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Subject: Buddhism: Common questions about Buddhism & glossary (part 2/3)
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..talk.religion.buddhism FAQ -- Part 2 of 3

..A centipede was happy quite,
..Until a frog in fun
..Said, "Pray, which leg comes after which?"
..This raised her mind to such a pitch,
..She lay distracted in the ditch
..Considering how to run.
..    - Anon (from Oxford Book of Verse for Children)

------------------------------

The FAQ is in three parts.  Part 1 gives a full table of contents.
The other two parts give only the contents for their sections.

Readers of this FAQ may also be interested in other FAQs mentioned in
the Resources section. 

------------------------------

3. Occasionally asked questions
.3.01 Charter? What charter?
.3.02 What is the current flamewar about?
.3.03 Do Buddhists worship the Buddha as a deity?
.3.04 Do Buddhists believe in God?
.3.05 Do Buddhists believe in a soul?
.3.06 Do Buddhists believe in reincarnation?
.3.07 What does Buddhism say about sex?
.3.08 What does Buddhism say about homosexuality?
.3.09 What does Buddhism say about morality in general?
.3.10 Are all Buddhists vegetarians?

4. Glossary
.4.01 Why don't you folks speak English?
.4.02 A note on spelling and usage
.4.03 A random selection of terms and names
.4.04 A random selection of abbreviations and smileys

------------------------------

Subject: 3. Occasionally asked questions

------------------------------

Subject: 3.01 Charter? What charter?

Creation of a talk.religion.buddhism newsgroup was formally proposed
to news.announce.newgroups on 19 Aug 1994 by Than Vo (thanv@van.oz.au).
The results of the vote were 386 YES and 31 NO, plus 1 abstention and
3 invalid ballots.

What follows is a lightly edited version of the charter as given in
Than's CFV of 21 Sep 1994. (The original can be found at ftp.uu.net
/usenet/news.announce.newgroups/talk/talk.religion.buddhism.) 

CHARTER

The newsgroup "talk.religion.buddhism" is open to the discussion of
all topics relating to Buddhism as a religion as well as a philosophy. 

The objectives of this forum are:
    o To promote Buddhism as founded in India by Gotama Siddharta more
      than 2,500 years ago;
    o To promote the understanding of the teachings of Lord Sakyamuni
      Buddha, who, out of His great compassion towards all beings,
      showed the path to perfect enlightenment;
    o To propagate the Tipitaka teachings as found in the Pali Canon;
    o To collaborate with all schools and denominations of Buddhism in
      promoting the study and practice of Buddha's teachings;
    o To promote unity and solidarity of all Buddhists;
    o To promote mutual understanding, coordination and cooperation
      among Buddhists in all parts of the world;
    o To promote Buddhist traditions in developing spiritual values;
    o To promote the Buddhist virtues of Compassion, Wisdom and
      Courage for self-development;
    o To facilitate discussions on all aspects of Buddhism including,
      but not limited to, Buddhist schools and denominations, within
      and among Buddhist cultures.
    o To exchange and communicate understanding of the Buddha's
      teachings among the ordained, the laity and non-Buddhists;
    o To facilitate studies of Buddhist philosophy among scholars;
    o To facilitate dialogue in the form of questions and answers
      about Buddhism from non-Buddhist adherents of other religions.

All discussions shall be resolved in the spirit of Buddhism - in
harmony. 

Buddhism is one of the principal religions, with some 700 millions of 
Buddhists all over the world.  There are also many scholars studying
Buddhism in universities.  There is a need for a channel of worldwide
communication for the Buddhist community -- a serious USENET newsgroup
dedicated to Buddhism in general -- so that lay people, ordained
Buddhists and non-Buddhists can communicate and exchange freely their
experiences and interests.  The newsgroup "talk.religion.buddhism" is
intended to provide such a needed facility. 

------------------------------

Subject: 3.02 What is the current flamewar about?

To keep things in perspective, t.r.b. doesn't usually have flamewars
of its own ... apart from those that spill over from other groups,
usually as the result of ill-conceived crossposts.  Even those tend
to be relatively mild; must be our karma.  If you want to see a *real* 
war zone sometime, drop in next door at talk.religion.misc. 

There were no interesting flamewars last month, sorry. :-)

------------------------------

Subject: 3.03 Do Buddhists worship the Buddha as a deity?

No.  The Buddha achieved perfect victory over the causes of rebirth.
His Parinirvana was 2500 years ago.  All that remain are relics and
monuments.

Of course Buddhists have religious observances of many kinds,
including offerings of fruit and incense before Buddha-images.  These 
practices are an expression of our shared faith and practice, and a
means of acquiring merit. They are not gestures of deference to a god. 

------------------------------

Subject: 3.04 Do Buddhists believe in God?

Buddhism has been characterized as 'atheist' by the Pope and others -- 
but 'non-eternalist' is a more accurate term.  Deities are mentioned
at many points in the sutras.  People often interpret such references 
metaphorically, especially in the West; but even if they were taken 
literally, there would be no special conflict with the Teaching.

However, the idea of an *eternal* Creator God is contrary to the 
Buddhist doctrines of anicca and anatta (see Glossary), and is flatly 
contradicted in scripture (see, for example, the Brahmajala Sutta). 

Theists, agnostics and atheists are all welcome within Buddhism (and
in this group); Buddhists make up their own minds about the existence 
or nonexistence of deities, if they get around to it.  Some people 
find this question uninteresting, feeling that neither a 'yes' nor a 
'no' answer contributes meaningfully to the elimination of suffering. 
See also next item. 

------------------------------

Subject: 3.05 Do Buddhists believe in a soul?

Some would say that questions like 3.04 and 3.05 are in the same general
category as "Does Nonexistence Exist?"  Such questions are unanswerable.  
But even if one does not take this stand, the semantics of the
questions are very difficult.

In both cases, someone who answers with a categorical "yes" needs to
reconcile the answer with the characteristics of conditioned
phenomena: unsatisfactoriness (dukkha), impermanence (anicca) and the
nonexistence of a substantial Self (anatta).  Those who answer with a
categorical "no" face a different set of problems, e.g. making sure 
that what they are negating is the same as what is being affirmed by 
the people to whom they are speaking. Suffice it to say that there are
ways to give a coherent sense to either answer, if one is so inclined. 

Is there "something" that is experienced as a self having continuity
in time -- a self with will, and joy, and pain?  Of course there is,
there would be no need for the Buddha's teaching otherwise.  But is
there a permanent and substantial self?  Buddhist doctrine says no.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to deal with this question
adequately in a FAQ.  Those who are interested can read _The Questions
of Milinda_, a classic Buddhist text in which the matter is considered
in detail. 

------------------------------

Subject: 3.06 Do Buddhists believe in reincarnation?

People who ask this question usually mean transmigration of souls.
People who answer it sometimes mean rebirth.  This can lead to
confusion. 

Buddhism does not teach transmigration of souls, nor does it teach
against it (see 3.05).  As long as the 'soul' is regarded as just a
bundle of khandhas (see glossary), subject to arising and passing 
away, transmigration is not objectionable.  Of course, this gives
'reincarnation' a meaning rather different from the one typically
intended. 

Usually, however, someone who uses the word 'reincarnation' means the
"re-instantiation" of a substantial and permanent personal essence of
some kind -- an atman, or a soul in the sense of some Western
religions.  The existence of such a thing is rejected in the suttas
(except as a convention), and is categorically denied in the
Abhidhamma.  Discussion of the transmigration of something that 
doesn't exist is pointless. 

Buddhism *does* teach liberation from rebirth.  Rebirth in this
context means bondage to the causes of suffering, not renewed physical
embodiment of a permanent spiritual substance in the form of an animal
or human. 

------------------------------

Subject: 3.07 What does Buddhism say about sex?

Monks and nuns may (or may not) be expected to observe strict
celibacy, depending on the sect they belong to.  The laity of most
traditions are expected to observe the Precepts, which call for
*nonharmful* sexual behavior.

At a minimum, this means refraining from sexual behavior that is a
cause of non-mindfulness and suffering, our own or anyone else's.
In some Buddhist countries it may mean other things as well,
reflecting the prevailing values of the cultures involved.  Such
cultural overlays vary from country to country.

If your interest is primarily cultural, you may be able to find a
knowledgeable person in a pertinent soc.culture.* group.  Please do
not crosspost soc.culture.* messages to t.r.b.  If you receive
information from soc.culture.* that you feel would be of general
interest to readers of this newsgroup, please post a separate summary
to t.r.b. instead. 

------------------------------

Subject: 3.08 What does Buddhism say about homosexuality?

Nothing.  Individual Buddhists or Buddhist cultures may have views on
the subject, but such views are not germane to this FAQ.  As a general
rule, Buddhists of most major traditions are perfectly welcoming and
do not see sexual orientation as being terribly relevant to practice.

------------------------------

Subject: 3.09 What does Buddhism say about morality in general?

In Buddhism, unwholesome behavior is not a sign of defection to the
camp of a sinister being.  Nor is it a "sin" that brings upon us the
wrath of a vengeful God. 

"Immoral" behavior is a product of mistaken view.  It is wrong not
because it violates some external set of laws handed down from on
high, but because it strengthens the bonds of clinging and engenders
suffering.  In Buddhism, unwholesome impulses are not things to be
violently suppressed by a schizoid act of will; they are to be noted,
and understood.  As we come to recognize how mental defilements give
rise to unwholesome attitudes, we will be able to work on developing
wholesome attitudes instead.

If our behavior does harm, we can try to avoid the twin pitfalls of
self-protection and self-flagellation; they both reinforce the myth of
a substantial self.  We can acknowledge errors, try to make amends,
and try to have compassion for ourselves as well as others. 

So much for unwholesome behavior -- what about wholesome behavior?
For Buddhists, morality (sila) is behavior that is consistent with the
Eightfold Path (see glossary) -- in particular with those parts of the
Path that are concerned with body, speech and livelihood. 

The moral code of Buddhism is summarized in the Precepts (see
glossary).  The Precepts are not "commandments" in the sense of some
Western religions.  They are rules of training, intended to help us
move closer to liberation and compassionate action. 

------------------------------

Subject: 3.10 Are all Buddhists vegetarians?

No.  The First Precept admonishes us to refrain from killing, but meat
eating is not regarded as an instance of killing, and it is not
forbidden in the scriptures. (We are speaking here mainly of the Pali
scriptures.  Some of the Mahayana scriptures, notably the Lankavatara
Sutra, take a strong position in favor of vegetarianism.)

The Buddha did not prohibit consumption of meat, even by monks.  In
fact, he explicitly rejected a suggestion from Devadatta to do so.  In
modern Theravada societies, a bhikkhu who adheres to vegetarianism to
impress others with his superior spirituality may be committing an
infringement of the patimokkha rules. 

On the other hand, the Buddha categorically prohibited consumption of
the flesh of any animal that was "seen, heard or suspected" to have
been killed specifically for the monks (Jivaka Sutta, Majjhima Nikaya
55).  This rule technically applies only to monastics, but it can be
used as a reasonable guide by devout lay people. 

To understand this "middle path" approach to meat-eating, we must
remember that there were no "Buddhists" in Shakyamuni's time.  There
were only mendicants of various kinds (including the Buddha's
disciples), plus lay people who gave them alms out of respect without
necessarily worrying about the brand name of their teachings.

If meat was what a householder chose to offer, it was to be accepted
without discrimination or aversion.  To reject such an offering would
be an offense against hospitality and would deprive the householder of
an opportunity to gain merit -- and it could not benefit the animal, 
because it was already dead.  Even the Jains may have had a similar 
outlook during the same period of history, despite the strict doctrine
of ahimsa.  

Vegetarianism could not become a source of serious controversy in the 
bhikkhu sangha until the rise of fixed-abode monastic communities in
which the monks did not practice daily alms-round.  Any meat provided
to such a community by lay people would almost certainly have been
killed specifically for the monks.  That may be one reason for the 
difference in Mahayana and Theravada views on meat eating -- the 
development of monastic communities of this type occurred principally 
within Mahayana. 

The issue of meat eating raises difficult ethical questions.  Isn't
the meat in a supermarket or restaurant killed "for" us?  Doesn't meat
eating entail killing by proxy? 

Few of us are in a position to judge meat eaters or anyone else for
"killing by proxy."  Being part of the world economy entails "killing
by proxy" in every act of consumption.  The electricity that runs our
computers comes from facilities that harm the environment.  Books of
Buddhist scriptures are printed on paper produced by an industry that
destroys wildlife habitat.  Worms, insects, rodents and other animals
are routinely killed en masse in the course of producing the staples
of a vegetarian diet.  Welcome to samsara.  It is impossible for most
of us to free ourselves from this web; we can only strive to be
mindful of entanglement in it.  One way to do so is to reflect on how
the suffering and death of sentient beings contributes to our comfort.
This may help us to be less inclined to consume out of mere greed.

All of that having been said, it cannot be denied that the economic 
machine which produces meat also creates fear and suffering for a
large number of animals.  It is useful to bear this in mind even if
one consumes meat, to resist developing a habit of callousness.  Many 
Buddhists (especially Mahayanists) practice vegetarianism as a means
of cultivating compassion.  The Jivaka Sutta hints that one could also 
make a good case for vegetarianism starting from any of the other
brahmaviharas (see Glossary).  Interestingly, it is loving-kindness
rather than compassion that is mentioned first in the Jivaka Sutta. 

If you are considering trying out vegetarianism for the first time, we
suggest discussing it with someone who has experience.  There are a
few issues that ought to be considered regarding balanced diet, etc. 

------------------------------

Subject: 4. Glossary

The following glossary is offered to help with words sometimes seen in
posts in t.r.b.  This list is not intended to be comprehensive or
doctrinally precise -- the definitions given here are only intended
as a rough guide, to orient readers who are unfamiliar with the
terminology. 

If you believe important terms are missing, feel free to email the FAQ
maintainer with suggestions.

NOTE:  Some proper names and sects are included here.  Most are not.
Inclusion in the glossary does not reflect the FAQ maintainer's
opinion (or anybody else's) of the importance of a person or sect.  At 
most, it only reflects the history of discourse in t.r.b.  If you want
a glossary entry for Vairocana, start a thread and it may happen. 

The abbreviation guide is for those who haven't yet gotten used to
BTW, IMHO, etc.

------------------------------

Subject: 4.01 Why don't you folks speak English?

Buddhism has several canonical languages.  The chief ones are Pali
(the main language of the Theravada canon) and Sanskrit (the main
language of the Mahayana canon).  Other languages that are sometimes
encountered: Sinhalese (Sri Lanka), Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Tibetan.
(These are not all of the languages of Buddhism -- they are only the
languages of the earliest versions of key scriptures and commentaries.)

Terms transliterated from Asian languages have an undeniable in-group
appeal -- but there are other (and better) reasons for using them.

One reason is simply that these "foreign" terms have the authority of
2500 years of tradition in many cases, and are understood by members
of all Buddhist traditions (even if their first language is something
like Finnish or Swahili). 

Another reason is that the words that would have to be used to render
a Pali or Sanskrit technical term into English (or any other living
language) are inevitably freighted with unintended meanings.  The
advantage of using a "dead" language is that semantic precision
becomes less of a moving target.

------------------------------

Subject: 4.02 A note on spelling and usage

In cases where more than one choice for a word is available, the FAQ
maintainer has a tendency to favor Pali.  Some attempt has been made
to indicate equivalent terms in other languages, but this has not been
done in all cases.  If you find another spelling more natural, send
email to the FAQ maintainer so that the alternative spelling can be
included. 

No attempt has been made to preserve diacritical marks. 

------------------------------

Subject: 4.03 A random selection of terms and names

Note:  A number of the following definitions are adapted from
Nyanatiloka's _Buddhist Dictionary_.  Readers who are looking for
(Pali) terms not defined here, or who need more precise definitions or
references to the scriptures, are encouraged to consult Nyanatiloka.
The Nanamoli/Bodhi translation of the Majjhima Nikaya also contains
discussions of many terms.  (See book list in section 5 for more info.)

aggregate(s) - See khandha.

alaya-vijnana - Usually rendered 'storehouse consciousness'.  In
Yogacara philosophy, this is the underlying stratum of existence that
is 'perfumed' by volitional actions and thus 'stores' the moral
effects of kamma.  Note that it is regarded as a conditioned
phenomenon, not as a 'soul' in the sense of Western religion.  The
theory is most fully elaborated by Vasubandhu in 
//Vij~napti-maatrataa-tri.msikaa// and by Dharmapala in
//Vij~napti-maatrataa-siddhi-"saastra//.  The doctrine of
alaya-vijnana greatly influenced Chinese Buddhism and sects derived
from it (e.g. Zen).  See also bhavanga.

Amitabha Buddha (Jap. Amida butsu) - 'Limitless Light.'  In Mahayana,
the Buddha of the Western Paradise (the Pure Land).  Also encountered
in the aspect of Amitayuh (or Amitayus), 'Limitless Life.'  Pure Land
Buddhists practice recitation of the name of Amitabha. 

anatta (Skt. anatman) - No-self. One of the Three Characteristics (q.v.).

anicca (Skt. anitya) - Impermanence.  One of the Three Characteristics.

antinomianism - The idea that the Elect are above the moral law (as in
some versions of 'justification by faith not by works'). 

arahant (Skt. arhat) - One who has attained enlightenment.

asava - a 'taint' that obstructs progress toward enlightenment.  The
Abhidhamma lists four asavas (perhaps for convenient identification
with the four supramundane paths?): sensual desire, desire for eternal
existence, speculative opinions and ignorance.  The Suttas usually
list only three asavas, omitting explicit mention of the taint of
speculative opinions (but it is referred to implicitly, e.g. at MN 2). 

Avalokiteshvara (Tib. Chenrezi, Chin. Kwan-Yin or Guanyin, Jap. Kannon) -
Mahayana Bodhisattva of Compassion 

avijja (Skt. avidya) - ignorance 

bhavanga - Sometimes rendered 'life-stream'.  In Theravada Buddhism,
this is the underlying stratum of existence that is used to explain
memory and other 'temporal' phenomena such as moral accountability.
It is described by Buddhaghosa and others as the natural condition of
mind, bright and shining and free from impurity.  Note that it is
regarded as a conditioned phenomenon, not as a 'soul' in the sense of
Western religion.  (The Sarvastivadin/Mahayana treatment of bhavanga
is different.)  See also alaya-vijnana.

bhikkhu, bhikkhuni (Skt. bhikshu, bhikshuni) - monk, nun

bodhisattva (Pali bodhisatta) - A future Buddha.

brahmaviharas - Four "sublime abidings" (lit. 'abodes of Brahma') that 
accompany spiritual development, consisting of compassion, loving
kindness, sympathetic joy for others, and equanimity toward the
pleasant and the unpleasant. 

Buddha - The Enlightened (or Awakened) One.  The First Refuge of the
Triple Gem. 

Chogye (alt. Jogye) - largest Zen sect in Korea

conditioned phenomena - Phenomena (dhammas) constituted of the five
khandas (Skt. skandhas), objects for paticcasamuppada (Skt.
pratityasamutpada), subject to arising and passing away.  With a
handful of exceptions (notably Enlightenment itself), all phenomena
fall into this category. 

daimoku - The practice of chanting "Nam (or Namu) Myoho Renge Kyo" in
Japanese Lotus Sutra Buddhism.  Myoho Renge Kyo is the sutra's name in 
Japanese. 

(His Holiness the 14th) Dalai Lama - Leader of the Tibetan people in 
exile.  Vajrayana Buddhists regard him as the living embodiment of
Avalokiteshvara (q.v.).  Most other Buddhists, including Theravadins, 
revere him as a teacher of very high spiritual attainment who works
tirelessly for peace and goodwill. 

dana - The practice of giving to accumulate merit.

defilement - see kilesa

dependent arising, dependent origination - See paticcasamuppada.

dharma (Pali dhamma) - When spelled this way (not capitalized), means
roughly "phenomenon."

Dharma (Pali Dhamma) - When spelled this way (capitalized), refers to
the Teachings of the Buddha.  The Second Refuge of the Triple Gem. 

dukkha - Often rendered as "suffering," but can span the whole range
from excruciating pain to not-getting-what-I-want.  One of the Three
Characteristics (q.v.).

(Noble) Eightfold Path - The Path of the Fourth Noble Truth: Right 
Understanding, Right Thinking, Right Speech, Right Attitude, Right
Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration. 

epistemology - In philosophy, the study of the nature and limits of
knowledge. 

fetter - See samyojana.

Five Aggregates - See khandha.

Four Noble Truths - Suffering.  Suffering has a cause.  Suffering has
an end.  There is a path that leads to the cessation of suffering (see
Eightfold Path). 

Gautama (alt. Gotama) - Family name of the Buddha.

Heart Sutra - The Prajnaparamita Hridaya Sutra, one of several
"perfection of wisdom" sutras in the Mahayana scriptures.
Calculatedly paradoxical in its language ("there is no suffering,
cause, cessation or path").  Central to most Mahayana schools. 

hermeneutics - The science of interpretation or exegesis of Scripture.

Hinayana - Lesser Vehicle.  According to Walshe, this term was
originally coined by Mahayana polemicists to distinguish their path
(seen as a 'greater vehicle' with room for all) from the path of the
Sarvastivadins (seen as a 'lesser vehicle' with room for only one at a
time).  Over time, it came to be applied to the only surviving member
of the original 'eighteen schools' of Southern Buddhism, Theravada
(q.v.).  Many Buddhists prefer the term Theravada, because 'Hinayana' 
is perceived to have negative connotations. 

hindrance - see nivarana.

insight meditation -- See vipassana.

Jodo - Japanese Pure Land Buddhism.

Jodo Shinshu - The largest Jodo sect in modern Japan (in fact, the
largest Buddhist sect of any kind in Japan, as far as the FAQ
maintainer knows).  See Shinran Shonin.

karma (Pali kamma) - Literally, "action."  Often translated "cause and
effect."

karuna - Compassion.  One of the brahmaviharas.

khandha (Skt. skandha) - One of the Five Aggregates of Clinging:
matter (rupakhandha), sensations (vedanakhandha), perceptions
(sannakhandha), mental formations (sankharakhandha), consciousness
(vinnanakhandha).  A starting point for Buddhist psychology.

kilesa (Skt. klesha) - one of ten 'defilements' that are to be
overcome through training, viz. greed, hate, delusion, conceit,
speculative views, sceptical doubt, mental torpor, restlessness, lack
of shame, and lack of moral dread.  (A related term, upakkilesa, is
also sometimes translated as 'defilement' but probably should not be.
See Nyanatiloka's dictionary for a discussion.)

Lotus Sutra - The Saddharmapundarika Sutra, one of the Mahayana
scriptures.  Lotus Sutra Buddhists sometimes practice recitation of
the title of the sutra.  See daimoku. 

mappo - A prophesied end time of decadent Dharma in Japan.  Several
Buddhist traditions that arose in 12th century Japan (notably the
practices of Nichiren and Shinran) are historically unintelligible
unless seen against the backdrop of this prophecy.

Mahayana - Greater Vehicle.  The northern branch of Buddhism.  More
doctrinally liberal than Theravada (recognizes several non-historical
sutras as canonical -- it should be noted, however, that even
Theravada gives canonical authority to some non-historical works, such
as the Jatakas or the Abhidhamma for that matter).  Strong focus on
alleviation of suffering of all sentient beings. 

metta - Loving kindness.  One of the brahmaviharas.

mettabhavana - A meditation practice that develops loving kindness
toward all sentient beings. 

mindfulness - See sati.

mudita - Sympathetic joy.  One of the brahmaviharas.

nembutsu - The practice of chanting "Namu Amida Butsu" in Japanese
Pure Land Buddhism.  See Amitabha.

Nichiren Daishonin - Twelfth-century founder of a practice that is the
basis of a number of Lotus Sutra (q.v.) sects in Japan.

Nichiren Shoshu - A Nichiren sect founded in Japan in the foothills of
Mt. Fuji in the 13th century.  Its head temple is Taisekiji Temple. 

Nichiren Shu - A Nichiren sect founded in Japan at Mt. Minobu in the
13th century.  Its head temple is Kuonji Temple. 

nirhoda - Cessation.  (Specifically, the cessation of suffering in the
Third Noble Truth.) 

nirvana (Pali nibbana) - Absolute extinction of suffering and its causes.

nivarana - One of five 'hindrances' that obstruct the development of
concentration and insight: sensual desire, ill will, sloth-and-torpor,
restlessness and sceptical doubt.  The scriptures compare them
respectively to water mixed with colors, boiling water, water covered
by moss, water whipped by wind, and muddy water.

ontology - In philosophy, the branch of metaphysics that deals with
the notion of Being per se, as opposed to specific instances of it
(such as God).  Buddhist philosophy is somewhat allergic to the
notion of Being in the sense of Western and/or Hindu philosophy, so
most of what passes for ontological discourse in other philosophies 
would be considered unintelligible in Buddhism.

parinirvana (Pali parinibbana) - The end of the Buddha's physical
existence (i.e., his death).

paticcasamuppada (Skt. pratityasamutpada) - Dependent origination.
The twelve-stage process that leads from ignorance to rebirth. 

pratyekabuddha (Pali paccekabuddha) - A 'solitary awakened one'. 
Sometimes used as a term of reproof, to refer to students who get
entangled in personal striving for illumination.  One of the 
characteristic marks of pratyekabuddhas is that they do not teach. 

Precepts - A basic set of standards for moral conduct:  to refrain
from killing, stealing, harmful sexual behavior, lying and the use of
intoxicants.  These are the five "normal" precepts for the laity; more
extensive sets may apply to persons in special circumstances, e.g. the
monastic community. 

Pure Land - See Amitabha.

samadhi - Concentration (as in the 'right concentration' of the
Eightfold Path).  A state of one-pointedness of mind achievable 
through certain forms of meditation. 

samatha (Skt. shamatha) - 'Calmness' meditation, a set of techniques
for developing one-pointedness of mind.  Cf. samadhi and sati. 

samsara - (lit. 'wandering together')  The wheel of suffering and
rebirth. 

samyojana -  one of ten 'fetters' that tie beings to the wheel of
birth and death.  They are:  belief in a substantial self, sceptical
doubt, clinging to rules and ritual, sensual craving, ill will,
craving for fine-material existence, craving for immaterial existence,
conceit (mana), restlessness and ignorance.  The first five are the
'lower' fetters; the second five are the 'upper' fetters.  In the
Stream Enterer the first three fetters have been destroyed; in the
Once-Returner the next two are weakened, and in the Non-Returner they
are destroyed; in the Arahant all fetters have been destroyed.

Sangha - A word with several associations.  One meaning is the
Aryasangha (beings of high spiritual attainment).  Another meaning is 
the patimokkha sangha -- the community of ordained monks and nuns.
Western Mahayanists often use the word in yet a third sense, to refer
to the "mahasangha" -- the community of all believers.  The Sangha
referred to in the Triple Gem is the Aryasangha. 

sati (Skt. smrti, Jap. nen) - Mindfulness (as in the 'right
mindfulness' of the Eightfold Path).  Consciousness of/attention to 
experience here and now.  Cf. vipassana and samadhi. 

Satipatthana Sutta - The Discourse on the Basis of Mindfulness, a 
fundamental Buddhist scripture describing methods of meditation.
(Also cited by its Digha Nikaya title: Mahasatipatthana Sutta = the
Greater Discourse on the Basis of Mindfulness.) 

sensei - Teacher.  Title of respect in Japan.

Shakyamuni - Sage of the Shakya clan.  Common epithet of the Buddha.

Shingon - A Japanese Vajrayana sect.

Shinran Shonin - Twelfth-century founder of Jodo Shinshu.

skandha - see khandha.

skillful means - Creating good causes for sentient beings to enter
onto the Path.  This includes practicing the five perfections,
explaining the Dharma in language a hearer can understand, etc. 

Siddhartha (Pali Siddhatta) - Personal name of the Buddha.

Soka Gakkai International (SGI) - A Buddhist lay organization founded
in the 20th century and formerly affiliated with Nichiren Shoshu.
Its headquarters is located in Tokyo. 

soteriology - The study of salvation. 

spam - Usenet slang for posting the same message (separately) to a
large number of groups, usually ones for which the message is totally
off-topic.  Frequently combined with trolling (q.v.) in order to
maximize the effect.  Also popular with mass advertisers.  Not to be
confused with velveeta (q.v.).

sublime abidings - See brahmaviharas.

sutra (Pali sutta) - In Theravada, a historical discourse of the
Buddha as passed down by oral tradition and ultimately committed to
writing (the Suttapitaka was not actually compiled in written form
until circa 80 B.C., around the same time as the earliest Mahayana 
sutras were set down in writing).  In Mahayana, the set of canonical
sutras is enlarged to include some nonhistorical sermons -- the Heart
Sutra, the Lotus Sutra, etc. 

taint - see asava.

Tathagata - The Thus-Gone One.  An epithet of the Buddha.

thera, theri - elder monk, elder nun.

Theravada - The Way of the Elders.  The southern branch of Buddhism.
More doctrinally conservative than Mahayana (narrower conception of
what is canonical).  Strong focus on correct practice and right conduct.

Thich Nhat Hanh - A contemporary Vietnamese Zen monk and campaigner
for peace.  Among other things, he has suggested a 'positive'
interpretation of the Precepts: Reverence for Life, Generosity, Sexual
Responsibility, Deep Listening and Loving Speech, and Mindful
Consumption.  

Three Characteristics - All conditioned phenomena are unsatisfactory,
impermanent and devoid of Self.

Three Poisons - Used as a synonym for the three unwholesome roots
(q.v.).  We are not aware of any use of this precise expression in the
Pali Canon, but the English usage is fairly well established.  Not to
be confused with the 'taints' (see asava).

Three Unwholesome Roots - three conditions that determine the moral
quality of unskillful volitional actions, viz. greed (lobha), hate
(dosa) and delusion (moha).  Sometimes translated in other ways,
e.g. lust, ill-will and ignorance.  See also kilesa.

Three Wholesome Roots - three conditions that determine the moral
quality of skillful volitional actions, viz. non-greed, non-hate and
non-delusion.

Tipitaka (Skt. Tripitaka) - The Three Baskets of Buddhist scripture,
comprised of the Suttapitaka (the discourses), the Vinayapitaka (rules 
governing the monastic order) and the Abhidhammapitaka (Buddhist
psychology).  There are significant differences between the Theravada
and Mahayana canons.

Triple Gem - The Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.

trolling - Usenet slang for the act of posting something incendiary,
with the intent of provoking argument.

upekkha - Equanimity.  One of the brahmaviharas.

Vajrayana - Sometimes translated Thunderbolt Vehicle (or Diamond 
Vehicle).  A development of Mahayana Buddhism that includes several 
features of Indian philosophy not found elsewhere (e.g., tantric 
yoga).  Strong emphasis on teacher-student relationship. 

velveeta - A product that is rumored to resemble cheese.  Also Usenet
slang for the practice of crossposting a message to a large number of
unrelated groups.  Popular with Moonies.

vipassana (Skt. vipashyana) - Insight, seeing things as they are.
Also used to refer to insight meditation, a technique that develops
attention to the arising and passing away of conditioned phenomena
(Theravada) or attention to the emptiness of conditioned phenomena
(Mahayana). 

Zen (Chin. Ch'an) - A Buddhist tradition founded in China as a result
of the teaching of Bodhidharma, circa 475 A.D.  Found today mostly in
Vietnam, Japan and Korea (and of course at various centers in the West). 

------------------------------

Subject: 4.04 A random selection of abbreviations and smileys

AFAIK.As far as I know
(O)BTW.(Oh,) By the way
DN.Digha Nikaya, one of the collections of suttas in the Sutta
.Pitaka (see tipitaka in glossary; also book list)
FAQ.Frequently Asked Question (or a document addressing such) 
FWIW.For what it's worth
HH(DL).His Holiness (the 14th Dalai Lama)
IM(((E/N/O)S)H)O 
.In my (((ever/not/oh) so) humble) opinion 
MN.Majjhima Nikaya, one of the collections of suttas in the Sutta
.Pitaka (see tipitaka in glossary; also book list)
ng.newsgroup (normally uncapitalized)
OTOH.On the other hand
RO(T)FL.Rolling on (the) floor laughing
YHBT.You have been trolled (i.e., you have fallen for a provocative
.post from somebody who was out to create a bit of mischief)

<g>.short for <grin>, indicates humorous intent
:-)."normal" smiley (humorous intent)
;-)."winking" smiley (somewhat more impish intent) 
:)  ;).the same, for people who don't know where the '-' key is on 
.international keyboards :-)

More comprehensive lists of abbreviations and smileys are available at 
various places on the Net.  One good source for smileys (and many
other things) is the Electronic Frontier Foundation:
.<http://www.eff.org/> (EFF home page)
.<http://www.eff.org/papers/eegtti/eeg-286.html> (smileys)
