Core Buddhism: teachings, practice, history

Etymology of Buddhadharma and related terms

The etymology of Buddhadharma and related terms comes from Sanskrit. “Buddhadharma” (buddha-dharma) and “Bauddhadharma” (bauddha-dharma) derive from the Sanskrit words बुद्ध धर्म and बौद्ध धर्म, respectively, and are glossed as the “doctrine of the Enlightened One” and the “doctrine of Buddhists.” These terms point to Buddhism’s teachings as something associated with the Buddha and practiced by Buddhists. Related terminology includes “Dharmavinaya,” which comes from धर्मविनय and literally means “doctrines and disciplines.” The term “Buddha” itself is explained as “the Awakened One,” referring to the historical religious teacher (a Śramaṇa) associated with the emergence of these teachings. In addition, the text notes that followers in ancient India referred to themselves with terms such as “Sakyan-s” or “Sakyabhiksu,” while “Bauddha” may have been used either by Buddhists themselves or by outsiders, depending on scholarly interpretation.

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The Buddha: life, dates, and scholarly uncertainty

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