Glossary Archive

Prajñā (प्रज्ञा) or paññā (𑀧𑀜𑁆𑀜𑀸) is a Buddhist term often translated as "wisdom", "insight", "intelligence", or "understanding". It is described in Buddhist texts as the understanding of the true nature of phenomena. In the context of Buddhist meditation, it is the ability to understand the three characteristics of all things: anicca ("impermanence"), dukkha ("dissatisfaction" or "suffering"), and anattā ("non-self" or "egolessness"). Mahāyāna texts describe it as the understanding of śūnyatā ("emptiness"). It is...

Prajñā (प्रज्ञा) or paññā (𑀧𑀜𑁆𑀜𑀸) is a Buddhist term often translated as "wisdom", "insight", "intelligence", or "understanding". It is described in Buddhist texts as the understanding of the true nature of phenomena. In the context of Buddhist meditation, it is the ability to understand the three characteristics of all things: anicca ("impermanence"), dukkha ("dissatisfaction" or "suffering"), and anattā ("non-self" or "egolessness"). Mahāyāna texts describe it as the understanding of śūnyatā ("emptiness"). It is...

Nắc-Nia is the transliteration of the Khmer word “Neak Nghia,” which means commoner (in French, Esclave; in English, Slave). This idiom originates from the reign of King Ream Meam Chon Pray, in Cambodia, with the following legend: During the reign of King Ream Meam Chon Pray, there was a young man named Tum, who was...

By definition, Thiên Cơ is literally translated as a heavenly machine. In fact, it is to a layperson a mystery known only to Heaven (archaic) / inscrutable twist of fate/ top secret. It is hardly communicable to the average person, with the exception of supernatural beings. In religious teachings, the concept of Heaven’s Secret or...

By definition, Thiên Cơ is literally translated as a heavenly machine. In fact, it is to a layperson a mystery known only to Heaven (archaic) / inscrutable twist of fate/ top secret. It is hardly communicable to the average person, with the exception of supernatural beings. In religious teachings, the concept of Heaven’s Secret or...

"I must be avoiding many informants' harassment, Doing Crazy-Mad is also 'cause of these things. Who is to be deserving of the eyebrows and moustache, Loving the world, I compose the poem to exhort them. Still patiently waiting for the time to come, So we have to put up with the public smear and admiration."...

"The Western Buddhas probably understand too much" refers to the carelessness of ordinary people who see the Buddhas as having worldly minds like themselves, unaware that the law of karma spares no one. If their hearts are kind and virtuous, blessings will naturally come; the Buddhas are not the ones who bestow favors or forgive...

While the Venerable Master was still at Cho Quan Hospital, during his free time, with a clear and serene mind, he suddenly felt compassion for all beings struggling in the ocean of worldly suffering. Moved by compassion, he borrowed pen and ink to write this book of teachings. In it, he clearly distinguishes between the...

Also called the Pure Land, it is a pure and peaceful realm, completely free from the five defilements and the eight sufferings like the filthy Saṃsāra where sentient beings currently reside. The Pure Land is also a practice, teaching people to focus on reciting the Buddha's name and doing good deeds so that, with the...

"Bát Nhã Thoàn", refers to wisdom, generally using the boat of enlightenment to cross over delusion, in other words, the world is full of temptations. BÁT NHÃ THOÀN: Also read as the Prajna boat. Bát Nhã is the transliteration of the Sanskrit (Scr.) Prajna, a special term in Buddhism, encompassing many meanings, succinctly translated as...