Glossary

Tathagata. One of the ten titles that all Buddhas have. It means "not coming and not going".

Ten evil deeds. Killing, stealing, sexual misconduct; duplicity (slander), harsh speech, lying, irresponsible speech (empty chatter); greed, hatred and stupidity.

The Way. See Way to Enlightenment.

Three evil paths. See Evil paths.

Three periods of time. 1) Past; 2) Present; 3) Future.

Three personal provisions. In Pure Land terminology, provisions stand for Faith, Vows and Practice which are considered the personal provisions or qualifications that a Pure Land adept needs to have to achieve rebirth in Pure Land.

Three poisons. The three defilements that cause transmigration in the cycles of birth and death, i.e. greed (desire), hatred and delusion. Also known as thieving afflictions.

Three profound skills. Also known as Three-fold Training, Three Non-outflow Studies. The three inseparable aspects of the practice of Buddhism are:

1) Precepts: training in moral discipline;

2) Samadhi: training the mind (of concentration);

3) Wisdom: training in wisdom (prajna).

Three realms. The realrns inhabited by unenlightened beings that are:

1) The realm of desire;

2) The realm of form;

3) The realm of formlessness.

Transfer merits. The concept of merit transference, or sharing one's own merits and virtues with others.

Transmigration. Samsara in Sanskrit. This refers to the continuous cycles of death and rebirth in the six paths of gods, humans, Asuras, animals, hungry ghosts and beings in the hells.

Trayastrimsa Heaven. The second of the six heavens in the realm of desire. Also known as Heaven of the Thirty-three.

Tripitaka. Buddhist Canon. Usually called 'Three Baskets' because

the Buddha's teaching were categorised into three main canonical

divisions of:

• Sutra (sermons or discourses of the Buddha);
• Vinaya (Code of Discipline);
• Abhidharma (commentarial literature on the Buddha's teachings).

Triple Jewel. The Buddhas (fully enlightened beings), the Dharma (the teachings of Buddhas), and the Sangha (the community of monks and nuns, who may be either sages or ordinary people, who have renounced the household life and cultivate the Way).