Glossary: A.
The glossary is a simple dictionary of terms you will find in Buddhism. You may not find an entry you're looking for. This is because I haven't included it yet. This is so, even if you've clicked a link to it elsewhere. So, if you can't find an entry today, try again at a later date.
Affliction. See: kleśa.
Aggregates. See: skandha.
Ahiṃsā. This is a Sanskrit word meaning “non-harming” or “non-violence”. It is the keystone to ethics in Buddhism. See: śīla.
Akusala-mūla. See: akuśala-mūla.
Akuśala-mūla. This is a Sanskrit word meaning “three roots of evil”. The Pali word is akusala-mūla. These are the three unwholesome mental states of tṛṣṇā, craving or greed, dveṣa, hatred or anger, and avidyā, illusion or delusion. Their antidotes are the kuśala-mūla, the three roots of virtue. See also: kleśa, nirodha.
Anātman. This is a Sanskrit word meaning “non-self”. The Pali word is anattā. The key concept in Buddhism is that objects and individuals do not have an eternal, unchanging and autonomous substratum. It is one of the trilakṣaṇa, the “three marks of existence” in samsara. Avidyā, primordial ignorance, includes not appreciating anātman. It is easily misunderstood by all but advanced practitioners, typically as representing a form of nihilism. See also: anitya, dharma, in sense 3, duḥkha, skandha.
Anattā. See anātman.
Anger. See: dveṣa.
Anicca. See: anitya.
Anitya. This is a Sanskrit word meaning “impermanence”. The Pali word is anicca. Anitya is one of the trilakṣaṇa, the Three Marks of Existence. These characterise all compound phenomena or dharmas. It is a fundamental concept in Buddhism. All saṃskāras are impermanent. It is tṛṣṇā, attachment, that causes duḥkha because of anitya.
Arahant. See: Arhat.
Arhat. This is a Sanskrit word meaning “worthy one”. The Pali word is arahant. An Arhat is someone who has achieved bodhi, enlightenment. He usually differs from a Buddha, in that unlike a Buddha he or she has done so by follow another’s teachings. The Mahayana, perhaps unfairly, sees the Arhat as inferior to the Bodhisattva.
Arising. See: Samudāya.
Ariya-aṭṭhangika-magga. See: Noble Eightfold Path, the.
Ariya-sacca. See: Four Noble Truths, the.
Ārya-aṣṭaṅga-mārga. See: Noble Eightfold Path, the.
Ārya-satya. See: Four Noble Truths, the.
Āsava. See: āśrava.
Āśrava. This is a Sanskrit word meaning “outflow”. The Pali word is āsava. In the plural these are the basic impurities or defilements that cause punarbhava, rebirth. There is a list of three, often added to by a fourth. Together these hinder progress towards bodhi, enlightenment. An Arhat has eradicated them. See also: kāma, kleśa.
Ātman. This is a Sanskrit word meaning “self” or “soul”. The Pali word is attā. This is a philosophical concept eternal, unchanging and individual entity that is the core of a person. This is not posited in Buddhism, which favours anātman.
Attā. See ātman.
Attachment. See: tṛṣṇā.
Avidyā. This is a Sanskrit word meaning “ignorance”. The Pali word is avijja. It refers to primordial ignorance of the workings of karma, the Four Noble Truths and the Three Jewels, triratna. It is the closest thing to a ‘sin’ in Buddhism. It is the ultimate cause of duḥkha and punarbhava, rebirth. It is also called moha, and is one of the akuśala-mūla, the three roots of evil. It is countered by prajñā, insight or wisdom. It is easily misunderstood by all but advanced practitioners. See also: anātman.
Avijja. See: avidyā.
Awakening. See: bodhi.