Buddhist Terms N-Z

These Buddhist terms and Buddhist definitions are written with the intent of describing their meaning in relation to the beliefs of Buddhism. New terms and definitions are added on a regular basis. If the meaning of any Buddhist terms requires clarification please contact me. Keep in mind that the understanding of Buddhist and Buddhism Beliefs can vary depending on a number of factors. These include but are not limited to your teacher, personal bias, misunderstanding, deeper understanding, societal and cultural norms, misguided new-age spiritualistic thinking, etc. In addition there are Buddhist terms also pertain to general psychology and philosophy as I believe Buddhism is great in both these regards. Thank you for visiting Noble Buddhism Beliefs.
Buddhist Terms and Buddhist Definitions:

---

Buddhist Terms N

Namaste:

A greeting to others upon meeting and departing. Often refers to the essence of me to you and the essence of you to me. Done with hands held flat together at heart level with a slight bow.

Natural Mind:

The natural state of the mind free from conceptual limitations.

Nirvana:

A Sanskrit word which means extinguishing or blowing out. It is the shedding of the ego or the self. Usually taken to mean bliss or happiness but not usually understood. The Pali version of this word is spelled Nibbana.

Noble:

Having an elevated moral and mental character (with regard to the three trainings of ethics, meditation, and wisdom), following the Noble Eightfold Path. I see this as not just having the right intent but also having or moving to the right view of the way things are. So, one can have noble intentions, but it is important to have the right view of such...

Numerology:

The study of numbers, as the figures designating the year of one's birth, to determine their influence on one's life, future, etc.
Lucky Name Numerology Contact for Your Lucky Names, Lucky Business Names, Lucky Numbers, & Lucky Gems. Wear your Lucky Gems as per Numerology And Get Relief From Incurable Diseases.

Buddhist Terms O

Orthodox:

That which pertains and conforms to an approved form of any doctrine, philosophy, ideology, belief, attitude, conduct, etc. Also means customary or conventional method or way that is established. Could be used to denote Orthodox Jews, Christians, or even Buddhists. The Eastern Orthodox Church, also called the Orthodox Catholic Church claims to be the one true church that traces its origins back to the first church established by St. Paul and the apostles. The Buddhist orthodoxy would be Theravada Buddhism as it teaches from the earliest canon, the Pali Canon and rejects later additions to Buddha Sakyamuni's dharma.

Buddhist Terms P

Pali:

A literary language of the Prakrit family. Pali is best known as the language of Buddhist scriptures. It is derived from Sanskrit. Some believe this to be the other way around, but this is not the case. Scholars believe that at some point in ancient India the Pali language became somewhat popular. As a result of this it was assumed to be the language of the Buddha. Scholars now believe it was not the language of the Buddha. The Buddha tests were simply written down in Pali because of its popularity at the time.
As a side note, these sorts of confusion happen all the time and are not only confined to simple beliefs. This sort of confusion can lead to larger erroneous beliefs that considerably confuse things, especially religion.

Pundit:

A learned person, an expert, or authority. A person that makes comments or judgments, especially with an authoritative manner.

Buddhist Terms R

Relative Truth:

The truth that all things are relative: left is relative to right, up and down, yin and yang, night and day, good and bad, suffering and non-suffering, perfection and imperfection, etc. Please see absolute truth.

Religion:

The following is from Webster's Dictionary. From these definitions I would agree that Buddhism is a religion, especially the 2nd and 3rd definitions. I tend to go with Buddhism as a Philosophy, especially considering core Buddhism beliefs and removing the mysticism. What do you think? If you read this and have an opinion send me an email.
1) A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2) A specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3) The body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.

Buddhist Terms S

Sakyamuni:

The Buddha, Siddhatta Gautama, the Awakened One, the Sage of the Sakyans. Or, the Sage of the Sakya clan, or Sakya republic.

Sangha:

The community of followers monastic and laypersons. Likely, originally, it referred to the monastic community that followed the dharma under Shakyamuni.

Sanskrit:

An ancient Indic language. It has been in use since 1200 B.C. It is a religious and classic literary language of India.

Samsara:

A Sanskrit word meaning wheel. In Buddhism this is referred to as the wheel of suffering or the wheel of samsara. Samsara is the on going difficulties encountered by most people. Basically the opposite of nirvana.

Satori:

Satori is Japanese for enlightenment. It is the goal of Zen Buddhism.

Sentient Being:

Any creature that has the ability to think and feel.

Shakya or Sakya:

The Shakya or Sakya republic. The Buddha was the sage of the Sakya republic. The Sakya republic was under the domain of the Kingdom of Kosala. Suddhodana was Siddhattha's father and the elected leader of Sakya.

Sutra:

A Sanskrit word that means thread. Sutta in Pali. Taken to mean the words of the Buddha (as he taught them). The Buddha's sermons as they are passed along to others as if threaded throughout the sangha.

Buddhist Terms T

Tantra:

An esoteric path to awakening. It includes the use of suggestive imagination, mantra and special initiations.

Tathagata:

A Sanskrit word meaning thus gone, thus come, thus perfected one. It refers to one who on the way of truth has attained supreme enlightenment. It is one of the titles that the Buddha referred to himself.

Theravada:

Theravada means the 'doctrine of the elders'. It is considered to be the original teachings of the Buddha. Emphasis is on the practitioner in attaining enlightenment. This path is less 'colorful' in regard to magical beings, etc. It adheres to the core concepts as taught by the Buddha (when compared to the Mahayana school). See Mahayana.

The Three Jewels:

The Buddha, the dharma, and the sangha. Or, the Buddha, the Buddha's teachings, and followers of the teachings.

Transcendence:

The common definition is to surpass the ordinary or even be superior to the common experience. To me it is to go beyond that which is the way, and how, of normal experience, the normal experience that most other sentient beings experience. That is, the experience of delusion. It is difficult to achieve transcendence for many. They are, seemingly, attached to the bonds of delusion. Those that do transcend, even for a short while, understand. They never forget the experience.

Buddhist Terms U

Upanishads:

Hindu religious texts composed between the 8th and 6th centuries BCE and first written 1300 CE: They represent a philosophical development beyond the Vedas, having as their principal message the unity of Brahman and Atman.

Buddhist Terms V

Vajrayana:

In Tibetan, The Diamond Way. Vajra means diamond and yana means way. Sometimes considered the third form of Buddhism after Theravada and Mahayana. It is practiced largely in Tibet. It is also known as Tantric Buddhism.

Vedas:

Hindu religious literature. They are the entire body of Hindu sacred writings, chief among which are four books, the Rig-Veda, the Sama-Veda, the Atharva-Veda, and the Yajur-Veda.

Vesak:

Vesak is an important holiday in Buddhist practice, especially the countries of Theravada Buddhism. It is celebrated on the full moon day in May. It is the celebration of the birth and the enlightenment as well of the Buddha.

Vinaya:

Vinaya pitaka is the third basket of the Tipitaki containing the monastic rules for the monks and nuns.

Vipassana:

A Buddhist meditation that seeks the nature of and insight into the experience of reality. It is a Pali word meaning penetrative insight.

Buddhist Terms Y

Yoga:

Yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning yoke. In Hinduism means harnessing yourself to God. That is, seeking union with the divine nature.

Buddhist Terms Z

Zazen:

Refers to the sitting meditation of Zen Buddhism.

Zen:

A branch of Mahayana Buddhism that first arrived in China, called Ch'an, around year 520, then in Japan in the 12th century. It was brought to Japan by a monk named Bodhidharma. Zen is possibly the most popular form of Buddhism in the west.
More Buddhist Terms and Buddhist Definitions:END=OM MANI PADME HUM.( 3 TIMES ).RESEARCH TIBET BUDDHIST DHARMA BY VENERABLE GESHE TESERING TASHI.VIETNAMESE TIBET NUN.( NHA TRANG ).29/1/2012.