Lists

A list of lists, with example suttas given for most entries.

See Daniel Thornton's graphical depiction of major Buddhist lists

Two things to be developed:

• Wisdom

• Compassion

Two types of desire:

• Craving for sensuous experience (kāma-chanda)

• Desire or aspiration for the Truth (dhamma-chanda)

Two types of truths:

• Conventional (relative) - sammuti sacca or vohāra sacca

• Ultimate (absolute) - paramattha sacca

Three bodies of the Buddha (trikaya):

• nirmāṇakāya - body of transformation

• sambhogakāya - body of enjoyment

• dharmakāya - body of essence

Not canonical, from the Mahāyāna.

Three characteristics (lakkhana) of conditioned existence:

• anicca (impermanence)

• dukkha (not ultimately satisfying)

• anattā (empty of any inherent existence, insubstantiality, not-self)

• e.g. MN109, SN22.45

Three modes of craving:

• Craving for sensuous forms (kāma-taṇhā)

• Craving for existence (bhava-taṇhā)

• Craving for non-existence (vibhava-taṇhā)

• e.g. MN38

Three refuges (tisarana):

• Buddha

• Dhamma

• Sangha

• e.g. AN8.12

Threefold Division of the Noble Eightfold Path:

• Wisdom (paññā) - appropriate view, appropriate intention

• Ethics (sīla) - appropriate speech, appropriate action, appropriate livelihood

• Concentration (samādhi) - appropriate effort, appropriate mindfulness, appropriate concentration

• e.g. MN44

Threefold knowledge (possessed by the Buddha) (tevijjā):

• knowledge of former lives (pubbe-nivāsānussati)

• knowledge of beings passing away and being reborn (cutupa-patti)

• knowledge of the destruction of the āsavas (āsavakkhaya-ñāṇa)

• e.g. MN71

Threefold Training:

• Ethics (sīla)

• Meditation / Concentration (samādhi)

• Wisdom (paññā)

• e.g. AN3.88, AN3.89

Three Poisons / unwholesome roots (akusala-mūla):

• lobha - craving / greed

• dosa - hatred

• moha - delusion / ignorance

• e.g. AN3.68, AN3.69

Three kinds of wisdom:

• Learning / Listening (sutamayā paññā)

• Thinking / Reflecting (cintāmayā paññā)

• Mental development / Meditating (bhāvanāmayā paññā)

• e.g. Abhidharma commentaries, i.e. Visuddhimagga

Three Worlds or Planes (loka):

• The world of sense desire (kāmaloka)

• The world of pure form (rūpaloka)

• The world of no form (arūpaloka)

• e.g. DN33

Four attachments

• pleasure / sensual pleasures - kāmupādānaṁ

• ideas / views - diṭṭhupādānaṁ

• deeds / precepts & observances - sīlabbatupādānaṁ

• soul-theories / theories of self - attavādupādānaṁ

• e.g. MN11

Four biases / corruptions / defilements / intoxicants / influxes / outflows / taints (āsava):

• Sensuous craving (kāmāsava)

• Thirst for existence or becoming (bhavāsava)

• Views, opinions (diṭṭhāsava)

• Spiritual ignorance (avijjāsava)

• e.g. DN2, MN2

Four brahma-vihāras (divine abidings or immeasurables):

• mettā - kindness, friendliness

• karuṇā - compassion

• muditā - joy at other's good fortune / appreciative joy

• upekkhā - equanimity, even-mindedness

• e.g. SN46.54

Four fears:

• fear of anger and hatred

• fear of greed for food

• fear of sense pleasure

• fear of lust

• e.g. MN67

Four Formless Absorptions (arūpa-jhāna):

• Sphere of infinite space (ākāsānañcāyatana)

• Sphere of infinite consciousness (viññāṇañcāyatana)

• Sphere of no-thingness (ākiñcaññāyatana)

• Sphere of neither perception nor non-perception (neva-saññā-nāsaññāyatana)

• e.g. AN9.36, DN9, SN36.11

Four foundations of mindfulness:

• kāya - awareness of the body

• vedanā - awareness of feelings, initial reactions to sensory input, feeling tone

• citta - awareness of mind states, moods

• dhamma - awareness of phenomena

• e.g. MN10, DN22

Four great elements (mahābhūta):

• Earth (pathavī)

• Water (āpo)

• Fire (tejo)

• Air (vayo)

• e.g. MN28, MN62, MN140

Four noble truths:

• dukkha - the truth of unsatisfactoriness

• samudaya - the truth of the cause or origin of dukkha, i.e. craving

• nirodha - the truth of the cessation of dukkha, i.e. stop craving and the dukkha stops

• magga - the truth of the way leading to the cessation of dukkha, i.e. The Noble Eightfold path

• e.g. SN56

Four right efforts (sammā padhāna):

• To make an arisen, unwholesome state of mind cease

• To make an unarisen, unwholesome state of mind not arise

• To make an unarisen, wholesome state of mind arise

• To make an arisen, wholesome state of mind continue

• e.g. SN49

Four sights (nimitta):

• An old man

• A sick man

• A dead man

• A holy man

• e.g. DN14

Four similes for the superconscious states or absorptions (jhāna):

• First jhāna - soap powder and water perfectly mixed and blended

• Second jhāna - bubbling up of a subterranean spring into a calm lake

• Third jhāna - lotuses completely immersed in and supported by the cool waters of a lake

• Fourth jhāna - a man, having bathed in a lotus pool on a hot afternoon, sits resting on its bank wrapped in a very light, pure white cotton cloth

• e.g. DN2

Four sites sacred to Buddhism:

• Lumbinī - the birthplace of Siddhartha

• Buddha Gaya - the site of enlightenment

• Isipatana (Sarnath) - the place where the Dhamma was first taught

• Kusinagara - the site of the Buddha's mahā-parinibbāna

Four types of individuals:

• An impure person who knows they are impure

• An impure person who does not know they are impure

• A pure person who knows their own purity

• A pure person who does not know their own purity

• e.g. MN5

Four means of unification (sangahavatthū):

• dāna - generosity

• peyavajja - kindly or affectionate speech

• atthacariyā - beneficial activity

• samānattatā - exemplification

• Note: not from the Pali Canon. See Vimalakirti Nirdesa

Five benefits of listening to the teachings

• You learn new things

• clarify what you’ve learned

• get over uncertainty

• correct your views

• and inspire confidence in your mind

• e.g. AN5.202

Five faculties (indriya):

• saddhā - faith, trust, confidence

• viriya - energy

• sati - mindfulness

• samādhi - concentration

• paññā - wisdom

• e.g. MN152, SN48

• Note: The faculties complement one another in pairs - energy and concentration / trust and wisdom, both balanced or underpinned by mindfulness.

Five khandas (aggregates, heaps):

• rūpa - form

• vedanā - feelings

• saññā - perceptions

• saṅkhāra - mental formations, volitions

• viññāṇa - consciousness

• e.g. SN22 to SN34, MN109

Five hindrances (nīvaraṇa):

• kāmachanda - sense-desire / craving

• byāpādā - ill will / aversion

• thīna-middha - sloth & torpor / sleepiness

• uddhacca-kukkucca - restlessness & worry

• vicikicchā - doubt

• e.g. AN1.11-20, DN13, MN68

Five powers (pañcabalāni):

• saddhā - faith, trust, confidence

• viriya - energy

• sati - mindfulness

• samādhi - concentration

• paññā - wisdom

• e.g. SN50

Five precepts (sikkhāpada):

• Pānātipātā veramaṇī sikkhāpadam samadiyami - I undertake the training principle to refrain from the killing of living beings

• Adinnādānā veramaṇī sikkhāpadam samadiyami - I undertake the training principle to refrain from taking that which is not given

• Kāmesu micchācārā veramaṇī sikkhāpadam samadiyami - I undertake the training principle to refrain from sensual misconduct (**usually translated as sexual misconduct but literally means "wrong or evil conduct with regard to sensual things")

• Musāvādā veramaṇī sikkhāpadam samadiyami - I undertake the training principle to refrain from incorrect speech

• Surāmerayamajja pamādāṭṭhānā veramaṇī sikkhāpadam samadiyami - I undertake the training principle to refrain from intoxicants which destroy mindfulness

• e.g. AN8.39. SN14.25

Six elements:

• Earth (pathavī)

• Water (āpo)

• Fire (tejo)

• Air (vayo)

• Space (ākāsa)

• Consciousness (viññāṇa)

• e.g. MN140

Six perfections (pāramī):

• dāna - generosity

• sīla - ethics

• khanti - patience

• viriya - energy

• jhāna - meditation

• paññā - wisdom

• e.g. in Buddhavamsa, Jataka tales, Apadāna

• Note: the four main Nikāyas do not mention the pāramīs as a category, although they are all mentioned individually.

Six realms of the wheel of life:

• God-realm (devaloka)

• Titan realm (āsuraloka)

• Human realm (manussaloka)

• Animal realm (tiracchānaloka)

• Hungry ghosts (petaloka)

• Hells (nirayaloka)

Six sense bases (āyatana):

• Eye (cakkhu)

• Ear (sota)

• Nose (ghāna)

• Tongue (jivhā)

• Body (kāya)

• Mind (mano)

• e.g. SN35

Seven factors of awakening (bojjhanga):

• sati - mindfulness

• dhammavicaya - investigation

• viriya - energy

• pīti - rapture

• passaddhi - tranquillity

• samādhi - concentration

• upekkhā - equanimity

• e.g. SN46

Seven kinds of wealth

• Faith - saddhādhanaṁ 

• Ethics - sīladhanaṁ 

• Conscience - hirīdhanaṁ 

• Prudence - ottappadhanaṁ 

• Learning - sutadhanaṁ 

• Generosity - cāgadhanaṁ 

• Wisdom - paññādhanaṁ

• e.g. AN7.6

Seven underlying tendencies (anusayās)

• Sensual passion / lust

• Resistance / Aversion

• Views

• Uncertainty

• Conceit

• Passion for becoming

• Ignorance

• e.g. AN7.11-AN7.20, DN22, DN33, MN10, MN44, SN18.21, SN45.175, 

Noble Eightfold path (ariya aṭṭhaṅgika magga):

sammā is normally translated as right but I prefer to translate it as 'complete', 'appropriate' or 'authentic'.

• appropriate view (sammā-diṭṭhi)

• appropriate intention (sammā-saṅkappa)

• appropriate speech (sammā-vācā)

• appropriate action (sammā-kammanta)

• appropriate livelihood (sammā-ājīva)

• appropriate effort (sammā-vāyāma)

• appropriate mindfulness (sammā-sati)

• appropriate concentration (sammā-samādhi)

• e.g. SN45

(see also Threefold Division of the Noble Eightfold Path)

Eight knowledges

• Knowledge and Vision

• Mind-Made Body

• Psychic Powers

• Clairaudience

• Comprehending the minds of others

• Recollection of past lives

• Clairvoyance

• Ending of defilements

• e.g. DN2

Eight qualities (that inspire)

• faithful

• ethical

• learned

• a Dhamma speaker

• one who frequents assemblies

• one who teaches Dhamma to the assembly with assurance

• one who gets the four absorptions when they want

• one who lives having realised the ending of defilements

• e.g. AN8.71

Eight qualities (that inspire a Buddha to teach)

• faith

• approaches

• pays homage

• asks questions

• actively listens to the teachings

• remembers the teachings

• reflects on the meaning

• practices accordingly

• e.g. AN8.82

Eight worldly winds or conditions (lokadhamma):

• Praise - pasaṁsā

• Blame -nindā

• Gain - lābho

• Loss - alābho

• Pleasure - sukhañca 

• Pain - dukkhañca 

• Fame - yaso

• Infamy - ayaso

• e.g. AN8.6

Ten fetters (saṃyojana):

• identity view (sakkāya-diṭṭhi)

• doubt (vicikicchā)

• attachment to ritual (sīlabbata-parāmāsa)

• sense desire (kāma-rāga)

• ill will (byāpāda)

• craving for the world of form (rūpa-rāga)

• craving for the formless world (arūpa-rāga)

• conceit that "I am I" (māna)

• instability or trembling (uddhacca)

• spiritual ignorance (avijjā)

• e.g. MN68

Ten perfections (pāramitā):

• generosity - dāna

• ethics - sīla

• renunciation - nekhamma

• wisdom - paññā

• energy - viriya

• patience - khanti

• truthfulness - sacca

• determination - adhiṭṭhāna

• friendliness - metta

• equanimity - upekkhā

• e.g. in Buddhavamsa, Jataka tales, Apadāna

• Note: the four main Nikāyas do not mention the pāramītās as a category, although they are all mentioned individually.

Tenfold training:

• appropriate view

• appropriate intention

• appropriate speech

• appropriate action

• appropriate livelihood

• appropriate effort

• appropriate mindfulness

• appropriate concentration

• appropriate knowledge

• appropriate release

• e.g. MN65

Ten precepts (sikkhāpada):

• Pānātipātā veramaṇī sikkhāpadam samadiyami - I undertake the training principle to refrain from the killing of living beings

• Adinnādānā veramaṇī sikkhāpadam samadiyami - I undertake the training principle to refrain from taking that which is not given

• Kāmesu micchācārā veramaṇī sikkhāpadam samadiyami - I undertake the training principle to refrain from sensual misconduct

• Musāvādā veramaṇī sikkhāpadam samadiyami - I undertake the training principle to refrain from incorrect speech

• Pharusavācāya veramaṇī sikkhāpadam samadiyami - I undertake the training principle to refrain from harsh speech

• Samphappalāpā veramaṇī sikkhāpadam samadiyami - I undertake the training principle to refrain from useless speech

• Pisuṇavācāya veramaṇī sikkhāpadam samadiyami - I undertake the training principle to refrain from slanderous speech

• Abhijjhāya veramaṇī sikkhāpadam samadiyami - I undertake the training principle to refrain from covetousness

• Byāpādā veramaṇī sikkhāpadam samadiyami - I undertake the training principle to refrain from animosity

• Micchādiṭṭhiyā veramaṇī sikkhāpadam samadiyami - I undertake the training principle to refrain from false views

Twelve links (nidāna) of dependent origination / dependent arising (paṭicca-samuppāda):

• Ignorance - avijjā

• Fabrications, concoctions - saṅkhāra

• Consciousness - viññāṇa

• Mind and Body - nāma-rūpa

• The six senses - saḷāyatana

• Contact - phassa

• Feelings - vedanā

• Craving - taṇhā

• Clinging - upādāna

• Becoming - bhava

• Birth - jāti

• Death - jarā-maraṇa

• e.g. DN15, MN28, SN12, SN12.20

32 parts of the body

• head hair, body hair, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, diaphragm, spleen, lungs, intestines, mesentery, undigested food, faeces, brain, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, grease, saliva, snot, synovial fluid, urine.

• e.g. KP3

37 factors of awakening (bodhipakkhiyā dhamma):

• Four foundations of mindfulness (satipaṭṭhāna)

• Four right efforts (sammā-padhāna)

• Four bases of power (iddhi-pāda)

• Five faculties (indriya)

• Five strengths (bala)

• Seven factors of awakening (bojjhanga)

• Eightfold path (ariya-magga)

• e.g. DN16