Key Words Buddhism

Question 1

Buddha

Answer 1

Awakened or Enlightened One; a person who has a deep understanding of the nature of life

Question 2

Dharma

Answer 2

Universal law or ultimate truth. The teaching of the Buddha

Question 3

Enlightenment

Answer 3

Awakening to a profound understanding of the ultimate laws and nature of life

Question 4

Middle Way

Answer 4

Living between the extremes of luxury and hardship

Question 5

Anatta

Answer 5

No self; no soul. Insubstantiality; denial of a real or permanent self or soul

Question 6

Anicca

Answer 6

Impermanence; transience. Instability of all things, including the self

Question 7

Dukkha

Answer 7

Suffering; unsatisfactoriness; imperfection. A characteristic of existence according to the first Noble Truth

Question 8

Dependent Origination

Answer 8

Teaching that all things depend on other things for their existence

Question 9

Karma

Answer 9

Intentional actions that have consequences in this and future lives

Question 10

Samsara

Answer 10

The cycle of birth, sickness, old
age, death and rebirth

Question 11

Mahayana

Answer 11

Great Way or Vehicle. Teachings that spread from India to the north and east, emphasising the potential for all people to become enlightened

Question 12

Theravada

Answer 12

Way of the elders. A principal school of Buddhism, established in Sri Lanka and South East Asia

Question 13

Buddha Nature

Answer 13

The potential to be a buddha

Question 14

Buddhahood

Answer 14

The state of being enlightened

Question 15

Nibbana

Answer 15

Blowing out, wanting and desire, and the state of secure peace that results