Arupadhatu: world without form or desire (Sanskrit: arūpaloka, arūpadhātu; Tibetan: གཟུགས་མེད་ཁམས་ gzugs med khams; Mn: дүрсгүйн орон, dursquin oron; 無色界 Cn: wú sèjiè, Jp: mushikikai Vi: vô sắc giới)	
* Sanskrit: triloka	
* Pāli: tisso dhātuyo
* Tibetan: ཁམས་གསུམ་ khams gsum
* Mn: гурван орон, gurvan oron
* 三界
** Cn: sānjiè
** Jp: sangai
** Vi: tam giới
trikaya The 3 "bodies" of Buddha:
* Dharma-kaya (Sanskrit: dharmakāya; 法身 Cn: fǎshēn; Jp: hosshin; Vi: pháp thân)
* Sambhoga-kaya (Sanskrit: ; 報身 Cn: bàoshēn; Jp: hōshin; Vi: báo thân)
* Nirmana-kaya (Sanskrit: ; 應身,化身,応身 Cn: yìngshēn; Jp: ōjin; Vi: ứng thân)	
* Sanskrit: trikāya	
* 三身
** Cn: sānshēn
** Jp: sanjin
** Vi: tam thân
Tripitaka The "Three Baskets"; canon containing the sacred texts for Buddhism (Pāli)
* Vinaya Pitaka (Pāli, Sanskrit: ; Tib: འདུལ་བའི་སྡེ་སྣོད་ `dul ba`i sde snod; Mn: винайн аймаг сав vinain aimag sav; 律藏, 律蔵 Cn: lǜzàng; Jp: Ritsuzō; Vi: Luật tạng)
* Sutra Pitaka (Pāli: ; Sanskrit: ; Tib: མདོ་སྡེའི་སྡེ་སྣོད་ mdo sde`i sde snod; Mn: судрын аймаг сав sudriin aimag sav; 經藏, 経蔵 Cn: jīngzàng; Jp: Kyōzō; Vi: Kinh tạng)
* Abhidhamma Pitaka (Pāli: ; Sanskrit: ; Tib: མངོན་པའི་སྡེ་སྣོད་ mngon pa`i sde snod; Mn: авидармын аймаг сав avidarmiin aimag sav; 論藏, 論蔵 Cn: lùnzàng; Jp: Ronzō; Vi: Luận tạng)	
* Pāli: 
* Sanskrit:	
* Burmese: Tipitaka ()
* Thai: ไตรปิฎก Traipidok
* སྡེ་སྣོད་་གསུམ, sde snod gsum 
* Mn: гурван аймаг сав, gurvan aimag sav
* 三藏, 三蔵
** Cn: Sānzàng
** Jp: Sanzō
** Ko: Samjang
** Vi: Tam tạng
Triratna/Tiratana, see Three Jewels above 	
* Pāli: tiratana
* Sanskrit: triratna	
* Tib: དཀོན་མཆོག་གསུམ, dkon mchog gsum
* Mn: гурван эрдэнэ, gurvan erdene
trsna, see tanha above 	 	
tulku A re-incarnated Tibetan teacher 	
* Tibetan: སྤྲུལ་སྐུ་ tulku	
* Mn: хувилгаан, khuvilgaan
* 再來人 (轉世再來的藏系師長)
** Jp: keshin
** Vi: hoá thân
==U==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
upadana Clinging; the 9th link of Pratitya-Samutpada; the Ninth Twelve Nidanas	
* Pāli, Sanskrit: upādāna	
* Thai: อุปาทาน u-pa-taan
* Tib: ལེན་པ, len pa
* Mn: авахуй, avahui
* 取(十二因緣第九支)
** Cn: qǔ
** Jp: shu
** Vi: thủ
upasaka A lay follower of Buddhism 	
* Sanskrit: upāsaka	
* Thai: อุบาสก u-ba-sok
* 近事男,優婆塞
** Cn: jìnshìnán
** Jp: ??
** Vi: cận sự nam
upasika A female lay follower 	
* from upasaka above
* Sanskrit: upāsika	
* Thai: อุบาสิกา u-ba-sika
* 近事女,優婆夷
** Cn: jìnshìnǚ
** Jp: ??
** Vi: cận sự nữ
upaya Expedient though not necessarily ultimately true. Originally used as a polemical device against other schools - calling them "merely" expedient, lacking in ultimate truth, later used against ones own school to prevent students form forming attachments to doctrines
In Mahayana, exemplified by the Lotus Sutra, upaya are the useful means that Buddhas (and Buddhist teachers) use to free beings into enlightenment	
* Sanskrit: upāya	
* Tib: ཐབས, thabs
* Mn: арга, arga
* 方便
** Cn: fāngbiàn
** Jp: hōben
** Vi: phương tiện
upekkha equanimity 	
* Sanskrit:	
* Thai: อุเบกขา u-bek-kha
* Tib: བཏང་སྙོམས་, btang snyoms
* Mn: тэгшид барихуй, tegshid barihui
* 镇定，沉着
urna A concave circular dot on the forehead between the eyebrows 	
* Sanskrit: urna	Mn: билгийн мэлмий, bilgiin melmii
==V==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
Vajrayana, lit. "diamond vehicle", The third major branch, alongside Hinayana and Mahayana 	
* Sanskrit: vajrayāna	
* Thai: วชิรญาณ wachira-yaan
* Mn: Очирт хөлгөн, ochirt khölgön
* 金剛乘
** Cn: Jīngāng shèng
** Jp: ??
** Vi: Kim cương thừa
Vinaya Pitaka, lit. "discipline basket", The first basket of the Tripitaka canon, which deals with the rules of monastic life 	
* Pāli, Sanskrit:	
* Thai: วินัย wi-nai
* Tib: འདུལ་བའི་སྡེ་སྣོད་ dul bai sde snod
* Mn: Винайн аймаг сав, vinain aimag sav
* 律藏
** Cn: Lǜzàng
** Jp: Ritsuzō
** Vi: Luật tạng
vipassana Usually translated as "Insight" meditation, most associated with the Theravada tradition, but present throughout Buddhism as an evolved tradition. Distinguished from samatha meditation	
* from : to see apart
* Pāli: vipassanā
* Sanskrit: vipaśyanā, vidarśanā	
* Thai: วิปัสสนา wipadsana
* Tib: ལྷག་མཐོངlhag mthong
* Mn: үлэмж үзэл, ulemj uzel
* 觀,観
** Cn: guān
** Jp: kan
** Vi: quán
viriya energy 	
* from 
* Pāli: 
* Sanskrit: ,	
* Tib: brtson grus
* 能量
* Thai: วิริยะ wiriya
** Cn: néngliàng 
** Jp: 
** Vi:
==Z==
Definition 	Etymology	In other languages
zazen Sitting meditation as practiced in the Zen School of Buddhism 	
* Japanese: 坐禅	
* 坐禪
** Cn: zuòchán
** Vi: toạ thiền
Zen School A Japanese branch of Mahayana that emphasizes meditation in the pursuing of enlightenment	
* Japanese: 禅宗 Zen-shu	
* 禪宗
** Cn: Chánzōng
** Vi: Thiền tông
zendo In Zen, a hall where Zen (usually meaning zazen) is practiced (see Dojo) 	
* Japanese: 禅堂	
* 禪堂
** Cn: chántáng
** Vi: thiền đường
==See also==
* Buddhism
* Buddhist texts
*Glossary of Japanese Buddhism
==External links==
* Pali Text Society Dictionary (Be sure to check the "Unicode font" option, and to have one; also, if looking for a word, choose "words that match")
* Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary
* Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (Login with userid "guest")
* Kadampa Glossary of Buddhist Terms
 
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