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Basic Terms & Concepts
in Mysticism & Buddhism
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Abhidharma
Higher Dharma, extra Dharma (Buddha’s
Teachings): The third division of the “baskets” of
Buddhist Canon of the Theravada & Mahayana
Schools; a commentary and analysis on the
sermons and sutras;
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Acarya / Acharya
teacher or master
Ajahn
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Advaita
in Sanskrit = non-twoness; non-duality; in philosophy =
monism; in metaphysics = Oneness;
Advaita is the Vedantic doctrine of non-duality or monism
advocated by Sankara, which holds that
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Ahamkara
“I-ing”, “I-making”, egotism;
having or making the feeling of “I”;
a cruder, stronger sense of ego…
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Ahimsa
non-harming; non-killing; non-violence;
one of the most important aspects of the
Hindu & Buddhist spiritual attitude and
practice;
the rule of vegetarianism among Hindus &
Buddhists is based on this principle…
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Alaya Vijnana
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Amitabha Buddha
Chinese Omitofo, Japanese Amida, Vietnamese A-Di-Da, the Buddha
of Infinite Light & Infinite Life “the archetype of cosmic
compassion”, venerated by all Mahayana Schools, especially Pure
Land;
Presides over the Western Pure Land (Land of Ultimate Bliss), where,
according to Buddha’s promise in the Amitabha Sutra, anyone can be
reborn through sincere and single-minded recitation of his name;
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Anatman, anatta
non-self; non-ego;
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Anicca, aniccata
anicca = impermanent
aniccata = impermanence
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Arahant
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Atman
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Avidya
ignorance
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Being
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Bhiksu / Bhikku
Buddhist monk
Bhiksuni / Bhikkhuni
Buddhist nun
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Bodhi Mind / Boddhicitta
Great Mind, the precondition for Buddhahood:
The spirit of Enlightenment
The aspiration to achieve Enlightenment
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Bodhisattva
one who aspires to Supreme Enlightenment
and Buddhahood for him/herself and for all
human beings;
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Dharma
law, doctrine;
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Dukkha
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God
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Karma
action;
actions of body, speech and mind due to
wholesome and unwholesome volitions: good
volitions and actions bring good results and bad
volitions and actions bad results;
the Buddha taught the noble eightfold path to end
all karma, which ends Samsara and “the doer”…
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Koan
Zen riddle
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Mandala
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Mantra
a prescribed sacred formula, originally only in Eastern mystical religions,
often passed down from a guru (teacher) as an aid to meditation or
contemplation;
examples of a mantra:
Om or AUM (Hindu)
Hari Krishna, Hari Krishna,
Krishna Krishna, Hari Hari;
Hari Rama, Hari Rama,
Rama Rama, Hari Hari…
Om Mani Padme Hum (Tibetan)
Lord Jesus, son of God,
have mercy on me, a sinner (Jesus Prayer or mantra)…
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Maya
illusion;
not necessarily meaning something which
does not exist at all, but something that is
seen incorrectly, without proper insight into
its true nature…
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Moksha
liberation
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Muni
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Mystic Union / Unio Mystica
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Nirvana
coolness; quenching;
the Absolute, the Supreme, the Ultimate Reality in
Buddhism – the goal of all Buddhist practice, and
the potential of all humanity;
when the fires of defilement, attachment,
selfishness and suffering are permanently cooled…
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Noumenon
Ultimate Inner Truth; Absolute Reality;
the-thing-itself;
apparent “opposite” of all phenomena (of the
things-as-they-appear), beyond all duality and
multiplicity…
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One
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Ouroboros
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Reality
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Reincarnation
the passing (of Alaya Consciousness) from
one body to be reborn in another body
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Rishi
seer
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Samadhi
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Samsara
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Sangha
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Sat-Chit-Ananda
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Satori
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Silence
in Christian mysticism: God is in silence, not speech;
in Hinduism: mouna = silence (many gurus, e.g. Sri
Ramana Maharshi, taught in silence);
in Buddhism: Noble Silence – speaking only when
necessary;
one of the most profound lessons Buddha gave was
when he sat with his disciples in silence, holding up a
flower; only Kashyapa understood & smiled and got
the flower – this is probably how Ch’an / Zen
began…
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Skandhas
components or aggregates representing body and
mind;
Feeling
Conception
Impulse
Consciousness
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Sunyata
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Sunyata and Wu-Wei, Wu Hsin & Wu-Nien
Wu-wei = no-action
Wu-hsin = no-mind
Wu-nien = no-thought
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Sunyata – the “element” beyond all elements
renunciation of immateriality
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Tathagata
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Tathata
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The Main Schools of Buddhism
Theravada
Mahayana
Pure Land
Ch’an / Zen
Vajrayana / Tibetan
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The Three Universal Truths
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The Triple Gem & Three
Refuges
Buddhists are united in their belief in the:
Buddha
Because these are also the sources of help and support to the believers, they are also
known as the Three Refuges:
I go to the Buddha as my refuge
I go to the Dharma as my refuge
I go to the Sangha as my refuge
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Tripitaka or Tipitaka
The “three baskets” of Buddhist scriptures:
The Sutras = Buddha’s discourses and
sermons;
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Via Affirmativa
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10 Wholesome Courses of Action
1. Generosity (Dana)
2. Morality (Sila)
3. Meditation (Bhavana)
4. Reverence
5. Service
6. Transference of merit
7. Rejoicing in other’s merit
8. Hearing the Doctrine / Dharma
9. Expounding the Doctrine
10. Straightening of one’s own views
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10 Unwholesome Courses of Action
1. Killing
2. Stealing
3. Sexual misconduct & abuse of the senses
4. Lying
5. Slandering
6. Harsh speech
7. Frivolous talk
8. Covetousness
9. Ill-will
10. False view
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Via Negativa
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Vipassana
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Yin & Yang
male & female
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Yoga
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Zen
The name Zen is Japanese. It derives from the Chinese Chan'an-na or
briefly Ch’an, which in turn comes from the Sanskrit Dhyana,
meaning Meditation in English.
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Thank You
Ivan Frimmel
Cell: 082-454-0311
E-mail: ivan.frimmel@nanhua.co.za
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