INTRODUCTION

This book is meant to provide basic information about Buddhism for students and others who have personal interest. It was especially designed as an aid for readers of the publications of the Buddhist Text Translation Society (BTTS), and the larger portion of the material presented consists of selections from BTTS publications. It is not meant as a scholarly tool, (although scholars are certainly welcome to read and use it).

The book is arranged in dictionary format and contains information on basic Buddhist concepts and lists. It can be used as a reference when reading Buddhist texts, and it can also function as an introduction to Buddhism. (See the "List of Introductory Readings" below.)

Buddhism A to Z is by no means all-inclusive. For instance, very little historical information is provided. The most basic important terms and lists are found in it, but from time to time the reader will fail to find what he or she is looking for. In those cases, the "Some Standard Reference Works Including Buddhist Subjects" contains information about standard reference works that will almost certainly be of use. References to non-Buddhist Text Translation Society publications were initially also planned for inclusion; however, it was decided that since that information can be readily located in the standard reference works, it would be omitted here.

The scope of the information found in the entries is not exhaustive. Many of the entries have an open-ended quality to them. The intent is to spur the interest of the reader to investigate further.

The following conventions have been adopted: All quotations from canonical works have been indented ten spaces. Quotations not indented and indicated by quotation marks are from modern works. In quotations from canonical works, if the speaker is not indicated, it is the Buddha Shakyamuni. In modern works, if the speaker is not indicated, it is the Venerable Master Hsuan-Hua, ninth patriarch of the Wei-Yang Chan lineage and founder and chairperson of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association.

Buddhism A to Z is by no means a finished work. Because of pressures to make it available, it has been decided to publish it in this preliminary form. The reader is cordially invited to participate in the development of the work for future editions by offering suggestions for its improvement and by providing information about errors and inaccuracies. Although many members of the BTTS have kindly contributed their suggestions and made corrections, the errors that remain are solely my responsibility.

Ronald Epstein

Dharma Realm Buddhist University
City of Ten Thousand Buddhas
Talmage, CA 95481-0217


HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

When using this book as a reference, look first under the term or list in question. If you do not find a list, then try under the key term in the list. If you do not find a term, try either another translation, the Sanskrit, or a related term. Be sure to consult the table of contents.

When using this book as an introduction to Buddhist teachings, see the section below entitled "List of Introductory Readings."

The Structure of the Entries

Most entries are structured following a pattern of going from easier to understand material to more difficult to understand material. Often the explanations progress according to level of teaching, culminating with the Mahayana teaching, but sometimes the progression is from less technical to more technical without regard to level of teaching.

Each entry will include some or all of the following elements:

ENTRY TITLE

INTRODUCTORY QUOTATION(S)

DEFINITION OF TERM OR LISTING OF MEMBERS OF LIST

SHORT EXPLANATORY ESSAY AND/OR QUOTATIONS

ENTRY REFERENCES (at the bottom of each entry, separated by a short line). The references include the following sections:

1) Ch.: lists the romanization in Jungwen (i.e., Chinese Mandarin pronunciation).

2) Skt.: lists one or more Sanskrit equivalents.

3) Pali: lists one or more Pali equivalents.

4) Alternate Translations: lists other translations that have been used or proposed for the same term or list. Some of the alternate translations listed may not be accurate. They are given partly so that readers can be aware of equivalents found in other translations.

SEE ALSO: Indicates other entries that may give additional information on the topic or be of related interest.

BTTS REFERENCES: References to the topic which can be found in Buddhist Text Translation Society publications.

Information to be Found

Following the Entries

The reader should consult the table of contents for the location of useful charts and tables that follow the entry section.


LIST OF INTRODUCTORY READINGS

For a general understanding of basic Buddhist teachings, start with the entries in Group I, then move on to Group II, and so forth. If you want information on a particular topic, read the specific entry that most closely approximates your topic, then check the entries listed under "SEE ALS0" at the end of the entry, then check the sources listed under "BTTS REFERENCES" and "OTHER REFERENCES".

I. KARMA

REBIRTH

ENLIGHTENMENT

BUDDHA

THUS COME ONE

DHARMA

II. ARHAT

FOUR HOLY TRUTHS

EIGHTFOLD PATH

TWELVEFOLD CONDITIONED ARISING

BODHISATTVA

PARAMITA

SIX PARAMITAS

III. SIX SPIRITUAL POWERS

SIX PATHS OF REBIRTH

TEN DHARMA REALMS

FIVE SKANDHAS

EIGHTEEN REALMS

FIVE MORAL PRECEPTS

IV. MEDITATION

MINDFULNESS

FOUR APPLICATIONS OF MINDFULNESS

LOTUS POSTURE

SAMADHI

CHAN SCHOOL

FOUR DHYANAS

FOUR FORMLESS REALMS

V. FIVE TYPES OF BUDDHIST STUDY AND PRACTICE

MAHAYANA AND HINAYANA COMPARED

PURE LAND

BUDDHA RECITATION

EIGHT CONSCIOUSNESSES

ONE HUNDRED DHARMAS

EMPTINESS

VI. DEMON

LINEAGE


TECHNICAL NOTES

1. Many passages from BTTS publications have been slightly edited and/or retranslated without each specific instance being indicated.

2. In quoted passages some attempt, though not an exhaustive one, has been made to standardize terminology.

3. Conventions:

a) Sanskrit and Pali diacritical marks are missing in the text of the entries but hopefully can be added in later editions. Diacritical marks are included in the Sanskrit and Pali sections of entry references.

b) Two slightly different conventions of romanization have been used for Sanskrit words depending upon whether or not they are treated as English. For those treated as English no diacritical marks will be used, and so the spelling is that English spelling closest to the pronunciation.

c) The following Sanskrit Buddhist terms have been treated as English words: Arhat, Bhikshu, Bhikshuni, Bodhisattva, Buddha, Hinayana, karma, Mahayana, nirvana, Pratyekabuddha, samadhi, stupa, sutra, Theravada.

The following words have been italicized to indicate that they have not yet become part of the English language: asura, bodhi, dhyana, gatha, kalpa, paramita, prajna, sarira, skandha, sramana, sravaka, upasaka, upasika, vajra, yang, yin. Of course other less well-known non-English terms are also underlined.

d) For the names of countries each country's own pronunciation and spelling of its name has been used; therefore: Nippon, not Japan; Deutschland, not Germany; and Junggwo, not China.

e) The Yale system of romanization has been adopted for Jungwen (i.e., Chinese), because as read by non-linguists it most closely approximates the actual pronunciation. However, in many quoted passages the reader will find other systems of romanization. Conversion tables to the more widely used Wade/Giles and Pinyin romanizations are found at the end of the book. NOTE: We are in the process of converting the romanization to Pinyin.


ABBREVIATIONS OF BTTS PUBLICATIONS

AS AMITABHA SUTRA

BNS BRAHMA NET SUTRA

BRF BUDDHA ROOT FARM

CL CHERISHING LIFE

CPL CH'AN AND PURE LAND DHARMA TALKS

(reprinted in LS, vol. 2)

DFS DHARMA FLOWER SUTRA

DS DHARANI SUTRA

EDR ENTERING THE DHARMA REALM (Ch. 39 of FAS)

FAS FLOWER ADORNMENT SUTRA

FAS­P FLOWER ADORNMENT SUTRA PROLOGUE

FAS­VP FLOWER ADORNMENT SUTRA VERSE PREFACE

FHS FILIALITY: THE HUMAN SOURCE

HD SHASTRA ON THE DOOR TO UNDERSTANDING THE HUNDRED

DHARMAS

HR HUMAN ROOTS

HS HEART SUTRA

LY LISTEN TO YOURSELF, THINK EVERYTHING OVER

NTC NEWS FROM TRUE CULTIVATORS

OYE OPEN YOUR EYES, TAKE A LOOK AT THE WORLD

PB PICTORIAL BIOGRAPHY OF THE VENERABLE MASTER HSU YUN

PDS PROPER DHARMA SEAL

PS SIXTH PATRIARCH'S DHARMA JEWEL PLATFORM SUTRA

RH CITY OF 10,000 BUDDHAS RECITATION HANDBOOK

RHS RECORDS OF HIGH SANGHANS

RL RECORDS OF THE LIFE OF THE VEN. MASTER HSUAN HUA

S42 SUTRA IN 42 SECTIONS

SE SONG OF ENLIGHTENMENT

SM SHURANGAMA MANTRA COMMENTARY

SPV SUTRA OF THE PAST VOWS OF EARTH STORE BODHISATTVA

SS SHURANGAMA SUTRA

SV SHRAMANERA VINAYA AND RULES OF DEPORTMENT

TD THE TEN DHARMA REALMS ARE NOT BEYOND A SINGLE THOUGHT

TS THREE STEPS ONE BOW

TT HEREIN LIES THE TREASURE TROVE

UW UNIVERSAL WORTHY'S CONDUCT AND VOWS (FAS, ch. 40)

VBS VAJRA BODHI SEA

VS VAJRA PARAMITA SUTRA

WM WATER MIRROR REFLECTING HEAVEN

WOH WITH ONE HEART BOWING TO THE CITY OF 10,000 BUDDHAS

WPG WORLD PEACE GATHERING

Volume numbers are indicated by roman numerals.



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