Etymology of Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya

Summary

In Buddhist studies, the terms Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya are explained through their Sanskrit etymologies. Buddhadharma (also called Bauddhadharma) comes from Sanskrit words meaning the “doctrine of the Enlightened One” and the “doctrine of Buddhists,” respectively. These terms point to Buddhism’s teachings as a spiritual doctrine associated with the Buddha and his followers.

Key Points

• 1

  Buddhadharma/Bauddhadharma are Sanskrit terms: Buddhadharma relates to the Buddha’s doctrine, while Bauddhadharma relates to the doctrine of Buddhists.

• 2

  Dharmavinaya comes from Sanskrit dharma (“doctrines”) and vinaya (“disciplines”), and is literally rendered as “doctrines and disciplines.”