A GLOSSARY OF SOME COMMON ZEN (AND BUDDHIST) TERMS

These descriptions were taken from a zen FAQ I found somewhere, if you know which one e-mail me so I can add the inforamtion here. Also, if you have any more terms you would like me to add just follow the link above as well.

Ango
Arhat
Avidya
Bodhisattva
Buddha
Gassho
Hokkaijoin
Hondo
Isshu
Karma
Kensho

Kinhin
Koan
Nirvana
Rinzai
Samsara
Satori
Sesshin
Shashu
Sodo
Soto
Suttra

Tathata
Tathagatha
Ten Fetters
Wato
Yongmaeng Chongjin
Zafu
Zaniku
ZaZen
Zen
Zendo
About this Glossary

Unless otherwise noted or obvious the Japanese form is given first.
The Pinyin romanization of Chinese will be used.

Ch = Chinese
J = Japanese
K = Korean
P = Pali
Skt = Sanskrit

Ango

(J) A period of practice and training typically 1-3 months long.

Arhat

(Skt) One free from the ten fetters to freedom. Used both to criticise an individual who practices only for self benefit and to praise an accomplished adept. In the latter sense, one of the Ten Names of a Buddha.

Avidya

(Skt, P: Avijja) Ignorance although unawareness and unconsciousness are also good translations. Most simply it is manifested as attachment to greed, anger, and delusion.

Bodhisattva

(Skt) a Buddha to be who may be delaying his/her own enlightenment to continue a practice benefiting all beings. As praise, it is for selfless practice, as criticism for insufficient attention for one's own practice.

Buddha

(Skt) an enlightened one.

Gassho

(K: hapchang) a hand position in which palms are placed together vertically in front of the body.

Hokkaijoin

Cosmic Mudra the oval hand position used in zazen.

Hondo

A formal hall for rituals and ceremonies. The altar is against a wall in a hondo.

Isshu

Similar to shashu but with a horizontal fist. (See HAND POSITIONS in zazen FAQ.)

Karma

(Skt; Kamma P) Literally deed or phenomenon. Also short for the law of karma, or cause and effect. Actions have foreseeable and unforeseeable consequences.

Kensho

An experience of seeing into one's own nature.

Kinhin

Walking zazen usually practiced between sittings but may also be practiced on its own.

Koan

(Ch: kungan) literally, a 'public record' pointing to realization in a Zen teaching context, usually involving interaction.

Short Example:
A monk asked Joshu, 'Does a dog have Buddha nature?'
Joshu replied, 'Mu.' (literally: without or lacking)

Koans may be used discursively or as objects of meditation.

Nirvana

(Skt, P: Nibbana, J: Nehan) An aspect of the world expressed as oneness, stillness, and exhaustion of desires.

Rinzai

A Japanese (Ch: Linji) sect of Zen Buddhism.

Samsara

(Skt & P) An aspect of world expressed as differentiation, change, becoming, impermanence and desires.

Satori

An experience of enlightenment.

Sesshin

Literally to inspect the heart-mind, a period of intense practice, typically approximately a week.

Shashu

A hand position with the left fist vertically against the chest and covered with the right. (See HAND POSITIONS in zazen FAQ.)

Sodo

A formal hall for meditation, meals, and sleeping. The altar is in the center of a sodo.

Soto

A Japanese (Ch: Caodong) sect of Zen Buddhism.

Suttra

(Skt; P: Sutta) The teaching discourses of the Buddhist canon, most are presented as the words of the historic Buddha.

Tathata

(Skt) Thusness, the as-it-is-ness of the world.

Tathagatha

(Skt) The thus-come-thus-gone one, an epithet of the Buddha.

Ten Fetters

(Skt: Samyojanas) Illusion of an ego, skepticism, belief in magic as solving the problem of life, sensory delusion, ill-will, desire for formed existence, desire for formless existence, arrogance, restlessness, and ignorance of the true nature of reality.

Wato

(K: Hwadu, Ch: Huatou) the head word of a koan, as in the example under Koan 'Mu'.

Yongmaeng Chongjin

(K) Intensive retreat (more literally, "fearless practice").

Zafu

A small round cushion used as a seat in zazen.

Zaniku

A large rectangular flat cushion placed under the zafu which cushions the knees.(Also known as Zabuton).

ZaZen

(Ch: Zuochan) Sitting meditation.

Zen

(K: Son; Ch: Chan; Skt: Dhyana; P: Jhana) Meditation.

Zendo

(K: Sonbang) an informal hall for zazen is practice, which may combine the function and layout of a sodo and hondo.

About this Glossary

The glossary entries where taken from a copy of the alt.zen FAQ which I found somewhere. I would like to thank whoever wrote the entries and if you e-mail me I would be happy to add your name to the credits.

All HTML coding was done by me so if you want to copy this glossary to display on your own page I would be grateful if you could e-mail me and tell me, don't worry I don't want cash for it I just want to know where it's being displayed. Thanks and enjoy the rest of the site.