BASIC PALI GLOSSARY

( B=Burmese/Myanmar pronunciation )

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A

±bhassara: The 'Radiant Ones', are a class of heavenly beings of the fine material world (r³pa-loka).

±bhassara brahma: the radiant brahma of the second R³p±vacara Jhana Brahma realm.

abhibh±yatana jh±na

Abhidhamma: , philosophical exposition of the Dhamma, higher doctrine, Buddhist philosophy, metaphysics, systematic analyses of the main points of the Buddha's teachings; name of the Third Pitaka of the Buddhist Doctrine, dealing with the ultimate nature of things.

Abhidhamma Pitaka: , the name of the Third Pitaka of the Buddhist Doctrine.

abhijjh±: covetousness; greed, lobha

abhiññ±s: higher psychic power; intuitive knowledge; transcendental wisdom ; psychic powers acquired in the process of " self-purification " and liberation. ;having understood well, special power, supernormal power.

abhisamaya: the moment of awakening, enlightenment.

abhisankh±ra: volitional formation, new conditioning.

abhisankh±ra m±ra: moral and immoral actions leading to conditioned existence

abhisankh±ra upadhi : moral and immoral actions which prolong the round of rebirth

abh³ta - unoriginated

abrahmacariy±: ignoble practice, unchastity

aby±kata - undeclared, unexplained

aby±p±da - non-aversion

±cariya : teacher, mentor

±cariya vatta : duties of bhikkhus and novices towards their mentors

±ciººakamma- habitual kamma

acinteyya: incomprehensibility; unthinkable, incomprehensible, Impenetrable.

adhamma: injustice, unrighteous conduct.

adhicitta sikkh± - training in higher mentality

adhigama: realisation, attainment to wisdom.

adhika: senior, better, superior.

adhimokkha : Determination, one of the cetasika, faith, conviction

adhipati: Lord, chieftain.

adhis²la sikkh±: Training in higher morality.

adiµµh±na - determination, resolution.

adin±d±n±: theft, taking what is not given.

ad²n±va - danger, misery.

adhivacana

adiµµh±na

adin±d±n±

ad²n±va

adosa: amity, hatelessness, non-hatred, one of the three wholsome roots

±gantu : a guest

agati : 4 'wrong paths'.

agatigamana - evil motives

agga: chief, top, highest, end.

agga maha kammatthanacariya: The title of 'Great Noble Meditation Master' in Burma (Myanmar)

aggas±vaka-, Chief Disciple, supreme disciple of the Buddha

±h±ra: Nutriment, food, nutrition, nourishment

ahetuka-ditthi . : ; causelessness belief; belief that there is no cause for anything

ahims± - non-injuring; harmless; non-violent

ahirika - ; shamelessness, lack of moral shame.

ahirika-anottappa : Lack of moral shame and dread

ahosi-kamma. : 'Ineffective Kamma'

aj±ta - unborn

Ajita Kesakambala

Ajatasattu:, Indian King who managed to kill his own father.

±j²va : livelihood.

±j²va-p±risuddhi-s²la: morality of pure livelihood.

ajjhosana

ak±lika

akanittha: the great ones, 'Highest Gods'

±k±sa : Space.

±k±sa-dhatu: Space element.

±k±sa-kasina: Space-kasina exercise.

±k±s±nañc±yatana jhana

akata - uncreated

±kiñcaññyatana jh±na

akiriya-ditthi:View of ineffiency of action.

akusala - unwholesome, ; unskillful, unwholesome, immoral, demeritorious

akusala cetasika, , akusala mental concomitants

akusala kamma -, Unwholesome action

akusala kammapathas

akusala-vip±kka: Unwholesome thoughts.

¾l±ra K±l±ma- the Bodhisatta's first meditation teacher

alobha - non-greed (=detachment). greedlessness, disinterestedness

±loka : light, illumination.

±loka-kasina : light kasina exercise.

±loka-sanna - Perception of light

amahaggata citta

amar±vikkhepa diµµhi

amatadh±tu - the deathless element

amatapada - the deathless state

¾mbalaµµhika

¾mbap±li

±misa: four monastic requisites

amitta: foe, enemy.

amoha - non-delusion

an±g±mi: non-returner, one who has achieved the next-to-highest level of transcendent insight, after destroying five of ten fetters, one who has attained the third magga; one who will not return to the world of sense-spheres. Non- returner a noble disciple on the third stage of sanctification

an±g±mimagga - path of non-returner

an±g±mi magga-phalla : A Path and Fruition of Non- returning.

an±g±miphala - fruit of non-returner

an±g±riya- homelessness

¾nanda : the cousin of the Buddha and the Buddhist's faithful attendant monk, he had excellent memory , memorizing the Buddha's sermons which were later recorded as Suttas

±n±p±na : inhalation and exhalation, respiration

±n±p±nasati: Mindfulness of in- and out-breathing

±nantarika-kamma: heinous action with immediate destiny: parricide, matricide, killing an Arahat, wounding a Buddha, creating schism in the monks' Order.

anantara-paccaya: Proximity

±nantariya: the immediacy, a name for concentration of mind

anathapindika: a wealthy merchant of Savatthi in Ancient India, constructed Jetavanna Grove

anatt± - not self, uncontrollable nature, selflessness (non-self), soullessness (no-soul), no substance, egolessness; without a soul; non-existence of self, ego or soul. The most important Truth to be realised in order to attain liberation.

anatt±-saññ± : Perception of not-self.

aªguttaranik±ya : , collection of numerically graduated discourses

anicca : impermanence and changeability.

Anicc±nupassan±: contemplation of impermanence

anicca-sanna: Perception of Impermanence.

Animitta: The Signless, i.e., no sign of craving, ill will and wrong view. It is an epithet of Nibbana.

Anitthayon: unpleasant and horrible sense object.

aññ±: Highest knowledge.

annad±na : donation of food

anoma: river crossed by the Bodhisatta on renunciation

anottappa : ; fearlessness, recklessness, lack of moral dread (in doing bad things)

ant±nanta diµµhi

Anudhammacari: one who acts in conformity with the Dhamma

anuloma : the order of arising

anuloma-citta : adaption moment of consciousness

anuloma-ñ±na : adaption-knowledge

anumodana: expression of appreciation or approval; a monk's blessings after receiving dana, sharing of, thanking.

anup±disesa

anupadisesa-nibb±na : Nibbana which takes place at the death of an arahant, without any substratum of life remaining.

anupadisesa nibb±nadh±tu - the nibbana element without residues remaining

anupassana: contemplation

Anuruddha

anusaya - latent tendency, underlying, latent disposition or tendency.

anusaya kilesa: latent defilements, latent tendencies.

anussati : reflection, earnest contemplation

anuttara citta

anuttar± samm±sambodhi - supreme perfect enlightenment

anuttaropurisadhammas±rathi

aparant±nudiµµhi

apana: respiration, breathing out.

aparih±niya

±patti : violation of disciplinary rules for bhikkhus; an offence

±patti samghadisesa : offences committed by a bhikkhu; require penance and suspension from the order.

±p±ya : , miserable existences; the four lower worlds

ap±yabh³mi - planes of misery

±po : water.

±po dh±tu : element of cohesion, fluid element, element of water

appam±da: mindfulness, vigilance, heedfulness

appana: absorption concentration.

appan±sam±dhi - absorption concentration

arahat, arahatta- an accomplished one, one who has reached liberation while alive; Arahant: Araha; 'worthy' one who is fully enlightened after destroying all ten fetters; one who has attained the fourth and final Magga, and for whom existences have come to an end, arahanta, araha; one who has attained the Summum Bonum of religious aspiration- Nibbana;

arahattamagga - path of arahatship

arahatta magga-phala : Path and Fruition of the fourth stage of sanctification.

arahattaphala - fruit of arahatship

arahattaphala paññ±

±rakkha

±rammana : a sense object.

ariy±: the one who has extinguished defilements, the noble one; one who has entered the path, i.e., one who has realized at least one of the four Maggas; One of the Four Groups of Noble Personalities; i.e.,Stream-Winner; Once-Returner, Non-Returner and Purified (Arahat);

ariy± aµµhaªgikamagga- the noble eightfold path

ariy± aµµhaªgikamagga

ar³pa bhava

ariy± puggala : Enlightened person

ariyasacc± : , Noble Truth, the four ariya truths

ariyasangha - community of noble ones

ariy±savak± : Noble disciple; saintly disciple

ariy±-magga: the Noble Path

ariy± magganana: insight of the Noble Path

ar³pa - formless meditative absorption or attainment (four)

ar³p±vacarajjhana: absorption of the immaterial sphere.

ar³pabhumi : , Non-material sphere, formless realm.

ar³pa-raga: craving for existence in the immaterial world.

asaªkhata : unconditioned state, Nibbana.

asaªkhyeyya ±yu

±sannakamma - death-proximate kamma

asaññasatta

±sava : moral intoxicant, befuddling defilements; taints of mind, corruptions, biases; intoxicating extract or secretion of a flower or tree.

±savakkhay± ñ±ºa

¾soka : the third Emperor of the Mauryan Dynasty in Ancient India in 268-239 BC; the Third Council was held during his reign; set the model for government ruling in accordance with Buddhist philosophy

ass±da - satisfaction, enjoyment

Assaji: one of the five ascetics; after attaining Arahantship, he converted Sariputta, the Chief Disciple of the Buddha.

asubha: Impurity.

asubha kammathãna: reflecting on the repellent nature of a dead human body

asura : demons, fierce divine beings, 'titans'; the male Asura is ugly and furious always fighting with each other. The female Asura is very beautiful. They inhibit one of the lower worlds.

atimana : Superiority conceit.

att± : true self, body, self; consciousness, mind; ego or soul, principle; The central idea in all animistic religions, but shown by Buddhism, science and philosophy to be a false concept;

attabhava : person, personality, re-birth, self-hood.

att±-ditthi: 'personality-belief', ego-belief.

attahita - one's own welfare

attakilamathanuyoga- devotion to self- mortification

atth±cariya : giving good counsel

aµµhakath± : commentary, explanation of meaning

aµµhaªgika magga

attav±dup±d±na

atthakkhana: eight inopportune circumstances or times

atthapatisambhidha: analytical insight into the meaning; essence and consequence of things

atta-hita: one's own advantage

attavada: doctrine of self.

±tuma

±v±sa : Place where we dwell.

avasavattit± - not subject to the exercise of mastery

avaso: home, dwelling place.

avici : one of the eight hells

avihi½s±- non-injury

avijj± : ; ignorance, delusion, not understanding the full meaning of the Four Noble Truths

avijj±sava: taints of ignorance.

avimutta citta

±vuso

±yasm±

±yatana - sphere, realm, sense-bases and sense-objects; sense field

ayoniso-manasik±ra

±yu: age, life.

±yukkhaya marana : death from reaching end of life span

±yusaªkh±ra

B

bala : power, strength.

b±la: the foolish, the ignorant.

balu: Yakkha: minor deities.

Bante

B±r±ºas²

bhadanta: venerable, worthy (person).

Bhadda

bhagav± - the "Exalted One" (epithet of a Buddha)

bhagavant: Lord, Blessed one

bhaªga ñ±ºa

Bhante: Venerable Sir: term of respectful address to a bhikkhu, Venerable one, O Lord, Revered Sir.

Bhasita: speech.

Bhassa: conversation.

bhava- existence, state of existence, becoming

bh±van±: development by means of thought, meditation

bhavaªga - the life continuum

bhavataºh± - craving for existence

Bhaya: fear.

bhikkhu - a fully ordained monk, a member of the Buddhist Order; (Sanskrit-Bhiksu)

bhikkhun² - a fully ordained nun, a female member of the Buddhist Order; a Buddhist Nun: (see 'Thela-shin' )

bhikkhun²sangha - the order of fully ordained nuns

bhikkhusangha - the order of fully ordained monks

bhojana: food, eating; alms.

bh³mi: earth, region, plane.

bh³ta

bodhisatta - one striving for complete Buddhahood

bhutagama sikkha: The disciplinary rule forbidding bhikkhus to cut vegetation.

bija: seed.

bijaniyama: the natural law of cause and effect (on heredity); one of five Niyama

Bimbisara: Beimbathaya (B); king of Magadha

Bodh-Gaya: Buddhagaya (see below)

bodhi : perfect wisdom or enlightenment; enlightenment

bodhi nana or sabbanuta nana - Supreme Enlightenment; the all cornprehending wisdom.

bodhi-pakkhiya: contributing to Enlightment.

bodhisatta: Bawdithat (B), the Buddha-to-be (also known as Hpaya- laung in Burmese); one who is destined for enlightenment.

Bodhisatta Metteyya: the would-be next Buddha called Metteyya.

bodhi: (1) Enlightenment, (2) The tree of wisdom (Ficus religiosa) under which Gotama sat in meditation to attain the Enlightenment of a Supreme Buddha.

bodhi Tree: the sacred banyan tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment; also 'Bo' tree.

bodhi nana

bojjhaªga

Brahm± : Byamma(B); a class of higher gods (although both 'Deva' and 'Brahma' are sometimes loosely translated as 'gods' or 'angels', they do not in any way correspond to these Western concepts)

brahmacariya- the holy life, celibacy

Brahmadanda: Brahma-punishment by the Order of Sangha to ignore and have nothing to do with Vedic Priest; one of the four castes in ancient and modern India; a member of priestly class in ancient India.

brahmaj±la

Brahmajal± Sutta

brahma-loka: realm of Brahmas.

Brahm± Sahampati- the high divinity who urged the Buddha to teach the Dhamma

Br±mana

Brahmin

brahmavih±ra - sublime states, divine abodes

Buddha:: the Founder of Buddhism, the Enlightened One; one who has attained en lightenment;The latest of the Buddhas was Gotama Buddha now referred to as "the Buddha."

Buddha-cakkhu

Buddha-Dhamma: the Doctrine taught by the Buddha

Buddhaghosa: a famous buddhist writer of the fifteenth century.

Buddhagaya: Bodh-Gaya in Bihar, India: where the Buddha gained Enlightenment.

buddh±nussati : recollection of Buddha.

Buddhism: a religious teaching propagated by the Buddha and his followers that one must become free of human desires to escape from suffering

buddhist: ; the followers of the Buddha

by±p±da / vyapada: ill will, anger, hatred

C

c±ga - generosity

cakkavattir±j±- universal monarch

cakkha: wheel.

cakkhu: eye.

cakkhukaraºi- leading to vision

cakkhu-vinnana: eye-conscious.

cankama: walking up and down.

c±p±la

catt±ri ariyasacc±ni- the four noble truths

Catumadhu: 4 types of honey.

C±tumah±r±jika

cetan± : will, intention, volition.

Cetasikas : ; mental Concomitants

Cetiya: stupa, shrine, pagoda

cetopariya ñ±ºa

Cha: six.

chanda: desire, will, desire.

chanda r±ga: lust.

Channa: (Hsanna); Gotama's attendant, charioteer

ciram: for a long time.

cittaniyama: the natural law of cause and effect (workings of the mind); one of five Niyama

citta: ; mind, thought, consciousness, mental act

cittakammannata: fittness of the work of the mind.

cittalahuta: lightness of the mind.

cittamuduta: pliancy of the mind.

citt±nupassan± - contemplation of states of mind

cittapagunnata: skilfnulness of mind.

cittasant±na - the mental continuum

cittasant±nantinuum

citt'ekaggat± - one-pointedness of mind

citt'upp±da - same as citta above

c²vara : 3 requisite robes of a monk; piece of cloth used by a bhikkhu.

c²vara-kamma: making-up or mending of robes.

Culamani: Sulamani (B); shrine in Tavatimsa heaven

c³la s²la

Cunda

Cundaka

cut³pap±ta ñ±ºa

D

dakkhina: southern, righthand side

Dakkhiºeyya

d±na: charity, alms-giving; gifts made to the Holy Order of Monks; the first of the Ten good deeds.

danda : Stick, weapon, punishment, penalty.

dasar±jadhamma- ten royal virtues

dasas²la - the ten precepts (of a samanera)

dasas²lam±t± - a ten precept- observing nun

dasas²la up±sik± - a woman observing the ten precepts

d±yaka: donor, giver.

desan± : discourse, instruction, expounding, preashing.

deva - : god, heavenly being, a minor god, a spirit being, a celestial being; a being born in one of the higher realms within the Sensuous Sphere (kama-loka); shining one

Devadatta: cousin and brother-in-law of Prince Siddhatta, Yasodhara's brother

dhamma : Dharma (Sanskrit) : the Doctrine of the Buddha; teaching of Buddha; truth, the law; (1) The liberating law discovered and proclaimed by the Buddha, is summed up in the four Noble Truths. (2) Constitution, Norm, Law, Justice, Righteousness.

dhammacakka - ; Wheel of Law, the wheel of Dhamma

dhammacakkhu - eye of Dhamma, insight into truth

dhamma-desan±: discourse of Dhamma.

dhammadhara: one who is versed in the Dhamma

dhammajivino : One who earns his living according to the dhamma

dhammamuttamam: The Noble Dhamma or the Highest Dhamma (the Nine Transcendentals). The Nine Transcendentals are: four Magga, four Phalas and Nibbana.

dhammaniyama: the universal natural law of cause and effect

dhamm±nupassan± - contemplation of mind-objects

Dhamm±nus±r²

dhammas: all conditioned and un-conditioned phenomenon

Dhammatanh±

dhammattha: just, righteous

dhammika: a righteous, just.

dhammavicaya

dhammavicaya-sambojjhaªga

dhana: wealth, money.

dhatu: element, (pathavi=earth, tejo=fire, apo=water & vayo=motion)

dhutanga : austerity or purification practice to remove defilement

dibbacakkhu abhiññ±

dibbacakkhu ñ±ºa

dibbacakkhu nana: the divine power of sight

digha: long.

D²gha Nik±ya

d²pa - island

D²paªkara - an ancient Buddha, the twenty sixth before Gotama

diµµhadhamma attha - the benefit pertaining to the present life

diµµhi: ; view, beliefs; (can be good or bad); belief, dogma, theory

diµµhij±la

dittha: seen.

diµµhipatta

diµµhup±d±na

domanassa: grief, distress, displeasure.

dosa: ; hatred, anger, ill will, aversion .

duggati: unhappy destinations or existences; the four lower worlds

dukkha -suffering, stress, pain ( in the context of feeling), unsatisfactoriness, suffering

dukkhanirodha - the cessation of suffering

dukkhanirodha ariyasacca- the noble truth of the cessation of dukkha

dukkhanirodhag±min²paµipad± - the way leading to the cessation of dukkha

dukkhanirodhag±min²paµipad± ariyasacca - the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of dukkha

dukkhasamudaya ariasacca - the noble truth of the origin of dukkha

dullabh± : difficult to obtain, rare.

duta: messenger, emissary.

dv±ra- door of action (=body, speech, mind), door, gate.

dvi: two.

E

Ehipassika

eka: one, single.

ekaccasassatadiµµhi

etadaggam: the chief, the best

evam: thus.

G

gacchati: while in motion.

gandhabba

gandha taºh±

ganthadhura

gambhira: deep, profound, well- founded, hard to perceive.

gana: chapter of monks.:

gandhabba - the stream of consciousness ready to take rebirth, smell, a class of devas; attendants of the King of the eastern direction

ganthadhura - the career of study

garu: heavy, weighty

garukakamma - heavy kamma

g±th± : a verse, a stanza

gati

geha: house.

ghana: nose.

gil±na: bhikkhu who is ill or feverish

giri: mountain, rock.

gita: singing, song.

Gocara: pasture.

gocaragama: a village from where a monk obtains his food.

Gotama: the family name of Prince Siddhatta, the future Buddha

H

hadaya: heart.

hamsa: the mythical sacred goose/ swan.

hina: low, deprived, mean, inferior.

Hinayana: ' Small Vehicle '; Theravada is the term preferred by most Buddhists of south-east Asia.

Hiraññavat²

hir²: modesty, the shame of being known to do bad deeds.

hita: good, welfare, beneficial.

I

idappaccayat± - conditionality

iddhi: psychic power, success.

iddhip±da: firmly established powers: will power; effort; consciousness; wisdom.

indriyas: controlloing faculties

iriyapatha: postures.

iss±:envy.

Isipatana : Saranath near Varanasi ( formerly Benares, Uttar Pradesh, India ) where the Buddha preached the first sermon.

itthayon: pleasant or desirable sense-object.

J

Jagarita: waking.

Jambudipa: the continent so called (according to ancient division of earth)

jar±: ageing, decay

Jaramarana: ageing and death

J±taka stories: ; 547 tales of the Buddha in his previous existences. Usually referred to as 550 Jatakas in Burma.

j±ti: birth

jh±na : level of deep calm, advanced states of meditation practice in which the mind is totally absorbed in its object of concentration; trance, tranquillity, mental absorption.

jh±naªga- factor of absorption (five)

vitakka - initial application

vic±ra - sustained application

p²ti - rapture

sukha - happiness

citt'ekaggat± - one-pointedness of mind

Jivha: tongue.

Jivita: life.

j²vitindriya - the life-faculty

K

Kakudh±

k±la: time.

K±limba

Kaliªga

kaly±na: good deed, pleasant.

kaly±namitta: good friend, a virtuous friend, a spiritual friend

kalyana puthujjana: virtuous worldling

kama: desire, sensual pleasure.

k±mabhava

k±m±dh±tu - sense sphere realm

k±mataºh± - craving for sense pleasures

kamma:- volitional action, karma, destiny or fate/ Doctrine of inevitable consequence, work or action; principle of the law of cause and effect.

kammabhava - kammically accumulative existence

k±macchanda

k±m±dh±tu

kammaniy±ma - the order of kamma, law of kamma

k±mar±ga

k±masava

k±matanh±

kammaµµh±na - meditation object

kamathan: ; Meditation.

k±m±vacara

kammavaµµa - phase of kamma

kammawa: lacquered Scriptures.

kammav±c±: a wording that ought to be uttered at time of performing a monastic procedure.

Kamm±saddhamma

kammaµµh±na

kammav±c±

kammavaµµa

k±mup±d±na

Kanik±rapuppha

Kapilavatthu - the capital city of the Sakyans

kappa - an aeon, the lifespan of a world system

Karavika: an India bird noted for the beauty of its song.

Karaweik: Garuda, the royal bird mount of Vishnu.

Karuna: Compassion.

kasiºa - disc-like object of concentration

Kassapa: ; One of the 28 Buddhas, a famous Disciple of the Buddha

kaµattakama - miscellaneous kamma

kaµhina - the ceremony of robes- offering, following the end of the Vassa

kaµissaha

k±ya: body, form

k±yakamma- bodily action

k±y±nupassan± - contemplation of the body

Ketumat²

kesa: hair (of head).

khana: moment, opportunity.

khandhaparinibb±na - the extinguishing of the aggregate-continuum

khandhas: ; groups or aggregates; five in number (material form, feeling or sensation, perception, volitional impulses or tendencies and consciousness);

khaºika - momentary

khaºikasam±dhi - momentary concentration

Khattiya: a member of warrior or noble class in ancient IndiaThe warrior caste In the Buddha's day, the highest social caste.

Khidd±padosikas

Khuddaka Nik±ya

kilesa - defilement, a mental unwholesome state

kilesaparinibb±na - the extinguishment of defilements

kiriya - the action of an arahat, not kamma

Kinnara and Kinnari: mythological hybrid creatures, half- human and half-bird.

Kolia

Kondañña the first Arahant and the most senior member of the Sangha. As a brahmin, he correctly predicted the future of the Prince Siddhatta.

kumara: boy, prince.

kusala : good, merit, skillful, wholesome.

kusala kammapathas: the ten bases of skillful action

Kusavat²

Kusin±ra

kuµ² : hut, small house, lodging.

Kusin±ra : Kusinagare in Uttar Pradesh, India: small town where the Buddha passed away.

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