In a general sense, samādhi can describe a number of different meditative states. In the Mahāyāna literature, in particular in the Prajñāpāramitā sūtras, we find extensive lists of different samādhis, numbering over one hundred.In a more restricted sense, and when understood as a mental state, samādhi is defined as the one-pointedness of the mind (cittaikāgratā), the ability to remain on the same object over long periods of time. The Drajor Bamponyipa (sgra sbyor bam po gnyis pa) commentary on the Mahāvyutpatti explains the term samādhi as referring to the instrument through which mind and mental states “get collected,” i.e., it is by the force of samādhi that the continuum of mind and mental states becomes collected on a single point of reference without getting distracted.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Source of Diligence.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Glory of the Exalted King of Palmyra Trees.

Epithet for the bodhisattva and future Buddha Maitreya.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Delightful (Abhirati).

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Jewel Light.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with the Essence of Vajra.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Attainment of All Powerful Forces.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Immaculate.

The buddha of the western buddhafield of Sukhāvatī, where fortunate beings are reborn to make further progress toward spiritual maturity. Amitābha made his great vows to create such a realm when he was a bodhisattva called Dharmākara. In the Pure Land Buddhist tradition, popular in East Asia, aspiring to be reborn in his buddha realm is the main emphasis; in other Mahāyāna traditions, too, it is a widespread practice. For a detailed description of the realm, see The Display of the Pure Land of Sukhāvatī, Toh 115. In some tantras that make reference to the five families he is the tathāgata associated with the lotus family.Amitābha, “Infinite Light,” is also known in many Indian Buddhist works as Amitāyus, “Infinite Life.” In both East Asian and Tibetan Buddhist traditions he is often conflated with another buddha named “Infinite Life,” Aparimitāyus, or “Infinite Life and Wisdom,”Aparimitāyurjñāna, the shorter version of whose name has also been back-translated from Tibetan into Sanskrit as Amitāyus but who presides over a realm in the zenith. For details on the relation between these buddhas and their names, see The Aparimitāyurjñāna Sūtra (1) Toh 674, i.9.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Sukhāvatī. Alternate name for Amitābha.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Free of Poverty.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Smooth as Kācilindika Fabric.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Perfectly Pure Abode.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Always Fragrant.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Forever Passed Beyond Sorrow.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Glory of Being Immersed in Incalculable Effort.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Departed to a Lotus. Likely the same as the world system Joyful Entrance.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Manifest Mount Sumeru.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Glory of the Manifestation of the Sublime Lotus.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Branch Guru. Alternative name for the world system Liberation from All Sorrow and Harm.

One of the eight hot hells.

In Buddhist literature, this is an epithet applied to buddhas, most often to Śākyamuni. The Sanskrit term generally means “possessing fortune,” but in specifically Buddhist contexts it implies that a buddha is in possession of six auspicious qualities (bhaga) associated with complete awakening. The Tibetan term‍—where bcom is said to refer to “subduing” the four māras, ldan to “possessing” the great qualities of buddhahood, and ’das to “going beyond” saṃsāra and nirvāṇa‍—possibly reflects the commentarial tradition where the Sanskrit bhagavat is interpreted, in addition, as “one who destroys the four māras.” This is achieved either by reading bhagavat as bhagnavat (“one who broke”), or by tracing the word bhaga to the root √bhañj (“to break”).

A kind of absorption.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Infinite Renown.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Superior to All Cymbals.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Beyond All Sorrow and Harm/Liberation from All Sorrow and Harm.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Crystalline.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Immeasurable .

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Shining Jewel.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Shining with All Qualities.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Essence of Vaiḍūrya.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Fire .

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Region of Joyous Radiance.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Devoid of Sorrow.

Third of the eight hot hells of Buddhist cosmology. The guardians of the Crushing Hell repeatedly crush its inhabitants between mountains.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Bright Jewel.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Victory Banner at the Pinnacle of Goodness. Another name for the world system Supreme Goodness.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Akṣobhya.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Yaṅgarvatī.

Name of the thus-gone one venerated by Always Fragrant when he was engaged in the conduct of the bodhisattvas.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Joyful Entrance. Likely an alternate name for the thus-gone one Departed to a Lotus.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Beautiful Entrance. Likely an alternate name for the thus-gone one Departed to a Jewel Lotus.

(1) Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Created with Joy. (2) Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Leader of Heroes.

Lit. Illuminator. Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Light of Victory.

Being reborn in hell, or as a preta, an animal, or a long-lived deity (of the formless realms), or being a human in a time without a buddha’s teaching, in a land without the teaching, with a defective faculties, or without faith.

Eighteen special features of a buddha’s physical state, realization, activity, and wisdom that are not shared by ordinary beings.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Glory of Sublime Goodness.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Essence.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Guru of Dharma.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Emanating Light.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Sunlight.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Lion’s Roar .

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Light of Incense.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Sovereign King of Nāgas.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Perfectly Pure Light.

(1) Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Sublime Jewel/Foremost Sublime Jewel. (2) Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Overwhelming All with Precious Qualities.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Image of Mount Sumeru.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Lotus Guru.

(1) Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Shining Like Gold. (2) Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Guru of the Moon. (3) Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Melody of a Lotus .

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Melody of Lions.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Sustenance.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Light of the Moon.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Endowed with Sublime Happiness.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Thus-Gone King, Guru of Immeasurably Many.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one All-Conquering Vajra.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Sublime Elephant of Jewels.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one King of Sāla.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Mount Sumeru.

Name of a thus-gone one.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Possessor of Victory.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Great Qualities .

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Lion’s Melody.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Cave of Sandalwood Fragrance. Vaiḍūrya is a type of semi-precious stone, often identified as beryl.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Free of Impurity.

Name of a bodhisattva.

See “seven precious factors of perfect awakening.”

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one He Who Possesses a Body Adorned with All Jewels/He Who Possesses a Body Adorned, Exalted by All Jewels/Victory Banner at the Pinnacle of Dharma.

The final five hundred years in which the Buddha Śākyamuni’s teaching will be present in this world system.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Clear Light.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Luminous Golden Gem.

Both arms, both legs, and head.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one King of the Tip of the Lamp of Lightning.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Immeasurable Melody .

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Jewels. Likely an alternate name for the thus-gone-one Sublime Jewel .

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Awakened .

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Fragrant .

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Moon’s Light/Light of the Sublime Precious Moon.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Fount of Jewels.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Shining with Immeasurable Incense.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Eternally Glorious Meaning of the Precious Irreversible Wheel.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Appearance of Countless Emanations.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Lamp of Sun and Moon.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Jewel Foundation.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Immeasurable Light.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Lamp of the Sky of Dharma. Likely the same as the world system Palmyra Trees Reaching the Sky.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Stūpa That Overwhelms with Jewel Light.

Name of a region in present-day eastern Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan.

A class of generally benevolent nonhuman beings who inhabit the skies, sometimes said to inhabit fantastic cities in the clouds, and more specifically to dwell on the eastern slopes of Mount Meru, where they are ruled by the Great King Dhṛtarāṣṭra. They are most renowned as celestial musicians who serve the gods. In the Abhidharma, the term is also used to refer to the mental body assumed by sentient beings during the intermediate state between death and rebirth. Gandharvas are said to live on fragrances (gandha) in the desire realm, hence the Tibetan translation dri za, meaning “scent eater.”

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Resolver of Doubts Regarding Transgressing All Vows.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Shining Essence of Glory.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Source of Preciousness.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Awakening of Beautiful Thought.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Well Established in Perfectly Pure Qualities.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Pile of Bad Colors That Delights in Disputation.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Elation.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Adorned with Golden Palmyra Trees.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Sleepless Eye.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Ornamented by Pure Conduct.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Beautiful Lotus. Likely the same as the thus-gone one Skillful in the Glory of the Lotus Guru.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Light of the Sun.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Precious Tārā. Likely an alternate name for the thus-gone one Origin of Jewels.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Power of Aspiration.

In the most general sense the devas‍—the term is cognate with the English divine‍—are a class of celestial beings who frequently appear in Buddhist texts, often at the head of the assemblies of nonhuman beings who attend and celebrate the teachings of the Buddha Śākyamuni and other buddhas and bodhisattvas. In Buddhist cosmology the devas occupy the highest of the five or six “destinies” (gati) of saṃsāra among which beings take rebirth. The devas reside in the devalokas, “heavens” that traditionally number between twenty-six and twenty-eight and are divided between the desire realm (kāmadhātu), form realm (rūpadhātu), and formless realm (ārūpyadhātu). A being attains rebirth among the devas either through meritorious deeds (in the desire realm) or the attainment of subtle meditative states (in the form and formless realms). While rebirth among the devas is considered favorable, it is ultimately a transitory state from which beings will fall when the conditions that lead to rebirth there are exhausted. Thus, rebirth in the god realms is regarded as a diversion from the spiritual path.

A particularly high quality of gold mined from the Jambu River.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Infinite Purity.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Truth.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Dharma.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Overcoming through Triumph in Battle.

(1) Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Moon. (2) Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Overwhelming with Golden Light.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Triumphant.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Pile of Śrīgarbha Jewels.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Family of Jewels. Likely the same as the thus-gone one He Who Possesses a Body Adorned with All Jewels and the thus-gone one Victory Banner at the Pinnacle of Dharma.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Family of Jewels.

It is usually defined as “those who hear the teaching from the Buddha and make it heard to others.” Primarily it refers to those disciples of the Buddha who aspire to attain the state of an arhat by seeking self liberation and nirvāṇa.

Name of a god realm.

The most severe among the eight hot hell realms. It is characterized as endless not only in terms of the torment undergone there, but also because of the ceaseless chain of actions and effects experienced, the long lifespan of its denizens, and their being so intensely crowded together that there is no physical space between them.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Impervious .

Name of a hell.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Source of Jewels.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Light.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Ambrosia Melody.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Radiant Light.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Bright Light.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Fully Joyous.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Flowered.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Highly Renowned .

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Non-grasping.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Well Adorned with the Factors Conducive to Awakening.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Golden.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Blissful.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one One like a Jewel Wheel and Fire.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Luminous Gem.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Fully Arrayed.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system All Luminous Incenses.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Victory Banner at the Peak.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Departed to a Jewel Lotus. Likely the same as the world system Beautiful Entrance.

Place in northwestern India.

One of Buddha’s attendants. Also called Mahākāśyapa.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with the King of Stars.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Luminous.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Flash of Lightning. Likely an alternate name for the thus-gone one King of the Tip of the Lamp of Lightning.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Flash of Lightning.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Victorious.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Supreme Goodness. Likely the same as the thus-gone one Victory Banner at the Pinnacle of Goodness.

A class of nonhuman beings that resemble humans to the degree that their very name‍—which means “is that human?”‍—suggests some confusion as to their divine status. Kinnaras are mythological beings found in both Buddhist and Brahmanical literature, where they are portrayed as creatures half human, half animal. They are often depicted as highly skilled celestial musicians.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Freeing.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Palmyra Trees Reaching the Sky/Fully-Adorned Sky.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Devoid of Sorrow.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Powerful .

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Branch Guru. Alternate name for the world system Beyond All Sorrow and Harm.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Great Ornament.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Supreme Dharma.

(1) Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Sun. (2) Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Source of Power.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Religious Practice.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Fragrance of Aloeswood. Likely an alternate name for the thus-gone one Moon’s Light.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Glory of the Moon.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Placid River of Jambu.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Dīpaṅkara.

A kind of absorption.

Name of a bodhisattva.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Wilderness.

Name of a bodhisattva.

Name of a bodhisattva.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Flowers.

Name of a bodhisattva.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Sovereign King of Incense.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Seven Precious Substances .

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Lotuses.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Possessor of Great Bliss.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one King of the Drum’s Melody.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Victorious Melody.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Jewel Flame.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Firelight.

Name of a thus-gone one.

Another name for the Buddha’s attendant Kāśyapa.

Literally “great serpents,” mahoragas are supernatural beings depicted as large, subterranean beings with human torsos and heads and the lower bodies of serpents. Their movements are said to cause earthquakes, and they make up a class of subterranean geomantic spirits whose movement through the seasons and months of the year is deemed significant for construction projects.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Beautiful Golden Form.

Māra, literally “death” or “maker of death,” is the name of the deva who tried to prevent the Buddha from achieving awakening, the name given to the class of beings he leads, and also an impersonal term for the destructive forces that keep beings imprisoned in saṃsāra: (1) As a deva, Māra is said to be the principal deity in the Heaven of Making Use of Others’ Emanations (paranirmitavaśavartin), the highest paradise in the desire realm. He famously attempted to prevent the Buddha’s awakening under the Bodhi tree‍—see The Play in Full (Toh 95), 21.1‍—and later sought many times to thwart the Buddha’s activity. In the sūtras, he often also creates obstacles to the progress of śrāvakas and bodhisattvas. (2) The devas ruled over by Māra are collectively called mārakāyika or mārakāyikadevatā, the “deities of Māra’s family or class.” In general, these māras too do not wish any being to escape from saṃsāra, but can also change their ways and even end up developing faith in the Buddha, as exemplified by Sārthavāha; see The Play in Full (Toh 95), 21.14 and 21.43. (3) The term māra can also be understood as personifying four defects that prevent awakening, called (i) the divine māra (devaputra­māra), which is the distraction of pleasures; (ii) the māra of Death (mṛtyumāra), which is having one’s life interrupted; (iii) the māra of the aggregates (skandhamāra), which is identifying with the five aggregates; and (iv) the māra of the afflictions (kleśamāra), which is being under the sway of the negative emotions of desire, hatred, and ignorance.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Peak of Pure Conduct.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one White as the Moon.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Moon.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Nāgas.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Truthful.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Vanquisher of All Demons.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Source of Gold.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Slope of Mount Sumeru.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Replete with Coral Trees.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Sovereign King of All Flowers’ Fragrance.

(1) Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Possessing Sun. (2) Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Supreme Fragrance.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Fragrance of Aloeswood. Likely an alternate name of the thus-gone one Light of the Sublime Precious Moon.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with the Light of Ethical Conduct.

According to ancient Buddhist cosmology, this is the great mountain forming the axis of the universe. At its summit is Sudarśana, home of Śakra and his thirty-two gods, and on its flanks live the asuras. The mount has four sides facing the cardinal directions, each of which is made of a different precious stone. Surrounding it are several mountain ranges and the great ocean where the four principal island continents lie: in the south, Jambudvīpa (our world); in the west, Godānīya; in the north, Uttarakuru; and in the east, Pūrvavideha. Above it are the abodes of the desire realm gods. It is variously referred to as Meru, Mount Meru, Sumeru, and Mount Sumeru.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Place Endowed with Great Power.

A class of nonhuman beings who live in subterranean aquatic environments, where they guard wealth and sometimes also teachings. Nāgas are associated with serpents and have a snakelike appearance. In Buddhist art and in written accounts, they are regularly portrayed as half human and half snake, and they are also said to have the ability to change into human form. Some nāgas are Dharma protectors, but they can also bring retribution if they are disturbed. They may likewise fight one another, wage war, and destroy the lands of others by causing lightning, hail, and flooding.

One of the ten incarnations of the Hindu deity Viṣṇu, embodying superhuman strength.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Inexpressible Intention.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Infused with the Fragrance of Flowers.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Precious Tārā. Likely a shortened name for the thus-gone one Glory of the Origin of Pure Jewels.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Glory of the Incense of Non-ignorance.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Steady Pillar of Sandalwood.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Guru of Many.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Jewels.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Guru of the Moon.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Lamp of the Sky of Dharma. Likely the same as the world system Fully-Adorned Sky.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Mass of Virtue.

A term commonly used to describe the complete spiritual awakening of a buddha.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Attainer of Purity of Universal Illumination.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Immaculate Light.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Glory of Invincibility.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one He Who Is Proclaimed King of the Pile of Śrīgarbha Jewels.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Myriad Jewels.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Light of the World .

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Moonlight.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Luminosity .

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with the Vanquisher of All Demons.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Glory of the Protection by Knowledge.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Leader of Loyal Heroes Who Uses Weapons to Eliminate Afflictions.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Glory of the Origin of Pure Jewels.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Shining with Beryl.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Sovereign King of Brahmā.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Immaculate One.

The ancient capital of Magadha prior to its relocation to Pāṭaliputra during the Mauryan dynasty, Rājagṛha is one of the most important locations in Buddhist history. The literature tells us that the Buddha and his saṅgha spent a considerable amount of time in residence in and around Rājagṛha‍—in nearby places, such as the Vulture Peak Mountain (Gṛdhrakūṭaparvata), a major site of the Mahāyāna sūtras, and the Bamboo Grove (Veṇuvana)‍—enjoying the patronage of King Bimbisāra and then of his son King Ajātaśatru. Rājagṛha is also remembered as the location where the first Buddhist monastic council was held after the Buddha Śākyamuni passed into parinirvāṇa. Now known as Rajgir and located in the modern Indian state of Bihar.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Complete Purifier of Speech.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Light of the Sky.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Sublime Golden Light.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Moon Light.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Gentle Voice.

The name for our world system, the universe of a thousand million worlds, or trichiliocosm, in which the four-continent world is located. Each trichiliocosm is ruled by a god Brahmā; thus, in this context, he bears the title of Sahāṃpati, Lord of Sahā. The world system of Sahā, or Sahālokadhātu, is also described as the buddhafield of the Buddha Śākyamuni where he teaches the Dharma to beings. The name Sahā possibly derives from the Sanskrit √sah, “to bear, endure, or withstand.” It is often interpreted as alluding to the inhabitants of this world being able to endure the suffering they encounter. The Tibetan translation, mi mjed, follows along the same lines. It literally means “not painful,” in the sense that beings here are able to bear the suffering they experience.

One of the principal śrāvaka disciples of the Buddha, he was renowned for his discipline and for having been praised by the Buddha as foremost of the wise (often paired with Maudgalyā­yana, who was praised as foremost in the capacity for miraculous powers). His father, Tiṣya, to honor Śāriputra’s mother, Śārikā, named him Śāradvatīputra, or, in its contracted form, Śāriputra, meaning “Śārikā’s Son.”

The set of seven precious materials or substances includes a range of precious metals and gems, but their exact list varies. The set often consists of gold, silver, beryl, crystal, red pearls, emeralds, and white coral, but may also contain lapis lazuli, ruby, sapphire, chrysoberyl, diamonds, etc. The term is frequently used in the sūtras to exemplify preciousness, wealth, and beauty, and can describe treasures, offering materials, or the features of architectural structures such as stūpas, palaces, thrones, etc. The set is also used to describe the beauty and prosperity of buddha realms and the realms of the gods.In other contexts, the term saptaratna can also refer to the seven precious possessions of a cakravartin or to a set of seven precious moral qualities.

Otherwise known as the seven branches of awakening (byang chub kyi yan lag bdun): (1) awakened mindfulness, (2) awakened discernment of phenomena, (3) awakened diligence, (4) awakened rejoicing, (5) awakened pliancy, (6) awakened absorption, and (7) awakened equanimity.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Lotus Commander.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Glorious.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Shining Star Lamp.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Brilliant.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Moon.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Shining Gem.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Brilliant Jewel.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Pristine Light.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Fragrant with an Ocean of Incense.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Beautiful Lotus. Likely the same as the thus-gone one Glory of the Manifestation of the Sublime Lotus.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Glory of the Finest Gold of Immeasurable Propriety.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Mind without Torment.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Astride Mount Sumeru.The Mahāvyutpatti has kācalindikam for kA tsa lin da’i gos, but Edgerton (175) calls this and other forms of this term a corruption of kācilindika, which he rather nebulously defines as “n. of some kind of very soft textile stuff.”

Literally, “buddha for oneself” or “solitary realizer.” Someone who, in his or her last life, attains awakening entirely through their own contemplation, without relying on a teacher. Unlike the awakening of a fully realized buddha (samyaksambuddha), the accomplishment of a pratyeka­buddha is not regarded as final or ultimate. They attain realization of the nature of dependent origination, the selflessness of the person, and a partial realization of the selflessness of phenomena, by observing the suchness of all that arises through interdependence. This is the result of progress in previous lives but, unlike a buddha, they do not have the necessary merit, compassion or motivation to teach others. They are named as “rhinoceros-like” (khaḍgaviṣāṇakalpa) for their preference for staying in solitude or as “congregators” (vargacārin) when their preference is to stay among peers.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Well Proportioned . Likely the same as the thus-gone one Source of All Good Qualities.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Well Proportioned . Likely the same as the thus-gone one Source of All Attributes of Good Qualities.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Accomplisher of All Goals.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Meteor.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Illuminated.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Light of the Moon.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Glory of Assembled Jewels.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Moon-like .

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Pristine Pearl Lattice.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Lord of Movement.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Honey.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Stainless Light.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Stainless .

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Outshining Flower.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Future Hearers.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with the Glory of Sublime Evenness.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Victory Banner of Mount Sumeru.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Replete.

See Foremost Sublime Jewel.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Amitābha/Amitāyus.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Excellent Attainment.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Boundless Melody.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Light of Non-conceptuality.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Moonlight.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one King Victory Banner at the Pinnacle of Goodness. Another name for the world system Delight in Goodness.

Name of a bodhisattva.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Endowed with Teachers.

A frequently used synonym for buddha. According to different explanations, it can be read as tathā-gata, literally meaning “one who has thus gone,” or as tathā-āgata, “one who has thus come.” Gata, though literally meaning “gone,” is a past passive participle used to describe a state or condition of existence. Tatha­(tā), often rendered as “suchness” or “thusness,” is the quality or condition of things as they really are, which cannot be conveyed in conceptual, dualistic terms. Therefore, this epithet is interpreted in different ways, but in general it implies one who has departed in the wake of the buddhas of the past, or one who has manifested the supreme awakening dependent on the reality that does not abide in the two extremes of existence and quiescence. It is also often used as a specific epithet of the Buddha Śākyamuni.

In this translation of the term trisāha­sramahā­sāha­sraloka­dhātu, Paul Harrison (2006, p. 145, n. 45) uses the word “galaxy” to “represent a group of a thousand systems,” and understands a “trigalactic system (trisāhasra)” as a “system which consists not of three galaxies but of a galaxy of galaxies of galaxies of worlds, that is to say, as a galaxy cubed (1,0003 worlds),” which, he says “is also known as a megagalaxy (mahāsāhasra).”

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one He Who Acts as Supreme.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Well-Settled Ocean.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Melody of Truth.

Tuṣita (or sometimes Saṃtuṣita), literally “Joyous” or “Contented,” is one of the six heavens of the desire realm (kāmadhātu). In standard classifications, such as the one in the Abhidharmakośa, it is ranked as the fourth of the six counting from below. This god realm is where all future buddhas are said to dwell before taking on their final rebirth prior to awakening. There, the Buddha Śākyamuni lived his preceding life as the bodhisattva Śvetaketu. When departing to take birth in this world, he appointed the bodhisattva Maitreya, who will be the next buddha of this eon, as his Dharma regent in Tuṣita. For an account of the Buddha’s previous life in Tuṣita, see The Play in Full (Toh 95), 2.12, and for an account of Maitreya’s birth in Tuṣita and a description of this realm, see The Sūtra on Maitreya’s Birth in the Heaven of Joy , (Toh 199).

A kind of flower that blooms so infrequently that it became a metaphor for rarity.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Melody of Victory.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one King of the Well-Settled Treasury of Peace.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Luminous Form.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Jewel Peak.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Family of Jewels. Likely the same as the thus-gone one He Who Possesses a Body Adorned with All Jewels and the thus-gone one He Who Possesses a Body Adorned, Exalted by All Jewels.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Supreme Goodness. Likely the same as the thus-gone one King Victory Banner at the Pinnacle of Goodness.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Sublime Elephant Out of Rut.

The Gṛdhra­kūṭa, literally Vulture Peak, was a hill located in the kingdom of Magadha, in the vicinity of the ancient city of Rājagṛha (modern-day Rajgir, in the state of Bihar, India), where the Buddha bestowed many sūtras, especially the Great Vehicle teachings, such as the Prajñāpāramitā sūtras. It continues to be a sacred pilgrimage site for Buddhists to this day.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Infinite Jewel.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Glory of Immeasurable Qualities.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Source of All Good Qualities/Source of All Attributes of Good Qualities.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Triumphant on the Seat of Awakening with His Brilliance.

Name of the thus-gone one of the world system Melodious .

Another name for the hungry ghost realm.

According to Buddhist tradition, one who has conquered the enemies, i.e., mental afflictions or emotions, (kleśa-ari-hata) and reached liberation from the cycle of rebirth and suffering. It’s the fourth and highest of the four fruits attainable by hearers. Also used as an epithet of the Buddha.

A class of nonhuman beings who inhabit forests, mountainous areas, and other natural spaces, or serve as guardians of villages and towns, and may be propitiated for health, wealth, protection, and other boons, or controlled through magic. According to tradition, their homeland is in the north, where they live under the rule of the Great King Vaiśravaṇa. Several members of this class have been deified as gods of wealth (these include the just-mentioned Vaiśravaṇa) or as bodhisattva generals of yakṣa armies, and have entered the Buddhist pantheon in a variety of forms, including, in tantric Buddhism, those of wrathful deities.

Name of the world system of the thus-gone one Delivered through Powerful Diligence.