prajnaparamita
Perfected Buddhist insight
Prajnaparamita is a central concept in Mahayana Buddhism, meaning "perfection of wisdom" or "transcendent wisdom." It refers to the highest form of understanding—direct insight into the nature of reality, particularly the emptiness (sunyata) of all phenomena.
The term also names a genre of Buddhist sutras exploring this wisdom, including the famous Heart Sutra and Diamond Sutra: The prajnaparamita literature shaped Zen and Tibetan Buddhist thought. (Capitalized Prajnaparamita may refer specifically to the personified goddess of wisdom.)
Without legal effect
- suchnessEssential nature of reality
- interdependenceReciprocal reliance between entities
- formlessnessLacking definite shape
- insubstantialityAbsence of physical substance
two truths · conventional · ultimate · illusory · dreamlike · unborn · uncreated · groundlessness
Deep perceptive understanding
- discernmentKeen perception and judgment
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- gnosisExperiential sacred understanding
- realizationGrasping what's true
Sacred religious writings
- textWritten or printed words
- recitationOral delivery from memory
- chantingRhythmic repetitive vocalization
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
Mahayana · canonical · Sanskrit · Tibetan · Chinese · palm-leaf · scroll · teaching
Exceeding usual boundaries
- bodhisattvaBuddhist helper of all
- generosityReadiness to give freely
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
- patienceCalm during delays
diligence · meditation · dana · completeness · culmination
Release from cyclical existence
- bodhiBuddhist spiritual awakening
- awakeningReturn to consciousness
- mokshaRelease from rebirth cycle
- unbindingAct of freeing
cessation · enlightenment · non-attachment · vipassana · breakthrough
Focused attention practice
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- studyDeliberate learning effort
- recitationOral delivery from memory
- visualizationForming mental or graphical images
mantra · mudra · devotion · merit · compassion · dedication · offering
void
Without legal effect
- suchnessEssential nature of reality
- interdependenceReciprocal reliance between entities
- formlessnessLacking definite shape
insubstantiality · two truths · conventional · ultimate · illusory · dreamlike · unborn · uncreated · groundlessness · openness
insight
Deep perceptive understanding
- discernmentKeen perception and judgment
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- gnosisExperiential sacred understanding
scripture
Sacred religious writings
- textWritten or printed words
- recitationOral delivery from memory
- chantingRhythmic repetitive vocalization
manuscript · Mahayana · canonical · Sanskrit · Tibetan · Chinese · palm-leaf · scroll · teaching · discourse
transcendent
Exceeding usual boundaries
- bodhisattvaBuddhist helper of all
- generosityReadiness to give freely
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
patience · diligence · meditation · dana · completeness · culmination
nirvana
Release from cyclical existence
unbinding · cessation · enlightenment · non-attachment · vipassana · breakthrough
meditation
Focused attention practice
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- studyDeliberate learning effort
- recitationOral delivery from memory
visualization · mantra · mudra · devotion · merit · compassion · dedication · offering
Mahayana
Buddhism stressing universal liberation
Korean · Zen · lineage · transmission · exegesis
- Buddhist HistoryBuddha, Mahayana, Theravada, councils, stupas
- Tibetan BuddhismBuddha, Tibet, Dalai Lama, lama, lamas
- Buddhist conceptskarma, nirvana, dharma, samsara, Four Noble Truths
- Mahayana Buddhismbodhisattva, emptiness, mind training, tathagatagarbha, Tara
prajnaparamitaignorance
Absence of knowledge
delusion · maya · nescience · unenlightenment · benightedness