Buddhism Flashcards
dharmachakra
“Wheel of the teaching”
Buddha turned the wheel of the teaching
Rim: samsara
Spokes: noble eightfold path
Hub: self-discipline
Middle Path
The Way between extreme self-denial and ordinary life that helps with enlightenment.
Moderation
Shakyamuni
“Sage of the Shakyas”
A common name for Gautama Buddha
Four Passing Sights
Gautama’s first time seeing old age, sickness, death, and asceticism.
Bodhi Tree
The tree that Gautama Buddha meditated beneath when he gained enlightenment.
In Bodh Gaya.
Tathagata
“One who has gone” to enlightenment
Honorable term for Gautama Buddha
Sangha
Buddhist monastic community
Three Refuges
“I take refuge in the Buddha; I take refuge in the dharma; I take refuge in the sangha.”
A basic statement of faith.
parinirvana
When the Buddha fully entered nirvana at death
Hinayana
“small vehicle” division of Buddhism
derogatory name for Theravada, given by Mahayana
Theravada
“Original/abiding teaching” division of Buddhsim
Southern
dedicated to traditional teachings of Gautama Buddha
sutra
Canonical scripture text
Tipitaka
“Three baskets”
Theravada sutras, written hundreds of years after Buddha’s death
Mahayana
“large vehicle” division. In N and E Asia
Incorporated more indigenous religions.
Trikaya
“three bodies of the Buddha”
First: Gautama Buddha
Second: Many Heavenly Buddhas
Third: Buddhist teaching
a Mahayana doctrine that accepted local gods and folklore.
