Glossary

This glossary provides definitions for key Buddhist terms, concepts, and practices referenced throughout the Middle Way Education Curricular Framework. Terms are drawn from multiple Buddhist traditions and include both original language words (Sanskrit, Pali, Japanese, Tibetan) and English translations. Each definition aims to be accessible while maintaining accuracy to traditional meanings.

The glossary serves as a reference tool for educators and students engaging with Buddhist concepts across the framework’s five domains. Definitions emphasize practical understanding and application rather than purely academic interpretation, supporting the framework’s inquiry-based approach to learning.

Terms marked with asterisks (*) indicate transliterated words from original Buddhist languages. Cross-references appear in parentheses where relevant concepts connect to other glossary entries.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Obscurations
Mental and emotional veils that prevent clear perception of things as they are. They are usually classified into two main types: afflictive obscurations, which include emotions like anger and attachment, and cognitive obscurations, which block the direct understanding of the nature of phenomena.
Offerings
Acts of generosity and devotion made to teachers, Buddhas, or sacred objects. These can be material (such as flowers, light, or food) or immaterial (such as ethical conduct or the practice of meditation), and are a way to cultivate merit and reduce attachment.
Omniscience
The complete and unimpeded knowledge of all phenomena, which is a quality attributed to a fully awakened Buddha. This includes not just knowing all things, but knowing them directly and simultaneously.
Opanayiko (Pali)
Often translated as "to be brought inward" or "leading inward." This quality of the Dharma indicates that it invites personal reflection and experiential understanding, rather than blind faith. It encourages practitioners to verify the teachings through their own experience.
Ordinary Being
A person who has not yet understood the nature of existence and is still subject to ignorance, emotional disturbances, and karmic conditioning. Ordinary beings contrast with noble beings, who have had direct understanding of truth.
Origin of Suffering
The second of the Four Noble Truths. It teaches that the cause of suffering is craving or attachment (tanha), which arises from ignorance. Understanding this origin is key to developing the path to liberation.