ARH 382 - ID List 2

ARH 382
ART OF THE SILK ROAD
WINTER 2004

ID Lists

ID List 2

Geography:
Banares City in India's Bihar State where Buddha delivered his first sermon in the deer park.

Ganga River (Ganges River) Sacred river of northern India

Gaya City in India's Bihar State where Buddha attained enlightenment.

Kapilivastu City in India's Bihar State where Buddha was born.

Buddhism:

The names of Buddha:

Prince Siddhartha - his youthful name while he resided in the palace
Gautama Sakyamuni - name of the historical Buddha. Lit. Gautama of "the lion clan"
Buddha - his most common name. Lit. "the enlightened."
Tathagata - name of Buddha used by his closest followers. Lit. "one who has realized the truth"
Bhagavat - name of Buddha used by followers. Lit. "the lord" or "blessed one."

Marks on the Buddha body:

Urna - on the forehead, the mole between the brows that represents Buddha's superior ability to see
Usnisha - the cranial protuberance that represents Buddha's higher consciousness

Five Supreme Buddhas:

Akshobhya - Buddha of the east
Ratnasambhava - Buddha of the south
Amithaba - Buddha of the west
Amoghasiddhi - Buddha of the north
Vairochana - Cosmic Buddha

Three Jewels of Buddhism:

Buddha - Lit. "enlightened one"
Dharma - Lit. "the teachings"
Sangha - Lit. "the community"

The Four Noble Truths:

Life is suffering
The origin of suffering is desire
Freedom from desire leads to freedom from suffering
Cessation of desire is achieved by following the middle way of the eightfold path which, for our purposes, is entially discipline and concentration

Bodhi Lit. "enlightenment"

Bodhisattva An enlightened being who stays in this world to aid us.

Dharmacakra Lit. "wheel of the law" which refers to teaching.

Dipankara The teacher of Buddha in the deep past.

Jataka The tales based on the former lives of Buddha, his previous incarnations.

Karma Lit. "deed." Accumulation of acts in the past and present which affect the outcome of rebirth.

Maitreya Buddha of the future.

Mara Demon who tempted Buddha with tremendous force.

Maya Mother of Buddha.

Mahayana Buddhism (Lit. "the great vehicle") The second form of Buddhism formulated during Kanishka's reign

Nirvana Lit. "extinction".

Pali Language derived from Sanskirt used by the original compilers of Buddha's teachings.

Pali texts The canonical Buddhist literature, in 45 volumes, of Buddha's teachings (the dharma).

Stupa Funerary mound where the relics of the Buddha body are stored.

Theravada Buddhism The original and early form of Buddhism.

Pre-Buddhist Personages:
Naga Cobra-hooded snake deity representing water that appears often in Indian art

Salibanjika Female fertility figure who gives fruit to a tree when she kicks it

Yaksha and Yakshi Ancient fertility figures, male and female, of early Indian belief. Statues of them were erected in fields as protectors. They were absorbed by Buddhism as guardians.

Banares	City in India's Bihar State where Buddha delivered his first sermon in the deer park.
Ganga River	(Ganges River) Sacred river of northern India
Gaya	City in India's Bihar State where Buddha attained enlightenment.
Kapilivastu	City in India's Bihar State where Buddha was born.

Bodhi	Lit. "enlightenment"
Bodhisattva	An enlightened being who stays in this world to aid us.
Dharmacakra	Lit. "wheel of the law" which refers to teaching.
Dipankara	The teacher of Buddha in the deep past.
Jataka	The tales based on the former lives of Buddha, his previous incarnations.
Karma	Lit. "deed." Accumulation of acts in the past and present which affect the outcome of rebirth.
Maitreya	Buddha of the future.
Mara	Demon who tempted Buddha with tremendous force.
Maya	Mother of Buddha.
Mahayana Buddhism	(Lit. "the great vehicle") The second form of Buddhism formulated during Kanishka's reign
Nirvana	Lit. "extinction".
Pali	Language derived from Sanskirt used by the original compilers of Buddha's teachings.
Pali texts	The canonical Buddhist literature, in 45 volumes, of Buddha's teachings (the dharma).
Stupa	Funerary mound where the relics of the Buddha body are stored.
Theravada Buddhism	The original and early form of Buddhism.

Naga	Cobra-hooded snake deity representing water that appears often in Indian art
Salibanjika	Female fertility figure who gives fruit to a tree when she kicks it
Yaksha and Yakshi	Ancient fertility figures, male and female, of early Indian belief. Statues of them were erected in fields as protectors. They were absorbed by Buddhism as guardians.