Glossary
Terms rendered according to the Principles by Suttas, with definitions from the Suttas and the Vinaya where they exist. The Pali definition is quoted verbatim, with links to the reader.
Updated: 6 November 2026
Found 410 of 410
| abhijjhā | covetousness |
| abhinandati | to be delighted, to delight |
| abhiññā | direct knowledge, recognition (ability to identify) |
| abhiññāya | for recognition (direct knowledge) |
| abyāpāda | non-hostility |
| adhamma | non-Dhamma |
| ādīnava | drawback-danger |
| adinnādāna | not-given-taking |
| adinnādānā veramaṇī | non-accepting of not-given-taking |
| āhuneyyo | worthy-of-offerings |
| akāliko | timeless |
| ākāsadhātu | space-dhatu |
| ākāsānañcāyatana | boundless-space-domain |
| ākiñcaññāyatana | nothing-whatsoever-domain |
| akusala | unbeneficial, unskillful, ineffective |
| Akusala kammapatha | Ten paths, directions of unbeneficial activity |
| akusalamūla | unbeneficial-root |
| anabhijjhā | non-covetousness |
| anāgāmī | non-returner |
| ānāpāna | breath |
| ānāpānassati | breath-remembrance |
| anatta | non-personality |
| anattha | purposeless (non-benefit) |
| aṅga | Aspect |
| anicca | unreliability |
| animitta | signlessness |
| añjalikaraṇīyo | worthy-of-greeting-with-joined-palms |
| anta | edge (boundary, threshold), end |
| anuloma | forward order |
| anunaya | attraction (approval) |
| anusaya | predisposition |
| anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa | unsurpassed field of good for the world |
| anuttaro purisadammasārathi | unsurpassed trainer-driver of people |
| api | including |
| āpodhātu | liquid-dhatu |
| appamāda | non-carelessness |
| appaṇihita | directionlessness (non-aspiration) |
| appiyehi sampayogo | union-with-the-unloved |
| apuñña | non-good |
| arahaṁ | arahant |
| arati | non-delight, aversion |
| ariya | noble |
| ariyasacca | noble-truth |
| ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo | Noble Eightfold Path |
| arūparāga | imageless-fascination |
| asaṅkhata | non-composite, non-composed |
| asappurisa | impure person |
| asāta | discomfort |
| āsava | outflow |
| asekha | non-learner |
| assāda | attraction, enjoyment |
| assāsa | exhalation |
| asubha | disharmony, unseemliness, without-embellishment |
| ātāpī | ardent |
| atta | personality, self |
| attavādupādāna | personality-assertion-sustaining |
| attha | benefit, meaning, purpose, benefit-meaning-purpose |
| avijjā | non-discernment |
| avijjānusaya | predisposition-to-non-discernment |
| avijjāpaccayā | non-discernment as condition |
| avijjāsava | non-discernment-outflow |
| āvuso | fellow, friend |
| āyatana | domain |
| ayya | sir, madam |
| bala | power |
| bāla | immature |
| bhadante | venerable |
| bhagavā (bhagavata) | Blessed One (possessor-of-the-Share) |
| bhante | venerable sir |
| bhava | bhava, [individual] existence |
| bhavapaccayā | bhava as condition |
| bhavarāgānusaya | predisposition-to-being-fascination |
| bhavāsava | being-outflow |
| bhavataṇhā | being-clinging (individual) |
| bhāvetabba | to-be-developed |
| bhaya | anxiety, fear, threat |
| bhojanīya | main dish |
| bodhi | awakening |
| bodhipakkhiyā dhammā | awakening-related phenomena |
| bojjhaṅga | aspect of awakening |
| brahmacariya | holy life (Brahma-conduct) |
| brāhmaṇa | brahmin |
| brahmavihara | Abidings of Brahma |
| buddho | awakened |
| byāpāda | hostility |
| cakkhu | eye |
| cattāri ariyasaccāni | Four Noble-Truths |
| catuttha jhāna | fourth jhana |
| cetanā | comprehending |
| ceto | mind, mind-thinking |
| cetokhila | mind-futility |
| chanda | impulse (intention-choice-consent) |
| chandasamādhi | impulse-samadhi |
| chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgata iddhipāda | impulse-samadhi-endeavor-constituents-endowed basis of super-abilities |
| citta | mind-state |
| cittānupassanā | mind-observation |
| cittasamādhi | mind-state-samadhi |
| cittasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgata iddhipāda | mind-state-samadhi-endeavor-constituents-endowed basis of super-abilities |
| dakkhiṇeyyo | worthy-of-gifts |
| dāna | giving |
| dassana | seeing (looking) |
| deva, devatā | deva, deity |
| dhamma | phenomenon (Dhamma), law, factuality, Teaching, reality |
| dhammānudhamma | Dhamma-in-accordance-with-Dhamma |
| dhammānupassanā | phenomenon-observation |
| dhammavicaya | phenomena-discernment, dhamma-discernment |
| dhammavicayasambojjhaṅga | phenomena-discernment-awakening-aspect |
| dhātu | dhatu (phenomenon) |
| diṭṭhānusaya | predisposition-to-views |
| diṭṭhi | view |
| diṭṭhupādāna | view-sustaining |
| domanassa | discontent (mental discomfort), "suffering" (in quotes) |
| dosa | harmfulness-malice |
| dukkha | pain, pain-discomfort, bodily discomfort |
| dukkhā vedanā | painful feeling |
| dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ | pain — noble-truth |
| dukkhanirodha | pain-elimination |
| dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā | practice leading to pain-elimination |
| dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ | practice leading to pain-elimination — noble-truth |
| dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ | pain-elimination — noble-truth |
| dukkhasamudaya | pain-accumulation |
| dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ | pain-accumulation — noble-truth |
| dukkhata | painfulness |
| dutiya jhāna | second jhana |
| ehi tvaṁ | come on, you; go ahead (not "go away") |
| ehipassiko | "come-and-see" |
| esanā | search |
| evamevaṁ | just so |
| gandha | smell |
| gantha | knot |
| ghāna | nose |
| iddhipāda | [super]-abilities-basis |
| indriya | ability |
| iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā | desired, adored, pleasing, lovely, connected with desire, fascinating-arousing passion |
| jarā | aging |
| jarāmaraṇa | aging-dying |
| jāti | birth |
| jātipaccayā | birth as condition |
| jhāna | jhana |
| jhāyatha | ignite (strive ardently) |
| jivhā | tongue |
| kalyāṇa | good (beneficial) |
| kāma | desire |
| kāmacchanda | desire-impulse |
| kāmaguṇā | desire-multiplier |
| kāmarāgānusaya | predisposition-to-desire-fascination |
| kāmāsava | desire-outflow |
| kāmataṇhā | desire-clinging |
| kāmesumicchācāra | in-desires-wrong-conduct |
| kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇī | non-accepting of in-desires-wrong-conduct |
| kamma | activity |
| kāmupādāna | desire-sustaining |
| kappa | kappa, world cycle |
| karuṇā | kindness, mercy |
| kāya | body |
| kāyagatāsati | remembrance-concerning-the-body |
| kāyānupassanā | body-observation |
| khādanīya | snack |
| khandha | block |
| khaya | exhaustion |
| khila | fuss, futility |
| kilesa | contamination |
| kusala | beneficial, skillful, effective |
| Kusala kammapatha | Ten directions of beneficial activity |
| lobha | cupidity |
| lokavidū | knower-of-the-world |
| loko | world - in the world |
| macchariyā | stinginess |
| magga | path |
| mahābhūta | great element |
| majjhimā paṭipadā | middle practice |
| mala | stain, dirt |
| māna | conceit |
| mānānusaya | predisposition-to-conceit |
| manasikāra | mental-activity (creating a mental-representation) |
| mano | mind-representation |
| maraṇa | dying |
| māro pāpimā | Mara the Evil One |
| mettā | peacefulness |
| micchādiṭṭhi | wrong view |
| micchattā | wrongness |
| mitta | friend |
| moghapurisa | confused person |
| moha | murkiness-delusion |
| muditā | gentleness, softening |
| mūla | root |
| musāvāda | false-statement |
| musāvādā veramaṇī | non-accepting of false-statements |
| nāma | name |
| nāmarūpa | name-image |
| nāmarūpapaccayā | name-image as condition |
| ñāṇa | knowledge |
| ñāṇadassana | knowledge-vision |
| nandī | joy, delight |
| nandīrāga | joy-passion |
| nandīrāgasahagatā | accompanied-by-joy-passion |
| ñāyappaṭipanno | method-practicing |
| nevasaññānāsaññāyatana | neither-consciousness-nor-unconsciousness-domain |
| nibbāna | nibbana |
| nibbidā | disinterest, not-finding-oneself-in |
| nidāna | foundation |
| nīgha | burden, hardship |
| nirāmisa | non-carnal |
| nirodha | elimination |
| nissaraṇa | rescue |
| nissita | relying (dependent) |
| nīvaraṇa | barrier |
| ogha | flooding |
| opaneyyiko | leading, guiding (leading-to-the-goal) |
| orambhāgiya | near-side |
| paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhi | personally-knowable by the discerning, attentive, knowing |
| paccaya | condition (circumstance of manifestation) |
| padhāna | diligence |
| pahāna | abandoning |
| pahānāya | for abandoning |
| pahātabba | to-be-abandoned |
| pāhuneyyo | worthy-of-hospitality |
| pajānāti | understands |
| pakkhiya | side |
| pamāda | carelessness |
| pāmojja | softened-joy |
| pananca | proliferation |
| pāṇātipāta | life-diminishing (living-destroying) |
| pāṇātipātā veramaṇī | non-accepting of life-diminishing |
| pañcupādānakkhandha | five blocks of sustaining |
| paṇḍita | sage |
| paññā | understanding |
| paññābala | understanding-power |
| paññindriya | understanding-ability |
| pāpaka | malicious, harmful |
| parideva | lamentation (moaning, wailing) |
| parimaddana | kneading-through (crumpling) |
| parinibbāna | final nibbana |
| pariññā | comprehensive understanding |
| pariññāta | comprehensive understanding |
| pariññāya | for understanding (acknowledgement, full understanding) |
| pariññeyya | to-be-understood |
| passaddhi | tranquillity |
| passaddhisambojjhaṅga | pacification-awakening-aspect |
| passāsa | inhalation |
| paṭhama jhāna | first jhana |
| paṭhavīdhātu | solidity-dhatu, solid-dhatu |
| paṭicca | based on, depending on |
| paṭiccasamuppāda | dependent arising |
| paṭigha | rejection |
| paṭighānusaya | predisposition-to-rejection |
| paṭiloma | reverse order |
| paṭinissagga | distancing, renunciation (relinquishing) |
| paṭivirato | having renounced (rejection, having turned away) |
| pātubhāvo | manifestation (appearance) |
| pharusā vācā | harsh speech |
| pharusāya vācāya veramaṇī | non-accepting of harsh speech |
| phassapaccayā | touch as condition |
| phasso | touch |
| phoṭṭhabba | touch |
| pipāsā | wish to drink, thirst |
| pisuṇā vācā | divisive speech |
| pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇī | non-accepting of divisive speech |
| pīti | illumination-rapture |
| pītisambojjhaṅga | illumination-rapture-awakening-aspect |
| piyehi vippayogo | separation-from-the-loved |
| ponobhavikā | involving, arising anew |
| puggala | individual, person |
| puñña | good (merit) |
| puthujjana | ordinary person |
| rāga | fascination-passion |
| rajanīyā | fascinating-arousing passion |
| rasa | taste |
| rūpa | image, matter, form, object |
| rūparāga | image-fascination |
| sacchikātabba | to-be-witnessed |
| sacchikiriyā | witnessing (with one's own eyes) |
| sacchikiriyāya | for witnessing |
| sadda | sound |
| saddhā | faith |
| saddhābala | faith-power |
| saddhindriya | faith-ability |
| sahagata | accompanying (going-together) |
| sakadāgāmī | once-returner |
| sakkāyadiṭṭhi | with-body-(identification)-view |
| saḷāyatana | six inner-outer domains |
| saḷāyatanapaccayā | six domains as condition |
| samādhi | samadhi, unification of experience; verb: to unify |
| samādhibala | samadhi-power |
| samādhindriya | samadhi-ability |
| samādhisambojjhaṅga | samadhi-awakening-aspect |
| samaṇa | shramana |
| samanupassati | regards (observes) |
| samatha | balance, evenness |
| sambodhāya | for awakening |
| sāmīcippaṭipanno | properly-practicing |
| sāmisa | carnal |
| sammā | right- |
| sammāājīva | right way of living |
| sammādiṭṭhi | right view |
| sammākammanta | right deed |
| sammappadhāna | right diligence |
| sammāsamādhi | right samadhi |
| sammāsambuddho | rightly-awakened |
| sammāsaṅkappa | right intention-preparation |
| sammāsati | right remembrance |
| sammattā | rightness |
| sammāvācā | right statement-speech |
| sammāvāyāma | right endeavor |
| sampajāna | conscious |
| samphappalāpa | idle chatter |
| samphappalāpā veramaṇī | non-accepting of idle chatter |
| samudaya | accumulation |
| saṁyojana | binding, boundness |
| sañcetanā | comprehending, devising, design |
| sandiṭṭhiko | comprehensible-in-visible-reality |
| Saṅgha | Sangha, assembly |
| saṅkhāra | constituents |
| saṅkhārapaccayā | constituents as condition |
| saṅkhata | composite, composed |
| saṅkhittena | in brief |
| saññā | cognition, consciousness, capturing, perception |
| saññāvedayitanirodha | cognition-felt-elimination |
| sappurisa | pure person |
| sati | remembrance |
| satibala | remembrance-power |
| satindriya | remembrance-ability |
| satipaṭṭhāna | establishment of remembrance |
| satisambojjhaṅga | remembrance-awakening-aspect |
| satthā | Teacher |
| satthā devamanussānaṁ | teacher of gods and humans |
| sāvaka | listener, follower |
| sekha | learner |
| Seyyathāpi | it is like... |
| sīla | morality |
| sīlabbata | rules-vows |
| sīlabbataparāmāsa | rules-vows-obsession |
| sīlabbatupādāna | rules-vows-sustaining |
| soka | suffering (extreme pain) |
| somanassa | satisfaction, mental comfort |
| sota | ear |
| sotāpanna | stream-enterer |
| soto | stream |
| sugato | Good One |
| sukha | pleasant, pleasant-comfort (bodily comfort) |
| sukhā vedanā | pleasant feeling |
| suññatā | emptiness |
| suppaṭipanno | well-practicing |
| svākkhāto | well-formulated |
| taṇhā | clinging |
| taṇhāpaccayā | clinging as condition |
| tasinā | sticking |
| tathāgata | Tathagata |
| tatiya jhāna | third jhana |
| tatratatrābhinandinī | here-here-delighting (this-and-that-delighting) |
| tejodhātu | heat-dhatu, fire |
| thinamiddha | apathy-drowsiness |
| ucchādana | covering |
| uddhacca | agitation |
| uddhaccakukkucca | agitation-worry |
| uddhambhāgiya | ascending |
| ujuppaṭipanno | straight-practicing |
| upādāna | sustaining |
| upādānapaccayā | sustaining as condition |
| upadhi | holding |
| upakkilesa | contamination |
| upasamāya | toward evenness |
| upāyāsa | anguish, languishing |
| upekkhā | equanimous-seeing, direct-looking |
| upekkhāsambojjhaṅga | equanimous-seeing-awakening-aspect |
| uposatho | uposatha (feminine gender) |
| vāda | statement |
| vagga | section [if it refers to a chapter of a text, e.g. magavagga] |
| vaya | disappearance (decay) |
| vāyodhātu | wind-dhatu |
| vedanā | feeling |
| vedanānupassanā | feeling-observation |
| vedanāpaccayā | feeling as condition |
| veramaṇī | non-accepting, rejecting (rejection). Not "abstaining" |
| vibhava | separation (non-being) |
| vibhavataṇhā | separation-clinging |
| vicāra | tracking |
| vicikicchā | unclarity |
| vicikicchānusaya | predisposition-to-unclarity |
| vidhā | kind |
| vihāra | abiding, disposition |
| vihesā | irritation, annoyance |
| vijja | knowledge-discernment, vision-knowing |
| vijjācaraṇasampanno | endowed-with-knowledge-and-conduct |
| vīmaṁsāsamādhi | investigation-samadhi |
| vīmaṁsāsamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgata iddhipāda | investigation-samadhi-endeavor-constituents-endowed basis of super-abilities |
| vimutti | release, liberation |
| vinaya | leading-out, cleansing |
| viññāṇa | recognition |
| viññāṇadhātu | attention-recognition-dhatu |
| viññāṇañcāyatana | boundless-attention-domain |
| viññāṇapaccayā | recognition as condition |
| vipāka | ripening-result |
| vipallāsa | distortion |
| vipassanā | examining, looking-into |
| virāga | dispassion-non-fascination, fading |
| vīriya | determination, effort |
| vīriyabala | determination-power |
| vīriyasamādhi | determination-samadhi |
| vīriyasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgata iddhipāda | determination-samadhi-endeavor-constituents-endowed basis of super-abilities |
| vīriyasambojjhaṅga | determination-awakening-aspect |
| vīriyindriya | determination-ability |
| vitakka | reasoning |
| viveka | seclusion, disconnection |
| vūpasama | leveling (calming) |
| yampicchaṁ na labhati | not-getting-what-is-desired |
| yathābhūtaṁ | as-it-is |
| yoga | bond |
| yogakkhema | protection-from-bond |
| yoniso manasikāra | productive reflection in the mind, thorough representation |