佛教距今已有两千五百多年，是由古印度迦毗罗卫国（今尼泊尔境内）王子乔达摩·悉达多所创。西方国家普遍认为佛教起源于印度，而印度事实上也在努力塑造“佛教圣地”形象。 这使得很多人产生佛祖降生在印度的错觉，这让尼泊尔民众一向不满。
佛教也是世界三大宗教之一。佛，意思是“觉者”。佛又称如来、应供、正遍知、明行足、善逝、世间解、无上士、调御丈夫、天人师、世尊。佛教重视人类心灵和道德的进步和觉悟。佛教信徒修习佛教的目的即在于依照悉达多所悟到修行方法，发现生命和宇宙的真相，最终超越生死和苦、断尽一切烦恼，得到究竟解脱。
Glossary
六度
Six Paramitas
四禅八定
Catvari-dhyanani
佛
The Buddha or Shakyamuni
摩诃迦叶
Mahakashyapa
菩提达摩(? 628-536)
Bodhidarma
公案
Gongan(Koan)
义理
Doctrinism
安心法门
Path of Pacifying the Mind
道场
Bodhimandala
契理契机
Be in line with the Buddha`s teachings and in light of the social environment of the times and the mental disposition of people
生死
Life-death (The term "life-death" used here means Samsara in Sanskrit which is in contrast to Nirvana)
烦恼
Klesa (all the mental functions and morally defiling worldly passions and afflictions that prevent a person from being enlightened)
阿弥陀佛
Amitabha
福田衣
Kasapa (robe)
十力
Ten Forces
四无所畏
Four Fear Lessnesses
三身
Three Bodies
十方世界
Ten Directions of space
庄严国土利乐有情
Purity the Buddha-land and benefit all sentinet beings
楞伽经
Lankavatara Sutra
话头
specific word
禅机
state that reveals itself in line with the truth
二入四行
Twofold entrance to the Tao and four acts
理入
Entrance by Reason
行人
Entrance by Conduct
三受
three states of Vadanah (sensation)
缘起法
Law of Dependent Origination or law of Dependent Arising
因果律
Law of Cause and Effect
十大愿王
Bodhisattva Samantabhadra
实有
Absolute Reality
五蕴
five Pance-Skandhas(aggregates)
实相
Absolute Existence
缘起性空
Dependent arising and emptiness in nature
真性
True Nature
十法界
Tenfold Dharma
声闻
Sravaka
缘觉
Pratyeka-buddha
真实
Absolute Reality
无表色
Avijnapti-rupa (the non-revealable）
色法
Rupadharma(the phenomenal world)
戒体
Faith and resolution to keep precepts
八关斋戒
Astanga Samanvagatopavasa (the eight-fold precepts observed by lay Buddhists)
印心
Affirmation of an enlightenen mind by a master
一行三味
Ekavyuda-Samadhi (Samadhi of Specific Mode)
文殊说般若经
Discourse on the Prajnaparamita Sutra by Bodhisattva Manjusri
见地
Insight
功夫
Abiity ( the ability one obtains through dedicated practice)
理入
Entrance by reason
行人
Entrance by Conduct
念佛禅
Chanting the name of a Buddha Chan
等持
maintenance
实相
Absolute Existence
空与有
Emptiness and matter
性与相
Ultimate Realty and form
缘起性空
dependent origination and emptiness in nature
法界
Dharma-dhatu
三十二相
thirty-two phases
八十种好
eighty good deeds
十力
ten powers
四无畏
four fearlessnesses
真如
Tathagata
三界
Three realms
四生
four types fo birth
三类
three species of beings
义学
education in terms of the intellectual knowledge
无念
thoughtlessness
无相
non-objectivity
无住
non-attachment
二障
internal and external hindrances
大乘
Mahayana
小乘
Hinayana
业识
delusions
禅七
chan qi (sesshin)
实相
Absolute Existence
自相
self phase
共相
common phase
业力
karmic effects (the power of karma to produce good ro evil fruit)
涅槃
Nirvana
因缘
hetu-pratyaya (factors of dependent origination)
轮回
Samsara
五法
five phenomena
三自性
three identities
八识
eight consciousnesses
二无我
two selflessness
如来藏
suchness
见地
Insight
丹田
pubic region , two and half inches below the navel
神通
paranormal powers
契理契机
be in line with what the Buddha taught and befit the social environment of the times and the mental disposition of people
三宝
Triratna(the Three treasures: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha)
四众
four types of monastic community
正见
right view
正知
right intention
正念
right mindfulness
三毒
three poisons(greed, hatred, and ignorance)
三学
three trainings( precepts, meditation and wisdom)
三业
three actions (what we say, we do, and we think)