Understanding Key Concepts in Buddhism : หน้า 160/164

Samma Samadhi – Right Concentration. A refined state of mind in which you become focused in single-pointed concentration but with a sense of ecstatic joy and feelings of vast openness, softness, and brightness. Kind of like when a mother sees her child for the first time, only better. Samsara – This is the endless cycle of suffering that people experience that is caused by birth, death, and re-birth. The only way to beat Samsara is to become enlightened, so start meditating today, ok? Sangha – An association or assembly. Generally, people think of the word only connected to the monastic order, but in reality, it could be the congregation of people who associate with one another in a common bond; specifically, in Buddhism. Saphaa – A super large building or space in which to meditate or conduct a ceremony; a Meditation Hall. Six Directions – Your very own personal sociogram: your social-networking unit that is already built in and surrounds every individual in the world since birth. Every action that we do has an effect on everyone around us. If we forget to wash the dishes, they sit in the sink for the day and someone else has to do the work that we should have done. Likewise, if you make your bed, then you Mother or the maid or the guardian, doesn’t have to do it. Every one of your actions, then, affects people in the following six directions: your parents or guardians, your teachers, your spouse or partner and family; your friends or your schoolmates or the people you work with, your employees, and your "moral guide". What does this really mean? Well, it means that the more you meditate, the more good vibes you put out there, and the more good stuff will return to you from all of the people in those directions. Likewise, the more bad stuff you put out there, the more you’re totally screwed because who wants bad stuff coming back to you. Trust me. You really do reap what you sow. Upasika – A female member of the Wat who lives, is a part of, and helps serve the Sangha as a whole. Many upasikas have been there since the Wat was founded, or for about forty years. They are, more or less, nuns, although they do not shave their heads as do the Maechi’s. Upasok – A male member of the Wat who lives, is a part of, and helps serve the Sangha as a whole. They help the monks with their “outside” activities like driving them here and there because it is frowned upon for females to be alone with Theravada monks.