Glossary

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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
  • Qi
    (Chinese concept of vital energy) The fundamental life energy in Chinese philosophy and medicine, believed to flow through meridians in the body and affect health and balance.
  • Qualities of the Buddha
    The ideal attributes, such as compassion, wisdom, equanimity, and skillful means, that characterize an awakened being and serve as guiding principles for practitioners.
  • Questioning
    The practice of engaging in reflective inquiry into the Dharma, encouraging personal verification and deeper understanding rather than accepting teachings on blind faith.
  • Quotations
    (dharma quotes) Concise and memorable expressions of Buddhist wisdom found in scriptures and teachings, used to inspire practice and convey essential truths.
  • Quotations (Dharma Quotes)
    Concise and memorable expressions of Buddhist wisdom found in scriptures and teachings, used to inspire practice and convey essential truths.
Middle Way Education Curricular Framework ©️ 2025 by Michelle Macioce, Noa Jones, Mariana Restrepo, Carlo Carranza, Harry Einhorn, Connie Moffit is licensed under CC BY 4.0

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Generate Lesson Plan Data for AI

First click “Generate AI Lesson Planning Data” and then “Copy to Clipboard”.

For this process to actually work, you must go and paste the result into the AI tool of your choice yourself.

This seems to work quite well with Claude and ChatGPT.

After pasting what this pop-up puts in your clipboard, the AI tool (you’ve chosen) should prompt you for any additional information you may wish to include, and then create a rough draft lesson plan that you can customize and edit until it’s ready for teaching.

Disclaimer: Teach content that you are most familiar with from your own study and practice. Think through what elements will work for your students. AI makes many mistakes, so be very careful and conscientious using the results as a basis for creating your own thoughtful lessons. Approached with care and attention, this method of generating a lesson plan with AI may give you more time to focus on the most essential elements of instruction.

Prompt generated!  prompt