Glossary

Aryan: is a term that was used as a designation by Indo-Iranian people. The word was used by the Indic people of the Vedic period in India as an ethnic label for themselves and to refer to the noble class as well as the geographic region known as Āryāvarta, where Indo-Aryan culture is based. Today, we translate this word to be “Noble”.

Attention: concentration of the mind on a single object or thought. The action of paying close observation to something (i.e. focus, alertness, concentration).

Awareness: knowledge or perception of a situation, fact, or thought.

Craving/Desire/Attachment/Wants/Expectations/Grasping/Holding/Clinging: a mental longing for something with a strong eagerness. The mind pulling in a direction for objects of its affection.

Bhikkhuni: an ordained female Student of Gotama Buddha.

Bhikkhu: an ordained male Student of Gotama Buddha.

Buddhawajana: The Words of The Buddha.

Complacency: sluggish mind, laziness, lethargic, lack of motivation or energy. A feeling of self satisfaction combined with a lack of awareness of pending trouble or accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies.

Consciousness: refers to your individual awareness of your unique thoughts, memories, feelings, sensations, and environment; the mind.

Defilement: The Three Poisons, The Three Unwholesome Roots, The Three Fires; Craving, Anger, and Ignorance (i.e. the unknowing of true reality), or Greed, Hatred, and Delusion.

Dhamma: Teachings of Gotama Buddha; The Natural Laws of Existence.

Discernment: is wise decision making based in wisdom. Discernment is helpful to the mind and needs to be cultivated to attain Enlightenment.

Eon: an eon is an incalculable length of time. An eon is so significant and lengthy that it is immeasurable.

Fetter: a taint, an unwholesome quality of the mind, pollution of the mind, a chain or shackle used to restrain a prisoner, typically placed around the ankles.

Frivolous Speech (Idle Chatter): is described as speaking “unbeneficially” and “unpurposefully”. This is typically done with the mind’s craving/desire/attachment where one may just be rambling pointlessly without any real purpose or need to speak but instead, just because there is a craving/desire to talk. There is no purpose or value to the speech. In some cases, one could be speaking quickly and continuously without the ability for a mutual conversation.

Goal/Objective/Interest: the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim for a result. To have the intention of achieving something.

Harm: is an injury caused by one being to another being or group of beings (physical injury, material possessions, reputation, etc.). An individual can cause harm to another being but, they cannot cause another being to be discontent. If you cause harm to others, harm will come back to you. This is unwholesome Kamma or the unwholesome results of your decisions.

Household Practitioner/Householder: a person leading a typical life within the home environment who is learning and practicing The Teachings of Gotama Buddha.

Judgment: attempting to determine what is right or wrong for another person while placing oneself above others with arrogance or pride (i.e. the ego). Comparing that one is superior or inferior to another person. Attempting to declare who is wholesome or unwholesome, good or bad. Judgment is based in “conceit”. Judgment is harmful to the mind and needs to be eliminated to attain Enlightenment.

Lay Follower/Lay Person: a person leading a typical life within the home environment who is learning and practicing The Teachings of Gotama Buddha. A Household Practitioner.

Mind: is our consciousness where all intentions for speech and actions originate along with our thoughts, ideas, perceptions, feelings, and emotions arise, are experienced, and then cease to exist.

Non-Judgment: peacefully co-existing with all beings while accepting all beings “as they are” with loving-kindness and compassion practicing “true love”.

Pāli: the language used as a source for The Teachings of Gotama Buddha.

Pāli Canon or Pāli Text: Gotama Buddha’s full collection of Teachings in the Pāli language, no longer a spoken language today. All Teachings can be learned in English. It is not required that you understand Pāli to attain Enlightenment.

Patience: is the ability to wait, or to continue doing something despite difficulties, without complaining or becoming annoyed.

Pursue/Pursuit: to continue or proceed along a path or route.

Samsara: The Cycle of Rebirth; The Cycle of New Existence.

Sangha: The Community of Bhikkhunis, Bhikkhus, Novices and Household Practitioners.

There are also more detailed definitions for specific aspects of The Sangha.

- Ariyan “Noble” Sangha: Community of anyone who has attained any of the four (4) stages of Enlightenment including Household Practitioners.

- Bhikkhuni Sangha: Community of female Ordained Practitioners.

- Bhikkhu Sangha: Community of male Ordained Practitioners.

Slander (Gossip): speech or communication that is damaging to the reputation of an individual/company/organization/country/group of people, etc., whether true or false.

Sotāpanna: stream enterer, stream winner, the first Stage of Enlightenment.

Tathāgata: A Fully Perfectly Enlightened Buddha, A Fully Perfectly Enlightened One, A Buddha.

Thought: the action or process of thinking

Wisdom: the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good insight; the quality of being wise.