Buddhism A to Z

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BUDDHISM A TO Z
A Publication of the Buddhist Text Translation Society
© Copyright 1986, revised 1992, by Ron Epstein and the Buddhist Text Translation Society

Compiler and Editor: Ron Epstein
Reviewed by: Dharma Master Heng Shun et. al.
Proofreading by: Lin Chia-hui, Rita Lu, et. al.

A NEWLY REVISED PRINT EDITION IS NOW AVAILABLE::
Ronald B. Epstein, compiler. Buddhist Text Translation Society's Buddhism A to Z.
Burlingame, CA: Buddhist Text Translation Society, 2003.

*Please send corrections, including broken links, and suggestions for improvements to Prof. Epstein <epstein@sfsu.edu>.

Editor's note:

I have made the following unfinished work available despite some misgivings. I have done so for two main reasons: 1) I think that much of the material may be of value, particularly to students and to others who are not familiar with basic Buddhist teachings; and 2) it has been many years since I have had time to work on this project, so perhaps by making it known, others can consider helping to bring it to completion. Colleagues in the Buddhist Text Translation Society are working on bringing the work to publication, and I am sure that they would welcome assistance. When the print version is published, which hopefully will be in 2002, I shall also try to make that revised version available online.

Sanskrit diacritical marks are still missing, as are many of the Chinese characters. For the characters that are present, a Chinese internet viewer program is needed. (Otherwise the characters appear as unintelligible symbols.)

Ron Epstein

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Individual Entries: A - Z

Entries by Alphabetical Category:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Introduction
How to Use This Book
List of Introductory Readings
Technical Notes
Abbreviations
Buddhist Text Translation Society
Other References and Bibliography
Non-BTTS References for Entries

List of Individual Entries: A - Z

Ajita (Bodhisattva)

Amitabha (Buddha) see Amita (Buddha)

Ananda (Venerable)

anuttarasamyaksambodhi

Asanga (Bodhisattva)

asankhyeya/asamkhyeya

Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva)

Avatamsaka Sutra see Flower Adornment Sutra

Baozi (Chan Master)

Bodhidharma (Patriarch)

Bodhi resolve, (bringing forth)

Brahma Net Sutra

Budai (Venerable)

Buddha-recitation

Buddha-vehicle see Three Vehicles

Buddhism/Buddhadharma

Changzhi (Chan Master)

Changren (Chan Master)

City of Ten Thousand Buddhas see Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas

Consciousness-Only School

Daosheng (Venerable)

dhamma see Dharma/dharma

Dharma-Ending Age

Dharma Flower (Lotus) Sutra

Dharma-protector

Dharma-transmission

dhyana see meditation & Four Dhyanas

dhyana-meditation see Six Paramitas

Earth Store (Bodhisattva)

Eight Consciousnesses

Eighteen Realms

Eightfold Division of Ghosts and Spirits

Eighty-Eight Deluded Viewpoints

Eighty-Four Thousand Dharma-Doors

Eighty-One Cognitive Delusions

Eleven Benefits from Making Images of Buddhas

expedient Dharmas

false thinking see polluted thoughts

filial piety (respect for all)

Five Contemplations When Eating

Five Moral Precepts

Five Turbidities

Five Types of Buddhist Study and Practice

Flower Adornment Sutra

Four Applications of Mindfulness

Four Formless Realms

fourfold assembly

Four Great Elements

Four Great Vows

Four Holy Truths

Four Stations of Emptiness see Four Formless Realms

Four Unlimited Aspects of Mind

Gautama/Gotama (Buddha)

Good and Wise Advisor

Great Compassion Mantra

Great Vehicle see Mahayana and Hinayana Compared

Han-Shan and Shr-De (Bodhisattvas)

Hearers see Shravaka

heavens see gods

Hinayana see Mahayana and Hinayana Compared

hungry ghosts see Six Paths of Rebirth

Huineng (Chan Master/Patriarch)

Kshitigarbha (Bodhisattva) see Earth Store (Bodhisattva)

Kumarajiva (Tripitaka Master)

liberating living beings

Lotus Sutra see Dharma Flower (Lotus) Sutra

Madhyamaka see emptiness, Nagarjuna (Bodhisattva)

Mahakashyapa (Venerable)

Mahamaudgalyayana (Venerable)

Mahaparinirvana-Sutra see Nirvana Sutra

Mahayana Buddhism see Mahayana and Hinayana Compared

Mahayana and Hinayana Compared

Maitreya (Bodhisattva)

Manjushri (Bodhisattva)

Mara see demons

merit/merit and virtue

Nagarjuna (Bodhisattva)

no outflows see outflows

One Hundred Dharmas

One Thousand Hands and Eyes

polluted thoughts

precepts see moral precepts

Pure Land School see Five Types of Buddhist Study and Practice

Qingliang Chengguan (National Master)

ranking the teachings

refuge with the Three Jewels

Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas

Samantabhadra (Bodhisattva) see Universal Worthy (Bodhisattva)

Shakyamuni (Buddha)

Shariputra (Venerable)

sharira/sarira see relics

Shravaka/Sravaka

Shr-De (Bodhisattva) see Han-Shan and Shr-De (Bodhisattvas)

Shurangama Mantra

Shurangama Sutra

Six Desire Heavens

Six Paths of Rebirth

Six Principles of the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas

Six Spiritual Powers

Sixth Patriarch's Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra

Small Vehicle see Mahayana and Hinayana Compared

Sound-Hearer see Shravaka

Sutra in Forty-Two Sections

Sutra of the Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva

Syu-Yun (Chan Master)

Sywan-Dzang (Tripitaka Master)

Tantric (Esoteric) School see Five Types of Buddhist Study and Practice--Mysteries

Tathagata see Thus Come One

Tathagatagarbha

Ten Dharma Realms

Ten Grounds/Stages of the Path of the Bodhisattva

Ten Titles of a Buddha

Ten Wholesome Deeds

Theravada Buddhism

Thirty-Two Major Phyical Characteristics of a Buddha

Thousand Handed Thousand Eyed Dharani Sutra see Dharani Sutra

Three Aspects of Learning to Be Without Outflows

Three Bodies of a Buddha/Three Types of Buddha-Bodies

Three Refuges see refuge with the Three Jewels

Three Realms see Three Worlds

transference of merit

Transformation-bodies

Tripitaka Master

Tushita Heaven see Six Desire Heavens

Twelvefold Conditioned Arising

Tyan-Tai School

Universal Worthy (Bodhisattva)

Vajra (Diamond) Prajna Paramita Sutra

Vasubandhu (Bodhisattva)

Way see Middle Way

Yogacara see Consciousness-Only School

Zen see Chan School

Zhi'i (Venerable)

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Revised May, 2001.