【Annotation】 1.1-1.7 ٭ sutra (1.1) 佛經. A Buddhist scripture containing the dialogues or discourses of the Buddha. ٭ impermanence. (1.1) The Buddhist principle that everything is in a state of flux and nothing remains the same. ٭ prostrate. (1.1) To kneel with hands, knees, and forehead touching the ground in the traditional Buddhist gesture of the deepest respect to someone. ٭take refuge. (1.1) To abide by and return to the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. ٭ The Unsurpassed One. (1.1) One of the ten honorable titles (十號) of Shakyamuni and all other buddhas; “the enlightened one.” The ten titles are: ٭ Tathagata (如來) : Thus Come One (one who comes from the Truth); Thus Gone One; One who Neither Comes nor Goes ٭ Arhat (應供) : One who is (1) worthy of offering, (2) killer of thieves – arhat has killed the thieves of afflictions and defilements, and (3) free of future rebirths ٭ Samyak-sambuddha (正遍知) : Rightly and Complete Enlightened, one who knows the whole truth ٭ Vidya-carana-sampanna (明行足) : Perfect in Wisdom and Action ٭ Sugata (善逝) : Well-Gone (a good death) ٭ Lokavid (世間解) : Knower of the World ٭ Anuttara (無上士) : The Unsurpassed One ٭ Purusadamya-saratha (調御大夫) : The Tamer ٭ Sasta devamanusyanam (天人師) : Teacher of Heavenly and Human Beings ٭ Bhagavan (世尊 or 薄伽梵) : World Honored One ٭ great compassion. The resolve of buddhas and bodhisattvas to relieve the sufferings of all sentient beings. ٭ sentient beings. (1.1) All living beings with sentience; beings that have awareness. They include devas (gods or heavenly beings 天人), asuras (demi-gods 阿修羅), human beings, animals, hungry-ghosts, and hell-beings. Unlike buddhas and bodhisattvas, they are all trapped in samsara but have the potential to become buddhas. ٭ stream of birth and death. (1.1) Where there is birth there is death, which is full of suffering. The endless cycle of rebirth, known as samsara, is a result of desires arising from delusion. ٭ nirvana. (1.1) The state free from all desires and suffering; ultimate bliss and tranquility. ٭ charity, morality, tolerance, diligence, and one mind. (1.2) These five plus “wisdom” are the Six Perfections (called paramitas in Sanskrit) in Mahayana Buddhism that a practitioner on the way to Buddhahood should follow. ٭ expedience, right wisdom, and power. (1.2) These are three of the Ten Perfections. The other seven are the Six Perfections (see above) and “resolve.” ٭ expedience. (1.2) Appropriate means that are suitable for different individuals according to their needs and dispositions. ٭ the Tamer. (1.2) One of the ten titles of a buddha. Like a tamer of elephants and lions, a buddha is able to help others bring their emotional distress under control so they may become the masters of their own minds. He is able to tame and convert even the most stubborn or evil beings with skillful means. ٭ Teacher of Heavenly and Human Beings. (1.2) One of the ten titles of a buddha. A buddha is able to teach heavenly beings (devas) and human beings (manusyas) the path of liberation. ٭ Dharma treasury. (1.3) The invaluable collection of the Buddhist teachings. ٭ the principle of three “Fours” … “Seven” and “Eight.” (1.3) This section refers to the Thirty-seven Factors of Enlightenment that will help all sentient beings achieve nirvana. (3 x 4 + 2 x 5 + 7 + 8 = 37) ٭ three “Fours” (3 x 4). (1.3) 1) The Four Foundations of Mindfulness (四念處): contemplating the body as impure, contemplating all sensation (feeling) as suffering, contemplating the mind as impermanent, and contemplating all things (dharmas) as empty of self. 2) The Four Right Efforts (四正勤): to put an end to existing unwholesome thoughts and actions, to prevent unwholesome thoughts from arising, to bring forth wholesome thoughts and actions, and to develop and increase existing wholesome thoughts and good deeds. 3) The Four Bases of Samadhi (四神足): these refer to the four bases of meditative power gained from strong aspiration to cultivate (欲), intense practice with diligence (進), mindfulness (念), and wisdom (慧). ٭ two “Fives” (2 x 5). 1) The Five Roots (五根): Roots of faith (信), diligence (進), mindfulness (念), samadhi (定), and wisdom (慧). These five roots help anchor wholesome thoughts and deeds. 2) The Five Powers (五力): Powers of faith (信), diligence (進), mindfulness (念), samadhi (定), and wisdom (慧). These five powers banish doubt, laziness, forgetfulness, distraction, and delusion which are hindrances to cultivation. ٭“Seven.” The seven branches of Awakening (七覺支): mindfulness(念), discernment(擇), diligence(精進), joy(喜), serenity(輕安), samadhi (定), and equanimity(捨), which help eradicate defilements and bring forth awakening. ٭“Eight.” The Noble Eightfold Path: right understanding (正見), right thought (正思惟), right speech (正語), right action (正業), right livelihood (正命), right effort (正精進), right mindfulness (正念), and right samadhi (正定). These factors lead to the cessation of suffering where the state of nirvana is reached. ٭ the Four Truths. (1.3) Refers to The Four Noble Truths, the foundation of the Buddha’s teaching. They are: (1) the truth of suffering, (2) the truth of the cause of suffering, (3) the truth of the cessation of suffering, and (4) the truth of the path that leads to the cessation of suffering. ٭ Unconditioned. (1.3) The world as perceived by ordinary people are conditioned which leads to suffering. The enlightened beings are able to transcend the conditioned existence and arrive at the Unconditioned shore which is to attain nirvana. ٭ eight stages 八輩.(1.5) In Theravada Buddhism, this refers to the eight levels of progress toward nirvana, culminating in Arhatship. The four stages (fruits) of Arhatship（四果）are Stream-enterer, Once-returner, Non-returner, and Arhat. Each of them has a gestation stage（四向）: Pre-stream-enterer, Pre-once-returner, Pre-non-returner, and Pre-Arhat. ٭ vajra scepter of wisdom. (1.5) “Vajra” is a Sanskrit word that literally means “a diamond”; the Vajra scepter is a metaphor of the indestructible nature of the Buddha’s wisdom that can shatter delusion. ٭ Deer Park. (1.6) The place where the Buddha delivered his first sermon to the Five Bhiksus. It is in Sarnath near Varanasi, long considered a Buddhist holy place in India. ٭ the Twin Trees. (1.6) The Buddha gave his very last lecture in the Upavattana Sala Grove amidst four pairs of Sala Trees. ٭ Karma. (1.6) Karma means action which includes physical, verbal, and mental activities. By the law of causality, each action has its corresponding consequences. Action that benefits others brings blessings and happiness; action that harms others brings suffering. We are subject to the consequences of our own karma. ٭ nonbirth. (1.6) The state of being free from the relentless cycle of birth and death (samsara: see below.) To realize nonbirth also means to understand that there is no inherent self in sentient beings and in all phenomena. ٭ abide in stillness. (1.6) Here stillness refers to the state of arhat’s mind that is free from all vexation and affliction. ٭ the Three Jewels. (1.7) The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha; also known as the Triple Gem or the Three Treasures. ٭ samsara. (1.7) The relentless cycle of birth and death in which unenlightened beings are deeply entangled. By extension it means this world of afflictions and suffering. 2.1-2.9 ٭ Mt. Sumeru. (2.1) In Buddhist cosmology, Mt. Sumeru is the highest mountain in the Desire Realm though human eyes cannot see it. Even a mountain as high as Mt. Sumeru will perish in due time. ٭ kalpa’s end . (2.1) A kalpa is a very long period of time. Formally, a large kalpa is a cycle of the universe, which consists of four stages: birth (of the universe or a “buddha world”), stability, disintegration, and void. The universe is then recreated (and destroyed), over and over again, by our collective karma. At Kalpa’s end, everything will be destroyed, even Mt. Sumeru. ٭ Neither Thought nor Non-Thought Heaven . (2.3) This is the highest heaven in the Formless Realm of the Triple Realm (see below on Triple Realm). ٭ Wheel-Tuning Kings . (Sanskrit: Chakravartin). (2.3) In pre-Buddhist Indian tradition, Wheel-Turning Kings are the most powerful rulers in the world of humanity. They are blessed with seven treasures and a thousand sons. ٭ Seven treasures. (2.3) They are the Flying Wheel which is a vehicle that carries the King to places where he wins over other countries by righteousness rather than force, the Elephant-treasure, the Horse-treasure, the priceless jewelries, the virtuous Queen, the Financial Guru, and the victorious General. ٭ Triple Realm. (2.5) 1) The Realm of Desire, where beings such as humans and animals reside. They possess physical forms and have varying degrees of desires for wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep. 2) The Realm of Formo, where beings who have attained the four dhyana (deep mental concentration) stages reside. They have finer, uni-gender physical forms but not the desires of the lower realm. 3) The Realm of Formlessness, where beings, through more refined meditation, are reborn without physical forms and exist in various subtle consciousness states only. Beings of the Triple Realm are still subject to karma and rebirth, and therefore have not attained liberation. ٭pratyekabuddhas. (2.6) Persons who get enlightened and attain nirvana (1) by meditating on the principle of causality specifically the twelve links of dependent origination; (2) by awakening to the truth through their own effort because they live in ages where there is no buddha or Buddhist teachings. ٭ shravakas. (2.6) “Hearer” in Sanskrit; literally means those who have heard the Buddha’s teaching of the Four Noble Truths and eventually become arhats. ٭ Deathless Path. (2.8) Study and practice of the Dharma leads to the realization of no birth and death. 3.1-3.5 / 4.1-4.4 ٭ Jetavana Grove in Anathapindika Park. (3.0) The place donated by Prince Jetavana and elderly Anathapindika. It is one of the most famous monastery where the Buddha delivered many important sermons such as the Diamond Sutra and this sutra. ٭ bhiksus (in Sanskrit). (3.1) In Buddhism, ordained monks who leave behind the secular life, devote themselves to the practice of Buddhism, and observe the Bhiksu percepts defining the conduct of a monk. ٭ Tathagata. (3.2) One of the ten titles of a buddha. “One who has thus come, one who has thus gone”; the term Shakyamuni Buddha often used to refer to himself, denoting the empty nature of “self”, and that a buddha is one with the Truth (“suchness”). ٭ the Worthy and Completely Enlightened One. (3.2) Two of the ten titles of a buddha: One who is worthy of respect (arhat) and one who is rightly enlightened and knows the whole truth (Samyak-sambuddha). ٭ gatha. (3.3) A Sanskrit term for a religious verse or stanza. ٭ World Honored One (Bhagavan in Sanskrit). (3.5) One of the ten titles of a buddha. The Buddha is awakened to the truth and is determined to liberate all sentient beings through his teachings. Because of his great compassion and wisdom, the Buddha is honored by all sentient beings in the world. ٭ devas, dragons, yaksas, ghandaras and asuras. (4.4) These five plus garudas, kimnaras and mahoragas are the eight kinds of gods and various non-human beings that are regarded as protectors of the Buddhist Dharma and often appear as part of the audience at the Buddha’s sermons. 5.1-5.6 / 6.1-6.4 ٭ limbs and joints separate. (5.1) The physical body is made up of four elements: Earth (solidity such as bones and ligaments), water (fluid such as blood and saliva), fire (warmth such as the body temperature) and wind (air such as breathing). When these four elements are in equilibrium, the body functions well as a whole. At the time of death, the elements become unbalanced and fall apart internally. Therefore a dying person will usually experience great pain as the body disintegrates. ٭ King Yama. (5.3) The ruler of Buddhist purgatory who assigns punishments to beings according to their karmic misdeeds. ٭ three karmas. (5.4) Refer to physical, verbal and mental activity. (See annotation of "karma" on page 13.) ٭ precepts. Guidelines of moral discipline; regarded as the foundation of the Three Studies (precepts, samadhi, and wisdom) in the practice of Buddhism. Diligent observance of precepts promotes samadhi and wisdom, requisite to attaining enlightenment and realizing one’s inherent buddha nature and bodhi mind. ٭ strength of samadhi. (6.4) Samadhi is a highly concentrated state of mind achieved by meditation, characterized by a high degree of single-mindedness, lucidity and clarity, stillness, bliss, or all of the above. Deeper or more profound samadhi brings greater insight and power. ٭ bodhi wisdom. (6.4) Wisdom from understanding the truth; wisdom of enlightenment that can overcome birth and death and all suffering. ٭ enlightenment. (5.6) Bodhi; awakening, being awakened to the truth. There are many levels of enlightenment, the highest being Buddhahood. | 
