Some of the Pali and foreign terms used in the Forest Sangha Newsletter

Please note: due to typographical limitations, Pali diacritics have been omitted throughout the newsletter. Below are brief descriptions of how these words are being used in the Forest Sangha Newsletter intended for reference while reading FSN articles. Note that they are not necessarily full definitions; rather they describe the word’s usage in this particular context. Because of their common occurrence and familiarity to many readers, they have generally not been italicized.

For a more complete glossary of Pali terms including useful references, see John Bullit’s collection on www.accesstoinsight.org

Ajahn : (Thai) Senior monk or nun; literally ‘teacher’. Used for those with ten vassas or more, regardless of their role in the community.

anagarika: A male or female postulant in the preliminary noviciate stage.

anjali: A gesture of respect by joining palms in front of the heart.

anumodana: An expression of appreciative acknowledgment of goodness performed.

bhikkhu : A Buddhist monk.

bhikkhuni (Pali)/ bhikshuni (Sanskrit): A Buddhist nun.

bodhisatta : "A being (striving) for Awakening"; the term used to describe the Buddha before he became Buddha.

Buddha : Awakened One; the perfectly enlightened historical teacher of the Dhamma.

Bodhi Tree : The tree under which the Buddha was liberated, or same kind.

dana : Giving, generosity; offering, alms.

Dhamma : The Truth; the teaching of the Buddha.

Dhammacakka : "Dhamma-wheel"; the symbol of a wheel representing the Buddha’s teaching.

Dhamma-vinaya : The Teaching and Training, or Doctrine and Discipline

dukkha (dukkha): Stress; suffering; pain; distress; discontent.

garudhammas: Eight ' vows of respect' pertaining to the Bhikkhu Sangha.

kathina : A requisites-offering ceremony held at a monastery after the vassa has been completed. An almsgiving ceremony at the end of the vassa

kuti : A hut, a small dwelling for meditation, usually in the forest.

Luang Por : (Thai) A title of affectionate respect (lit. "Venerable Father")

maechee: (Thai) An eight-precept nun in Thailand.

metta : loving-kindness

Mahayana: The school of Buddhism mainly practised in Tibet and E.Asia.

pabbajja : "Going forth"– ordination into the mendicant life.

parittas : Blessing chants; a particular collection of the Buddha’s words.

Patimokkha : The basic code of discipline the Buddha established for his ordained disciples.

puja : devotional observances such as chanting and offering incense.

samadhi : concentration; unshakeable presence of mind.

samana: One who has entered the Holy life; religious recluse or wanderer.

samsara: The 'endless round' of birth and death.

samanera : A novice monk.

Sangha : The community of ordained Buddhist monks and nuns. Those who have realized liberation (Ariya Sangha).

sasana: The dispensation of the Buddha's teaching.

Siladhara : A Buddhist nun from the community of Luang Por Sumedho.

stupa : Pagoda; a devotional monument often enshrining holy relics.

sutta (Sanskrit: sutra): A discourse of the Buddha or his disciples.

Tan: (Thai) A common title of respect used for monks, venerable.

thera : A bhikkhu of ten or more vassas.

Theravada : The school of Buddhism mainly practised in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Burma, Laos and Cambodia.

theri: A Siladhara of ten or more vassas.

Triple Gem :The Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.

tudong :austere contemplative wandering, relying on faith and meditation.

upasaka : A male lay-follower of the Buddha

upasampada: "Acceptance": ordination as a bhikkhu.

upasika : A female lay-follower of the Buddha.

vassa: The three-month summer "Rains Retreat"; a mark of how many years ("vassas") a monk or nun has been in robes.

vihara : A monastic dwelling.

Vinaya : The monastic discipline.