Glossary
anatta not-self
angsa one-shouldered vest worn by monks
anicca impermanent
arahat worthy one, i.e. one who has attained nibbana
araņņa forest-place; hermitage
asana (sk) posture, in yoga practices
asuras demons
atta self
ba (s) no
bakshish (h) gift, bribe, donation
beedie (h) an Indian cigarette
bhante sir (a polite form of address)
bhikkhu monk (literally, almsman)
Buddharupa statue or image of the Buddha
cajun (s) plaited coconut fronds
cankamana ambulatory (the walkway used in meditative pacing)
carika wandering, faring
chi (h) tea
chillum (h) a straight clay pipe used for smoking hashish
chi-wallah (h) tea vendor
dahl (h) lentils; yellow lentil soup
dana gift, usually a gift of food, hence, a meal
danasala dining hall
dasa sila ten precepts (observed by samaneras)
dayaka giver, patron, supporter
deva deity
dhamma teaching, truth, thing, what is
dharmashala (h) pilgrimage rest house; preaching hall
dhoti (h) sarong (worn by men)
dhutanga austerity
dukkha suffering, misery, ill-fare
gilampasa (s) medicine (a corruption of Pali gilana paccaya, the requisite of medicines), and hence (s) any form of afternoon refreshment allowable to monks
gulab jamun (h) an Indian sweet
hamuduruwo (s) monk, priest
kathina robe-cloth, allowable to bhikkhus upon completion of Vas
kovil (h) temple
kuti hut, dwelling
mahathera great elder (technically: one who has been a bhikkhu for twenty years or more)
Mahayana the great vehicle, encompassing most sects of Buddhism
mapila (s) a poisonous snake: a krait?
namaste (h) a term and form of greeting
ņana knowledge
nibbana extinction (of greed, hatred, and delusion; = enlightenment)
nimitta sign, spot
nirvana (sk) none of the interpretations of this concept by the various Mahayana sects seem to be the same as the Sutta usage of nibbana
padura (h) straw mat
paise (h) cent, penny
Pali the language of the original Buddhist texts
pan (h) “beetle nut”
paņca sila five precepts (observed by upasakas)
Patimokkha the 227 rules to be observed by bhikkhus
pindapata almsround
pinkama (s) ceremony
pirith (s) chanting
raja king
sadhu good, amen; (h) mendicant
sahib (h) sir, master
samanera novice
samitiya (s) society (scil. of laity who help support a hermitage or temple)
Sangha the order of Theravadin Buddhist monks
sanghadisesa a category of fault entailing meetings of the Sangha
sanghati outer cloak
sekha trainee; one who, having understood the basis of Dhamma, will purify himself
sila precept, morality, conduct
stupa (h) reliquary mound
sukhi hotu may you be happy
sutta discourse, story
thera elder (technically: one who has been a bhikkhu for ten years or more)
Theravada the way of the elders; the sect which accepts only the Pali scriptures
upasaka lay follower
upasampada higher ordination (i.e. becoming a bhikkhu)
vandana respect, salutation
Vas (s) rain, the bhikkhu’s rainy-season retreat
vibhava non-being; absence
vihara temple, dwelling
sabbe sankhara anicca: all conditions are impermanent
sabbe sankhara dukkha: all conditions are suffering
sabbe dhamma anatta: all things are not-self