Glossary: N.
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.
Natural law. See: Dharma in sense 1.
Natural order. See: Dharma in sense 1.
Nibbāna. See: Nirvana.
Nidāna. This is a Sanskrit and Pali word meaning “link”. It is a contributory cause or condition. A series of twelve links constitute the chain of pratītya-samutpāda, dependent origination.
Nirodha. This is a Pali word meaning “cessation”. It is the name given to the third of the Four Noble Truths. It is the cessation of duḥkha. This states that if we end tṛṣṇā, craving or greed, dveṣa, hatred or anger, and avidyā, illusion or delusion, we can end duḥkha. See also: kleśa.
Nirvana. This is a Sanskrit word meaning “blown out” or “smothered”. The Pali word is nibbāna. Nirvana is the state which is reached on realising bodhi. It is the ‘Ultimate Reality’ of Buddhism. Two kinds of Nirvana are recognised. The first is called “Nirvana with remainder.” This is the state in which the one who has realised bodhi stays during his or her life time. The second is called “Nirvana without remainder”. This is the state in which the one who has realised bodhi may choose to enter after death. A Bodhisattva puts off Nirvana without remainder until all beings are liberated. Compare: samsara.
Noble Eightfold Path, the. This is the last of the Four Noble Truths and the path from samsara to Nirvana. It is set out as eight ‘steps’, which should be taken together and not separately or in sequence. These steps are: Right View, Right Resolve, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration and Meditation. “Right” means in keeping with the Dharma in senses 1 and 2. In Sanskrit it is Ārya-aṣṭaṅga-mārga. In Pali it is Ariya-aṭṭangika-magga.
Non-harming. See: ahiṃsā.
Non-self. See: anātman .
Non-violence. See: ahiṃsā.
No-self. See: anātman .
Nothingness. See: śūnyatā .