The Lotus Sutra

gl oss a ry o f p roper na m es
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Ajnata-Kaundinya shravaka, monk IM DF Ājñāta-Kauṇḍinya 阿 若 喬 陳 如 Āruò qiaóchénrú Anya-
A servant of Shakyamuni before he left home, and one of the original disciples. kyōjinnyo
Akanishtha heaven DF Akaniṣṭha 阿 迦 尼 吒 Ājiānízhà Akanita
The highest heaven of the world of form.
Akshobhya buddha DF US Akṣobhya 阿 閦 Āchù Ashuku
Mentioned in chapter 7 of the Lotus Sutra and in the Universal Sage Sutra, he became important in
esoteric Buddhism, where he is one of five buddhas of the Diamond World. His pure land is in the East.
Always Tranquil Light buddha land US 常 寂 光 Chángjíguāng Jōshakkō
The home of Vairocana Buddha.
Amida buddha DF Amitāyas / Amitāba 阿 彌 陀 Āmítuó Amida
Mentioned in chapters 7 and 23 of the Lotus Sutra, this buddha became the highest object of devotion in Pure Land Buddhism.
Ananda shravaka, monk IM DF US Ānanda 阿 難 Ānán Anan
A cousin of Shakyamuni and, as the Buddha’s personal attendant, one of the ten disciples. It is reported that at the First Council
he recited all of the sutras from memory and that the words “This is what I heard” at the beginning of sutras refer to Ananda.
Anavatapta dragon king DF Anavatapta 阿 那 婆 達 多 Ānàpódáduō Anabadatta
Aniruddha shravaka, monk, IM DF Aniruddha 阿 耨 樓 駄 Ānòulóutuó Anuruda
A cousin of Shakyamuni and one arhat
of the ten disciples.
Asita seer DF Asita 阿 私 仙 Āsī xiān Ashi-sen
The seer in chapter 12 who later became Devadatta.
Attainer of Power to Persevere bodhisattva DF Vīryabalavegaprāpta 得 勤 精 進 力 Dé qínjīng jìnlì Tokugonshōjinriki