These are the most common of terms that come up in texts or lessons in Buddhism. But the cool thing is that they are actually used often in many daily conversations. Most of these terms originate in Pali or Sanskrit!

Terms

Afflictive Obscurations: The Obstacles to an individuals liberation.

Aggregates: Combined make up the mind and body of all sentient beings

Anapanasati: Mindfulness Of Your Breathing

Anatta: Not self, or non soul

Arahant: An Enlightened one who is no longer bound to samsara and has rid them selves of mental delusions.

Arhat: One whom has released them selves from the cycle of rebirth.

Anicca: Impermanence

Bardo: The state between death and rebirth. This is sometimes referred to as the "intermediate state."

Bhikkhu (Bhikshu): A fully ordained Buddhist monk

Bhikkhuni: A fully ordained Buddhist nun

Bodhi (Bodhi Tree): Enlightenment and awakening .

Bodhicitta (Bodhicitta Mind): This is the path one takes to reach enlightenment in order to benefit all sentient beings

Bodhisatta/Bodhisattva: One who has taken a vow to become a fully enlightened Buddha and there only goal is to benefit others

Brahma: God

Brahmin: High Indian cast within the old systems

Buddha: Fully awakened and usually referring to the historical Buddha, Sakyamuni.

Buddha-Dharma/Dhamma: The teachings of the Buddha

Dana: The practice of giving; generosity.

Dhammapada: The best known of all the Buddhist scriptures that focuses on the value of ethical conduct and mental training.

Dharma/Dhamma/Buddha-dharma: The teachings of the Buddha.

Dukkha: Suffering.

Ego: The pattern of conditioned habits that we mistake for a sense of self

Emptiness: The lack of inherent existence in phenomena.

Four Noble Truths: First teachings of the Buddha once he reached the state of enlightenment.

Jhana: An extreme or strong concentration. Single-pointedness.

Karma/Kamma: The law of cause and effect.

Kilesa: Delusion of the mind hindering meditation.

Karuna: Compassion.

Merit: The auspicious power of wholesome action that brings positive karmic results

Metta: The buddha taught that to counter act feer one must have this. Loving kindness and other practices for generating loving kindness.

Middle way: The Buddhist path that avoids either extreme of self-mortification as well as self-indulgence.

Mindfulness: Being aware of ones thoughts, emotions and reactions. Can be used as a meditation and is an ingrediant to meditation.

Mudra: The hand shape/gesture of hands

Naga: A spirit of the natural environment

Nirvana/ Nibbana: This is the result of removing attachments, hate and deductions. These causes suffering.

Renunciation: The wish to end ones own samsara

Pali: The ancient language of the scriptures of Theravada Buddhism

Panna: Wisdom

Parami : Qualities of a Buddha.

Precept: Ethics and foundations for meditations.

Puja: A offering, prayer or altar.

Saddha: Faith andconfidence.

Samadhi: A deep state of concentration meditation.

Shamatha: The calming of the mind. This can be accomplished by a practice of mindfulness as well as single-pointedness meditation.

Samaya: Commitment or vow.

Samsara: The cycle of rebirths.

Sangha: The Buddhist community.

Sati: Mindfulness.

Skillful means: Actions based on kindness, respect, truthfulness, timeliness and wisdom.

Stupa: Shrine or altar.

Sutta/Sutra: The teachings and traditions of the Buddha.

Theravada: Southeastern Asian tradition of Buddhism. "Path of the Elders." Vipassana meditation is a central part of this tradition.

Three jewels of refuge:The Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.

Tantra: Buddhas teachings in the Vajradhara tradition.

Vinaya: Discipline and doctrine governing the Buddhist monks and nuns.

Vipassana: Insight meditation where you are aware of everything in the moment.

Yogi: Someone who is on the path of spiritual awakening. One whom meditates.