Buddhism: Key Terms and Concepts

Chapter 4: Buddhism Key Terms

• Amitabha Buddha refers to the Celestial Buddha of Pure Land Buddhism.
• Anatta describes the concept of no permanent self or soul.
• Anichcha signifies impermanence, stating that all things are in flux.
• Arhat denotes someone who has attained enlightenment in Theravāda Buddhism.
• Bodhi means enlightenment or awakening.
• Bodhisattva is one who seeks enlightenment but delays nirvana to help others.
• Dharma refers to the teachings of the Buddha.
• Dhyana is meditation and is key to spiritual progress.
• Dukkha is suffering, dissatisfaction, and stress.
• Guanyin is a Bodhisattva of compassion in East Asian Buddhism.
• Karuna means compassion.
• Koan is a paradoxical question or statement used in Zen practice.
• Lama refers to a teacher in Tibetan Buddhism.
• Maitreya is the future Buddha.
• Mandala is a symbolic diagram used for meditation.
• Mudra are ritual hand gestures.
• Nirvana is liberation from suffering and rebirth.
• Samadhi means deep meditative absorption.
• Samsara refers to the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
• Sangha is the Buddhist monastic community.
• Satori means sudden enlightenment in Zen Buddhism.
• Shunyata is emptiness or the absence of inherent existence.
• Stupa is a shrine containing relics of the Buddha.
• Sutra refers to Buddhist scriptures.
• Tathata means "suchness" or the reality of things as they are.
• Trikaya refers to the three bodies of the Buddha.
• Tripitaka is the "Three Baskets" of Buddhist scriptures.
• Vajra is a ritual object symbolizing indestructibility in Tibetan Buddhism.

Core Concepts of Buddhism

• The purposes and goals of Buddhism include ending suffering (dukkha) and achieving enlightenment and nirvana.
• Buddhism originated with Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) in India around the 5th-6th century BCE.
• Similarities between Buddhism and Hinduism include rebirth, karma, meditation, and liberation.
• Differences between Buddhism and Hinduism: Buddhism denies the self (anatta), rejects the caste system, and focuses on personal effort.
• Buddhism is practiced in India, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, Southeast Asia, and globally.

Three Marks of Reality

• Anichcha refers to impermanence.
• Dukkha refers to suffering.
• Anatta refers to the concept of no self.

Four Noble Truths

• Life is suffering.
• Suffering is caused by desire.
• Ending desire ends suffering.
• Follow the Eightfold Path to end suffering.

Eightfold Path

• Right understanding
• Right intention
• Right speech
• Right action
• Right livelihood
• Right effort
• Right mindfulness
• Right concentration

Three Branches of Buddhism

• Theravāda ("Way of the Elders") focuses on individual enlightenment, with the ideal being an Arhat.
• Mahāyāna (“Great Vehicle") focuses on universal salvation, with the ideal being a Bodhisattva.
• Vajrayāna ("Diamond Vehicle") involves esoteric rituals and is associated with Tibetan Buddhism.

Buddha's Four Passing Sights

• Old age
• Sickness
• Death
• A holy man

Growth of Buddhism

• Spread through missionaries, royal patronage, and trade routes like the Silk Road.

Art in Buddhism

• Used to convey teachings, including statues, mandalas, and architecture.

Chapter 6: Daoism and Confucianism Key Terms

• Analects: Sayings of Confucius.
• Dao (Tao): The Way; the ultimate principle of the universe.
• Daodejing: Core Daoist text by Laozi.
• Five Classics: Ancient Chinese texts foundational to Confucianism.
• Four Books: Essential Confucian texts.
• Junzi: The ideal Confucian person; morally superior.
• Laozi: Legendary founder of Daoism.
• Legalists: Emphasized strict law and harsh punishments.
• Li: Proper conduct, ritual, and etiquette.
• Mohists: Advocated universal love and meritocracy.
• Qi: Life force or vital energy.
• Ren: Humaneness, compassion.
• Shu: Reciprocity, golden rule.
• Wen wei: Cultural refinement and education.
• Xiao: Filial piety; respect for parents and elders.
• Yang: Light, active, masculine force.
• Yijing: Book of Changes; divination text.
• Yin: Dark, passive, feminine force.
• Zhuangzi: Daoist philosopher and text promoting spontaneity.

Core Concepts of Daoism and Confucianism

• Confucianism's primary concern is social harmony through moral behavior, education, and relationships.
• Chinese religion emphasizes the themes of balance (yin-yang), ancestor veneration, and harmony with nature and society.

Important Aspects

• Daoism: Nature, spontaneity, inner peace.
• Confucianism: Order, morality, human relationships.

Five Great Relationships

• Parent and child
• Husband and wife
• Elder and younger sibling
• Ruler and subject
• Friend and friend

Five Virtues

• Ren (benevolence)
• Yi (righteousness)
• Li (propriety)
• Zhi (wisdom)
• Xin (integrity)

Philosophical Schools

• Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism, Mohism were philosophical schools of thought.

Important Literature

• Confucianism: Analects, Five Classics, Four Books
• Daoism: Daodejing, Zhuangzi

Art & Music

• Reflects harmony and moral teachings and is often used in rituals.

Yin and Yang

• Cosmic duality - interdependent opposites in balance.

Chapter 7: Shinto Key Terms

• Amaterasu: The sun goddess and one of the most important kami in Shinto, considered the ancestor of the Japanese imperial family.
• Bushido: "The Way of the Warrior," a moral code followed by samurai, heavily influenced by Shinto, Buddhism, and Confucianism.
• Gagaku: Ancient court music performed at Shinto shrines and imperial ceremonies.
• Ise: A city in Japan that is home to the Ise Grand Shrine, the most sacred Shinto shrine dedicated to Amaterasu.
• Izanagi: A primal male kami who, along with Izanami, created the Japanese islands and many kami.
• Izanami: A primal female kami, partner of Izanagi; together, they created the world and other deities.
• Jinja: A Shinto shrine; a place of worship and the dwelling place of a kami.
• Kami: Spirits or deities in Shinto, associated with natural forces, ancestors, and sacred places.
• Kamikaze: Literally "divine wind," originally referred to typhoons that protected Japan from Mongol invasions; later associated with WWII suicide pilots.
• Kojiki: One of the earliest chronicles of Japanese myths, including the origins of the kami and the Japanese people.
• Misogi: A ritual of purification involving washing with water, often performed in rivers or under waterfalls.
• Nihongi (or Nihon Shoki): "Chronicles of Japan," a historical text that provides a more detailed and chronological version of the myths in the Kojiki.
• Omoto: A modern Shinto movement emphasizing spiritual renewal and world peace.
• Samurai: The warrior class in feudal Japan, deeply influenced by Shinto values such as loyalty, honor, and respect for ancestors.
• Shimenawa: A thick, twisted rope that marks sacred spaces and objects, often seen at shrine entrances.
• Tenrikyo: A 19th-century Shinto-derived religion founded by a woman named Nakayama Miki; it emphasizes joyful living and healing.
• Torii: A traditional gate marking the entrance to a sacred Shinto shrine, symbolizing transition from the mundane to the sacred.

Main Concepts of Shinto

• Shinto is indigenous to Japan, while Buddhism originated in India.
• Shinto focuses on nature, purity, and kami worship, whereas Buddhism emphasizes enlightenment and detachment from desire.
• Shinto rituals include purification and shrine worship; Buddhist rituals involve meditation, chanting, and monastic practices.
• Shinto's view of the afterlife is vague, focusing on life and ancestors; Buddhism believes in reincarnation and Nirvana.
• Shinto and Buddhism are often practiced together in Japan and are syncretic.
• Shinto is used for life event celebrations, while Buddhism is used for death and funerals.

Origins of Shinto

• Shinto is Japan's indigenous religion, with roots in prehistoric nature worship.
• Shinto is based on the myth of creation involving Izanagi and Izanami, and their descendant Amaterasu.
• The first texts about Shinto appeared in the 8th century (Kojiki and Nihongi).

Goals of Shinto

• Harmony with nature
• Purification of self and surroundings
• Reverence for kami
• Gratitude and respect for ancestors
• Celebration of life and seasonal rituals

Offshoots of Shinto

• Tenrikyo focuses on healing, happiness, and joyful living.
• Omoto focuses on spiritual transformation, peace, and art.
• Sect Shinto formed during the Meiji era and includes new religious movements.
• State Shinto was a political version of Shinto used pre-WWII to unify national identity.

Role of Art in Shinto

• Architecture: Shrines (jinja) are elegantly simple, using natural materials.
• Torii Gates: Symbolize sacred space and are often photographed as iconic symbols.
• Music and Dance: Gagaku and kagura performed to honor kami.
• Calligraphy and Poetry: Seen as expressions of the spirit and used in rituals.
• Nature Aesthetics: Art emphasizes beauty in impermanence and simplicity (e.g., seasonal festivals, floral arrangements).