A beginner-friendly A–Z guide to 39 key Buddhist concepts, Pali and Sanskrit terms, and meditation vocabulary used throughout Buddha Story.
Mindfulness of breathing — the most fundamental Buddhist meditation technique. Practitioners focus attention on the natural rhythm of the breath, observing each inhalation and exhalation without trying to control it. This practice calms the mind, develops concentration, and is the foundation of most meditation for beginners.
Non-self — the teaching that there is no permanent, unchanging self or soul behind our experience. What we call "I" is a shifting process of body and mind. Anatta is one of the three marks of existence, alongside anicca (impermanence) and dukkha (unsatisfactoriness), and understanding it loosens the grip of self-centred worry.
Impermanence — the truth that all conditioned things are in constant change, arising and passing away. Recognising anicca is deeply calming: worries feel lighter when we remember that no state of mind, pleasant or painful, is permanent. It is one of the three marks of existence and a recurring theme in Buddhist teachings on anxiety.
An enlightened being who has attained Nirvana and is freed from the cycle of rebirth. In Theravada Buddhism, becoming an Arhat is the highest spiritual goal. The Buddha himself was an Arhat, and many of his closest disciples achieved this state through dedicated practice.
Mental cultivation or meditation. Bhavana encompasses all forms of Buddhist meditation practice, including concentration (samatha) and insight (vipassana). In the context of Buddhist sleep stories, bhavana can be practiced through mindful listening — letting the teachings calm and focus the mind before rest.
The sacred fig tree in Bodh Gaya, India, under which Siddhartha Gautama sat and attained enlightenment, becoming the Buddha. The Bodhi Tree is one of the most revered symbols in Buddhism. Our story The Attainment of Buddhaship in Buddha Story's library recounts this transformative night.
A being who vows to attain enlightenment not for themselves alone but for the liberation of all sentient beings. The bodhisattva ideal is central to Mahayana Buddhism, embodying boundless compassion. In the Jataka tradition, the Buddha-to-be is called the Bodhisatta through his many previous lives.
The four "divine abodes" or immeasurable states of mind cultivated in meditation: loving-kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), sympathetic joy (mudita), and equanimity (upekkha). Practised as boundless attitudes toward all beings, the brahmaviharas are among the most accessible and heart-opening practices — explored in our guide to metta meditation.
The teachings of the Buddha; the universal truth or natural law. Dharma is one of the Three Jewels of Buddhism (along with the Buddha and the Sangha). In Buddha Story, every narrated tale draws from the Dharma — offering wisdom on impermanence, compassion, and the path to inner peace.
A collection of 423 verses in 26 chapters, spoken by the Buddha on various occasions. The Dhammapada is one of the most widely read and quoted Buddhist scriptures. Its poetic verses on mindfulness, heedfulness, and the nature of the mind make it especially well-suited for reflection — read our introduction to the Dhammapada and its most loved verses.
Suffering, dissatisfaction, or unsatisfactoriness. Dukkha is the First Noble Truth — the recognition that life inherently involves suffering. Understanding dukkha is not pessimistic; it's the first step toward liberation. Buddhist teachings on dukkha can be profoundly calming at bedtime, as they put daily worries into perspective.
The Buddha's practical guide to ending suffering, consisting of eight interconnected practices: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration. The Eightfold Path is the Fourth Noble Truth and the core of Buddhist practice.
The state of awakening achieved by the Buddha under the Bodhi Tree. Enlightenment involves seeing the true nature of reality — the interconnection of all things, the causes of suffering, and the path to liberation. In Buddhist tradition, enlightenment is available to all beings through practice and understanding.
A balanced, even-minded calm that remains steady through pleasure and pain, praise and blame. Equanimity is not indifference — it is a warm, unshakable stability of heart. It is the fourth of the four brahmaviharas and the mature fruit of meditation, allowing us to meet life's ups and downs without being tossed about by them.
The foundation of all Buddhist teaching: (1) Life involves suffering (Dukkha), (2) Suffering has a cause — craving and attachment (Samudaya), (3) Suffering can end (Nirodha), (4) The path to ending suffering is the Eightfold Path (Magga). Our story The First Noble Truth: Dukkha explores these teachings in depth.
A collection of 550 stories describing the previous lives of the Buddha before his final birth as Siddhartha Gautama. These tales often feature animals and teach moral lessons about generosity, courage, compassion, and wisdom. Jataka tales are among the most beloved bedtime stories in Buddhist tradition and are perfect for both adults and children — see our retellings of the great virtue tales. Featured stories in Buddha Story include The Hare-Mark in the Moon and Love for Animals.
The law of moral causation — the principle that intentional actions (of body, speech, and mind) have consequences that shape future experience. Positive actions lead to positive results; harmful actions lead to suffering. In Buddhism, karma is not fatalistic — it emphasizes personal responsibility and the power to change one's path through mindful choices.
Compassion — the heartfelt wish that all beings be free from suffering. Karuna is the natural response of an open heart to the pain of others, and the second of the four brahmaviharas. Unlike pity, it arises from a sense of shared experience and moves us gently toward kindness in action.
A paradoxical question, story, or phrase used in Zen practice — such as "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" A koan cannot be solved by ordinary reasoning; sitting with it is meant to exhaust discursive thinking and open the door to direct insight. Explore several in our collection of Zen stories and koans.
Loving-kindness — unconditional goodwill and warmth directed toward all beings without exception. Metta meditation involves silently repeating phrases like "May all beings be happy, may all beings be peaceful." It is the first of the four brahmaviharas; our full guide to metta meditation walks through the practice step by step.
The path of balance the Buddha discovered between the extremes of self-indulgence and harsh self-denial. Having tried both a life of luxury and severe asceticism, he taught that awakening is found in moderation. The Middle Way runs through all Buddhist practice, from ethics to meditation.
The practice of maintaining non-judgmental awareness of the present moment — observing thoughts, feelings, and sensations as they arise without reacting to them. Mindfulness is the seventh element of the Eightfold Path and the foundation of Buddhist meditation. Learn to practice it with our beginner's guide, or use it to fall asleep more easily.
Sympathetic or altruistic joy — genuine delight in the happiness, success, and good fortune of others. Mudita is the antidote to envy and the third of the four brahmaviharas. Cultivating it multiplies our own joy, since we no longer need others to fail for us to feel content.
The ultimate goal of Buddhist practice — liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara) and the complete cessation of suffering. Nirvana is not a place but a state of profound peace, freedom, and understanding. The word literally means "extinguishing" or "blowing out" — referring to the extinguishing of greed, hatred, and delusion.
The ancient Indian language in which the earliest Buddhist scriptures (the Pali Canon or Tipitaka) were preserved. Many Buddhist terms used today — dharma, dukkha, nirvana, metta — come from Pali. In Buddha Story, we include Pali terms alongside their English translations to help listeners connect with the original teachings.
Ethical guidelines that form the moral foundation of Buddhist life. Lay practitioners commonly undertake the Five Precepts: to refrain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, and intoxication that clouds the mind. The precepts are not commandments but voluntary training rules that support a peaceful, harmless way of living.
Deep meditative concentration — a state of unified, one-pointed absorption in which the mind becomes still, bright, and steady. Samadhi is developed through calm-abiding (samatha) practice and provides the stable foundation from which insight (vipassana) can arise. It is the culmination of the "concentration" section of the Eightfold Path.
The beginningless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth in which beings wander, driven by craving (tanha) and ignorance. Life in samsara is marked by dukkha. The aim of the Buddhist path is not to improve one's position within samsara but to find release from it altogether — the peace of Nirvana.
The community of Buddhist practitioners — traditionally referring to ordained monks and nuns, and more broadly to all people who follow the Buddha's path. The Sangha is one of the Three Jewels, offering the support, friendship, and shared practice that sustain us on the path.
The four foundations of mindfulness — a comprehensive meditation framework taught by the Buddha. The four foundations are: mindfulness of the body, mindfulness of feelings (pleasant, unpleasant, neutral), mindfulness of mind states, and mindfulness of mental objects (dharmas). The Satipatthana Sutta is considered the most important meditation discourse and pairs naturally with calming bedtime listening.
Ethical conduct or virtue — the moral foundation of the Buddhist path, alongside meditation (samadhi) and wisdom (panna). Sila means living in a way that causes no harm to oneself or others, expressed most simply through the precepts. A settled conscience makes the mind easier to calm in meditation.
A type of bell used in Buddhist meditation practice, traditionally made of metal alloys. When struck or rubbed with a mallet, singing bowls produce a rich, resonant tone that promotes deep relaxation and mindfulness. Tibetan singing bowls are among the most popular meditation sounds for sleep, and are featured prominently in Buddha Story's ambient sound library.
A discourse or teaching attributed to the Buddha or his close disciples. Suttas form the core of the Buddhist scripture collection (Sutta Pitaka). Key suttas featured in Buddha Story include the Metta Sutta (loving-kindness), the Satipatthana Sutta (mindfulness), and teachings on the Four Noble Truths.
Craving or "thirst" — the grasping desire for pleasure, existence, or escape that, according to the Second Noble Truth, is the origin of suffering. Tanha keeps beings turning in samsara. The path does not ask us to suppress desire by force but to understand and gradually let go of the clinging that fuels it.
The three core elements of Buddhist faith and practice: the Buddha (the enlightened teacher), the Dharma (his teachings), and the Sangha (the community of practitioners). Taking refuge in the Three Jewels is the foundational commitment of Buddhist practice.
The "three baskets" — the Pali Canon, the earliest complete collection of Buddhist scriptures. Its three divisions are the Vinaya Pitaka (monastic discipline), the Sutta Pitaka (discourses of the Buddha), and the Abhidhamma Pitaka (systematic philosophy). It is the primary source for the teachings preserved in Buddha Story.
Insight meditation — the practice of observing the true nature of reality through direct experience. Unlike concentration meditation (samatha), which focuses on calming the mind, vipassana aims to develop wisdom by observing the impermanent, unsatisfactory, and selfless nature of all phenomena. Combined with samatha, vipassana forms the complete Buddhist meditation path.
Seated meditation — the heart of Zen practice. In zazen one sits upright and still, following the breath and letting thoughts come and go without grasping them. Rather than aiming at a goal, zazen is "just sitting" (shikantaza): resting in open, alert awareness of things as they are.
A Mahayana school of Buddhism, known as Chan in China, that emphasizes direct insight into one's true nature through meditation rather than scriptural study or ritual. Zen is famous for its terse teaching stories and koans, which point beyond words to immediate experience. Read a selection of classic Zen stories.
Hear these teachings narrated as calming sleep stories.
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