Sanskrit Vocab

Question 1

Buddha

Answer 1

Noun: From bodh - to wake; meaning the awakened one, someone who has achieved enlightenment. There are many Buddhas, not just Sidhartha Gautama.

Question 2

The Buddha

Answer 2

Sidhartha Gautama: Shakyamuni (shakya: family name; muni: wise one)

Question 3

Nirvana

Answer 3

(literally to end or snuff out) the ceasing of reincarnation.

Question 4

Mahayana

Answer 4

Most important form of Buddhism in Tibet. (maha: great; yana: way)

Question 5

Vajrayana

Answer 5

part of Mahayana Buddhism

Question 6

Tantra and Tantric

Answer 6

Method of worship sort of.

Question 7

Samvara

Answer 7

common figure, deity, personification of enlightenment.

Question 8

Bodhisattva

Answer 8

The multitudes of reincarnations of Shakyamuni; Literally: being on his way/ full of enlightenment.

Question 9

Mandala

Answer 9

circle

Question 10

Bodh Gaya

Answer 10

Place where Shakyamuni became enlightened under the tree. Signified by the earth-touching gesture (Bhumisparsa mudra). Not much art from this place survives, mostly from other regions of India. Prior to the 6th century, going to the sites of Shakyamuni’s life would gain you merit, but then texts began saying that worshiping the teachings of Shakyamuni was more important.

Question 11

Sarnath

Answer 11

Deer park where Shakyamuni began to teach because he did not immediately go to Nirvana after becoming enlightened. Signified by the wheel-turning gesture (Dharmachukra mudhra). Not much art from this place survives, mostly from other regions of India. Prior to the 6th century, going to the sites of Shakyamuni’s life would gain you merit, but then texts began saying that worshiping the teachings of Shakyamuni was more important.

Question 12

Stupas

Answer 12

Large round mounds; Chorten, burial tombs for kings and buddhas. Shakyamuni’s ashes were divided and distributed among many stupas.

Question 13

Parinirvana

Answer 13

The event where he goes into nirvana.

Question 14

Chakra

Answer 14

Wheel

Question 15

Dharma

Answer 15

Teaching; knowledge

Question 16

Mudra

Answer 16

gesture

Question 17

Jataka

Answer 17

fables about shakyamuni’s previous lives.

Question 18

Sunyata

Answer 18

emptiness; placeholder; not nothingness, but emptiness. Understanding emptiness by understanding dependent origination.

Question 19

Mara

Answer 19

Death and the God of Death. He asked Shakyamuni what right he had to sit and meditate so Shakyamuni touched the earth to ask the earth god to prove his many good deeds.

Question 20

Bhumisparsa mudra

Answer 20

the gesture of touching the earth; represents claiming his right to sit and meditate, therefore evading the last obstacle to achieving enlightenment: death (which would continue the cycle of reincarnation).

Question 21

Darmachukra mudra

Answer 21

gesture of pointing to the wheel (teaching).

Question 22

Pratitya samutpada

Answer 22

dependent origination; the realization of emptiness. From Skilton.

Question 23

Marici

Answer 23

Female Goddess personifies the power of the sun; Literally means shining. Became popular at Bodh Gaya.

Question 24

Prajna

Answer 24

Knowlege or wisdom

Question 25

Avalokitesvara

Answer 25

God, personification of compassion. Most popular Bodhisattva; The Dalai Lama is a reincarnation of this god. He holds a rosary to count repetitions of sadaksara.

Question 26

Sadhana

Answer 26

The description of a deity to help visualize during worship. Vadrasana buddha is a Sadhana.

Question 27

Mahashri Tara

Answer 27

Goddess; enlightened; 3rd most popular deity in Tibet after the Buddha and Avalokitesvara.