Pali Vocabulary

法

Teaching / Truth / Phenomenon / Natural Law

masculine noun (a-stem)

One of the most central words in Pali, with multiple layers of meaning: (1) the Buddha's Teaching as a whole; (2) truth or natural law; (3) a phenomenon or mental object; (4) righteousness or virtue. In the Three Jewels (Ti-ratana), the Dhamma is the second jewel — the liberating truth taught by the Buddha.

苦

Suffering / Unsatisfactoriness / Imperfection

neuter noun (a-stem)

The first of the Four Noble Truths (Cattāri Ariyasaccāni) — the pervasive unsatisfactoriness of conditioned existence. Dukkha has three aspects: (1) ordinary suffering (dukkha-dukkha) — pain, illness, death; (2) suffering of change (vipariṇāma-dukkha) — impermanence of pleasant experiences; (3) pervasive suffering (saṅkhāra-dukkha) — the fundamental unsatisfactoriness of conditioned existence itself. Understanding dukkha fully is the beginning of the path to liberation.

集

Origin / Arising / The cause of suffering

masculine noun (a-stem)

The Second Noble Truth — the origin or cause of suffering. Specifically, the craving (taṇhā) that fuels the perpetuation of dukkha: craving for sensual pleasures (kāma-taṇhā), craving for existence (bhava-taṇhā), and craving for annihilation (vibhava-taṇhā). Understanding samudaya reveals that suffering has a cause and is therefore not inevitable.

滅

Cessation / Extinction (of suffering)

masculine noun (a-stem)

The Third Noble Truth — the cessation of suffering through the complete fading away and cessation of craving. Nirodha is the goal of the path: Nibbāna, the state of complete liberation from the cycle of suffering and rebirth. The word comes from ni- (without, cessation) + rodha (obstruction, confinement).

道

Path / Way

masculine noun (a-stem)

The Fourth Noble Truth — the path leading to the cessation of suffering. Specifically, the Noble Eightfold Path (Ariya Aṭṭhaṅgika Magga). Also used in the context of the four stages of enlightenment: sotāpatti-magga (path of stream-entry), sakadāgāmi-magga, anāgāmi-magga, and arahatta-magga.

渴愛

Craving / Thirst

feminine noun (ā-stem)

Craving — the primary root of dukkha identified in the Second Noble Truth. Three types: kāma-taṇhā (craving for sensual pleasures), bhava-taṇhā (craving for existence/becoming), vibhava-taṇhā (craving for non-existence/annihilation). Taṇhā is also one of the 12 links of Dependent Origination (Paṭicca-samuppāda), arising from feeling (vedanā) and conditioning clinging (upādāna).

涅槃

Nibbana / Liberation / Extinguishing

neuter noun (a-stem)

The ultimate goal of the Buddhist path — the complete cessation of greed (lobha), hatred (dosa), and delusion (moha), and with them the end of the cycle of rebirth (saṃsāra). The word literally means 'extinguishing' — as a flame is extinguished when fuel runs out. Two aspects: (1) sa-upādisesa-nibbāna — liberation while still alive (Arahant with residual aggregates); (2) anupādisesa-nibbāna — final Nibbāna at death (Parinibbāna).

無常

Impermanence

adjective (a-stem)

The first of the Three Characteristics of existence (Ti-lakkhaṇa). All conditioned phenomena (saṅkhāra) are impermanent — arising dependent on conditions, they must also cease when those conditions change or pass away. Contemplating anicca in one's direct experience is a fundamental Vipassanā meditation practice.

無我

Non-self / Not-self

adjective (a-stem)

The third of the Three Characteristics — the most radical and distinctive Buddhist teaching. None of the five aggregates (khandha) that make up a 'person' (form, feeling, perception, mental formations, consciousness) constitute a permanent, independent, unchanging self (attā). Understanding anattā directly — not merely conceptually — leads to liberation from the illusion of selfhood that perpetuates suffering.

三藏

Tipitaka / Three Baskets (Pali Canon)

neuter noun compound: ti (three) + piṭaka (basket — neuter noun)

The complete Pali Canon — the scriptures of Theravada Buddhism, preserved in the Pali language. Three divisions: (1) Vinaya Piṭaka — the rules of monastic discipline (227 rules for monks, 311 for nuns), along with their origins and commentaries; (2) Sutta Piṭaka — the discourses of the Buddha (five collections/Nikāyas: Dīgha, Majjhima, Saṃyutta, Aṅguttara, Khuddaka); (3) Abhidhamma Piṭaka — philosophical and psychological analysis of the Dhamma (7 books). The Tipiṭaka was preserved orally for centuries before being written down in Sri Lanka c. 1st century BCE.

尼柯耶

Collection / Group (of suttas)

masculine noun (a-stem): from ni + kāya (body/group) — 'collected body'

A collection of suttas. The five Nikāyas of the Sutta Piṭaka: (1) Dīgha Nikāya (DN) — Long Discourses (34 long suttas, e.g., Mahāparinibbāna Sutta); (2) Majjhima Nikāya (MN) — Middle Length Discourses (152 suttas, e.g., Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta); (3) Saṃyutta Nikāya (SN) — Connected Discourses (7,762 suttas in 56 groups); (4) Aṅguttara Nikāya (AN) — Numerical Discourses (9,557 suttas arranged by number 1–11); (5) Khuddaka Nikāya (KN) — Minor Collection (18 texts including Dhammapada, Theragāthā, Jātaka).

經

Discourse / Thread of teaching

neuter noun (a-stem): from sīvati (to sew) or suṇāti (to hear) — 'thread' or 'that which is heard'

A discourse of the Buddha (or occasionally a senior disciple). Each sutta follows a recognisable structure: opening formula (Evaṃ me sutaṃ — 'Thus have I heard'), setting (time, place, and audience), the teaching itself, and a closing declaration of approval. Suttas range from a few lines to many pages. The Sutta Piṭaka contains thousands of suttas. In Mahayana Buddhism the equivalent texts (in Sanskrit) are called Sūtras.

律藏

Basket of Discipline / Monastic code

compound: vinaya (leading away, discipline — from vi + neti) + piṭaka (basket)

The first of the three piṭakas — the monastic code containing the rules of training (sikkhāpada) for monks (bhikkhus) and nuns (bhikkhunīs), the stories of their origin, and procedures for the Sangha. The Vinaya Piṭaka has three sections: Suttavibhaṅga (analysis of the monastic rules), Khandhaka (procedures for the Sangha), and Parivāra (summary appendix). The bhikkhu's Pātimokkha contains 227 rules; the bhikkhunī's Pātimokkha contains 311 rules. The Vinaya is said to be the lifespan of the Dispensation (sāsana).

經藏

Basket of Discourses

compound: sutta (discourse) + piṭaka (basket)

The second piṭaka — the collection of discourses (suttas) spoken by the Buddha (and occasionally by senior disciples). It contains the five Nikāyas: Dīgha (34 long suttas), Majjhima (152 medium suttas), Saṃyutta (thousands of grouped suttas), Aṅguttara (numerically arranged suttas), and Khuddaka (18 minor texts, including Dhammapada, Sutta Nipāta, Theragāthā, and Jātakas). The Sutta Piṭaka is the primary source for the Buddha's teachings on practice and liberation.

論藏

Basket of Higher Teaching

compound: abhidhamma (higher/further Dhamma — abhi + dhamma) + piṭaka

The third piṭaka — the systematic philosophical and psychological analysis of mental and material phenomena. The seven books of the Pali Abhidhamma Piṭaka are: Dhammasaṅgaṇī, Vibhaṅga, Dhātukathā, Puggalapaññatti, Kathāvatthu, Yamaka, and Paṭṭhāna. The Abhidhamma classifies consciousness (citta: 89/121 types), mental factors (cetasika: 52), matter (rūpa: 28), and Nibbāna — the four ultimate realities (paramattha-dhammā). It is the foundational text of Theravāda Buddhist psychology.

比丘

Monk / Mendicant

masculine noun (u-stem): from bhikkhati (to beg, to go on alms round)

An ordained Theravāda monk — one who has received the full ordination (upasampadā) and lives according to the 227 rules of the Pātimokkha. Bhikkhu means literally 'one who begs (for food)' — a reference to the daily alms round (piṇḍapāta) that is central to the monastic life. The bhikkhu's role in the Saṅgha is to maintain the Vinaya, practise the path, and preserve and transmit the Dhamma. In the Three Jewels, the conventional Saṅgha is composed of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs.

比丘尼

Nun / Female monastic

feminine noun (ī-stem): feminine of bhikkhu

An ordained Theravāda nun — one who has received full ordination and lives according to the 311 rules of the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha. The order of bhikkhunīs was founded by Mahāpajāpati Gotamī (the Buddha's aunt and stepmother) after the Buddha agreed, at Ānanda's request, to allow women full ordination. The bhikkhunī order had declined and disappeared in Theravāda countries but has been revived in modern times, particularly in Sri Lanka and the West, with considerable controversy regarding valid ordination lineages.

八敬法

Eight heavy rules (for nuns) / Eight principles of respect

compound: garu (heavy/weighty — adjective) + dhamma (rule/teaching)

The eight 'heavy rules' (also called the eight conditions, aṭṭha garu-dhammā) that Mahāpajāpati Gotamī accepted as the conditions of bhikkhunī ordination. These rules place the bhikkhunī order in formal seniority below the bhikkhu order. They have been controversial — some modern scholars argue they are later additions; others hold they are canonical. Their content, historical context, and contemporary relevance are central topics in the revival of the bhikkhunī ordination in modern Theravāda countries.

優婆塞

Male lay follower / Lay devotee

masculine noun (a-stem): from upa + āsati (to sit near) — 'one who sits near [the teacher]'

A male lay Buddhist who has taken the Three Refuges (ti-saraṇa) and the Five Precepts (pañca-sīla). Upāsakas form one of the four assemblies (parisā) of the Buddha's community along with bhikkhus, bhikkhunīs, and upāsikās. Their role is to support the Sangha with material requisites (food, robes, shelter, medicine) and to practise the Dhamma in a lay context. Famous upāsakas in the Pali Canon include Anāthapiṇḍika and Citta-gahapati.

優婆夷

Female lay follower / Female lay devotee

feminine noun (ā-stem): feminine of upāsaka

A female lay Buddhist who has taken the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts. Upāsikās are the fourth of the four assemblies. Famous upāsikās include Visākhā (the great female lay patron) and Khujjuttarā (lay servant of Queen Sāmavatī). In modern Theravāda practice, upāsikās often maintain the eight precepts (aṭṭha-sīla) on Uposatha days and may become prominent teachers and practitioners without formal monastic ordination.