Glossary to the Diamond Sutra

The text of The Diamond Cutter (Vajrachchedika) Revision 1.2 is in a separate document, diamond.html

adharma
irreligion; lack of dutifulness; confusion
bodhi
wisdom
bodhisattva
literally, wisdom-being, one on the way to enlightenment; an enlightened being (Buddha) who renounces Nirvana to aid all human beings to achieve enlightenment
buddha-field
the field of consciousness created by the ideation of an enlightened being
dharma
element of existence; ultimate nature, reality, truth, existence; sacred law; duty; righteousness; the moral law
nirvana
complete absorption into the undifferentiated ground of being; spiritual bliss
tathagata
nature of a buddha; one who has followed in the steps of his predecessors

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Steven E. Newton / snewton@io.com / Apr 28, 1999