Authoritative translations from the Pali Text Society — primary source for Theravada Buddhist terminology
Key phrase: glossary of Pali terms. This comprehensive reference contains over 130 authoritative definitions from the Pali Text Society (PTS).
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🧘 Meditation / Bhāvanā (25 terms)
🛤️ Path / Magga (20 terms)
🧠 Mind / Citta / Viññāṇa (30 terms)
⚖️ Ethics / Sīla (15 terms)
🤔 Philosophy / Diṭṭhi / Paññā (25 terms)
Contents (Alphabetical)
Amata
anāgāmi
ānāpānasati
anattā
anicca
arahant
ariya
āsava
avijjā
bhava
bhāvanā
bhikkhu
bojjhaṅga
brahma-vihāra
citta
dāna
Dhamma
diṭṭhi
dukkha
ekaggatā
hiri
iddhi
indriya
jhāna
jarāmaraṇa
kāma
kamma
karuṇā
khandha
kilesa
kusala
magga
mettā
moha
muditā
nibbāna
nibbidā
nibbuta
nirodha
nīvaraṇa
ottappa
paññā
pāramī
paṭicca-samuppāda
phala
pīti
rāga
saddhā
sagga
sakadāgāmi
samā
samādhi
sambodhi
sammā
saṃsāra
saṃvega
saṃyojana
saṅgha
saṅkhāra
saññā
santi
sati
sāvaka
sīla
sotāpanna
sukha
taṇhā
Theravāda
ti-lakkhaṇa
upādāna
upekkhā
vedanā
vicāra
vicikicchā
vijjā
viññāṇa
vipassanā
vimutti
vinaya
viriya
viveka
Core Concepts
nibbāna (liberation)
Grammar: noun, neuter | Root: nir + √vā (to blow out)
Meaning: freedom from suffering; the complete extinguishing of craving, aversion, and ignorance.
Role: the ultimate goal of Buddhist practice.
dukkha (suffering)
Grammar: noun, neuter | Root: dur + √kha (difficult)
Meaning: dissatisfaction, stress, suffering — the First Noble Truth.
Suttas: SN 56.11.
anattā (not-self)
Grammar: adjective | Root: an + attā (not + self)
Meaning: absence of permanent self in any phenomenon. One of three characteristics.
Suttas: SN 22.59.
anicca (impermanence)
Grammar: adjective | Root: an + nicca (not + permanent)
Meaning: instability, susceptibility to change. All conditioned things are transient.
amata (deathless)
Grammar: adjective | Meaning: “The Deathless” — poetic name for nibbāna.
dhamma
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: the Buddha’s teaching, phenomenon, natural law, righteousness.
kamma (intentional action)
Grammar: noun, neuter | Root: √kar (to do)
Meaning: volitional action by body, speech, or mind that shapes future experience.
saṃsāra (cycle of rebirth)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: endless round of birth and death, driven by craving and ignorance.
ti-lakkhaṇa (three characteristics)
Meaning: three marks of conditioned existence: anicca, dukkha, anattā.
Meditation Practice
sati (mindfulness)
Grammar: noun, feminine | Root: √sar (to remember)
Meaning: awareness, continuous attention to present moment.
Suttas: MN 10.
samādhi (concentration)
Grammar: noun, masculine | Root: sam + ā + √dhā
Meaning: one-pointedness of mind — foundation for insight.
vipassanā (insight)
Grammar: noun, feminine | Root: vi + √dis (special + see)
Meaning: clear seeing of three characteristics in all phenomena.
jhāna (meditative absorption)
Grammar: noun, neuter
Meaning: state of deep concentration when hindrances subside.
jarāmaraṇa (aging-and-death)
Grammar: noun, neuter compound (jarā + maraṇa)
Meaning: aging and death — not just physical decay, but the ending of any conditioned state you cling to. The final link in dependent origination (paṭiccasamuppāda).
Practical note: Every time something you identify with changes or ends — a mood, a relationship, a role — that’s jarāmaraṇa in action.
ānāpānasati (mindfulness of breathing)
Grammar: compound: ānāpāna + sati
Meaning: meditation on mindful breathing.
Suttas: MN 118.
mettā (loving-kindness)
Grammar: noun, feminine | Root: √mid (to be soft)
Meaning: unconditional goodwill toward all beings.
karuṇā (compassion)
Grammar: noun, feminine
Meaning: wishing others freedom from suffering.
muditā (sympathetic joy)
upekkhā (equanimity)
Grammar: noun, feminine
Meaning: balanced, impartial mind — free from attachment.
brahma-vihāra (divine abodes)
Meaning: four sublime attitudes: mettā, karuṇā, muditā, upekkhā.
pīti (rapture)
Grammar: noun, feminine
Meaning: joyful excitement — factor of first and second jhānas.
sukha (bliss)
vitakka (initial application)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: directing mind to object — factor of first jhāna.
vicāra (sustained thought)
ekaggatā (one-pointedness)
Grammar: noun, feminine
Meaning: unification of mind — factor from second jhāna onward.
Path & Fruition
magga (path)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: Noble Eightfold Path — way to cessation of suffering.
phala (fruit)
Grammar: noun, neuter
Meaning: result of practice — state following realization of path.
sotāpanna (stream-enterer)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: one who entered stream — eradicated first three fetters.
sakadāgāmi (once-returner)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: second stage — weakened gross craving and aversion.
anāgāmi (non-returner)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: third stage — eradicated first five fetters.
arahant (fully liberated one)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: one who eradicated all ten fetters and attained nibbāna.
ariya (noble one)
Grammar: adjective/noun
Meaning: person who attained one of four stages of liberation.
ariya-puggala (noble person)
Meaning: any of four types of awakened disciples.
ariya-sacca (Noble Truths)
sammā (right, proper)
samā (calm, equal)
Psychology & Mind
citta (mind)
Grammar: noun, neuter
Meaning: mind or mental state — central object of development.
viññāṇa (consciousness)
Grammar: noun, neuter
Meaning: awareness through six sense doors. One of five aggregates.
saññā (perception)
vedanā (feeling)
saṅkhāra (formations)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: volitional activities that shape karmic results.
khandha (aggregates)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: five components: form, feeling, perception, formations, consciousness.
taṇhā (craving)
Grammar: noun, feminine
Meaning: thirst — Second Noble Truth. Three types: kāma, bhava, vibhava.
rāga (passion)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: attachment, lust — often synonymous with lobha.
moha (delusion)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: confusion, misapprehension — one of three unwholesome roots.
kilesa (defilements)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: unwholesome mental states: craving, aversion, ignorance.
āsava (mental effluents)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: deep-rooted defilements: sensuality, views, becoming, ignorance.
avijjā (ignorance)
Grammar: noun, feminine
Meaning: not knowing Four Noble Truths — root of suffering.
nīvaraṇa (hindrances)
Grammar: noun, neuter
Meaning: five obstacles to concentration: sensual desire, ill will, sloth-torpor, restlessness-worry, doubt.
indriya (spiritual faculties)
Grammar: noun, neuter
Meaning: five qualities: faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, wisdom.
bojjhaṅga (factors of enlightenment)
saddhā (faith)
paññā (wisdom)
Grammar: noun, feminine | Root: √ñā (to know)
Meaning: insight into three characteristics and nature of suffering.
viriya (energy)
Grammar: noun, neuter
Meaning: effort directed toward abandoning unwholesome states.
iddhi (psychic powers)
Grammar: noun, feminine
Meaning: supernormal abilities — by-product of jhāna, not goal.
Ethics & Conduct
sīla (morality)
Grammar: noun, neuter
Meaning: virtue, ethical conduct — foundation of practice.
dāna (generosity)
bhikkhu
bhikkhunī
saṅgha (community)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: community of enlightened disciples — second of Three Jewels.
Vinaya
hiri (moral shame)
Grammar: noun, feminine
Meaning: inner conscience that prevents unwholesome actions.
ottappa (fear of wrongdoing)
kusala (wholesome)
akusala (unwholesome)
Grammar: adjective
Meaning: unhealthy mental states rooted in greed, hatred, delusion.
pāramī (perfections)
Philosophy
paṭicca-samuppāda (dependent origination)
Grammar: compound
Meaning: chain of twelve links explaining arising of suffering.
bhava (becoming)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: process of establishing existence through clinging.
upādāna (clinging)
Grammar: noun, neuter
Meaning: attachment to sense pleasures, views, rites, or self-idea.
nirodha (cessation)
Grammar: noun, masculine | Root: ni + √rudh
Meaning: cessation, stopping — Third Noble Truth.
nibbidā (disenchantment)
Grammar: noun, feminine | Root: nī + √vid
Meaning: disenchantment, detachment towards conditioned phenomena.
Formula: nibbidā → virāga → nirodha → vimutti → nibbāna
nibbuta (cooled, extinguished)
Grammar: past participle | Root: nir + √vā
Meaning: cooled, extinguished, freed from passions.
💡 Key Difference:
- nibbidā — process: wise disenchantment that leads to freedom
- nibbuta — result: state of one who has already attained peace
vimutti (liberation)
Grammar: noun, feminine | Root: vi + √muc
Meaning: freedom from clinging and hindrances.
virāga (dispassion)
Grammar: noun, masculine | Root: vi + rāga
Meaning: fading away of passion, dispassion.
santi (peace)
Grammar: noun, feminine
Meaning: tranquillity, calm — inner stilling of craving.
saṃvega (spiritual urgency)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: shock and alienation upon seeing futility of saṃsāra.
saṃyojana (fetters)
diṭṭhi (view)
sagga (heavenly realms)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: temporary rebirth in blissful states due to wholesome kamma.
Theravāda
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: “Doctrine of Elders” — only surviving early Buddhist school.
bhāvanā (mental development)
sāvaka (disciple)
sambodhi (full awakening)
Grammar: noun, feminine
Meaning: complete enlightenment attained by Buddha.
kāma (sensuality)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: sensual pleasures or desires. Not same as kamma!
nirvana
Grammar: noun, neuter (Sanskrit)
Meaning: Sanskrit equivalent of nibbāna. In Theravada, nibbāna preferred.
nissaya (reliance)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: dependence — e.g., “rely on Dhamma, not persons.”
paggaha (vigour)
pasāda (clarity, confidence)
phassa (contact)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: meeting of sense organ, object, consciousness.
pubbe-nivāsānussati (past lives recollection)
Grammar: compound
Meaning: ability to recall previous existences.
saddhamma (true Dhamma)
sallekha (effacement)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: inner purification — removal of defilements.
sakkāya-diṭṭhi (identity view)
Sakka
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: King of gods (Indra) — illustrates beings bound to saṃsāra.
sambhavesin (being seeking rebirth)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: being in intermediate state between death and rebirth.
sambojjhaṅga
thīna (sloth)
Tathāgata
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: epithet of Buddha — “Thus Gone” or “Thus Come.”
tathatta (suchness)
Grammar: noun, neuter
Meaning: true nature of things as they are.
uddhacca (restlessness)
Grammar: noun, neuter
Meaning: agitation, distraction — hindrance to concentration.
upāya (skillful means)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: rarely used in Theravada; more common in Mahayana.
vaṭṭa (cycle)
vaya-dhamma (subject to passing away)
vicikicchā (doubt)
vyāpāda (ill will)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: hostility, aversion — hindrance and form of dosa.
yathā-bhūta (as it really is)
Grammar: compound
Meaning: direct insight into reality through three characteristics.
muni (sage)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: silent, wise ascetic — epithet of Buddha.
jarā (aging)
jāti (birth)
Grammar: noun, feminine
Meaning: coming into existence — link in dependent origination.
māra (death, temptation)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: personification of death, distraction, fear.
maraṇa (death)
bhante
Grammar: vocative
Meaning: respectful address to monk: “Venerable Sir.”
cakkhu (eye)
Grammar: noun, neuter
Meaning: physical eye or knowledge — e.g., “Dhamma-eye.”
attha (meaning, welfare)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: benefit, purpose.
gati (destination)
Grammar: noun, feminine
Meaning: mental inclination that determines rebirth.
gotrabhū (change of lineage)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: moment just before awakening when mind transcends worldling lineage.
hoti
Grammar: verb
Meaning: “becomes” — Pali verb of being, reflecting process.
iddhipāda (bases of power)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: four foundations: desire, energy, mind, investigation.
loka-dhamma (worldly conditions)
Grammar: compound
Meaning: eight worldly winds: gain/loss, fame/disrepute, praise/blame, pleasure/pain.
lokavidū (knower of world)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: epithet of Buddha.
asubha (unattractive)
Grammar: adjective
Meaning: meditation on repulsiveness of body.
garavā (respect)
Grammar: noun, masculine
Meaning: reverence for Triple Gem, teachers, practice.
kāma-taṇhā (sensual craving)
Grammar: compound
Meaning: craving for sense pleasures — one of three forms of taṇhā.
anupādisesa-nibbāna (nibbāna without remainder)
anupubbī-kathā (gradual instruction)
Grammar: compound
Meaning: Buddha’s teaching method: generosity, morality, heavens, dangers, renunciation, Four Truths.
dhamma-cakkhu (Dhamma-eye)
Last updated: 26 February 2026
Author: Rā • Goodwill Project
Sources: Pali Text Society (PTS), AccessToInsight.org