A Wisdom Archive on Buddhist Quotes

Introduction and links to related topics

Below are some short introductions. Click on the blue hyperlinked word to get more related articles.


Brain - Brain The anatomy of the brain is very complex, and the organ as a whole can be considered under two main aspects:
in relation to consciousness, thought, and memory; and
in relation to functional activities stimulated by nerve currents to the various organs, muscles, etc.

It is in reference to consciousness that Blavatsky states that "Occultism tells us that every atom, like the monad of Leibnitz, is a little universe in itself; and that every organ and cell in the human body is endowed with a brain of its own, with memory, therefore, experience and discriminative powers" (Studies in Occultism 100; BCW 12:134).

Pirogoff, Liebig, and others are quoted in support of the view that memory is related to the bodily organs in general and not wholly to the brain. The brain is the registering organ of memory, not memory itself. The memories of terrestrial experiences -- those pertaining to the lower mind -- arise in the bodily organs pertaining to it, and are transmitted to the structure of the brain, where they are registered in the kama-manasic consciousness.

But the finer particles of the brain cannot be so reached, for the brain in this sense is the organ of a higher noetic mind. The higher mind does not act directly on the bodily organs, but through the mediation of the lower mind. Thus it is the personal ego "catches occasional glimpses of that which is beyond the senses of man, and transmits them to certain brain cells (unknown to science in their functions), thus making of man a Seer, a soothsayer, and a prophet . . ." (Studies in Occultism 89; BCW 12:367). The brain and heart are special organs through which the higher mind acting through the personal mind can stimulate the finer particles of the body to a representation of spiritual ideas.

More particularly the brain may be described as the organ of the lower manasic activities through the manasic fluid flowing forth from the inner constitution; whereas the heart is the organ -- as yet only slightly evolved to its high purposes -- for the buddhic or buddhi-manasic parts of the invisible human constitution. Thus when the brain is trained to receive the inflow of the current arising in the higher portion of the fluid which bathes the heart, then the individual lives for the time at least in the highest portions of his constitution, and temporarily becomes a demigod on earth.

Viraga - Viraga (Sanskrit) [from vi without + raga passion, desire, color]

Absence of desire, indifference to pleasure and pain. The practice of viraga forms one of the Buddhist paramitas.

Three Worlds - One of Buddhist cosmologies, in which the cosmos is divided into three parts
Desire, Form, and Non-form. The first and last of these three represent attachment to the senses, and are undesirable. Those in the second level have a body but do not cling to the world of illusion and senses. In Zen practice the three worlds are also considered levels or dimensions of consciousness.

Anda - Anda (Sanskrit) An egg; a name of Siva, because of his connection and identification with brahmanda, the egg or world of Brahma. Just as a bird''s egg contains the seed of the chick to be, just so a globe, planet, universe, or any other brahmanda is the world egg containing the seeds of what later in cosmic time will develop forth its essential life powers, whether as a planetary chain, solar system, galaxy, or cluster of galaxies. Each is an anda of Brahma.

Also used for "the central hemispherical dome of solid earth, brick, or stone which forms the core of the Buddhist stupa" (cf HW 2:437).

Avara-saila-sangharama - Avara-saila-sangharama (Sanskrit) (from avara western + saila mountain + sangharama monastery)

A Buddhist school or monastery situated on the "western mountain," in a place variously spelled Dhanakataka, Dhanyakataka, Dhanakstchaka, and Dhanakacheka, which according to Eitel was "built 600 BC, and deserted AD 600" (TG 44).

Pali - Pali. The ancient language of Magadha, one that preceded the more refined Sanskrit. The Buddhist Scriptures are all written in this language.

Chandragupta - Chandragupta, or Chandragupta (Sanskrit). The son of Nanda, the first Buddhist King of the Morya Dynasty, the grandfather of King Asoka, "the beloved of the gods" (Piyadasi).

Sighra - Sighra or Sighraga (Sanskrit). The father of Moru, "who is still living through the power of Yoga, and will manifest himself in the beginning of the Krita age in order to re-establish the Kshattriyas in the nineteenth Yuga" say the Puranic prophecies. "Moru" stands here for "Morya ", the dynasty of the Buddhist sovereigns of Pataliputra which began with the great King Chandragupta, the grandsire of King Asoka. It is the first Buddhist Dynasty. (Secret Doctrine, I., 378.)

Kailasa - (Sanskrit) "Crystalline" or "abode of bliss." The four-faced Himalayan peak in Western Tibet; the earthly abode of Lord Siva. Associated with Mount Meru, the legendary center of the universe, it is an important pilgrimage destination for all Hindus, as well as for Tibetan Buddhists. Kailasa is represented in Shaktism by a certain three-dimensional form of the Sri Chakra yantra (also called kailasa chakra).
See: Sri Chakra.

Bhante - Venerable sir; often used when addressing a Buddhist monk.

Demerit - Demerit. In Occult and Buddhistic parlance, a constituent of Karma. It is through avidya or ignorance of vidya, divine illumination, that merit and demerit are produced. Once an Arhat obtains full illumination and perfect control over his personality and lower nature, he ceases to create merit and demerit

Lamrin - Lamrin lam rin (Tibetan) Stages of the path; the name for a genre of Tibetan Buddhist literature. The most famous such work is Tsong-kha-pa''s Lam rim chen mo, which claims to be based on the earliest such work, the Bodhipathapradipa by Atisha (Dipamkara-shrijnana).

Lanka - Lanka (Sanskrit). The ancient name of the island now called Ceylon. It is also the name of a mountain in the South East of Ceylon, where, as tradition says, was a town peopled with demons named Lankapuri.

It is described in the epic of the Ramayana as of gigantic extent and magnificence, "with seven broad moats and seven stupendous walls of stone and metal". Its foundation is attributed to Visva-Karma, who built it for Kuvera, the king of the demons, from whom it was taken by Ravana, the ravisher of Sita.

The Bhagavat Purana shows Lanka or Ceylon as primarily the summit of Mount Meru, which was broken off by Vayu, god of the wind, and hurled into the ocean. It has since become the seat of the Southern Buddhist Church, the Siamese Sect (headed at present by the High Priest Sumangala), the representation of the purest exoteric Buddhism on this side of the Himalayas.

Sapphire - Sapphire Many ancient peoples knew how to avail themselves of the magical virtues of precious stones. The sapphire was especially valued because supposed to enshrine some of the influences of Venus as transmitted through other attributes to Luna or the higher aspect of the Moon, and so to be able to induce equanimity and banish evil thoughts.

" ''The sapphire,'' say the Buddhists, ''will open barred doors and dwellings (for the spirit of man); it produces a desire for prayer, and brings with it more peace than any other gem; but he who would wear it must lead a pure and holy life'' " (IU 1:265).

Modern authorities surmise that the sappheiros of the Greeks and the sappir of the Bible were our lapis lazuli, while our sapphire was called hyacinthus. The same qualities are attributed to the color blue.

Sila - Sila (Sanskrit) [from the verbal root sil to serve, practice]

Moral fortitude, ethical steadiness, one of the Buddhist paramitas. Described as "the key of Harmony in word and act, the key that counterbalances the cause and the effect, and leaves no further room for Karmic action" (VS 47). The Mahayana Sraddhotpada Sastra says of practicing sila: "Lay disciples, having families, should abstain from killing, stealing, adultery, lying, duplicity, slander, frivolous talk, covetousness, malice, currying favor, and false doctrines. Unmarried disciples should, in order to avoid hindrances, retire from the turmoil of worldly life and, abiding in solitude, should practise those ways which lead to quietness and moderation and contentment. . . . They should endeavor by their conduct to avoid all disapproval and blame, and by their example incite others to forsake evil and practise the good." {from FSO p. 45}