[C] GLOSSARY OF BUDDHIST TERMS - 2
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Easy Practice: One of the two kinds of practice distinguished by
Nagarjuna, the other being Difficult Practice; this refers to recitation
of the names of Buddhas and bodhisattvas with sincere faith; this is easier
and more efficacious than self-power practices.
effortless spontaneity The ultimate state of Enlightenment in which
everything occurs in accord with truth and reality without effort; the
nirvanic state to be attained in the Pure Land.
eight abstinences The eight precepts which a lay Buddhist should observe
on fixed days of the month: (1) not killing living beings, (2) not stealing,
(3) not having sexual intercourse, (4) not telling lies, (5) not drinking
intoxicants, (6) not wearing bodily decoration, not using perfumes, not
singing and dancing, and not going to see dances or plays, (7) not sleeping
in a raised bed, and (8) not eating after noon.
eight hells Refers to the eight scorching hells; cf. Larger
Sutra Mandala.
eight levels of consciousnesses According to the doctrine of Consciousness-Only
school, we have the following eight consciousnesses:
(1st-5th) five consciousnesses corresponding
to the five sense perceptions, (6th) mental
consciousness, the function of which is to
discriminate objects, (7th) ego-consciousness,
and (8th) Alaya-consciousness, which is the
fundamental consciousness of one's existence.
56.
eight excellent qualities (the water of) The water of the ponds
in the Land of Utmost Bliss possesses the following eight qualities: pure,
cool, sweet, smooth, moistening, comforting, thirst-quenching, and nourishing.
eight kinds of superhuman beings The eight kinds of superhuman beings
believed to be protectors of Buddhism: devas, dragons, yaksas, gandharvas,
asuras, garudas, kimnaras, and mahoragas.
eight qualities of tones The eight superior qualities of the Buddha's
voice: (1) a pleasant voice, (2) a soft voice, (3) a harmonious voice,
(4) a dignified and wise voice, (5) a masculine voice, (6) an unerring
voice, (7) a deep and far-reaching voice, and (8) an inexhaustible voice
eight samadhis of emancipation The eight ways of meditation for
removing various attachments: (1) removing passions by meditating on impurity
of one's body, (2) strengthening emancipation from passions by meditating
on impurity of external objects, (3) removing passions by meditating on
pure aspects of external objects, (4) removing attachment to material objects
by meditating on boundless void, (5) removing attachment to void by meditating
on boundless consciousness, (6) removing attachment to consciousness by
meditating on non-existence, (7) removing attachment to non-existence by
meditating on the state of neither thought nor non-thought, and (8) extinguishing
all thoughts and perceptions and dwelling in the state of total extinction.
Eightfold Noble Path The eight items of practice leading to Nirvana:
right view, right thoughts, right speech, right acts, right living, right
effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation.
Eighteenth Vow The most important of all the forty-eight vows of
Amida, in which he presents salvation through Nembutsu-Faith; cf. Forty-eight
Vows.
eighty secondary marks The eighty subordinate physical characteristics
attending the 32 major marks of the Buddha:
(1) copper-colored nails, (2) soft and glossy
nails, (3) highly curved nails, (4) round
fingers, (5) tapering fingers, (6) strong
fingers, (7) hidden veins, (8) veins without
knots, (9) unexposed ankles, (10) both feet
identical, (11) steps like a lion's, (12)
steps like an elephant's, (13) steps like
a swan's, (14) steps like a bull's, (15)
turning the head clockwise to look back,
(16) beautiful manner of walking, (17) upright
walking, (18) well-framed limbs, (19) immaculate
limbs, (20) well-balanced limbs, (21) clean
limbs, (22) soft limbs, (23) strong limbs,
(24) complete male organ, (25) broad, elegant
and round limbs, (26) walking with an even
step, (27) delicate limbs, (28) unimpaired
limbs, (29) symmetrical and majestic body,
(30) well-joined limbs, (31) well-proportioned
limbs and members, (32) pure and unobscured
eye-sight, (33) rounded abdomen, (34) spotless
abdomen, (35) unfurrowed abdomen, (36) convex
abdomen, (37) deep-seated navel, (38) right-turning
navel, (39) readiness to help others equally,
(40) noble conduct, (41) body without freckles,
(42) hands as soft as cotton, (43) brilliant
lines on the hand, (44) deep lines on the
hand, (45) unbroken lines on the hand, (46)
face not too long, (47) lips red like the
Bimba (=Coccina indica) fruit, (48) soft
tongue, (49) thin tongue, (50) red tongue,
(51) voice like an elephant's roar and like
thunder, (52) sweet and pleasant voice, (53)
perfect teeth, (54) sharp teeth, (55) white
teeth, (56) even teeth, (57) tapering teeth,
(58) high nose, (59) nose not too long, (60)
pure eyes, (61) broad eyes, (62) beautiful
eyebrows, (63) eyes like the petal of a blue
Kuvalaya (=Nymphaea Lotus), (64) blue-black
eyebrows, (65) soft eyebrows, (66) regular
eyebrows, (67) lustrous eyebrows, (68) large
ears, (69) both ears identical, (70) healthy
ears, (71) forehead well fitted to the face,
(72) broad forehead, (73) well-developed
head, (74) blue-black hair, (75) closely
growing hair, (76) soft hair, (77) undishevelled
hair, (78) smooth and even hair, (79) fragrant
hair, and (80) palms and soles marked with
Svastika and other auspicious signs.
Eiku A great Tendai monk who lived on Mt. Hiei and one of Honen's
teachers; he died in 1179.
eko 'Merit-transference'; Amida transfers his merit to us through
the Name; in Shinran's system of salvation, Amida's merit-transference
works in two directions: (1) for our birth in the Pure Land and attain
Enlightenment (oso) and (2) for our returning to the world of Samsara to
save other beings (genso).
Eleventh Vow The Vow of Unfailing Attainment of Nirvana; this vow
promises that those born in the Pure Land dwell in the Stage of Right Assurance
and unfailingly reach Nirvana; in Shinran's interpretation, those who attain
Faith of the Other-Power dwell in the Stage of Right Assurance in this
life and definitely reach Nirvana in the Pure Land; cf. Forty-eight
Vows.
embryonic state The aspirants to the Pure Land who cultivate merits
by doing good acts but fail to awake to the Buddha's wisdom are, metaphorically,
born within lotus-flowers, where they stay for 500 years without being
able to see or hear the true Buddha, Dharma and Sangha; opposed to 'born
by transformation'.
Encircling Adamantine Mountains The outermost mountain-range made
of iron which encircles a world-system; cf. Mount Sumeru.
Enlightened One Refers to a Buddha.
Enlightenment Bodhi in Skt.; the final goal of Buddhism; the state
of fully developed wisdom.
Enryakuji Temple The head temple of the Tendai sect on Mt. Hiei;
its origin dates back to 785, when Saicho built a hut there to study and
practice Buddhism.
eranda A foul-smelling tree.
Essential Meanings of the Contemplation Sutra The first fascicle
of the four-fascicle commentary on the Contemplation Sutra by Shan-tao.
eternal bliss of Dharma-nature The highest spiritual state attending
realization of the ultimate reality.
evil paths The three evil realms: hell and the realm of hungry spirits
and that of animals; cf. three evil realms.
Exalted Being Mahasattva; used as a synonym of 'bodhisattva'.
'existence' and 'non-existence' The two extreme views regarding the ultimate
nature of things, i.e. the view that there
is some eternally abiding substance in things
and the view that there is no such substance in
them; Nagarjuna denied those dichotomous
views and presented the truth of the Middle
Path.
Extinct Dharma (age of) The period following the three Dharma-ages;
in this period all the Buddhist teachings cease to exist to guide people
to Enlightenment.
Extinction Refers to Nirvana, for it is the state free of evil passions.
Return toIndex; Glossary Index.
Fa-chao 'Hossho' in Japanese; -773; one of the prominent Chinese
Pure Land masters. He first went up Mt. Lu, where he practiced the Nembutsu
Samadhi, and later, in 766, he saw Amida in a vision and learned from him
the method of chanting the Nembutsu in five movements; he has been regarded
as an incarnation of Shan-tao.
Faith of the Universal Vow The Other-Power Faith promised in the
Eighteenth Vow.
Faith of the Other-Power Faith awakened by the Other-Power; Amida's
Mind transferred to us.
fearlessness Refers to the four forms of fearlessness in preaching
the Dharma. Those attributed to a Buddha are: (1) fearlessness in asserting
that he has attained the perfect Enlightenment, (2) fearlessness in asserting
that he has destroyed all defilements, (3) fearlessness in pointing out
evil passions of sentient beings, and (4) fearlessness in expounding the
method of emancipation.
Fen-chou The name of the place in Shan-his Province where T'an-luan
lived.
fidere A Latin word meaning 'to trust', from which the word 'faith'
is derived.
fire-element One of the five constituent elements of one's existence.
fire-ice analogy An analogy used by T'an-luan to show that even
if one has an attached view about the mode of life in the Pure Land, it
will be spontaneously removed when one is born there, just as a fire made
on ice is spontaneously extinguished by the water produced.
first fruit The first of the four stages of sainthood in Hinayana;
Sk. srota-apatti-phala, 'the fruit of entering the stream (of the Dharma)';
one attains this stage by destroying various wrong views.
first, second and third insights into the nature of dharmas See
three insights (L7).
five acts of merit for attaining Non-retrogression, 1. not perceiving one's
own self, 2. not perceiving sentient beings, 3. not expounding the Dharma
with discriminative views, 4. not perceiving Bodhi, and 5. not perceiving
Buddhas with their physical characteristics.
five aggregates The five constituent elements of all existences;
the five skandhas; they are: matter, perception, conception, volition,
and consciousness.
five burnings The sufferings one receives in the next life
as the retribution from the five evils.
five causal practices The Five Mindful Practices that are performed
in this world are the cause of the five results in the Pure Land.
five defilements The five signs of corruption and defilement said
to mark the cosmic period in which man's life-span is less than 20,000
years: (1) defilement of kalpa, because famines, plagues, and wars arise
during this period, (2) defilement of views, because wrong views arise,
(3) defilement by evil passions, because they become intense, (4) defilement
of sentient beings, because they reject the morality and the law of causation,
or because they are physically and mentally weak and so suffer greatly,
and (5) defilement of life, because man's life-span is short. The five
defilements become serious when man's life-span decreases to less than
a hundred years.
five different paths of Samsara The five states of existence in
Samsara, i.e. hell and the realms of hungry spirits, animals, men and heavenly
beings.
five elements The five constituent elements of one's existence:
earth, water, fire, wind and space.
five evil realms The five states of existence in samsara: hell and
the realms of hungry spirits, animals, humans and devas.
five five-hundred-year periods According to the Great Collection
Sutra, the history of Buddhism after the Buddha's death is divided into
five 500-year periods, each characterized by a particular feature: (1)
in the first period Buddhist practicers attain emancipation, (2) in the
second, they steadfastly practice meditation, (3) in the third, they eagerly
listen to the Buddhist teaching, (4) in the fourth, they are bent on building
temples, and (5) in the fifth, they are engaged in doctrinal disputes.
five good deeds There are two interpretations: (1) observance of
the five precepts for lay Buddhists, i.e. not killing, not stealing, not
committing adultery, not telling lies, and not using intoxicants, and (2)
the five constant virtues of Confucianism, i.e. humanity, righteousness,
propriety, knowledge, and sincerity.
five gravest offenses The five gravest evil acts; they are: killing
one's father, killing one's mother, killing an arhat, causing the Buddha's
body to bleed, and causing disunity in the Buddhist order; one who has
committed any of those is destined to hell to suffer immeasurable pain
for many aeons.
five kinds of suffering (1) The pain accompanying one's birth, (2)
the pain of getting old, (3) the pain of illness, (4) the pain of death,
and (5) the pain of separation from those one loves (M8).
Five Mindful Practices The Yogacara-Pure Land system of practice
established by Vasubandhu for the attainment of birth in the Pure Land
and final Enlightenment; they are: (1) worshiping Amida, (2) praising his
merit and virtue, (3) aspiring for birth in the Pure Land, (4) contemplation
of Amida, his Pure Land and bodhisattvas there, and (5) merit-transference.
five powers The five powers obtained by the practice of the five
roots of goodness: (1) firm faith in the Buddha and Dharma, (2) great effort,
(3) mindfulness, (4) deep concentration, and (5) deep wisdom.
five precepts The five precepts for laymen and laywomen; 1. not
killing, 2. not stealing, 3. not committing adultery, 4. not telling lies,
and 5. not drinking intoxicants.
five resultant states The five results of the Five Mindful Practices:
1. gate of approach, 2. gate of great assemblage, 3. gate of residence,
4. gate of chamber, and 5. gate of playing ground.
Five Right Acts The Pure Land system of practice established by
Shan-tao for attaining birth in the Pure Land; they are: (1) chanting sutras,
(2) meditating on Amida and his Pure Land, (3) worshiping Amida, (4) reciting
the Nembutsu, and (5) praising Amida's virtue. The fourth is called Act
of Right Assurance, and the remaining four are called Auxiliary Acts.
five roots of goodness (1) Faith in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha,
(2) efforts to practice good, (3) mindfulness
of the Buddha-Dharma, (4) concentration,
and (5) insight into the true nature of existence.
five rules for reaching Bodhi without retrogression 1. the mind
of equanimity towards sentient beings, 2. not envying others' possessions,
3. not criticizing preachers for errors, 4. joyful faith in the Dharma,
and 5. not seeking others' respect.
five sense-organs Eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and the whole body treated
as a tactile organ.
five sufferings The sufferings one receives in this life as the
retribution for the five evils.
five supernatural powers The five transcendent powers of a Buddha,
bodhisattva or arhat: (1) the ability to go anywhere at will and to transform
oneself or objects at will, (2) the ability to see anything at any distance,
(3) the ability to hear any sound at any distance, (4) the ability to know
others' thoughts, and (5) the ability to know the former lives of oneself
and others.
fivefold three thoughts toward beggars 1. think that these beggars
are good teachers, wish that they will be wealthy when reborn, and think
that they assist in your attainment of Bodhi; 2. think of removing your
stinginess, think of abandoning everything, and think of seeking all wisdoms;
3. think of following the Tathagata's teaching, not seeking reward, and
think of subduing maras; 4. think that they are your relatives, resolve
not to discard the four rules of embracing beings, and seek to avoid wrongdoing
and abide by righteousness; and 5. think of removing desires, of cultivating
compassion, and developing wisdom. The last three thoughts are the most
important in this discourse.
flood at the end of the period of cosmic change One of the three
calamities which occurs at the end of the world; first, seven suns appear
in the sky and burn out the world, then the whole world is flooded with
water, and finally, everything in the world is blown away by strong winds.
Flower of Enlightenment Refers to Amida's Enlightenment.
flowers in the sky Illusory images seen by those with eye-diseases;
metaphorically, all that are perceived and conceived by unenlightened people
are delusory phantoms like flowers in the sky.
formlessness Absence of characteristic features of existences.
four bases of virtue Four bases of virtue: 1. seeking truth, 2.
giving gifts. 3.destroying karmic evils, and 4. cultivating wisdom.
four 'black' acts 1. making offerings to one's teacher in
a wrong way, 2. wrongly forcing others to
repent of their evils, 3. being angry with
those who follow Mahayana, and 4. entertaining
flattery and crookedness when practicing at
the place of one's teacher.
four continents According to Buddhist cosmology, there are four
continents in the outermost ocean surrounding Mt. Sumeru.
Four Discourses The four discourses originally written by Indian
masters and used as the canonical texts of the Four-discourse school; they
are: (1) Discourse on the Middle by Nagarjuna, (2) Twelve-Gate Discourse
by Nagarjuna, (3) One Hundred-Verse Discourse by Aryadeva, and Great Wisdom
Discourse (Commentary on the Prajnaparamita Sutra) by Nagarjuna.
four faults in the acts of Dana 1. not directing the acts of Dana
to Bodhi, 2. lacking the proper method, 3. seeking rebirth in a lower state
of existence, and 4. approaching a bad teacher.
four fruits The four stages of sagehood in Hinayana: 1. 'the fruit
of entering the stream' of the sacred law to be attained by destroying
various wrong views (srota-apatti-phala), 2. 'the fruit of returning once more' to
be attained by destroying gross evil
passions (sakrid-agami-phala),
3. 'the fruit of not returning' to be attained by destroying more of one's
evil passions (anagami-phala), and 4. 'the fruit of arhatship' to
be attained by destroying all evil passions (arhat-phala).
four great oceans The oceans surrounding Mount Sumeru.
four groups of followers of the Buddha The four groups of those
forming the Buddhist order: (1) monks, (2) nuns, (3) laymen, and (4) laywomen.
four kinds of acts of Dana 1. both the donor and the recipient are
pure, 2. the donor is pure but the recipient is impure, 3. the donor is
impure but the recipient is pure, and 4. both are impure.
four kinds of jewels Gold, silver, beryl, and crystal.
Forty-eight Vows The vows made by Amida when he was a bodhisattva;
cf. Forty-eight Vows.
four kinds of offering The prescribed items of offering to the Buddha:
(1) food and drink, (2) clothes, (3) bed, and (4) medicinal drink.
four major prohibitions The four gravest offenses for monks: having
sexual intercourse, stealing, killing a man, and telling a lie about his
spiritual attainment.
four modes of practice The rules for practice laid down by Shan-tao:
1. revering Amida and the bodhisattvas and
prostrating oneself before them, 2. exclusively
performing the five right practices, 3. performing
the five right practices without interruption,
and 4. continuing the five right practices
throughout one's life.
four texts which directly expound the Pure Land teaching The four
most important texts of Pure Land Buddhism selected by Honen: the Larger
Sutra, Contemplation Sutra, Amida Sutra and Vasubandhu's Discourse
on the Pure Land.
Four-discourse school A Chinese Buddhist school based on the four
Madhyamika texts; see Four Discourses.
four-fascicle commentary Shan-tao's commentary on the Contemplation
Sutra in four fascicles.
Fourfold Noble Truth One of the basic teachings of the Buddha: (1)
the truth of suffering, (2) the truth regarding the cause of suffering,
i.e. evil passions, (3) the truth regarding the extinction of suffering,
i.e. the state free of suffering called Nirvana, and (4) the truth regarding
the path to Nirvana, i.e. the Eightfold Noble Path.
fourteen questions The fourteen questions which a non-Buddhist master
put to the Buddha; the Buddha remained silent and did not answer them:
1. Are the world and the self eternal? 2. Are they not so? 3. Are they
both eternal and not eternal? 4. Are they neither eternal nor not eternal?
5. Is the world finite? 6. Is it not finite? 7. Is it both finite and not
finite? 8. Is it neither finite nor not finite? 9. Is the soul perishing
at death? 10. Is it not perishing? 11. Is it both perishing and not perishing?
12. Is it neither perishing nor not perishing? 13. Is the body identical
with the soul after death? 14. Is it different from the soul? Those 14
questions, known as 14 'inexpressibles' occur in many dialogues with variant
forms. The more or less standard form consists of the following four sets
of questions:
1. Whether the world is eternal, or not, or both, or neither;
2. Whether the world is finite (in space), or infinite, or both, or neither;
3. Whether the Tathagata exists after death, or does not, or both, or neither;
4. Is the soul (jiva) identical with the body or different from it?
fourth five-hundred-year period See five five-hundred-year periods.
Fujiwara Kanezane (1147-1207); a government minister in the 12th
century; appointed regent in 1184 and afterward prime minister in 1189;
a disciple of Honen, and at his request Honen wrote the Collection of Passages Concerning the
Nembutsu of the Best-Selected Primal Vow.
Return toIndex; Glossary Index.
Gandhara An ancient country in north-west India; under the patronage
of King Kaniska in the 2nd century, eminent Buddhist masters, such as Asanga
and Vasubandhu, came to live in its capital Purusapura (present Peshawar)
and Mahayana Buddhism thrived; also Buddhist art characterized by Greek
influence flourished there.
Garland Sutra One of the most important Mahayana sutras,
well-known as the foundation text of the Hua-yen (Kegon) sect; said to
have been delivered during the first three weeks after the Buddha's Enlightenment.
The original text was exceptionally voluminous, and so, according to tradition,
Nagarjuna went to the Dragon's Palace and brought back the shortest version
of the sutra.
garuda A mythological bird said to eat dragons; one of the eight
gods and demi-gods who protect Buddhism.
Gate of Essential Teaching Refers to the teaching of the Nineteenth
Vow and corresponds to the teaching of the Contemplation Sutra.
Gaya-kashyapa 'Kashyapa of Gaya'; younger brother of Uruvilva-kashyapa;
converted to Buddhism with his 200 disciples.
Genko A Tendai monk on Mt. Hiei and Honen's teacher.
Genku Honen's Buddhist name; see Honenbo Genku.
Genshin (942-1017); a Tendai monk and a great exponent of the Pure
Land teaching; well-known as the author of the Collection of Essential
Passages Concerning Birth in the Pure Land; looked upon as the sixth
master of the Shin tradition.
genso 'Returning' aspect; returning to the world of Samsara to save
other beings; cf. oso.
'Going forth' aspect One of the two aspects of Amida's merit-transference
for universal salvation; this is the aspect of carrying us to the Pure
Land; cf. 'Returning' aspect.
gokuraku The Land of Utmost Bliss; Sk. Sukhavati.
Golden River Refers to River Naira\jana which flows near Buddhagaya
where the Buddha attained Enlightenment.
good friend One who guides others to the Buddhist Path; a master
who often approaches others as their friend; Sk. 'kalyana-mitra'.
good realms Refers to heavenly realms.
Grand Sutra on the Inconceivable Emancipation The title of
the old text of the sutra which later came to be known as the Garland
Sutra.
Great Assemblage The assemblage of bodhisattvas in the Pure Land.
Great Being Same as bodhisattva.
Great Cliff Temple The temple in Shan-si Province where T'an-luan
lived.
Great Collection Sutra A sutra which explains the Mahayana
principles, such as the theory of voidness; this sutra is also strongly
characterized by esotericism.
great compassion The Buddha or bodhisattva's mind that embraces
all sentient beings without discrimination and deliver them from sufferings.
Great Compassion is the essential quality of a bodhisattva and is the cause
of Buddhahood.
Great Consoler Refers to Amida.
Great Nirvana Mahayana Nirvana which is distinguished from the nihilistic
Nirvana of Hinayana.
Great Sage: The title of respect for Shakyamuni Buddha.
Great Treasure-Ocean of Merits Amida's vast merits accumulated by
performing numerous acts of merits for innumerable kalpas; these merits
are manifested as Amida's glorious body and his Pure Land; they are shared
by those who trust him with sincere Faith.
great treasury of merit Bodhisattvas cultivate merit by doing various
good acts, and so they are called 'great treasuries of merit'; their merit
is not merely for their own sake, but is equally shared by other beings
so that they achieve higher spiritual states.
guardian gods of the world Refers to the Four Guardian Gods of the
four directions: (1) Dhritarashtra in the
east, (2) Virudhaka in the south, (3) Virupaksha
in the west, and (4) Vaishravana in the north.
Return toIndex; Glossary Index.
Heart Sutra The popular title of the Prajnaparamita-hridaya Sutra;
one of the most popular Mahayana sutras which explains voidness of all
things.
Heaven: (1) In India, various abodes of heavenly beings (deva) are conceived.
(2) In Confucian religion, Heaven is generally the ultimate principle,
but is sometimes personified and conceived as if it had will and judgement.
Heaven of Free Enjoyment of Others' Manifestations The Sixth and
the highest Heaven in the world of desire; demons are said to inhabit there;
cf. Sixth Heaven.
Heaven of Pure Abode The Fourth Dhyana Heaven in the world of form;
this heaven is further divided into five planes. In the Pure Land such
a heaven does not exist, but the Larger Sutra metaphorically speaks of
its existence as a guide to the reader's understanding.
Heaven of the Four Kings The heaven of the guardian kings of the
four directions surrounding Mount Sumeru; see guardian gods of the world.
Heaven of Thirty-three Gods Second (counting from below) of the six
heavens in the world of desire; located on
top of Mount Sumeru; each of the four peaks
in the four directions is inhabited by eight
gods, and the lord of the heaven, Indra,
lives in the palace at the center.
Highest Heaven of the world of form Popularly known as Akanistha.
Heian period The period extending from the foundation of Kyoto as
Japan's capital (794) to the establishment of the shogunate Bakufu in Kamakura
(1185).
hell of incessant pain The lowest part of hell where one suffers
interminable pain; Avici Hell.
hell of Shrieking One of the eight great hells where sinners undergoing
extreme torments shriek.
highest principle of Dharma The ultimate truth or reality; the absolute
state of existence.
Hinayana 'The lesser or smaller vehicle'; originally, a derogatory
term applied by Mahayanists to various schools of Buddhism which aim at
the salvation of one's own self and attainment of the stage of an arhat.
Honen (1133-1212); the seventh master of the Shin tradition and
Shinran's teacher.
Honenbo Genku Honen's full name.
Hosso school The Consciousness-Only school.
Hsiao-yen The name of the king of Liang who venerated
T'an-luan.
Hsuan-chung Temple The temple in Fen-chou where T'an-luan spent
his later days.
Huai-kan A Chinese Pure Land master in the 7th to 8th centuries;
one of the disciples of Shan-tao and the author of the Discourse Clearing
Many Doubts.
Hui-yuan of Ching-ying Temple (523-92); a native of Tun-huang; a
great Buddhist scholar who was invited to live in Ching-ying Temple in
Lo-yang; well-versed in Buddhism, he wrote commentaries on many Mahayana
sutras and also composed an encyclopedic discourse on the Mahayana principles.
Hui-yuan (of Mt. Lu) (334-416); a celebrated Chinese monk who formed
the White Lotus Society on Mt.Lu for the performance of meditation on Amida;
he is often looked upon as the founder of Chinese Pure Land school.
Hymn in Praise of Amida Buddha T'an-luan's work that praises
Amida's virtue, based on which Shinran composed Japanese hymns.
Hymn of Aspiration for Birth in the Pure Land The hymn composed
by Vasubandhu, which is fully explained in his Discourse on the Pure Land;
for its full title, see next.
Hymn of Aspiration for Birth in the Pure Land A discourse
on the Sutra of the Buddha of Infinite Life, the full title of the
work by Vasubandhu which is popularly known as Discourse on the Pure
Land.
Hymn of True Faith The literal translation of 'Shoshinge'.
Hymn of True Faith in Nembutsu A translation of 'Shoshin
nembutsu ge.'
Hymns on the Pratyutpanna Samadhi The hymns composed by Shan-tao
which eulogize Amida's virtue and explain, among other things, torment
in hell, pleasure in the Pure Land, and the method of attaining birth there.
Hymns on the Pure Land, The first of the three collections
of Japanese hymns by Shinran.
Hymns on the Seven Patriarchs The second of the three collections
of Japanese hymns by Shinran.
Return to Index; Glossary Index.
Ichinen tanen mon'i A work composed by Shinran when he was
85; the title means 'One Thought and Many Callings'; written in answer
to his disciples' question whether one thought of Nembutsu-Faith is the
sufficient cause of birth in the Pure Land or many callings of Nembutsu
are required.
ignorance Spiritual darkness or obscurity; the first of the twelve
causations.
Immovable Stage The Eighth Stage of Bodhisattvahood.
imperfect faith According to T'an-luan, imperfect faith, which is
the opposite of perfect faith, has three aspects: insincere faith, mind
which is not single, and faith which does not continue.
inconceivable (1) Beyond concepts; (2) a large number.
Inconceivable Light One of the twelve lights of Amida.
Ineffable Light One of the twelve lights of Amida.
Infinite Life One of the two major qualities of Amida, from which
his name Amitayus is derived.
Infinite Life and Light The two major qualities of Amida.
insight into the non-arising of all dharmas See next.
insight into the non-arising of all existences The higher spiritual
awakening in which one recognizes that nothing really arises or perishes;
Sk. anutpattika-dharma-ksanti.
irreversible wheel of the Dharma, the Buddha Dharma keeps moving endlessly
like a wheel without reversing.
Return to Index; Glossary Index.
Jambu River The river running through the mango forest in the northern
part of Jambudvipa; this river is known for producing purple-gold; see
purple-gold (M12,15-8).
Jambudvipa The continent situated to the south of Mount Sumeru;
a triangular island inhabited by human beings; it is believed that hell
is located many yojanas underground.
Jambu-gold The red-yellow gold which gives forth purple
vapor; it is said to be obtained from the
Jambu River.
Japanese Tendai Buddhism Founded on Mt. Hiei by Saicho (766 or 767-822),
who went to China and received the T'ien-t'ai teaching from Tao-sui and
Hsing-man; after returning home in 805, he extensively propagated the teaching
and wrote some 160 works.
jara-marana 'Decay and death'; the last of the twelve causations.
jati, 'birth'; the eleventh of the twelve causations.
Jeta Grove The garden of Prince Jeta presented to the Buddha by
Sudatta, who built a monastery there.
Jinjippo Mugeko Nyorai, 'The Tathagata of Unhindered Light Shining
throughout the Ten Directions'; the name of adoration for Amida first used
by Vasubandhu in his Hymn of Aspiration for Birth in the Pure Land;
Shinran especially liked to use this, and this name with the word 'Kimyo'
(I take refuge in) affixed to it came to be used widely as the Name.
Jivaka A famous physician and the son of King Bimbisara's
younger brother; said to have cured the Buddha's
illness.
jivamjivaka 'Life-living'; a mythical bird with two heads that sing
sweetly; also identified with a kind of pheasant found in the mountains
of north India.
Jodo school The Pure Land school founded by Honen.
jojonin 'A superior person'; one of the five words of high praise
given by Shan-tao to a Nembutsu follower.
Joyful Faith Second of the three aspects of Faith in the Eighteenth
Vow; it represents all the three aspects and so refers to the Other-Power
Faith; Sk. prasanna-citta, prasada.
Return to Index; Glossary Index.
kalavinka An Indian cuckoo; a bird with sweet voice said to be found
in the Himalayas; also a mythical bird with woman's head, found in the
Pure Land; cf. Amida Sutra
Mandala.
Kalayashas A monk from Central Asia; went to China in early 5th
century and translated two sutras, including the Contemplation Sutra;
died in 442 at the age of 60.
Kao Tsung (Emperor) (628-83); the third emperor in T'ang dynasty.
kalpa An immeasurably long time; aeons; also a period of cosmic
change.
Kapphina Also Kapphilla, Kaphina, Kaphila, Kamphilla; n. of a disciple
of the Buddha.
karma An act; in Buddhism, three kinds of act are distinguished:
bodily, verbal, and mental; also, according to its moral nature, an act
can be good, evil or neutral.
karma-bound Bound by one's own evil karma.
karmic Pertaining to karma; related to bodily and mental acts; often
used in the sense of evil acts which will bring about painful retributions.
karmic bondage The state of being bound by one's own acts.
karmic defilement Defilements by evil acts.
karmic energy Psycho-physical energy created by one's karma.
karmic evil Evil acts, often in the sense of those done in the past
and bound to bring about their effect in the present and future lives.
karmic force Psycho-physical energy created by one's acts and bound
to bring about their effect.
karmic hindrances Hindrances to spiritual progress brought about
by evil karma.
karmic power Same as karmic force.
Karmic Power Amida's Power originating in his vows and practice;
it has produced and sustains his body of glory and the Pure Land everlastingly;
also, this is the source of eternal activity of saving sentient beings.
karmic retribution Retribution for evil acts done in the past.
karmic transgressions Wrong-doing which are bound to bring about
their retribution.
Kegon sect Hua-yen sect; founded in China based on the Garland
Sutra; in Japan, this sect thrived in the Nara period.
keunin 'A rare person'; one of the fives words of high praise given
by Shan-tao to a Nembutsu follower.
kimshuka The tree Butea frondosa which bears beautiful red blossoms.
Kimyo Jinjippo Mugeko Nyorai 'I take refuge in the Tathagata of
Unhindered Light Shining throughout the Ten Directions'; the term originally
comes from Vasubandhu's Hymn of Aspiration for Birth in the Pure Land
and is used by Shinran as the 10-character Name of Amida which indicates
unity of Amida and the devotee.
king of fire A big blazing fire.
King of Liang Refers to Wu-t'i of Liang dynasty, who reigned from
502 to 549.
king of mountains Refers to Mount Sumeru.
King of Sages An epithet of the Buddha.
King of Wei Refers to the Emperor of Eastern Wei dynasty, who is
identified as Hsiao-ching T'i (reigned 534-50).
king of samadhis A description of the Nembutsu Samadhi.
King of the Dharma Refers to the Buddha because he has realized
the Dharma, become one with it and is capable of employing it freely.
King of the Vows A term used to describe the Eighteenth Vow.
Koen A Tendai monk and one of the teachers of Honen on Mt. Hiei;
died in 1169.
Kokalika Devadatta's disciple; he made a false remark
that Shariputra and Mahamaudgalyayana had
a sexual intercourse with a woman. The
Buddha reprimanded him three times but he
did not obey the Buddha. As a result, he
fell into Great Lotus hell while alive.
konin 'An excellent person'; one of the five words of high praise
given by Shan-tao to a Nembutsu follower.
koti A numerical unit in India, said to be equal to 10 million.
Ksatriya king A king of the warrior caste, the second highest of
the four castes in India.
Kuccha An ancient country in Central Asia.
Kumarajiva 'Youth-life'; a great translator of Buddhist texts (344-413);
his Indian father, Kumarayana, was formerly a government minister; having
renounced the world, he went to Kuccha and married Jiva, a sister of the
king. Kumarajiva entered the priesthood at seven and studied Buddhism in
northwest India and elsewhere. After returning home, he spread Mahayana
Buddhism. At the invitation of a Chinese king, in 401 he went to Ch'ang-an,
where he was appointed as the teacher of the state. For the rest of his
life, he translated Buddhist texts, amounting to 35 sutras and discourses
in more than 300 fascicles, including the Lotus Sutra and Prajnaparamita
Sutra. It is said that he had 3,000 disciples.
Kuo-ch'ing Temple A famous temple on Mt. T'ien-t'ai.
Kurodani (precinct) A part of Mt. Hiei where Honen dwelt for some
time and studied under Eiku.
Kyogyoshinsho 'Teaching, Practice, Faith and Enlightenment';
Shinran's magnum opus written in Chinese, in which he explains the
Shin Buddhist system of salvation in full detail; doctrinally, the most
important text of Shin Buddhism.
Return to Index; Glossary Index.