cause-awakened one (Skt pratyekabuddha) One who has perceived the twelve-linked chain of causation, or causal relationships, cut off illusions, and gained an understanding of the truth, or one who, in an age without a buddha, through observing natural phenomena has gained such an understanding. Neither of these tries to help others gain enlightenment.
chandala (caṇḍāla) An untouchable class, below the lowest of the four classes in ancient India. People in this class handled corpses, butchered animals, and carried out other tasks associated with the killing of living creatures.
Correct Law (Ch zhengfa, J shōhō or shōbō) An abbreviation for the period when the Correct Law prevails. According to Buddhist belief, after the death of a buddha, his teachings pass through three periods or phases of development. In the first, known as the period of the Correct Law, Buddhism is a living religion and those who practice it attain enlightenment through its teachings. The period of the Correct Law following the death of Shakyamuni Buddha is usually said to have been a thousand years in length, though some sources describe it as five hundred years long. See also Counterfeit Law and Latter Day of the Law.
Counterfeit Law (Ch xiangfa, J zōhō or zōbō) Second period following the death of a buddha. During this period, Buddhism becomes increasingly formalized, people’s connection with it weakens, and progressively fewer of them are able to gain enlightenment through its teachings. Some sources describe the period of the Counterfeit Law following Shakyamuni’s death as a thousand years in length, others as five hundred years. See also Correct Law and Latter Day of the Law.