Charity or almsgiving, the first Paramitas.

There are three kinds of charity in terms of goods, teaching (Dharma) and courage (fearlessness). Out of the three, the merits and virtues of the teaching of the Buddha Dharma is the most surpassing.

Charity done for no reward here and hereafter is called pure or unsullied, while the sullied charity is done for the purpose of personal benefits. In Buddhism, the merits and virtues of pure charity is the best.

 (See also: Charity , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Five Fundamental Conditions of Passions and Delusions

1. Wrong views which are common to triloka;
2. Clinging or attachment in the desire realm;
3. Clinging or attachment in the form realm:
4. Clinging or attachment in the formless realm which is still mortal;
5. The state of unenlightenment which is the rootcause of all distressful delusion.

 (See also: Five Fundamental Conditions of Passions and Delusions , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Visualization

See Meditation Sutra for explanation.

The visualizations (in the Meditation Sutra) are distinguished into sixteen kinds (shifting from earthly scenes to Pure Land scenes at the third Visualization):

(1)  visualization of the sun,

(2)  visualization of water, (

(3)  visualization of the ground (in the Pure Land),

(4)  visualization of the trees,

(5)  visualization of the lake (s),

(6)  unified visualization of the (50 billion) storied-pavilions, trees, lakes, and so forth,

(7)  visualization of the (lotus throne of Amitabha Buddha),

(8)  visualization of the images of the Buddha (Amitabha) and Bodhisattvas (Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta),

(9)  visualization of the (Reward body of Amitabha Buddha, i.e., the form in which He appears in the Pure Land),

(10)             visualization of Avalokitesvara,

(11)             visualization of Mahasthamaprapta,

(12)             visualization of one's own rebirth,

(13)              (see below),

(14)             visualization of the rebirth of the highest grades,

(15)             visualization of the rebirth of the middle grades and

(16)             visualization of the rebirth of the lowest grades.

 (K.K. Tanaka, The Dawn of Chinese Pure Land Doctrine.)

The 13th Visualization has been summarized as follows: If one cannot visualize the (Reward body of Amitabha Buddha), focus on the small body, which is sixteen cubits high (the traditional height of Shakyamuni while he dwelt on earth); contemplate an intermingling of the (Reward) and small bodies. (1oji Okazaki, p.52.) Visualizations 14-16 refer to the nine lotus grades (of rebirth), divided into three sets of three grades each.

 (See also: Visualization , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

anapanasati (aanaapaanasati): Mindfulness of breathing. A meditation practice in which one maintains one's attention and mindfulness on the sensations of breathing.

 (See also: Anapanasati , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Awakening vs. Enlightenment

A clear distinction should be made between awakening to the Way (Great Awakening) and attaining the Way (attaining Enlightenment). (Note: There are many degrees of Awakening and Enlightenment. Attaining the Enlightenment of the Arhats, Pratyeka Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, etc. is different from attaining Supreme Enlightenment, i.e., Buddhahood.)

To experience a Great Awakening is to achieve (through Zen meditation, Buddha Recitation, etc.) a complete and deep realization of what it means to be a Buddha and how to reach Buddhahood.

It is to see one's Nature, comprehend the True Nature of things, the Truth. However, only after becoming a Buddha can one be said to have truly attained Supreme Enlightenment (attained the Way).

A metaphor appearing in the sutras is that of a glass of water containing sediments. As long as the glass is undisturbed, the sediments remain at the bottom and the water is clear. However, as soon as the glass is shaken, the water becomes turbid. Likewise, when a practitioner experiences a Great Awakening (awakens to the Way), his afflictions (greed, anger and delusion) are temporarily suppressed but not yet eliminated.

To achieve Supreme Enlightenment (i.e., to be rid of all afflictions, to discard all sediments) is the ultimate goal. Only then can he completely trust his mind and actions. Before then, he should adhere to the precepts, keep a close watch on his mind and thoughts, like a cat stalking a mouse, ready to pounce on evil thoughts as soon as they arise.

To do otherwise is to court certain failure, as stories upon stories of errant monks, roshis and gurus demonstrate.

 (See also: Awakening vs. Enlightenment , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Avidya: In Hinduism this is one of the conditions involved in samsara and reincarnation, meaning ignorance. This is ignorance of spiritual perception, not book knowledge. The origin of tanha (craving) is avidya (ignorance), where tanha is what keeps the living in the cycle of samsara. We can see this reflected in the third noble truth, where the source of greed is illusion, and in order to overcome illusion we must overcome avidya, ignorance.

 (See also: Avidya , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Ego: The individual or self; in Buddhism the ego is an illusion, which helps to perpetuate all illusion.

 (See also: Ego , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Hinduism and Buddhism Compared

Similiarities and differences between Hinduism and Buddhism.

Read more here: » Hinduism vs Buddhism: Hinduism and Buddhism Compared

Oneness of delusion and enlightenment

(Jpn.: meigo-funi or meigo-ittai)

Also, non-duality of delusion and enlightenment. The principle that delusion and enlightenment are, though different in aspect, one and the same in their essential nature. A bad cause or influence gives rise to delusion, and a good cause or influence, to enlightenment. Delusion and enlightenment are two different workings, but both arise from the essential nature of life. This Mahayana concept contrasts with the Hinayana view that enlightenment and delusion, or enlightenment and earthly desires, are mutually exclusive and incompatible.

(See also: Oneness of delusion and enlightenment , Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Master: The guide of the traveler (student). Roshi is a better term, if it is used without trying to imply a status.

 (See also: Master , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Mahayana: The Greater Raft/Vehicle. One of the four main branches of Buddhism, emphasizing salvation for the regular people. The Mahayana school uses the vernacular language to convey its teachings. It was founded some time after Asoka, from his example of spreading Buddhism. It is practiced in China and Japan.

 (See also: Mahayana , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Veda

True or sacred knowledge or lore; name of celebrated works which constitute the basis of the first period of the Hindu religion.

 (See also: Veda , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Samadhi

Deep concentration: the state of one-pointedness of mind characterized by peace and imperturbability. Samadhi is also one of the Paramitas and is indispensable on the path to Bodhi.

 (See also: Samadhi , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

bodhi-pakkhiya-dhamma (bodhi-pakkhiya-dhammaa): "Wings to Awakening" - seven sets of principles that are conducive to Awakening and that, according to the Buddha, form the heart of his teaching:

(1)         the four frames of reference (see satipatthana);

(2)         four right exertions (sammappadhana) - the effort to prevent unskillful states from arising in the mind, to abandon whatever unskillful states have already arisen, to give rise to the good, and to maintain the good that has arisen;

(3)         four bases of success (iddhipada) - desire, persistence, intentness, circumspection;

(4)         five dominant factors (indriya) - conviction, persistence, mindfulness, concentration, discernment;

(5)         five strengths (bala) - identical with

(6)         seven factors for Awakening (bojjhanga) - mindfulness, investigation of phenomena, persistence, rapture (see piti), serenity, concentration, equanimity; and

(7)         the eightfold path (magga) - Right View, Right Attitude, Right Speech, Right Activity, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration.

 (See also: Bodhi-pakkhiya-dhamma , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Lesser Vehicle

The early Buddhism. A term coined by Mahayanists to distinguish this school of Buddhism (whose modern descendent is Theravada) from Mahayana.

It is so called because the teaching of this school puts emphasis on one's own liberation, whereas the teaching of Mahayana stresses the attainment of Buddhahood for all sentient beings.

Theravada is now prevalent in southeast Asia, while Mahayana has spread over the northern area (China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan ...) (G.C.C. Chang).

 (See also: Lesser Vehicle , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

brahma-vihara (brahma-vihaara): The four "sublime" or "divine" abodes that are attained through the development of boundless metta (goodwill), karuna (compassion), mudita (appreciative joy), and upekkha (equanimity).

 (See also: Brahma-vihara , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Samsara

Cycle of rebirths; realms of Birth and Death.

 (See also: Samsara , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Attainment of Buddhahood by persons of the two vehicles

(Jpn.: nijo-sabutsu)

See: attainment of Buddhahood

(See also: Attainment of Buddhahood by persons of the two vehicles , Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Student: In Zen a student is a traveler, one who is practicing Zen under a master or teacher to find self-awareness. The student is really his or her own teacher, though they usually do not know this until they have been enlightened. In this book, student does not mean one who studies Zen academically.

 (See also: Student , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

anagami (anaagaamii): Nonreturner. A person who has abandoned the five lower fetters that bind the mind to the cycle of rebirth (see samyojana), and who after death will appear in one of the Brahma worlds called the Pure Abodes, there to attain nibbana, never again to return to this world.

 (See also: Anagami , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Theravada Lit., the School of the Elders; one of the two main forms of Buddhism known in the world today; practiced chiefly in south-east Asia; has the Pali Canon for textual foundation; this tradition advocates the Arahantship.

 (See also: Theravada , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Sage

A wise and virtuous person, an accomplished one who is second in rank to a saint.

 (See also: Sage , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)