Pali Glossary

N.B. Pali words are rendered without accents due to limitations of the web.

abhidhamma

the higher teachings of Buddhism, teachings on ultimate realities

Abhidhammattha Sangaha

an Encyclopedia of the Abhidhamma, written by Anuruddha between the 8th and the 12th century A.D.

abhinna

supernormal powers

abhisankhara

kammic activity giving preponderance in the conditioning of rebirth

adosa

non aversion

adukkhamasukha

neutral feeling

ahetuka cittas

not accompanied by beautiful roots or unwholesome roots

ahosi kamma

kamma which is ineffectual

akasananancayatana

sphere of boundless space, the meditation subject of the first immaterial jhanacitta

akincannayatana

sphere of nothingness, the meditation subject of the third immaterial jhanacitta

akusala

unwholesome, unskilful

akusala kamma

a bad deed

akusala citta

unwholesome consciousness

alobha

non attachment, generosity

amoha

wisdom or understanding

anagami

non returner, person who has reached the third stage of enlightenment, he has no aversion (dosa)

Ananda

the chief attendant of the Buddha

anapana sati

mindfulness on breath

anatta

not self

anenj'abhisankhara

kamma which produce rebirth in arupa-brahma planes where there is no rupa.

anicca

impermanence

anicca sanna

perception of impermanence

anuloma

conformity or adaptation

anumodhana

thanksgiving, appreciation of someone else's kusala

anupadisesa nibbana

final nibbana, without the khandhas (aggregates or groups of existence) remaining, at the death of an arahat

anusayas

latent tendency or proclivity

apo-dhatu

element of water or cohesion

appana

absorption

appana-samadhi

attainment-concentration

apunn'abhisankhara

demeritorious kamma-formations

arahat

noble person who has attained the fourth and last stage of enlightenment

arammana

object which is known by consciousness

ariyan

noble person who has attained enlightenment

arupa-bhumi

plane of arupa citta

arupa-brahma plane

plane of existence attained as a result of arupa-jhana. There are no sense impressions, no rupa experienced in this realm.

arupa-jhana

immaterial absorption

arupavacara citta

arupa jhana citta, consciousness of immaterial jhana

asammoha-sampajanna

comprehension of non-delusion

asanna-satta plane

plane where there is only rupa, not nama

asankharika

unprompted, not induced, either by oneself or by someone else

asankhata dhamma

unconditioned reality, nibbana

asavas

influxes or intoxicants, group of defilements

asobhana

not beautiful, not accompanied by beautiful roots

asubha

foul

asura

demon, being of one of the unhappy planes of existence

atita-bhavanga

past life-continuum, arising and falling away shortly before the start of a process of cittas experiencing an object through one of the sense-doors

atta

self

Atthasalini

The Expositor, a commentary to the first book of the Abhidhamma Pitaka

avajjana

adverting of consciousness to the object which has impinged on one of the six doors

avijja

ignorance

ayatanas

sense-fields, namely the five senses and the mind and the objects experienced by them

ayoniso manasikara

unwise attention to an object

ayuhana

striving, willing

balas

powers, strengths

bhanga khana

dissolution moment of citta

bhavana

mental development, comprising the development of calm and the development of insight

bhavanga calana

vibrating bhavanga arising shortly before a process of cittas experiencing an object through one of the six doors

bhavanga-citta

life-continuum

bhavangupaccheda

arrest bhavanga, last bhavanga-citta before a process of cittas starts

bhikkhu

monk

bhikkhuni

nun

bhumi

existence or plane of citta

bodhisatta

a being destined to become a Buddha

Brahma

heavenly being born in the Brahma world, as a result of the attainment of jhana

brahma-viharas

the four divine abidings, meditation subjects which are: loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, equanimity

Buddha

a fully enlightened person who has discovered the truth all by himself, without the aid of a teacher

Buddhaghosa

the greatest of Commentators on the Tipitaka, author of the Visuddhimagga in 5 A.D

cakkhu

eye

cakkhu-dhatu

eye element

cakkhu-dvara

eyedoor

cakkhu-samphassa

eye contact

cakkhu-vatthu

eye-base

cakkhu-vinnana

seeing-consciousness

cakkhudvaravajjana-citta

eye-door-adverting-consciousness

cakkhuppasada rupa

rupa which is the organ of eyesense, capable of receiving visible object

cakkhuppasada-rupa

eye-sense

cetana

volition

cetasika

mental factor arising with consciousness

cetovimutti

deliverance of heart

chanda

wish to do

citta

consciousness, the reality which knows or cognizes an object

citta-passaddhi

calm of citta (consciousness)

cittekaggata

one-pointedness of mind, concentration

cuti

dying

cuti-citta

dying-consciousness

dana

generosity, giving

dassana-kicca

function of seeing

deva

heavenly being

Devadatta

the Buddha's cousin. He tried to kill the Buddha as well as causing a schism in the order.

dhamma

reality, truth, the teachings

dhamma-dhatu

element of dhammas, realities, comprising cetasikas, subtle rupas, nibbana

dhammarammana

all objects other than the sense objects which can be experienced through the five sense-doors, thus, objects which can be experienced only through the mind-door

Dhammasangani

the first book of the Abhidhamma Pitaka

Dhatukatha

Discussion on the Elements, the third book of the Abhidhamma

Digha Nikaya

the long discourse group, part of the Tipitaka

ditthi

wrong view, distorted view of realities

ditthigata sampayutta

accompanied by wrong view

domanassa

unpleasant feeling

dosa

aversion or ill will

dosa-mula-citta

citta (consciousness) rooted in aversion

dukkha

suffering, unsatisfactoriness of conditioned realities

dukkha vedana

painful feeling or unpleasant feeling

dvara

doorway through which an object is experienced, the five sense-doors or the mind door

dvi-panca-vinnana

the five pairs of sense-cognitions, which are seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and body-consciousness. Of each pair one is kusala vipaka and one akusala vipaka

ekaggata

concentration, one-pointedness, a cetasika which has the function to focus on one object

ganthas

bonds, a group of defilements

ghana-dhatu

nose element

ghana-vinnana

smelling-consciousness

ghanappasada rupa

rupa which is the organ of smelling sense, capable of receiving odour

ghayana-kicca

function of smelling

gocara-sampajanna

clear comprehension of the object of mindfulness

gotrabhu

change of lineage, the last citta of the sense-sphere before jhana, absorption, is attained, or enlightenment is attained

hadaya-vatthu

heart-base, rupa which is the plane of origin of the cittas other than the sense-cognitions

hasituppada-citta

smile producing consciousness of an arahat

hetu

root, which conditions citta to be beautiful or unwholesome

indriya

faculty. Some are rupas such as the sense organs, some are namas such as feeling. Five 'spiritual faculties' are wholesome faculties which should be cultivated, namely: confidence, energy, awareness, concentration and wisdom.

indriyasamvara-sila

the virtue of restraint of the faculties

issa

envy

Jatakas

birth stories about the Buddha's former lives

jati

birth, nature, class (of cittas)

javana

impulsion, running through the object

javana-citta

cittas which 'run through the object', kusala citta or akusala citta in the case of non-arahats

jhana

absorption which can be attained through the development of calm

jhana factors

cetasikas which have to be cultivated for the attainment of jhana: vitakka, vicara, piti, sukha, samadhi

jhana-cittas

absorption consciousness attained through the development of calm

jinha dhatu

tongue element

jinhappasada rupa

rupa which is the organ of tasting sense, capable of receiving flavour

jivha-vinnana

Tasting-consciousness

jivitindriya

life-faculty or vitality

kaayagata sati

mindfulness of the body

kama

sensual enjoyment or the five sense objects

kama-bhumi

sensuous plane of existence

kama-sobhana cittas

beautiful cittas of the sense sphere

kamacchanda

sensual desire

kamacchandha

sensuous desire

kamavacara cittas

cittas of the sense sphere

kamavacara sobhana cittas

beautiful cittas of the sense sphere

kamma

intention or volition; deed motivated by volition

kamma patha

course of action performed through body, speech or mind which can be wholesome or unwholesome

kamma-condition

type of condition,capable of producing good or bad results (vipaka)

kappa

an endlessly long period of time

karuna

compassion

kasina

disk, used as an object for the development of calm

kaya

body. It can also stand for the 'mental body', the cetasikas

kaya dhatu

the element of bodysense

kaya-passaddhi

calm of cetasikas (mental factors)

kaya-vinnatti

bodily intimation, such as gestures, facial expresion, etc.

kaya-vinnana

body-consciousness

kayappasada rupa

bodysense, the rupa which is capable of receiving tangible object. It is all over the body, inside or outside.

Khandha-vagga

the third book of the Kindred Sayings

khandhas

aggregates of conditioned realities classified as five groups: physical phenomena, feelings, perception or remembrance, activities or formations (cetasikas other than feeling or perception), consciousness.

khanti

patience

kicca

function

kilesa

defilements

kiriya citta

inoperative citta, neither cause nor result

kukkucca

regret or worry

kusala

wholesome, skilful

kusala kamma

a good deed

kusala citta

wholesome consciousness

lakkhanam

characteristic, specific or generic attribute

lobha

attachment, greed

lobha-mula-citta

consciousness rooted in attachment

lokiya citta

citta which is mundane, not experiencing nibbana

lokuttara citta

supramundane citta which experiences nibbana

lokuttara dhammas

the unconditioned dhamma which is nibbana and the cittas which experience nibbana

macchariya

stinginess

magga

path (eightfold Path)

magga-citta

path consciousness, supramundane citta which experiences nibbana and eradicates defilements.

maha kiriyacitta

inoperative sense-sphere citta of the arahat, accompanied by beautiful roots.

maha vipakacitta

citta of the sense sphere which is result, accompanied by beautiful roots.

maha-bhuta-rupas

the rupas which are the four great elements of earth or solidity, water or cohesion, fire or temperature, and wind or motion.

maha-kusalacitta

wholesome citta of the sense sphere

Maha-vagga

the fifth book of the Kindred Sayings

manasikara

attention

manayatana

mind-base

mangala

auspicous sign or blessing

mano

mind, citta, consciousness

mano-dhatu

mind-element, comprising the five-sense-door adverting-consciousness, and the two types of receiving-consciosness.

mano-dvara-vithi-cittas

cittas arising in a mind-door process.

mano-dvaravajjana-citta

mind-door-adverting-consciousness

mano-samphassa

mind contact

mano-vinnana-dhatu

mind-consciosness element, comprising all cittas other than the sense-cognitions (seeing, etc.) and mind-element.

mara

the evil one

metta

loving kindness

miccha-samadhi

wrong concentration

middha

torpor or languor

Moggallana

The second of the Chief disciples of the Buddha

moha

ignorance

moha-mula-cittas

cittas rooted in ignorance

mudita

sympathetic joy

n'eva-sanna-n'asannayatana

sphere of neither perception nor non-perception, the meditation subject of the fourth immaterial jhana.

nama

mental phenomena,including those which are conditioned and also the unconditioned nama which is nibbana.

nama kkhandha

group of all mental phenomena

nama-rupa pariccheda-nana

first stage of insight, insight knowledge of the distinction between mental phenomena and physical phenomena

natthika ditthi

wrong view of annihilation, assumption that there is no result of kamma.

nana

wisdom, insight

nibbana

unconditioned reality, the reality which does not arise and fall away. The destruction of lust, hatred and delusion. The deathless. The end of suffering.

nimitta

mental image one can acquire of a meditation subject in tranquil meditation

nirodha-samapatti

attainment ofcessation of consciosness

nivarana

hindrances, a group of defilements

olarika rupas

gross rupas (sense objects and sense organs)

oja

the rupa which is nutrition

Pacceka Buddha

silent Buddha, an enlightened one who has found the truth by himself but does not proclaim Dhamma to the world.

paccupatthana

manifestation, appearance or effect

padatthanam

proximate cause

patibhaganimitta

counterpart image, more perfected mental image of a meditation subject, acquired in tranquil meditation

paticca sammuppada

'Dependent Origination', the conditional origination of phenomena

patigha

aversion or ill will

Patthana

Conditional Relations, one of the seven books of the Abhidhamma

patisandhi

rebirth

patisandhi citta

rebirth consciousness

Pali

the language of the Buddhist teachings

pancadvaravajjana-citta

five-sense-door-adverting-consciousness

pancavinnana or dvi-pancavinnana

the sense cognitions, seeing etc. of which there five pairs

panna

wisdom or understanding

pannatti

concepts, conventional terms

Papancasudani

commentary to the satipatthana sutta

paramattha dhamma

truth in the absolute sense: mental and physical phenomena, each with their own characteristic. Nibbana is

Paramattha Manjusa

a commentary to the Visuddhimagga

parikamma

preparatory consciousness, the first javanacitta arising in the process during which absorption or enlightenment is attained

parikamma-samadhi

preparatory concentration

Parinibbana

complete Nibbana, complete extinction of Khandha Life. i.e. all possibility of such life and its rebirth.

pasada-rupas

rupas which are capable of receiving sense-objects such as visible object, sound, taste, etc.

passaddhi

calm

patisantharo

courtesy

peta

ghost

phala-citta

fruition consciousness experiencing nibbana. It is result of magga-citta, path-consciosness.

phassa

contact

phottabbarammana

tangible object, experienced through bodysense

phusana kicca

function of experiencing tangible object

piti

joy, rapture

Puggalapannatti

Designation of Human Types, the fourth book of the Abhidhamma

punn'abhisankhara

meritorious kamma formations

Punna

merit

puthujjana

worldling, a person who has not attained enlightenment

Rahula

the Buddha's son

rasa

function or achievement

rasarammana

object of flavour

rupa

physical phenomena, realities which do not experience anything

rupa-brahma plane or rupa-bhumi

fine material realm of existence attained as a result of rupa-jhana

rupa-jhana

fine material absorption, developed with a meditation subject which is still dependant on materiality.

rupa-khandha

aggregate or group of all physical phenomena (rupas)

ruparammana

visible object

rupavacara citta

type of jhana citta

rupavacara cittas

upa-jhanacittas, consciosness of the fine-material sphere

sa-upadi-sesa nibbana

arahatship with the khandhas or groups of existence remaining, thus not final nibbana at death of an arahat.

sabbacitta-sadharana

the seven cetasikas which have to arise with every citta

saddarammana

sound

saddha

confidence

sahagata

accompanied by

sahetuka

accompanied by roots

sakadagami

once-returner, a noble person who has attained the second stage of enlightenment

sakhalyam

amity

sakkaya

group of existence

sakkaya ditthi

wrong view of personality, wrong view about the khandhas

samadhi

concentration or one-pointedness, ekaggata cetasika

samadhi-bhavana

the development of concentration

samatha

the development of calm

samma

right

samma-ditthi

right understanding

samma-samadhi

right concentration

samma-sambuddha

a universal Buddha, a fully enlightened person who has discovered the truth all by himself, without the aid of a teacher and who can proclaim the Truth to others beings

samma-sati

right mindfulness

sampaticchana-citta

receiving-consciousness

sampajanna

discrimination, comprehension

sampayutta

associated with

Sampayutta dhammas

associated dhammas, citta and cetasika which arise together

Sangha

community of monks and nuns. As one of the triple Gems it means the community of those people who have attained enlightenment.

sanjanati

cognizing well

sankhata dhammas

conditioned dhammas

sanna

memory, remembrance or perception

sanna-kkhandha

memory classified as one of the five khandhas

santirana-citta

investigating-consciousness

sankara dhamma

conditioned dhamma

sankhara-kkhandha

all cetasikas (mental factors) except feeling and memory

sankharadhamma

conditioned realities

samvara sila

moral restraint

sappaya-sampajanna

comprehension of what is suitable, fitting

Sariputta

The First chief disciple of the Buddha

sasankharika

prompted, induced, instigated, either by oneself or someone else

sasankharika

prompted, induced, instigated, either by oneself or someone else

sati

awareness, non-forgetfulness, awareness of reality by direct experience

sati-sampajanna

clear comprehension

satipatthana

applicatioms of mindfulness. It can mean the cetasika sati which is aware of realities or the objects of mindfulness which are classified as four applications of mindfulness: Body, Feeling Citta, Dhamma. Or it can mean the development of direct understanding of realities through awareness.

satipatthana sutta

Middle Length Sayings 1, number 10, also Digha Nikaya, dialogues 11, no. 22;

savana-kicca

function of hearing

sayana-kicca

function of tasting

sila

morality in action or speech, virtue

silabbata-paramasa

wrong practice

silabbatupadana

wrong practice, which is clinging to certain rules (rites and rituals) in one's practice

sobhana citta and cetasika

beautiful, accompanied by beautiful roots

sobhana hetus

beautiful roots

sobhana kiriyacittas

kiriyacittas accompanied by sobhana (beautiful) roots

somanassa

happy feeling

soraccam

temperance

sota-dhatu

element of earsense

sota-dvara-vithi-cittas

ear-door process cittas

sota-dvaravajjana-citta

ear-door-adverting-consciousness

sotapanna

person who has attained the first stage of enlightenment, and who has eradicated wrong view of realities

soto-vinnana

hearing-consciousness

sukha

happy, pleasant

sukha-vedana

pleasant bodily feeling

sukhuma

subtle

Sumangalavilasini

commentary to the dialogues of the Buddha (Digha Nikaya)

sutta

part of the scriptures containing dialogues at different places on different occasions.

suttanta

a sutta text

tadalambana

retention or registering, last citta of a complete process

tadarammana

retention or registering, last citta of a complete process of the sense-sphere

tadarammana-cittas

registering consciousness

Tathagata

literally thus gone, epithet of the Buddha

tatramajjhattata

equanimity or evenmindedness

tejo-dhatu

element of fire or heat

Theravada Buddhism

'Doctrine of the Elders', the oldest tradition of Buddhism

thina

sloth

Tipitaka

the teachings of the Buddha

titthi khana

static moment of citta

Udana

Verses of Uplift from the Minor Anthologies

uddhacca

restlessness

upacara

access or proximatory consciousness, the second javana-citta in the process in which absorption or enlightenment is attained

upacara-samadhi

access-concentration

upada-rupa

derived rupas the rupas other than the four Great Elements

upadana

clinging

upadanakkhandhas

khandhas of clinging

upekkha

indifferent feeling. It can stand for evenmindedness or equanimity and then it is not feeling

uppada khana

arising of citta

vaci

speech

vaci-vinnatti

the rupa which is speech intimation

vatthu

base, physical base of citta

vayo-dhatu

element of wind or motion

vedana

feeling

vedana-kkhandha

group of all feelings

Vibhanga

Book of Analysis, one of the seven books of the Abhidhamma

vicara

sustained thinking or discursive thinking

vicikiccha

doubt

vinaya

Book of Discipline for the monks

vinnanancayatana

sphere of boundless consciousness, meditation subject for the second stage of immaterial jhana

vinnana

consciousness, citta

vinnana-dhatu

element of consciousness, comprising all cittas

vinnana-kkhandha

all cittas (consciousness)

vipaka-citta

cittas which are the result of kamma

vipakacitta

citta which is the result of a wholesome deed (kusala kamma) or an unwholesome deed (akusala kamma). It can arise as rebirth-consciousness, or during life as the experience of pleasant or unpleasant objects through the senses, such as seeing, hearing, etc.

vipallasas

perversions. Three kinds: sanna perversion of perception, citta of thought, ditthi of views.

vipassana

wisdom which sees realities as they are

vippayutta

dissociated from

viriya

energy

visankara dhamma

unconditioned dhamma (reality)

Visuddhimagga

an encyclopaedia of the Buddha's teaching, written by Buddhaghosa in the fifth century A.D

vitakka

applied thinking

vithi-cittas

Cittas arising in a process vithimutta-cittas process freed cittas, cittas which do not arise within a process

votthapana

determining

votthapana-citta

determining-consciousness

vyapada

ill-will

yakkha

non-human being

Yamaka

the Book of Pairs, the sixth book of the Abhidhamma

yoniso manasikara

wise attention to the object


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