World Religions - Buddhism Vocabulary

Important Buddhist concept translated as “suffering” , “pain”, or “stress” in relation to life

Second of the Four Noble Truths, selfish desire, which causes dukkha (suffering)

Impermanence; essential doctrine/part of 3 marks of existence

Idea that there is no permament, underlying substance that can be called a soul

Enlightened one; founder of Buddhism

Person who has attained enlightenment but postpones nirvana in order to help others achieve enlightenment

Condition of great peace or happiness (enlightenment); the final goal of Buddhism

Individual who has achieved individual enlightenment

Cycle of death and rebirth to which life in the material world is bound

Sum of a person’s actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences

Supernatural power wielded by gods and demons to produce illusions

Buddhist community of monks and nuns

Teaching or religion of the Buddha

Development or production in the sense of calling into existence; spiritual cultivation

Compassion; part of the spiritual path of Buddhism

Direct insight (wisdom) into the truth taught by Buddha, as a faculty required to attain enlightenment; one of the three divisions of the Eightfold path

Moral conduct; one of the three sections of the Eightfold Path

Refers to an aspect of guidance along the Buddhist Paths to liberation where a conscious, voluntary action is driven by an incomplete reasoning about its direction