Glossary4 Fruits of the Path1. The Stream-winner (sotāpanna). On realising nibbāna for the first time the Stream-winner destroys the three fetters of personality-belief, belief in rites and rituals, and doubts. He is incapable of committing any of the heinous crimes and if he does any other evil he is incapable of concealing it. He is assured of attaining Arahantship within seven lives at the most.
2. The Once-returner (sakadāgāmi) greatly reduces the strength of the fetters of desire and ill-will and will, at most, be reborn only once more on earth before attaining Arahantship. 3. The Non-returner (anāgāmi) eradicates totally the fetters of desire and ill-will and will not be reborn again on earth but will gain Arahantship in the higher planes of devas or Brahmās.
4. The Arahant (arahatta) removes the remaining five fetters, destroys all ignorance and craving and puts an end to all forms of rebirth, thus gaining the final goal of the holy life. 4 Modes of Fearlessness (vesārajja)The Blessed One said, “I do not see any grounds on which anyone might reprove me as to: 1) being fully awakened, 2) the floods being fully destroyed, 3) knowledge of what is an obstacle to progress, 4) knowledge of Dhamma that leads to the destruction of the floods. 5 Aggregates of Being (khandha)
When we say “Living being” it is just a conventional way of speaking. Underlying this convention are the wrong views of personality-belief, permanence and substantiality. However, if we consider more carefully what a living being or a person really is we will find only a stream of ever changing phenomena. These can be arranged in five groups: the body or material phenomena; feelings,
perceptions, mental formations and consciousness. It should not be understood that these groups are something stable; they are only categories. 5 Hindrances (nīvarana)Sensual desire, ill-will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and remorse, doubt. These defilements are
called hindrances because they obstruct the development of concentration. 8 Causes of Earthquakes1. This earth is supported by water, the water by air, the air by space. At times great winds blow strongly and the water is shaken. When the water is shaken, the earth
is shaken. (N.B. Water is the element of cohesion or fluidity, air the element of motion. These elements are present even in molten rock). 2. A recluse or deity of great power causes the earth to shake by the power of concentration. 3. When the Bodhisatta passes away from the Tusita heaven,
mindfully and deliberately, and is conceived in his mother’s womb the great earth shakes. 4. When the Bodhisatta issues forth from his mother’s womb, mindfully and deliberately, the great earth shakes. 5. When the Tathāgata attains the supreme and perfect enlightenment the great earth shakes.
6. When the Tathāgata sets in motion the wheel of the Dhamma the great earth shakes. 7. When the Tathāgata, mindfully and deliberately, gives up the life-sustaining mental process the great earth shakes. (He could prolong his life by supernormal power but not being asked, he gives up the
possibility and announces the time of his death.) 8.When a Buddha passes away and attains parinibbāna the great earth shakes. 10 Fetters (samyojana)Sensual desire (kāmachanda), ill-will (byāpāda), pride (māna), personality-belief (sakkāyaditthi), doubt (vicikicchā), adherence to rites and ceremonies (sīlabattam), desire for existence (rūparāga), jealousy (issā), avarice (macchariya), ignorance (avijjā).
10 Perfections (pāramī)Generosity (dāna), virtue (sīla), renunciation (nekkhamma), wisdom (paññā), energy (viriya), patience (khanti), truthfulness (sacca), determination (adhitthāna), loving-kindness (mettā) and equanimity (upekkhā).
18 Characteristics of a Buddha (Buddhadhammā) 1-3) Seeing all things; past, present and future. 4-6) Propriety of action, speech and thought. 7-12) Establishment of the following so that they cannot be frustrated by others: intentions, doctrines, that which
proceeds from concentration, energy, liberation and wisdom. 13) Avoiding: pleasures or anything that could invite ridicule; 14) Avoiding strife and contention. 15) Omniscience. 16) Doing all things fully conscious. 17) Doing all things with some purpose. 18) Not doing anything from unwise partiality. 32 Parts of the Body (for contemplation)Head hairs, body hairs, nails, teeth, skin; flesh, sinews, bones, bone-marrow, kidneys; heart, liver, membranes, spleen, lungs; large intestine, small intestine, mesentery, gorge, faeces; bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat; solid fat, liquid fat, saliva, nasal mucus, synovic fluid, urine, brain. Abhidhamma
― the higher teaching. It uses the analytical method. Whereas the discourses use the conventional language of man or being the Abhidhamma uses terms like “five aggregates of being,” “mind and matter,” “visible object and sensitive eye-base,” etc. Absorptions (jhāna) ― Stages of mental concentration gained by inhibiting the five hindrances. The result of these
states is rebirth in the Brahmā realm. Austerities (dukkarakārikā) ― These are practices of self mortification, which were practised by the Bodhisatta. They should be distinguished from ascetic practices (dhutanga), which, although difficult, are neither ignoble nor unprofitable. Arahant ― See 4 Fruits of the Path. Bactrian Greek ― (Yonaka). There are several references to Yonaka other than in the Milinda Pañha. An inscription in caves at Nasik, near Bombay refers to nine Yonaka who were donors, and the Mahāvamsa has references to monks from Yona, one Yonadhammarakkhita who must
have been a Bactrian Greek bhikkhu. Bhikkhu ― A Buddhist monk who has received the higher ordination. The literal meaning is “Beggar” though a bhikkhu is not allowed to beg, but may only stand and wait for alms to be offered. Bodhisatta
― A being totally dedicated to the attainment of the perfect enlightenment of a Buddha, for which one has to develop the perfections for many aeons. Bodhi Tree
― The tree under which the Bodhisatta became Buddha. The Ānanda Bodhi Tree was a sapling of the original tree that Ānanda brought to Sāvatthi to remind people of the Buddha when he was away. Another sapling was sent to Sri Lanka by Asoka and is still worshipped. Brahmā ― A god or divine being who is in a plane of existence detached from sensuality. Brahmacārin ― One who leads a life of chastity. Brahman ― A Hindu priest or one of that caste. Cāra (good conduct) is the fulfilment of duties. Its counterpart, sīla, is refraining from wrong-doing.
Merit (puññā) ― Good actions that are the basis for happiness and prosperity in the round of rebirths. Minor and Lesser Precepts ― The Pātimokkha rules are arranged in seven groups in order of severity. Offences of Defeat (Pārājika), Formal Meeting (Sanghādisesa), Indeterminate (Aniyata), Forfeiture (Nissaggiyā Pācittiya), Expiation (Pācittiya), Confession (Patidesaniyā) and Wrong-doing (Dukkata). Wrong speech (Dubhāsita) is
not included in the Pātimokkha itself but is found elsewhere in the Vinaya. The author’s decision on this matter is very reasonable, since the Pācittiya rules include killing animals, drinking intoxicants, telling lies, hitting or abusing monks. These could not be called “Minor” training rules that the Buddha might have considered optional after his passing away. See The Heart of Buddhism. Non-returner ― See 4 Fruits of the Path. Once-returner ― See 4 Fruits of the Path. Paradoxes ― Formerly called Dilemmas (Mendakapañho). A question intended to trap someone. A ram (menda) has two sharp horns! Parinibbāna ― The death of a Buddha, Pacceka Buddha, or Arahant. Pātimokkha ― The 227 training rules that the monks recite in the Uposatha day ceremony every full-moon and new-moon. Puthujjana (Ordinary Person) ― A distinction should be made between a blind worldling (andho puthujjana) and a well-informed person (kalyāna puthujjana). Neither is free from personality belief, but the well-informed person who has faith in the Buddha’s enlightenment and believes in kamma will cultivate the path to enlightenment. The blind worldling, who holds wrong views, will rarely do wholesome deeds like charity, let alone take up the arduous practice of meditation for concentration or insight.
Rains (vassa) ― The three months from August to October during which the monks remain in one place. A monk’s seniority is measured in rains or the number of years he has been a monk. Samana ― A recluse or ascetic, not necessarily Buddhist. Solitary Buddha ― A Pacceka Buddha or one who attains enlightenment without the help of an Omniscient Buddha. Unlike an Omniscient Buddha, the Solitary Buddha has not fully developed the ability to teach others. Stream-winner ― See 4 Fruits of the Path. Sutta ― The collection of discourses containing the majority of the Buddha’s teaching to both monastics and laity. Tipitaka ― The threefold collection of Sutta, Vinaya, and Abhidhamma; i.e. discourses, disciplinary rules and philosophy. Vedagū ― is used in the Milinda Pañha in the sense of a soul or experiencer who sees, hears, smells, tastes, feels or knows. It is also an epithet of the Buddha meaning “The one who has attained to knowledge” Vinaya
― The six books of the Tipitaka that deal with the monks’ discipline and other regulatory matters. Visuddhimagga ― A much respected manual, written in Pali in the 3rd century A.D. by Venerable Buddhaghosa, that elucidates the three-fold training of virtue, concentration and wisdom. Wise Attention (yoniso manasikāra) ― Often translated as “Systematic attention” It means paying attention to the characteristics that reduce defilements rather than to those that increase them. | 
