Pali Glossary

(Temporary- still under revision)

M - Z

macchariya 
stinginess 

macchariya-cetasika 
the cetasika that is stingy of its possessions, that does not want others to share or profit from them in any way

magga 
path (eightfold Path) 

magga-citta 
path consciousness, supramundane citta which experiences nibbana and eradicates defilements.

mahabhuta-rupa 
the rupa which are the four great elements of earth or solidity, water or cohesion, fire or temperature, and wind or motion.

mahakiriya-citta 
inoperative sense-sphere citta of the arahanta, accompanied by beautiful roots. 

mahakusala-citta 
wholesome citta of the sense sphere 

mahakusala-nana-sampayutta

mahantarammana 
a clear arammana that can cause kusala or akusala or mahakiriya-citta (for the arahanta) to arise; the arammana of javana-vara

mahapurisa-lakkhana 
the (thirty-two major) characteristics of the Great Man

mahavipaka-citta 
citta of the sense sphere which is result, accompanied by beautiful roots. 

Maha-vagga 
the fifth book of the Kindred Sayings

mana 
conviction that one is superior in any way to others or even delimitations between "them' and "us"

mana-cetasika 
the cetasika of self-importance and pride

manasikara 
paying attention to

manasikara-cetasika 
the cetasika that is attentive, interested in the arammana

manayatana 
mind-base 

mangala 
auspicious sign or blessing 

mano 
mind, citta, consciousness 

mano-dhatu 
mind-element, comprising the five-sense-door adverting-consciousness, and the two types of receiving-consciousness. 

mano-dvaravajjana-citta 
mind door-adverting consciousness 

mano-dvara-vithi-citta 
citta arising in a mind door process. 

mano-samphassa 
mind contact 

mano-vinnana-dhatu 
mind-consciousness element, comprising all cittas other than the sense-cognitions (seeing, etc.) and mind-element.

mano-dvara 
mind door

manussa-bhumi 
human plane

mara 
the evil element

metta 
loving others as though they were one's children; lovingkindness; amity; benevolence 

miccha-samadhi 
wrong concentration 

middha 
torpor or languor

middha-cetasika 
the cetasika that makes the concurrent cetasika dispirited, drowsy, and discouraged

Moggallana 
The second of the Chief disciples of the Buddha 

mogha-vara 
when the javana do not arise to know the arammana in the vara (process) of vithi-citta

moha 
ignorance 

moha-cetasika 
the cetasika that does not know the characteristics of realities as they really are

moha-mula-citta 
citta rooted in ignorance 

mudita 
to have good feelings towards others' good fortune

muduta-rupa 
the state of malleability, non-stiffness of the rupa

musavada 
lie

nama 
mental phenomena, including those which are conditioned and also the unconditioned nama which is nibbana. 

nama-dhamma 
mental phenomenon, consciousness, a reality which experiences and knows; nama

nama-khandha 
group of all mental phenomena 

nama-rupa-pariccheda-nana 
first stage of insight, insight knowledge of the distinction between mental phenomena and physical phenomena 

nana 
wisdom, insight

nanakkhanaika-kamma-paccaya 
paccaya that brings results in a different moment, causes vipaka-citta and cetasika to arise in the future

nana-sampayutta 
composed with panna

natthika-ditthi 
wrong view of annihilation, assumption that there is no result of kamma. 

nevasannanasannayatana-jhana
sphere of neither perception nor non-perception, the meditation subject of he fourth immaterial jhana.

neyya-puggala 
one who realizes the truth upon much guidance and perseverance

nibbana 
the reality that eradicates defilements and ends sufferings.

nimitta 
signs and characteristics; shapes and forms

nirodha-samapatti 
the suspension of the arising of citta and cetasika during a period of not more than seven days

nivarana 
hindrances, a group of defilements

nivarana-dhamma 
negative realities, hindrances

oja 
the rupa which is nutrition

okasa 
place, location

okasa-loka 
the birthplace of worldly creatures of which there are 31 bhumi

olarika-rupa 
gross rupa (sense objects and sense organs)

ottappa-cetasika 
the cetasika that fears the harm of akusala-dhamma

paccaya 
a reality that benefits and assists other realities to arise or maintain them according to the specific kinds of conditions

paccavekkana 
reviewing instant

Pacceka Buddha 
an enlightened one who has found the truth by himself but does not teach the Dhamma to the world.

paccupatthana 
apparent signs

padaparama-puggala 
who could not realize ariya-sacca-dhamma despite much listening, reading, discussing and reciting the dhamma 

padatthana 
immediate cause

pakinnaka-cetasika 
cetasika that can arise concurrently with akusala-cetasika and sobhana-cetasika, exempting certain kinds of citta according to their distinct types

panca-dvaravajjana-citta 
the adverting of consciousness to the object which has impinged on the five doors

panca-dvara-vithi-citta 
process of consciousness through the five dvara

pancaka-naya 
the division of five

panca-vinnana 
the sense cognitions, seeing etc. of which there five pairs

panna 
wisdom or understanding

pannatti 
conventional terms; signification: concept (anything non-paramattha-dhamma); names, terms with which to communicate; speech, decrees, designations, explanations

Papancasudani 
commentary to the Sati-patthana Sutta

paramattha-dhamma 
the ultimate reality or truth

Paramatthamanjusa 
a commentary to the Visuddhimagga

parami 
omnipotent qualities

Paranimmita-vasavatti 
the highest deva plane 

parikamma 
preparatory consciousness, the first javana-citta arising in the process during which absorption or enlightenment is attained

pariccheda-rupa 
asabhava-rupa consisting of akasa-dhatu exists between kalapa, separating them

parikamma-samadhi 
preparatory concentration

parinibbana 
complete termination of existences

parittarammana 
the arammana that only lasts five of the vithi-citta.

paritta-dhamma 
realities that appear only briefly and fall away

pariyatti 
theoretical study of the dhamma or the scriptures

pariyutthana-kilesa 
kilesa of medium strength that arises with akusala-citta but not to the point of breaking the sila and performing bad deeds.

pasada-rupa 
rupa which are capable of receiving sense-objects such as visible object, sound, taste, etc. 

passaddhi 
peacefulness, calm

pathama-bhavanga 
the first bhavanga

pathamajjhana 
the first level of jhana

pathavi-dhatu 
earth element

patibhaganimitta 
counterpart image, more perfected mental image of a meditation subject, acquired in tranquil meditation

paticcasamuppada 
'Dependent Origination', the conditional origination of phenomena; the dhamma that depends on each other to arise

patimokkhasamvara-sila 
the appropriate physical and verbal code of conduct of the bhikkhu

patipatti 
the practice that develops the dhamma which eradicates kilesa (defilements) and dukkha (sufferings)

patisandhi 
rebirth, relinking

patisandhi-citta 
rebirth consciousness, the first citta of a lifetime the citta that functions as successor to the cuti-citta

patisanthara 
courtesy

pativedha 
attainment, realization of the dhamma which eradicates defilements and 
sufferings

Patthana 
Conditional Relations, one of the seven books of the Abhidhamma

payoga-sampatti 
competence in diligently and intelligently deliberated task

payoga-vipatti 
incompetence in doing a task

peta 
hungry ghost

pettivisaya 
the world of the peta

phala-citta 
fruition consciousness experiencing nibbana. It is result of magga-citta, path-consciousness.

pharusa-vaca 
coarse language

phassa 
contact

phassa-cetasika 
cetasika that comes into contact with the arammana

photthabba 
tangible object, namely cold or heat (fire element), softness or hardness (earth element), tension and motion (wind element)

photthabbarammana 
tangible object, experienced through bodysense; (cold, heat, softness, hardness, tension or motion)

photthabbayatana 
the rupa that comes into contact with the kayappasada-rupa

phussana-kicca 
function of experiencing tangible object; or knowing bodysense contact

pisuna-vaca 
malicious language

piti 
joy, rapture

piti-cetasika 
the cetasika that is delighted, enraptured, cheery

Puggala-pannatti 
Designation of Human Types, the fourth book of the Abhidhamma 

punnabhisankhara 
meritorious kamma formations; the intention to do kusala-kamma 

punna 
merit

punna-kiriya-vatthu 
instruments of merit-making

purisabhava-rupa 
a rupa that permeates the entire body, manifested in the shape, size, state, manners and demeanor of the masculine sex.

puthujjana 
worldling, a person who has not attained enlightenment

raga 
the pleasure and attachment

Rahula 
the Buddha's son

rasa 
function or achievement

rasarammana 
object of flavour; taste

rupa 
the reality that is not consciousness, physical phenomena, realities which do not experience anything

rupa-brahma plane or rupa-bhumi 
fine material realm of existence attained as a result of rupa-jhana

rupa-dhamma 
physical phenomenon, which cannot experience anything

rupa-jhana 
material  absorption

rupa-jhana-citta

rupa-khandha 
aggregate or group of all physical phenomena (rupa)

rupa-paramattha 
the reality that does not experience any arammana

ruparammana 
visible object; that which appears through the eyes

rupavacara 
evolving with rupa as arammana

rupavacara-citta 
type of jhana citta, consciousness of the fine-material sphere

sabba-citta-sadharana-cetasika 
the seven cetasika that arise with all citta

sabhavalakkhana 
special characteristics

sabhava-rupa 
rupa with its own distinct characteristics

sadda-pannatti 
the meaning of sound

saddarammana 
sound

sadda-rupa 
sound

saddha 
faith or confidence

sahagata 
accompanied by

sahajata 
born together

sahetuka 
accompanied by roots

Sakadagami 
a noble person who has attained the second stage of enlightenment, a once-returner

sakkaya 
group of existence

sakkayaditthi 
wrong view of personality, wrong view about the khandha

samatha-bhavana 
development of calm, tranquil meditation

samadana 
embrace, to take, to understand, to examine correctly

samadhi 
concentration or one-pointedness, ekaggata cetasika

samadhi-bhavana 
the development of concentration

samanera 
novice bhikkhu

samannalakkhana 
common characteristics

samatha-bhavana 
the development of calm

samma 
right

samma-ditthi 
right understanding

samma-samadhi 
right concentration

Sammasambuddha 
the Supremely Enlightened, a fully enlightened person who has discovered the truth all by himself, without the aid of a teacher and who can proclaim the Truth to others beings

samma-sati 
right mindfulness

sammati-sacca 
conventional truth

sammati-pannatti 
conventional term or idea as opposed to reality

sampajanna 
clear comprehension
      satthaka-sampajanna = clear comprehension of usefulness
      sappaya-sampajanna  = clear comprehension of suitability
      gocara-sampajanna = clear comprehension of the object of the citta (arammana)
      asammoha-sampajan = a  clear comprehension without wrong view
 

sampaticchanna-citta 
receiving-consciousness

sampayutta 
accompanied by

sampayutta-dhamma 
accompanying realities; the characteristics of nama-dhamma or the citta and cetasika that arise and fall away concurrently and know the same arammana (uniquely citta with cetasika)

samphappalapa-vaca 
talk without a purpose

samsara-vatta 
perpetual rounds of wandering rebirth

samutthana

samvara-sila 
moral restraint

Sangha 
community of monks and nuns. As one of the Triple Gems it means the community of those people who have attained enlightenment.

sanghanussati 
mindfulness of the virtuous qualities of the Buddhist Order

sanjanati 
cognizing well

sankhara-dhamma 
conglomerate, complex realities, conditioned reality

sankhata-dhamma 
conditioned realities, the realities that arise and fall away

sangiti 
Great Council, convocation of the Sangha to revise the doctrine in the Tipitaka

sanna 
memory, remembrance or perception

sanna-kkhandha 
memory classified as one of the five khandha

santana' or 'santati' 
arising and falling away in continuation

santati-rupa 
the rupa at the moment it develops

santirana-citta 
investigating-consciousness

sappaya-sampajanna 
comprehension of what is suitable, fitting

saraga-citta 
citta that is accompanied by lobha-cetasika (pleasure and attachment)

sarana 
support

Sariputta
The First chief disciple of the Buddha

sasankhara

sasankharika 
prompted, induced, instigated, either by oneself or someone else

sati 
mindfulness or awareness; non-forgetfulness of what is wholesome and non-forgetfulness of realities which appear

sati-patthana 
development of experiencing realities through awareness

Satipatthana Sutta 
Middle Length Sayings 1, number 10, also Digha-Nikaya, dialogues 11, no. 22;

sati-sampajanna 
mindfulness and clarity of consciousness; awareness

saupadisesa-nibbana 
arahantship with the khandha or groups of existence remaining, thus not final nibbana at death of an arahanta.

savaka 
disciple, pupil (literary "a hearer")

savana-kicca 
function of hearing

sayana-kicca 
function of tasting

sekha 
learner, the one who still has to study and develop dhamma to ever higher levels towards the eradication of remaining kilesa

sila 
precepts

silabbata-paramasa 
wrong practice 

silabbatupadana 
wrong practice, which is clinging to certain rules (rites and rituals) in one's practice

silanussati 
mindfulness of the virtuous qualities of the sila

Sineru 
the hill-shaped center of the galaxy

sobhana 
good, nice (beautiful) 

sobhana-dhamma 
good reality (citta and cetasika) sobhana citta and cetasika good, nice citta and cetasika

sobhana hetu 
good roots 

sobhana kiriya-citta 
kiriya-citta accompanied by sobhana (good) roots

somanassa 
happy feeling, defining citta and cetasika only, as opposed to sukha, which defines both rupa and nama

somanassa-sahagata 
arising with somanassa-vedana

sanna-cetasika 
the cetasika that remembers (cognizes) the arammana

soracca 
temperance

sota-dhatu 
element of earsense 

sota-dvara-vithi-citta 
ear-door process citta 

sota-dvaravajjana-citta 
ear-door-adverting-consciousness

sotapanna 
person who has attained the first stage of enlightenment, and who has eradicated wrong view of realities

sotappasada-rupa 
the rupa with which sound can come into contact

sota-vinnana 
hearing-consciousness

sugati-bhumi 
the happy plane

sukha 
happy, pleasant 

sukha-vedana 
pleasant bodily feeling 

sukhuma 
subtle 

Sumankalavilasini 
commentary to the dialogues of the Buddha (Digha-Nikaya) 

sunnata 
empty, void

sutta 
part of the scriptures containing dialogues at different places on different occasions. 

suttanta
a sutta text

tadalambana 
residual aramana registration

tadarammana 
residual aramana registration
 

tadarammana-citta 
registering consciousness 

tanha 
(or lobha) craving, desire, pleasure and attachment

tassana-kicca 
function of seeing

Tathagata 
He who comes and goes in the same way (as the previous Buddha), the thus-gone. (The name the Buddha calls himself.  Sometimes used for the arahanta)

tatiyajjhana 
the third level of jhana

tatramajjhattata 
equanimity or evenmindedness 

tatramajjhattata-cetasika 
the neutral cetasika, without bias, prejudice

tejo-dhatu 
element of fire or heat

Theravada Buddhism  '
Doctrine of the Elders', the oldest tradition of Buddhism 

thina 
sloth 

thina-cetasika 
the cetasika that makes the citta discouraged, depressed

thiti-khana 
the sub-instant of existing, existing of citta

tika 
sub-commentary

tilakkhana 
the three universal characteristics

Tipitaka 
collections of the three groups of the Buddhist teachings

ti-hetuka-puggala 
Those whose patisandhi-citta arises with alobha-cetasika, adosa-cetasika and panna (or amoha)-cetasika 

udana 
Verses of Uplift from the Minor Anthologies 

uddhacca 
restlessness

ugghatitannu-puggala 
one who realizes the truth upon hearing

upacara 
access or proximatory consciousness, the second javana-citta in the process in which absorption or enlightenment is attained

upacara-samadhi 
access-concentration

upacaya-rupa
the rupa when it first arises

upada-khana 
the sub-instant of arising, arising of citta

upadana 
clinging

upadanakkhandha 
khandha of clinging

upadaya-rupa 
derived rupa, the rupa other than the four Great Elements in the same kalapa

Upadhi 
the reality that embodies the dukkha

upadhi-sampatti 
favorable physical aspects

upadhi-vipatti 
unfavorable physical aspects; physical deformity

upanissaya-paccaya 
the accumulation of latent tendencies accumulated by the cetana-cetasika that is not strong enough to produce neither kamma nor vipaka 

upekkha 
neutral feeling; evenness of mind; impartiality
      chalagupekkha = indifferent to the 6 arammana
      brahmavihurupekkha =  indifferent to all entities
      bojjhangupekkha = one of the components that make enlightenment possible
      viriyupekkha = right perseverance which is not too tense nor too lax in the development of bhavana
      sankharupekkha = indifferent when realizing the tilakkhana of the sankhara-dhamma
      vedanupekkha = the vedana-cetasika that does not feel unhappy or happy
      vipassanupekkha = neutral in the consideration of the arammana that arises from causes and conditions
      tatramajjhattatupekkha =  neutral, not biased or partial
      jhanupekkha = the tatramajjhattata-cetasika in the jhana which attenuates the preoccupation by other dhamma which renders the peace less steadfast
      parisuddhupekkha = the tatramajjhattata-cetasika in the catutthajjhana (from the perspective of the 4 rupa-jhana), which is completely peaceful and cleansed from all adversaries

utu 
the fire element

utuja-rupa 
rupa that arises from the fire element

vaci 
speech 

vaci-vinnatti 
the asabhava-rupa which conveys meaning orally; verbally, or emitting sounds in order to convey meaning

vana 
tanha or desire

vara 
process of citta; occasion, time

vasana 
behavior and physical demeanors accumulated until habitual; improper behavioral and verbal habits which can be eradicated by none but the Sammasambuddha

vasi 
the instantaneous efficiency and ease in arising and to end or stop the sequence of jhana-citta at a given time

vatta 
cycle of rebirth

vatthu 
base, physical base of citta 

vatthu-kama 
the reality on which pleasure and desire is based

vayo-dhatu 
element of wind or motion

vedana 
feeling

vedana-cetasika 
the cetasika that feels (emotions) 

vedana-khandha 
group of all feelings

veneyyasatta 
one for whom enlightenment is possible, literally teachable beings

vibhanga 
Book of Analysis, one of the seven books of the Abhidhamma

vibhutarammana 
The arammana of the tadalambana-vara, which is clearer than the javana-vara.

vicara-cetasika 
cetasika that supports and follows vitakka

vicikiccha 
uncertainty (about the dhamma)

vicikiccha-cetasika 
the cetasika that is uncertain about the dhamma

vikara-rupa 
asabhava-rupa that enables the body to move and function. They constitute the special adaptable qualities of the mahabhuta-rupa, which is light, malleable and taskworthy.

vimokkha 
liberation, deliverance, escape

vinaya 
Book of Discipline for the monks 

vinnanancayatana 
sphere of boundless consciousness, meditation subject for the second stage of immaterial jhana 

vinnana 
consciousness, citta 

vinnana-dhatu 
element of consciousness, comprising all citta 

vinnanakkhandha 
all citta (consciousness)

vipaka 
result of kamma

vipaka-citta 
citta which is the result of a wholesome deed (kusala kamma) or an 
unwholesome deed (akusala kamma). It can arise as rebirth-consciousness, or during life as the experience of pleasant or unpleasant objects through the senses, such as seeing, hearing, etc.

vipallasa 
perversions. Three kinds: sanna perversion of perception, citta of thought, ditthi of views.

vipacitannu-puggala 
one who realizes the truth after explanation

vipassana 
wisdom which sees realities as they are

vippayutta 
dissociated from

virati 
refrain from wrongdoing

viriya 
effort, perseverance 

viriya-cetasika 
the cetasika that relentlessly perseveres to support its
sahajatadhamma

viriyarambhakatha 
words that are beneficial to the arising of viriya to be mindful of characteristics of realities that appear

visankhara-dhamma 
reality that does not arise, is not conditioned

Visuddhimagga 
an encyclopaedia of the Buddha's teaching, written by Buddhaghosa in the fifth century A.D

vitakka

vithi 
process

vithi-citta 
citta arising in processes

vithi-vimutti-citta 
process freed citta, citta which do not arise within a process

vitikkakama-kilesa 
the coarse kilesa that arises with the javana-vithi-citta

votthapana 
predeeding the kusala or akusala in the process or vara

votthapana-citta 
citta preceeding the javana; mano-dvaravajjana-citta that arises to perform votthabbana-kicca through the panca-dvara 

yakkha 
non-human being 

Yamaka 
the Book of Pairs, the sixth book of the Abhidhamma 

yoniso manasikara 
wise attention to the object