ALL ITALICS IN THE SUTRA & FOOTNOTES ARE SANSKRIT AND PALI PRONUNCIATION.

 

 [1] Tripitaka means three baskets, i.e. Sutras (sermons/preaches of the Buddha), Vinaya (precepts and rules of monastic        discipline), and Abhidharma (commentarial literature or annotation on the Buddha’s teachings). One who is versed in all three        baskets is called Tripitaka Master.

 [2] Master Kumarajiva was the early and most effective propagator in China. His father was an Indian, and his mother was a        princess of Karashahr. He is noted for the number of his translations and commentaries, which he has dedicated to some 800        monastic scribes. He died in China about A.D. 412. After cremation his tongue remained intact and unconsumed, which proved        his vow that he had made no mistake in a single word of his translations and commentaries.  

 [3] Buddha here means Sakyamuni Buddha.

 [4] Great Bhiksu denotes monk who become Arhat, a Buddhist saint; i.e. who has attained first level of enlightenment and is out of        reincarnation and no longer subject to life and death.

 [5] Jetavana was the favorite resort of Sakyamuni Buddha, which was a park obtained from Price Jeta by the venerable elder        Anathapindika.

 [6] Arhan, also known as Arhat, means an enlightened man, the highest saint in Hinayana in contrast with the Bodhisattva as the        Saint in Mahayana.

 [7] Sariputra is the right-hand attendant on Sakyamuni Buddha, and is noted for his wisdom and learning.

 [8] Mahamaudgalyayana is one of the chief disciples of Sakyamuni Buddha at whose left his image is placed.

 [9] Mahakasyapa is accredited with presiding over the first Synod supervising the first compilation of the Buddha’s sermons, and        is also reckoned as the first Patriarch.   

[10] Mahakatyayana is one of the principal disciples of Sakyamuni Buddha.

[11] Mahakausthila is also a disciple of Sakyamuni Buddha.

[12] Revata is a disciple of Sakyamuni Buddha, and the leader of the second synod.

[13] Ksudrapanthaka is one of earliest disciple of Sakyamuni Buddha.

[14] Ananda was noted as the most learned disciple of Sakyamuni Buddha, and famed for hearing and remembering this teaching.        After the Buddha’s death, he is said to have compiled the sutras in the Vaibhara cave, where the disciples were assembled in        Magadha. He is reckoned as the second patriarch.

[15] Rahula is the eldest son of Sakyamuni  and Yasodhara. He became a disciple of the Hinayana, but is said to have become a        Mahayanist when his father gainsaid by his being recognized as founder of Vaibhasika School.

[16] Gavampati is a man who became a monk, born with a mouth always ruminating like a cow because of former oral sin.    

[17] Pinola-bharadvaja is the first of the sixteen Arhats, who became the old man of the mountains, white hair and beard and        bushy eyebrows.

[18] Kalodayin is said to have been schoolmaster to Sakyamuni when young and one of the early disciples.

[19] Maha-kapphina is said to have understood astronomy and been king of Southern Kosala. He became a disciple of Sakyamuni        Buddha and is to be reborn as Samantaprabhasa Buddha.

[20] Vakula, a disciple who, during his 80 years of life, never had a moment’s illness or pain.  

[21] Ajita Bodhisattva means Maitreya Bodhisattva.

[22] Gandhahastin means fragrant elephant.

 

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