Living Buddhist Life Key Terms Flashcards
virhara
Temple with living accommodation for monks or nuns
temple
The central place of worship for Buddhists
pagoda
multiple roof building a type of Mahayana Buddhists often containing relics
stupa
Mound shaped monument often with relics
triratna buddhist centre
The three jewels(Buddha, Dammha,sangha)
gompa
A Tibetan building which is a place of learning and meditation
shrine
A place with a statue/image of Buddha, a focus for Puja, offerings are placed here
buddharupas
Statues of Buddha
bodhi tree
The type of tree under which the buddha gained enlightenment
mediatation
Calming and focusing the mind to help achieve true understanding
samatha meditation
Meditation to concentrate their mind/achieve mindfulness/calm
metta bhavana meditation
Meditation and loving kindness to all beings
vipassana meditation
Meditations on the teachings of Buddha
zazen meditation
Seated meditation aimed at reviewing our Buddha nature by a focus on the present moment
mindfulness breathing
Meditation that focuses on the experience of breathing
chanting
repeating key sounds , words are passages used either to prepare for meditation by focusing their mind or as a form of devotion to either Buddha or Bodhisattva
mantra
A collection of sacred words are syllables repeated as a form of Buddhist practice
sacred syllables
mattresses which hold meaning and dhamma in syllable
visualisation
seeing something in your mind. This could be an object to help meditation. It could be a Bodhisattva or Buddha to focus on their values and qualities. 
mama beads
a string of beads to help you count recitation
retreat
Period of time away from ordinary life in order to focus on meditation
wesak
A festival to celebrate Buddha’s birthday, death and enlightenment(thervada)
vassa
the 3 month rain retreat spent in meditation and study (theravada)
kathina
festival to celebrate the end of vassa ,laity give to monks and nuns in thanks (theravada)
upsotha days
days to focus and cleanse the mind and dedicate oneself to the dhamma
paranibbana day
to celebrate Buddhist death and enlightenment (mahayana)
obon
Japanese three day festival of the dead to honour ancestors (mahayana)
Lama Tsong Khapa Day
A Tibetan festival to celebrate the enlightenment of the founder of a Tibetan Buddhist tradition
mourning rituals
Activities and ceremonies, which take place after someone’s death
Tibetan book of the dead
Describes the states between death and rebirth
tibetan sky burial
tibetan funeral where the body is left exposed on a mountain side
