GLOSSARY Abyakata, Avyakata Neutral Kamma. Kamma that is not good (Kusala) or bad (Akusala
GLOSSARY
Abyakata, Avyakata Neutral Kamma. Kamma that is not good (Kusala)
or bad (Akusala)
Acariya, Acharn Acharn is the Thai derivation of Acariya which
means "Teacher."
Akusala Bad, unhealthy, wrong or evil in regard to
actions (Kamma).
Anagami See Ariya.
Anapanasati The meditation in which one focuses one's
attention and mindfulness on the feeling of the
breath going in and out at one point such as the
tip of the nose.
Anatta, Anicca See Ti-Lakkhana.
Arammana The object which is presented to the Citta at
any moment. This object is derived from the 5
senses or direct from the mind (memory,
thoughts, feeling). It is not the external
object (in the world) but that object after
having been processed by one's preconceptions
and predispositions.
Ariya One who has gained the Path (Magga) leading to
Nibbana. This includes the Sotapanna, the
Sakadagami, the Anagami, and Arahant. Each stage
involves the elimination of some major
defilements (Samyojana) until the Arahant
eliminates them all.
Ayatana Spheres of sensation. They include the internal
Ayatana -- eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and
heart -- and the external Ayatana -- the spheres
of sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and
mind.
Bhavana The practice of training one's Citta by
developing the various aspects of meditation.
Bhavanga That underlying stream of continuity which the
Citta drops to when it goes completely calm and
still. It may be called the underlying basis of
the "Self" concept and it is that which leads to
future births.
Bhumi The ground or basic foundation of the Citta.
Thus Arahatta Bhumi is the basic state of the
Arahant's Citta.
Cankama Walking back and forth, usually as a mode of
meditation practice.
Citta Mind, heart, consciousness (in some senses). It
is that basis in a person which is "central"
whereas everything else including all five
Khandhas are peripheral.
Dhamma The ultimate meaning of Dhamma is not definable
in words but it lies in the direction of "Truth"
or "Reality." The more usual meaning is that of
the Buddha Dhamma or Sasana Dhamma which is that
teaching which leads to the ultimate Dhamma.
Dhatu The four elements of earth, water, fire, and air.
Dukkha Discontent, suffering, pain, anxiety, anguish, etc.
Jhana Various levels of Samadhi which some people can
attain. They include the 4 Rupa (Form) Jhanas
and the 4 Arupa (Formless) Jhanas.
Kammatthana (Kamma - action, thana - a basis). That object
or subject of meditation which leads one to gain
skill in Samadhi and Panna. Many meditation
Bhikkhus in Thailand talk of their way of
practice and behaviour as being the way of
Kammatthana.
Khandha Heaps or groups. Technically this always refers
to the five Khandhas: body (Rupa Khandha),
feeling (Vedana Khandha), memory (Sanna
Khandha), thought (Sankhara Khandha),
consciousness (Vinnana Khandha). These are the
five groups that form what we call a person.
Kilesas Defilements based on greed, hatred, and
delusion. Also including conceit,
opinionatedness, uncertainty, torpidity,
restlessness, lack of conscience, lack of fear
of the consequences of doing wrong and whatever
else tends to the production of bad, unwholesome
states.
Kusala Whatever is healthy (mentally) or good.
Metta Friendliness or love (in the more platonic
sense).
Nama Those four groups that make up the mind. Nama is
usually paired with Rupa, the two together being
the same thing as the five Khandhas.
Nibbana That which is attained when the Kilesas have all
been entirely dispersed.
Niyyanika "Leading out of." Often descriptive of the
Buddha Dhamma as leading out of Samsara.
Panna Wisdom.
Parikamma A preparatory meditation, such as repetition of
"Buddho" or setting up one's mindfulness on
breathing.
Patisandhi Re-uniting. Patisandhi Vinnana is that form of
consciousness which is similar to Bhavanga
Citta, but which occurs at death, thereby
leading the Citta to re-unite with the Khandhas
in a new birth.
Rupa Form. The literal meaning is "shape" or visual
form. But it is often used to refer to the
physical body -- as in Rupa Khandha.
Sacca Dhamma Dhamma Truth. Usually refers to the Four Noble
Truths: Dukkha, Samudaya (the origin of Dukkha),
Nirodha (the ceasing of Dukkha), and Magga (the
path leading to the ceasing of Dukkha).
Sakadagami See Ariya.
Samadhi A state of calm attained by meditation practice.
It has many levels depending on the degree of
absorption of the Citta with the object of the
meditation.
Samapatti The attainment of Jhana.
Samatha Calm.
Sammuti Convention. The mundane world in the sense that it is
made up of relative conventions.
Samsara The universe of birth and death including all
possible realms of life.
Samudaya See Sacca Dhamma.
Sankhara As Sankhara Khandha it means thoughts or
imaginations by putting together sense
perceptions, memories, and feelings. The more
general sense of the meaning of Sankhara is
those parts of factors which make up any object
or state.
Sannavedayitanirodha - The cessation of Sanna (memory) and Vedana
(feeling). This is the ultimate level of
subtlety which can be attained by Samadhi, and
is one stage beyond the highest Arupa Jhana.
Sarana A refuge. The well-known Ti-Sarana (3 refuges)
are the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha.
Sati Mindfulness.
Savaka Literally "hearer." One who heard the Dhamma
from the Buddha.
Savaka Arahant Those Savakas who attained Arahantship at the
time of the Lord Buddha.
Sila Moral behaviour.
Sotapanna Stream attainer. See Ariya.
Sukha Pleasure or happiness, contrasted with Dukkha.
Svakkhata Svakkhata Dhamma, the well-taught Dhamma.
Tan This is a Thai word meaning Venerable. Thus: Tan
Acharn; Ven. Acariya.
Tathagata The "Thus-gone," meaning the Buddha.
Ti-Lakkhana The three marks of all phenomena: anicca
(non-permanence), Dukkha (unsatisfactoriness),
and Anatta (not-self).
Upadana Grasping, attachment.
Vimutti Freedom (antonym of Sammuti).
Vinnana Consciousness.
Vipaka The result or fruition of Kamma.
Vipassana Insight wisdom. Synonymous with Panna.
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