Property:Glossary-PopUpBeginnerDefinition
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The Buddhist teaching of "non-self" or "selflessness"—the understanding that there is no permanent, unchanging self or soul within living beings. Along with impermanence (''anitya'') and suffering (''duḥkha''), it is one of the three marks of existence that characterize all conditioned phenomena. +
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Inference (Skt. ''anumāna'' +, T. ''rjes dpag'') is a way of knowing something indirectly, using logic and reasoning rather than direct experience. For example, if you see smoke rising from a distant mountain, you can infer that there is a fire there, even if you can't see the fire directly yourself. It's a key way to understand things that are hidden from our senses. It is used in the Buddhist tradition to gain insight into deeper levels of reality of self and phenomena. +
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The Three Jewels—the Buddha, the Dharma (his teachings), and the Saṅgha (the spiritual community)—are the three central objects of refuge and inspiration for all Buddhists. +
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Relative bodhicitta (Skt. ''saṃvṛtibodhicitta'' +, T. ''kun rdzob byang chub kyi sems'') is the altruistic wish to become a fully enlightened Buddha in order to help all other beings who are suffering. It has two aspects: the strong wish and aspiration to become enlightened, and then actually engaging in the practices of the bodhisattva that lead to Buddhahood, like generosity and patience. +
The Buddhist practice of ethical behavior, like being honest, kind, and not harming others. It means following guidelines for good conduct, which helps calm the mind and live a wholesome life. It is the first of the Three Higher Trainings (''triśikṣā'': ''śīla'', ''samādhi'', ''prajñā''), and the second of the six perfections (''pāramitā''s). In daily practice, śīla is cultivated through mindful attention to one's actions, regular reflection on precepts, and the development of wholesome habits. +
