Meditation terms

Home

Shamatha—calm abiding

Samadhi—the ultimate meditative state, stillness of mind, one pointed consciousness of consciousness…

Prajna—wisdom = töpa (study), sampa (contemplate), gompa (meditate to arrive at samadhi)

Samsara—repeating cycle of birth, life and death resulting from consequences of action; contrast to moksha or nirvana

Moksha—liberation, release; freedom from samsara

Nirvana—Buddhism: imperturbable stillness of mind after fires of desire, aversion, delusion are extinguished; Hindu philosophy: union with Brahman, divine ground of existence, blissful egoless state

Upaya—method, skill