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| "Anuttara-Samyaksambodhi
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Literally "perfect
universal enlightenment.“ It is the full form of
samyaksambodhi (enlightenment of a complete buddha).
Asura |
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| Avalokitesvara
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| one of the most important
bodhisattvas of the Mahayana. The literal meaning
of Avalokitesvara is variously interpreted; two
interpretations are 'Lord who Looks Down" and
"He/She who Hears the Sound (Outcries) of the
World." Avalokitesvara embodies one of the
two fundamental aspects of Buddhahood, compassion
Iconographically, thirty-three different ways of
depicting Avalokitesvara are known, distinguished
by the number of heads and arms as well as attributed
held in his/her hands. Avalokitesvara often hold
a blue lotus blossom. The numerous arms symbolize
his/her ability to work for the welfare of sentient
beings in a manner corresponding to any situation.
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| Bodhisattva
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| literally "enlightenment
being"; a Bodhisattva is a being who seeks
Buddhahood through the systematic practice of the
perfect virtues but renounces complete entry into
nirvana until all beings are saved. Supported by
highest insight and wisdom, the determining factor
for his/her action is compassion. A Bodhisattva
provides active help, is ready to take upon himself/herself
the suffering of all other sentient beings, and
to transfer his/her own karmic merit to other beings. |
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| Buddha
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| the "awakened
one"; the manifestation of dharma. A Buddha
is a person who has achieved the enlightenment that
leads to the release from the cycle of existence
and has thereby attained complete liberation. |
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| Buddhahood
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| Expression for the
realization of perfect enlightenment, which characterizes
a Buddha. Buddhahood is the birthright and highest
goal of all beings, but it cannot be "attained."
Rather, one reaches Buddhahood by realizing and
experiencing it in everyday life. |
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| Buddha
Nature |
| the seed of mindfulness
and enlightenment in every person. It is the basic
consciousness of our inherent potential or compassion,
wisdom and sincerity. Because it is the eternal
nature of living things, it is possible for all
beings to attain enlightenment and become a Buddha,
regardless of what level of existence they occupy.
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| Buddhism
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| a religion founded
in India in the Sixth Century B.C. by Buddha, Siddhartha
Gautama. Buddhism teaches that right thinking and
egolessness will enable the human spirit to reach
Supreme Enlightenment (see nirvana). |
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| Chanting
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a form of meditation
which ultimately restores one's mind to its original,
peaceful state. By focusing on the voice and sound
of chanting one concentrates all energy towards
stabilizing the body and returning to a spiritual
neutrality. When chanting, one should maintain a
straight posture, moderate voice, and concentrate
the mind only on the chanting voice. With this form
of meditation, one may eventually be able to experience
and attain the state of Samadhi. (see The Scripture
of Won-Buddhism, pp. 42-46)
Tan-Jun-Joo
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| Dharma
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| literally "carrying
holding the law." It is the way of understanding
the love taught by the Buddha, a comprehensive term
referring to that which determines our true essence;
righteousness; the basis of human morality and ethics,
the lawful order of the universe and foundation
of all religion. The Dharma existed already before
the birth of the historical Buddha. |
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| Dharmakaya
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body of the great order;
the true nature of the Buddha, which is identical
with transcendental reality, the essence of the
universe. The Dharmakaya is the unity of the Buddha
with everything existing. At the same time, it represents
the "law", the teaching expounded by the Buddha
Tonghak
Five Desires |
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| Four
Books |
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| Four
forms of birth |
| viviparous, as with
mammals; oviparous, as with birds; moisture or water-born,
as with worms and fish; metamorphic, as with moths
from chrysalises |
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| Four
Graces |
| manifest the Dharmakaya;
they are The Grace of Heaven and earth, The Grace
of Parents, The Grace of Brethren and The Grace
of Law. The Grace of Heaven and Earth provides us
with light, soil, water, air and eternal life; one
should fulfill the purpose of one's work consistently
and abandon one's disposition of attachment and
anger. The Grace of Parents states that parents
educate and nurture us so that we may attain self-ability;
one owes one's existence to parents, and must care
for and love them. The Grace of Brethren emphasizes
the value of community, teaching that all members
of society, including birds, beasts, trees and grass,
are helpful to humanity; it refers to living with
mutual interest in order to secure peace and justice.
The Grace of Law says that one must learn and practice
the laws of self-discipline, of the family, of the
society, of the nation and of the world; these laws
should mean both spiritual cultivation and equitable
rule by which justice is served. (see The Scripture
of Won-Buddhism, pp. 8-20) |
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| Gate,
gate, paragate, parasamgate, bodhi svaha |
| The mantra uttered
by the Bodhisattva, translates literally as, "O
Boddhi, gone to the other shore, landed at the other
shore, Svaha!" |
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| Il-Won-Sang
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| literally “One Perfect
Circle"; the origin of all beings in the universe.
It is the mind-seal of all Buddhas and saints, and
the Original Nature of all sentient beings. It is
a state in which there is no difference between
being and non-being. When one is enlightened to
the Truth of Il-Won-Sang, there follows the awareness
that the entire universe is one's own; that all
things are not two but one, although everything
has its separate name. To practice Il-Won-Sang is
to believe in it and know one's own mind, which,
like Il-Won-Sang, is originally absolutely perfect
and strictly impartial. (see The Scripture of Won
Buddhism, pp.4-8) |
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| Mahayana
Buddhism |
| is the Northern School
of Buddhism. Literally, Mahayana means the Great
Vehicle. It stresses the virtues of compassion,
love and wisdom. Its ideal Being is the Bodhisattva
who vows to save all beings. It prescribes a path
for the Boddhisattva which leads to Buddhahood or
Supreme, Perfect Enlightenment and proclaims that
all humans possess the spiritual potential for Buddhahood.
Mahayana encompasses all metaphysical phenomena. It
is predominant in Northern Asia, including China,
Korea and Japan. |
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| Mantra
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| a power-laden syllable
or series of syllables that manifests certain cosmic
forces and aspects of the buddhas. It is defined
as a means of protecting the mind and its continuous
repetition is practiced as a form of mediation that
clarifies thought and with steady practice will
ultimately lead to Dharma realization. |
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| Meditation |
| is a way to concentrate
the mind, calming and clarifying it like the surface
of a turbulent body of water, the bottom of which
one can see only when the surface is still and the
water is clear. Diligent -ice of meditation leads
to a nondualistic state of mind thereby awakening
the Buddha Nature. By meditating one can restore
the true nature of the mind, and cultivate one's
ability to balance, integrate and harmonize the
spiritual and the material. (see The Scripture of
Won-Buddhism, pp. 46-51) |
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| Na-Mu
Ah-Me-Tah-Bul |
| literally "returning
to the buddha within". The purpose of chanting Na-Mu
Ah-Me-Ta-Bul is to discover and return to the Absolute
Bliss of one's Own Nature. Therefore, when chanting
Na-Mu Ah-Me-Ta-Bul one should not be distracted
by thoughts or situations and should concentrate
on restoring one's mind to its unartificial and
peaceful state. (see The Scripture of Won-Buddhism,
pp 42-43) |
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| Nirvana
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| the realization of
the true nature of the mind, identical with the
true nature of human being the buddha nature. This
realization is only possible through wisdom, thus
nirvana is often equated with prajna; they are two
aspects of the same state. Nirvana frees one from
suffering, death and rebirth, and all other worldly
bonds. It is the highest transcendent consciousness
and requires complete overcoming of the three unwholesome
roots: desire, hatred and delusion. Nirvana, the
ultimate dimension of reality, is the goal of spiritual
practice in all branches of Buddhism. |
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| Paramita |
| literally "that which
has reached the other shore," the transcendental.
The paramitas, generally translated as "the perfections,"
are the virtues perfected by a Bodhisattva in the
course of his/her development. There are six of
these: meditation, generosity, patience, energy
or exertion, discipline and wisdom. |
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| Prajna
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| refers to an immediately
experienced intuitive wisdom that cannot be conveyed
by concepts or in intellectual terms. The definitive
moment of prajna is insight into emptiness, which
is the true nature of reality. Prajna is one of
the essential marks of Buddhahood, and is also one
of the "perfections" actualized by a Bodhisattva
in the course of his/her development. |
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| Samadhi |
| A state of consciousness
that lies beyond waking, dreaming and deep sleep,
and in which mental activity ceases. It is total
absorption in the object of meditation. However,
samadhi is neither a straining concentration on
one point, nor is the mind directed from the subject
to the object. |
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| Shariputra
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| Shariputra came from
a brahmin family, and was one of the ten great disciples
of the Buddha. He was soon renowned on account of
his wisdom. |
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| Six
directions of rebirth |
hells, hungry ghosts,
animals, malevolent nature spirits, human existence
and heaven
Six Roots |
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| Skandha
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| term for the five aggregates,
which constitute the entirety of what is generally
known as “personality." They are form, sensation,
perception, mental formation and consciousness.
The characteristics of skandhas are birth, old age,
death, duration and change. They are regarded as
without essence, impermanent, empty and suffering-ridden. |
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| So-Tae-San
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| the religious title
chosen by a new Buddha, Choong Bin Park (May 5,1891-June
1,1943), the founder of Won-Buddhism. So-Tae-San
sought the Truth for twenty years beginning in his
childhood, and was enlightened in 1916 to the Universal
Principle which discerns the relationship between
the phenomenal world and the ultimate reality (see
Il-Won-Sang). Literally, the three syllables of
his title translate respectively as "Infinitesimal,
Infinite and Eternally Present Mountain." |
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| Sutra
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| a scriptural narrative,
especially a text traditionally regarded as a discourse
of the Buddha or one of his disciples; literally
"thread." |
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| Three
Classics |
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| Three
Great Powers |
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| Won-Buddhism |
| is a new Buddhism of
Mahayana tradition; it was founded by Venerable So-Tae-San
in 1916 in Korea. It has introduced practical egalitarian
Buddhism to the contemporary world so that Buddhist
truth might be expressed in daily life. Won-Buddhism's
three basic goals are modernization, vitalization
and practical application of Buddhism (see The Scripture
of Won-Buddhism, pp.1-3) |
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| Young
Joo |
| verse of the divine
spirit; Young Joo is a Won Buddhist chant that refers
to the purifying and transcending of oneself in
striving toward Buddhahood. (see Won-Buddhism Chants
& Hymns, pp.3) |
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