tion of what Nibbãna is, or is not, lies wholly beyond the range of
conventional figures of speech.
nimitta: Mental image; vision. A samãdhi nimitta is an image that arises
spontaneously during the course of meditation. Nimittas may take
the form of extrasensory perceptions, visualizations, symbolic rep-
resentations of reality, or prophetic dreams.
Pãli: An ancient variant of Sanskrit, Pãli is the literary language of the
early Buddhists and the language in which the texts of the original
Buddhist Canon are preserved. Most of the terms that have been
italicized in this book are Pãli words.
paññã: wisdom; intuitive insight. (see wisdom)
Parinibbãna: Total Nibbãna. That is to say, the total extinction of the
physical and mental components of personality (the 5 khandhas),
and with their disintegration the ending of all traces of existence
in the phenomenal world and thus total release from the misery of
saÿsãra. Parinibbãna is the Nibbãna that occurs at the death of an
Arahant. It is most frequently used to refer to the passing away of
the Lord Buddha.
paåiccasamuppãda: Dependent Origination. Paåiccasamuppãda is a con-
cise statement of how fundamental ignorance (avijjã) conditions the
rise of the whole cycle of repeated existence.
Pãåimokkha: The Buddhist monk’s basic code of discipline. It comprises
227 rules of conduct and is usually recited rule by rule before an
assembly of monks once every fortnight.
rãgataõhã: Sexual desire; lust. Predicated on a belief that the body is one-
self and that happiness can be achieved for oneself through bodily
sensations, rãgataõhã is the desire, even craving, to seek pleasure and
self-gratification by means of the physical body. With this mental
defilement as the driving force, people attempt to overcome discon-
tent and find fulfillment using physical stimulation as the primary
means. If such craving is allowed a free rein, it easily becomes a pre-
occupation that gives rise to even more craving, leaving the heart
forever hungry and dissatisfied.
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
#1