Part 50 (1/2)

Ka'rma, anglicised form of _skt._ stem-form _ka'rman_ (nom. s. _karma_), the _p._ of which is _ka'mmam_. Action, work, the law of action, retribution, results of deeds previously done and the destiny resulting therefrom. Eitel defines karma as ”that moral kernel [of any being]

which alone survives death and continues in transmigration.” Karma is a well-defined and scientifically exact term. Professor Huxley says, ”In the theory of evolution, the tendency of a germ to develop according to a certain specific type, e.g., of the kidney bean seed to grow into a plant having all the characters of _Phaseolus vulgaris_ is its 'karma.'

It is 'the last inheritor and the last result' of all the conditions that have affected a line of ancestry which goes back for many millions of years to the time when life first appeared on earth.” We read in the Anguttara Nikaya, Pancaka Nipata: ”My action (karma) is my possession, my action is my inheritance, my action is the womb which bears me, my action is the race to which I am akin [as the kidney-bean to its species], my action is my refuge.” [See the article ”Karma and Nirvana”

in _Buddhism and Its Christian Critics_, p. 131 ff.]

Ka'si, _p._, Ka's'i, _skt._, the old and holy name of Benares.--104 et seq., 192.

Ka'ssapa, _p._, Ka's'yapa, _skt._ (the etymology ”He who swallowed fire,” is now rejected), a name of three brothers, chiefs of the Jatilas, called after their residences, Uruvela, Nadi, and Gaya. The name Ka.s.sapa applies mainly to Ka.s.sapa of Uruvela, one of the great pillars of the Buddhistic brotherhood, who took at once, after his conversion, a most prominent rank among Buddha's disciples. [Ka.s.sapa of Uruvela is frequently identified with Maha-Ka.s.sapa, the same who was president of the council at Rajagaha, but H. Dharmapala states, on the authority of the Anguttara Nikaya, that the two were altogether different persons.]

Kha'ndha, _p._, Ska'ndha, _skt._, elements; attributes of being, which are form, sensation, perception, discrimination, and consciousness.

Kile'sa, _p._, Kle'sa, _skt._, error.

Ki'sa Go'tami, _p._, Kri'sha Gau'tami, _skt._, the slim or thin Gotami.

Name (i) of a cousin of Buddha, mentioned in Chap. VI, p. 16, (2) of the heroine in the parable of the mustard seed.

Ko'li, a little kingdom in the neighborhood of Kapilavatthu, the home of Yasodhara.

Kond'anna, _p._, Kaundi'nya, _skt._, name of Buddha's first disciple, afterwards called Ajna'ta Kaundi'nya in _skt._ and Anna'ta Konda'nna in _p._

Ko'sala, _p._ and _skt._, name of a country.

Kosa'mbi, _p._, Kausa'mbi, _skt._, a city.

Kusina'ra, _p._, Kusina'gara, _skt._, a town.

Kutada'nta, _p._ and _skt._, a Brahman chief in the village Danamati, also called Khanumat; is mentioned in Sp. Hardy's _M.B._, p. 289 and in _S.B.E._, Vol. XIX., p. 242 [Fo, v. 1682].--152-160. Cf. Rhys Davids's _Dialogues_, pp. 173-179.

Li'cchavi, _p._ and _skt._, the name of a princely family.

Lu'mbini, _skt._, a grove named after a princess, its owner.

Ma'gadha, _p._ and _skt._, name of a country.

Ma'gga, Ma'rga, _skt._, path; especially used in the Pali phrase ”Ariyo atthangiko maggo,” the n.o.ble eightfold path, which consists of: right views, high aims, right speech, upright conduct, a harmless livelihood, perseverance in well-doing, intellectual activity, and earnest thought.

[See _S.B.E_, Vol. XI, pp. 63 and 147.]

Mahara'ja, the great king.

Mahase'tu, the great bridge. A name invented by the author of the present book to designate the importance of Christianity compared to the Hinayana and Mahayana of Buddhism.

Mahaya'na, the great vehicle, viz., of salvation. Name of the Northern conception of Buddhism, comparing religion to a great s.h.i.+p in which men can cross the stream of Samsara to reach the sh.o.r.e of Nirvana.

Ma'lla, _p._ and _skt._, name of a tribe.

Manasa'kata, _p._, Manasa'krita, _skt._, a village in Kosala.

Manda'ra, _p._ and _skt._, a flower of great beauty.