Monday, April 25, 2011

Interdependence

Everything arises due to causes and conditions, dependent origination.

Hinayana

Theravadan buddhism which seeks personal nirvana.

Guru Yoga

a devotional practice of Tibetan Buddhism.

Great Sage

Buddha Shakyamuni

Four Noble Truths

1. Suffering exists
2. There is a cause for the suffering
3. It is possible to cease suffering
4. The 8 fold path is the way out

Former Great Vow

To save all beings and bring them to Buddhahood

Five Paths

The stages which beings progress to liberation:
1.accumulation
2.deepening of understanding of reality
3.the path of seeing direct realization of emptiness (now on first bhumi)
4.now using meditation to progress from the 2nd to 10th level bhumi
5.path of no more learning...one has achieved buddhahood.

Five Hundred Great Aspirations

The aspirations made by the Buddha Shakyamuni which led to his becoming a Nirmanakaya Buddha

Five Aggregates/Skandas

1. Form (all things physical)
2. Feeling (happiness, unhappiness or neutral)
3. Perception (detecting the special characteristics of an object such as shape, color, etc.)
4. Formation (variable affection experience not covered by the other 4)
5. Consciousness (vision, sounds, smells, taste, touch and mind)

These Skandas come together at birth and separate at death.

Equanimity

Nondiscrimination of sentient beings into categories such as friend, enemy or stranger. All sentient beings want happiness and don't want suffering. Equanimity is the impartial mind that opens the way to great love, compassion and bodhicitta

Emptiness

Sanskrit = shunyata
Complete openess without obstruction.

Eight Fold Path

a basic tenet of Buddhism that leads to liberation.
right understanding
right aim
right speech
right action
right livelihood
right effort
right mindfulness
right concentration

ed. note need link to good writing on the 8 fold path

Eight Heart Sons

10th level Bhumis:
Manjushri
Vajrapani
Avalokiteshvara
Maitreya
Kshitigarbha
Sarvanivarana-vishva-kambin/Dripa Namsal
Akasagarbha/Namkai Nyingpo
Samantabhadra

Ed. note need to include thangka pics of each as well as a page dedicated. also short notes on this page of what each is known for.

Dharmaraja

the Shakyamuni Buddha aka King of Dharma

Dharmakaya

the true nature of phenomena which is beyond duality.

Dharma

It usually refers to the spiritual teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha. An expanded definition of "Dharma" would mean "phenomena"...both external and internal.

(editor's note...this post is still in progress)

Deva

an inhabitant of the heavenly realms..."shining one"

Dependent Arising/Origination

All phenomena appear due to causes. There is never a single cause or condition.
See 12 Links of dependent arising

Degenerate Age of Strife

The five degenerations of the age of strife are:
1.decreased life span
2.decline in the quality of food, water and/or air
3.degeneration of disturbing emotions meaning a decline in the virtues of householders (non monks and nuns). Increased negative emotions.
4.decreased virtues of the sangha, increase in wrong or misunderstood views
5.degeneration of experience...meaning decline in physical form, intellect, health, etc.

Dark Age

The time (right now) where people are thoughtlessly driven by anger, pride, jealousy, lust, and the lesser confused mental states.

Buddha

Sang gye in Tibetan.
"Sang" means all emotional defilements have been subdued.
"gye" means increased or completely perfect qualities (i.e. wisdom, loving kindness, etc.)

Historical Buddha
Cosmic Buddha

(editors note: post is still in progress)

Bodhi tree

Sacred fig tree where Buddha attained enlightenemnt

Bodhichitta

The wish for Enlightenment.
Awakening Mind.

It is the wish to achieve Buddhahood for the benefit of others which is the prime motivation for practitioners of the Mahayana path.

Three views of Boddhicitta:
King-like: you achieve enlightenment first to help others
Shepherd-like: where you stay behind and guide others to enlightenment before yourself
Ferryman-like: where you achieve enlightenment along with others

Bhagawan

one who has destroyed all obstacles and has transcended the world

Bhagavat

An epthet for Buddha which is often translated as blessed one, meaning possessing fortune, venerable, or holy.

Avatamsaka Sutra

One of the most influential Mayahana Sutras which details the path of the bodhisatva's practice through 10 stages/bhumis to buddhahood. The English translation of this is "Flower Garland Sutra".

Avalokiteshvara


The boddhisatva who emanated from the eye of Buddha Amitabha when he was moved from tears by the suffering of sentient beings. An embodiment of compassion who vowed not to assume buddhahood until all being in all realms of existence were liberated.

Manifested most recently as Padmasambava. He is associated with the 6 syllable mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" which is said to be able to liberate anyone under any circumstance.

Video of 6 syllable

Arahat

A person whose mind is free of defilement and is not destined for rebirth

Amrita

Nectar of Blessings, Amrita is blessed water or medicinal substances