Glossary
Arahant: A “worthy one” or “pure one”; a person whose mind is free of defilement and is thus not subject to further rebirth. A title for the Buddha and his highest level of noble disciples.
Āsava: Fermentation; effluent. Four qualities—sensuality, views, becoming, and ignorance—that “flow out” of the mind and create the flood of the round of death and rebirth.
Brāhman: In general usage, this denotes a member of the priestly caste of India. In its specifically Buddhist usage, it denotes an arahant.
Brahmā: Inhabitant of the heavens of form or formlessness.
Deva (devatā): Literally, “shining one.” An inhabitant of heavenly or terrestrial levels of being enjoying pleasures higher than those of human beings.
Dhamma: (1) Event; action; (2) a phenomenon in and of itself; (3) mental quality; (4) doctrine, teaching; (5) nibbāna (although some passages in the Canon describe nibbāna as the abandoning of all dhammas). Sanskrit form: Dharma.
Jhāna: Mental absorption. A state of strong concentration focused on a single sensation or mental notion. This term is derived from the verb jhāyati, which means to burn with a still, steady flame. Sanskrit form: Dhyāna.
Kamma: Intentional act. Sanskrit form: Karma.
Māra: Death and temptation personified.
Nāga: (1) A magical serpent; (2) a great elephant; (3) a human being of admirable nobility and strength.
Nibbāna: Literally, the “unbinding” of the mind from passion, aversion, and delusion, and from the entire round of death and rebirth. As this term also denotes the extinguishing of a fire, it carries connotations of stilling, cooling, and peace. “Total nibbāna” in some contexts denotes the experience of awakening; in others, the final passing away of an arahant. Sanskrit form: Nirvāṇa.
Saṅgha: Community. On the conventional level, this term denotes the communities of Buddhist monks and nuns. On the ideal level, it denotes those followers of the Buddha, lay or ordained, who have attained at least the first stage of awakening.
Tathāgata: Literally, one who has “become authentic (tatha-āgata)” or “truly gone (tathā-gata),” an epithet used in ancient India for a person who has attained the highest religious goal. In Buddhism, it usually denotes the Buddha, although occasionally it also denotes any of his arahant disciples.
