Ashoka Pillar

Monolithic pillars, with the magnificent Lion Capital atop, erected by Emperor Ashoka at a number of Buddhist sites. The four roaring lions face the four cardinal directions symbolising the spread of the Buddha's teachings. The wheel on the capital of the Ashoka Pillar is part of the Indian national flag.

Avalokiteshvara

The Bodhisattva of Compassion, Avalokiteshvara is the most revered of the Bodhisattvas. He is often depicted with many heads and arms, the former symbolizing his ability to see the suffering of all beings and the latter his ability to serve all beings. In China, Avalokitesvara is known as Kuan Yin and is generally represented as female. In Tibet, Avalokitesvara is known as Chenrezig. Mahayana Buddhists saw the Theravada stream as exalting wisdom over compassion, and sought to redress the balance by placing much more emphasis on compassion.

Bhikkus / Bhikshus

Monks.

Bhikkunis / Bhikshunis

Nuns.

Bodhisattva

In Mahayana Buddhism, an awakened being - a person who has achieved enlightenment, but has who has chosen to remain in this world to help those who are suffering, instead of going on to nirvana. This is the highest ideal. Kuan Yin is an important Chinese bodhisattva. Amitabha Buddha is an important Bodhisattva in the Mahayana form of Buddhism called Pure Land.

Dhammapada

A book of the sermons of Buddha, with verses on a variety of subjects ranging from happiness, anger and craving to Enlightenment.

Dharma / Dhamma

The teachings of the Buddha .

Dharmachakrapravartana

Turning of the Wheel of Law. The first sermon preached by Buddha.

Eightfold Path

The eight steps by which a person can achieve Nirvana:

1) Right Views
2) Right Intent
3) Right Speech
4) Right Conduct
5) Right livelihood
6) Right effort
7) Right mindfulness
8) Right concentration

Four Noble Truths

The most basic statement of Buddhist belief :

1) All is suffering (dukkha)
2) Suffering is caused by desire
3) If one can eliminate desire, they can eliminate suffering
4) The Noble Eight-fold Path can eliminate desire

Gompa

Buddhist monastery.

Hinayana Buddhism

One of the three major branches of Buddhism (the others are Mahayana and Vajrayana), and the earliest to crystallize into form. In contrast to Mahayana and Vajrayana, Theravada emphasizes the individual over the group.

Jataka tales

More than 500 stories chronicling the former incarnations of the Buddha as a man and as an animal. They have the humour and liveliness of folk tales and fables. Though many of the Jataka stories have a moral, some are simple adventure tales. At the end of each story the hero is identified as a Bodhisattva. Episodes from the tales are carved on the gateway of the stupas of Sanchi and Bharhut among other sites, and also painted in the Ajanta Caves.

Karma

A doctrine that links a person's acts to their ethical consequences. Human actions lead to rebirth, wherein good deeds are rewarded and evil deeds punished. Thus, neither undeserved pleasure nor unwarranted suffering exists in the world, but rather a universal justice (as opposed to a system of divine judgment).

Lama

Teacher. One who is revered

Lotus Sutra

Probably the most important text of Mahayana Buddhism, it discusses all the things that differentiate Mahayana Buddhism from Theravada, such as the idea of a bodhisattva.

Mahaparinirvana

Set in the magnificently isolated Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh, Tabo is more than 1000 years old, making it the oldest continuously functioning Buddhist enclave in India . The 9 temples here, known for their murals and life-size statues, make Tabo one of the most significant art collections of the Tibetan Buddhist world. A small community of monks resides here.

Mahayana Buddhism

The largest and most influential of the three major branches of Buddhism (the others are Theravada or Hinayana, and Vajrayana), it was created by a group of reformist sects and is practiced in China, Japan, Taiwan, Nepal, Mongolia, Korea, Vietnam, and India. A newer form than Theravada Buddhism, it made extensive use of mythology and shifted the focus from Arhat (a person seeking Nirvana for their personal salvation) to Bodhisattva (one who postpones their entry into Nirvana until they can lead all other beings to Nirvana as well). To Mahayana Buddhists, Buddha was not only a teacher but also a saviour. Mahayana Buddhism is also notable for its advocacy of the laity and women as being capable of deep awakening, probably the earliest example of a theological feminism in a major world religion.Vajrayana and Zen Buddhism are offshoots of Mahayana Buddhism.

Maitreya

The Buddha who is expected to come in the future. He is sometimes depicted as the "Laughing Buddha" with his hands stretched over his head, a smile on his face, and a large, bare stomach. He represents all-encompassing love.

Mantra

A sound that is used as a focus for mediation or worship. Similar to Hinduism.

Nirvana

The state in which all suffering ceases . liberation from karma. Enlightenment comes a stage before nirvana.

Pali

A dialect of Sanskrit, thought to be the language in which the Buddha spoke. It is also the language of Theravada Buddhism - the Tripitaka is written in Pali.  

Rinpoche

A honorific term applied to monks in Vajrayana Buddhism. It literally means "greatly precious" and is given to masters who are highly valued for their spiritual knowledge. A Rinpoche is often believed to be the reincarnation of a lama, guru, or even a bodhisattva.

Literally "the wise one of the Sakyas". It is a name for the Buddha, who was born into the Sakya clan.

Sangha

Monastic order. Unlike most monastic orders, the Buddhist Sangha had an order for nuns as well as for monks.

Stupa

A shrine in which ashes and relics are kept (as in the Hindu burial mounds of the times). Originally built to enshrine the ashes of the Buddha. The center is a raised temple which is usually surrounded by a series of terraces.

Sutra

Sacred text. The Lotus Sutra is one of the important sutras .

Tangkhas

Cloth paintings, usually done on cotton or linen. Traditionally done by monks, they depict episodes from the Jataka Tales or The Life of Buddha. They are carried as talismans or as banners in religious processions, or unfurled on the walls of monasteries.

Tara

A female manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. She can appear in 21 different forms, both peaceful and wrathful.

Theravada Buddhism

One of the three major branches of Buddhism (the others are Mahayana and Vajrayana), and the earliest to crystallize into form. In contrast to Mahayana and Vajrayana, Theravada emphasizes the individual over the group. Its focus is the arhat , one who attains enlightenment in life and nirvana upon death (as contrasted to the Bodhisattva of Mahayana Buddhism, who postpones their entry into Nirvana until they can lead all other beings to Nirvana as well). The main social group is therefore the sangha , the monks and nuns who support each other as each strives to attain enlightenment.
Theravada or Hinayana has been popular in Sri Lanka , Thailand , Cambodia , Burma , and Laos .
The name, which literally means "the Little Way", is a derogatory term used by those who follow Mahayana Buddhism, which means "the Great Way ".

Tripitaka

Three anthologies of Buddhist canonical writings (scriptures). The first, Vinaya Pitaka , the Book of Discipline, deals with the rules of monastic order. The second, Sutra Pitaka , the Book of Discourses, deals with the ethical principles of the Buddha's teachings. The third, Abhidharma Pitaka , a collection on abstract philosophy, elaborates on the metaphysical principles underlying the doctrine.

Vajrayana Buddhism

One of the three main forms of Buddhism (the others are Mahayana and Theravada), this means "The Diamond Way" and is practiced largely in Tibet . It is often described as the 'completed Dharma' because it absorbed the doctrines of both Theravada and Mahayana and also embraced tantra. The most notable aspect of Vajrayana is that it enables a person to reach nirvana in a single lifetime.

Vipassana

A branch of Mahayana Buddhism, widely followed in Japan and the West. Practitioners of Zen must usually devote themselves to a life as a monk, for it requires extensive periods of meditation.