Abstract:

Buddhist outlook on technical terms originates from its language outlook, that is, language is illusionary and has no ontological status. From the perspective of Semantic Triangle Theory, there are three types of semantic structures in Buddhist terms, namely, the interactions between signifier and signified, between concept and signifier, and between concept and signified, which are different from worldly linguistics. At any of the points in the triangle, there can be illusions or multiple substitutability. The truthful outlook of Buddhist terminology presents illusions at all points,while partial illusions or multiple substitutability at any level result from Buddhas’ or Bodhisattvas’ accommodations based on the All Life’s status of enlightenment.

Key words: Buddhist technical term, Amitabha Buddha, linguistic illusions, semantic triangle theory