Buddhist Glossary
Alertness A mental factor that is a type of wisdom that examines our activity of body, speech and mind and knows whether or not faults are developing.
Amitabha Please click here
Buddha Amitayus
Amitayus Please click here
Atisha Please click here
Attachment A deluded mental factor that observes its contaminated object, regards it as a cause of happiness, and wishes for it.
Avalokiteshvara Please click here
Beginningless Time According to the Buddhist world view, there is no beginning to mind, and so no beginning to time. Therefore all sentient beings have taken countless previous rebirths.
Blessing
Blessing The transformation of our mind from a negative state to a positive state, from an unhappy state to a happy state, or from a state of weakness to a state of strength, through the inspiration of holy beings such as our Spiritual Guide, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
Bodhichitta Sanskrit word for 'mind of enlightenment'. 'Bodhi' means 'enlightenment' and 'chitta' means 'mind'. There are two types of bodhichitta: conventional bodhichitta and ultimate bodhichitta. Generally speaking, the term 'bodhichitta' refers to conventional bodhichitta, which is a mind of great compassion that spontaneously wishes to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all living beings. Ultimate bodhichitta is a wisdom motivated by conventional bodhichitta that directly realizes emptiness, the ultimate nature of phenomena.
Bodhisattva Maitreya
Bodhisattva A person who has generated spontaneous bodhichitta but who has not yet become a Buddha. From the moment a practitioner generates a non-artificial, or spontaneous, bodhichitta, he or she becomes a Bodhisattva and enters the first Mahayana path, the path of accumulation. An ordinary Bodhisattva is one who has not realized emptiness directly, and a Superior Bodhisattva is one who has attained a direct realization of emptiness.
Buddha Please click here
Buddha Shakyamuni Please click here
Buddhism Please click here
Buddhist Temple
Buddhist Temple Please click here
Completion Stage Highest Yoga Tantra realizations that are attained through completing a special method that causes the winds to enter, abide and dissolve within the central channel.
Concentration A mental factor that makes its primary mind remain on its object single-pointedly.
Conscientiousness A mental factor that, in dependence upon effort, cherishes what is virtuous and guards the mind from delusion and non-virtue.
Contentment Being satisfied with one's inner and outer conditions, motivated by a virtuous intention.
Dakini
Dakini / Daka Please click here
Degenerate Times A period when spiritual activity degenerates.
Deity 'Yidam' in Sanskrit. A Tantric enlightened being.
Delusion A mental factor that arises from inappropriate attention and functions to make the mind unpeaceful and uncontrolled. There are three main delusions: ignorance, desirous attachment and anger. From these arise all other delusions, such as jealousy, pride and deluded doubt.
Dharma Book
Dharma Please click here
Dharma Protector A Dharma Protector is a Buddha appearing in a protecting aspect, whose main functions are to avert inner and outer obstacles that prevent practitioners from gaining spiritual realizations, and to arrange all the necessary conditions for their spiritual development.
Dorje Shugden Please click here
Eight Auspicious Signs Please click here
Emanation An animate or inanimate form manifested by Buddhas or high Bodhisattvas to benefit others.
Empowerment
Empowerment Please click here
Emptiness Lack of inherent existence, the ultimate nature of phenomena.
Enlightenment A liberation and a true cessation of all suffering.
Faith A naturally virtuous mind that functions mainly to oppose the perception of faults in its observed object.
Field of Merit
Field of Merit Please click here
Foe Destroyer 'Arhat' in Sanskrit. A practitioner who has abandoned all delusions and their seeds by training on the spiritual paths, and who will never again be reborn in samsara. In this context, the term 'Foe' refers to the delusions.
Four Noble Truths Please click here
Fortunate Aeon The name given to this world age. It is so called because one thousand Buddhas will appear during this aeon. Buddha Shakyamuni was the fourth and Buddha Maitreya will be the fifth.
Generation Stage A realization of a creative yoga prior to attaining the actual completion stage, which is attained through the practice of bringing the three bodies into the path, in which one mentally generates oneself as a Tantric Deity and one's surroundings as the Deity's mandala. Meditation on generation stage is called a 'creative yoga' because its object is created, or generated, by correct imagination.
Generic Image The appearing object of a conceptual mind. A generic image, or mental image, of an object is like a reflection of the object. Conceptual minds know their object through the appearance of a generic image of that object, not by seeing the object directly.
Gen-la Kelsang Khyenrab Please click here
Geshe Langri Tangpa
Geshe A title given by Kadampa monasteries to accomplished Buddhist scholars.
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, (Geshe-la) Please click here
Green Tara Please click here
Guru See Spiritual Guide
Heroes and Heroines A Hero is a male Tantric Deity embodying method. A Heroine is a female Tantric Deity embodying wisdom.
Heruka
Heruka Please click here
Hinayana Sanskrit word for 'Lesser Vehicle'. The Hinayana goal is to attain merely one's own liberation from suffering by completely abandoning delusions.
Holy Being A being who is worthy of devotion.
Inner Winds Special subtle winds related to the mind that flow through the channels of our body. Our body and mind cannot function without these winds.
Je Tsongkhapa Please click here
Kadampa A Tibetan word in which 'ka' means 'word' and refers to all Buddha's teachings, 'dam' refers to Atisha's special Lamrim instructions known as the "stages of the path to enlightenment", and 'pa' refers to a follower of Kadampa Buddhism who integrates all the teachings of Buddha that they know into their Lamrim practice.
Kadampa Founder Venerable Atisha
Kadampa Buddhism A Mahayan Buddhist school founded by the great Indian Buddhist Master Atisha (982-1054 CE).
Kadampa Tradition The pure tradition of Buddhism established by Atisha. Followers of this tradtition up to the time of Je Tsongkhapa are known as "Old Kadampas", and those after the time of Je Tsonghkapa are known as "New Kadampas". Please click here for more information
Karma Sanskrit word meaning 'action'. Through the force of intention, we perform actions with our body, speech and mind, and all of these actions produce effects. The effect of virtuous actions is happiness and the effect of negative actions is suffering.
Lamrim Please click here
Liberation 'Nirvana' in Sanskrit. Complete freedom from samsara and its cause, the delusions.
Lineage A line of instruction that has been passed down from Spiritual Guide to disciple, with each Spiritual Guide in the line having gained personal experience of the instruction before passing it on to others.
Losang Dragpa
Losang Dragpa 'Sumati Kirti' in Sanskrit. The ordained name of Je Tsongkhapa.
Mahamudra A Sanskrit word, literally meaning 'great seal'. According to Sutra, this refers to the profound view of emptiness. Since emptiness is the nature of all phenomena, it is called a 'seal', and since a direct realization of emptiness enables us to accomplish the great purpose - complete liberation from the sufferings of samsara - it is also called 'great'. According to Secret Mantra, great seal is the union of great bliss and emptiness.
Mahayana Sanskrit word for "Great Vehicle", the spiritual path to great enlightenment. The Mahayana goal is to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings by completely abandoning delusions and their imprints.
Maitreya Please click here
Mala
Mala A rosary used to count recitations of prayers or mantras, usually with one hundred and eight beads.
Mandala of Vajrayogini
Mandala The celestial mansion in which a Tantric Deity abides.
Mandala Offering
Mandala Offering The word 'mandala' in this context means universe'. When we offer a mandala to the holy beings we are offering everything - the whole universe and everyone in it. We mentally transform the whole universe into a Pure Land filled with precious objects and inhabited by pure beings. Imagining that we are holding this pure universe in our hands, we offer it to all the enlightened beings. In this way we are offering everything we have or could wish for. Making mandala offerings is very powerful, and if we wish for good fortune and spiritual attainments we should offer a mandala everyday.
Manjushri Please click here
Mantra A Sanskrit word, literally meaning 'mind protection'. Mantra protects the mind from ordinary appearances and conceptions.
Mara 'Mara' is Sanskrit for 'demon', and refers to anything that obstructs the attainment of liberation or enlightenment. There are four principal types of mara: the mara of the delusions, the mara of contaminated aggregates, the mara of uncontrolled death, and the Devaputra maras. Of these, only the last are actual sentient beings.
Medicine Buddha Please click here
Meditation
Meditation Constant acquaintance of the mind with a virtuous object.
Daily Meditation Meditation Retreats Chanted Meditation
Mental Factor A cognizer that principally apprehends a particular aspect of an object.
Merit The good fortune created by virtuous actions. It is the potential power to increase our good qualities and produce happiness.
Mindfulness A mental factor that functions not to forget the object realized by the primary mind.
Mudra
Mudra Generally, the Sanskrit word for 'seal', as in Mahamudra, the 'great seal'. More specifically, 'mudra' is used to refer to a consort, as in 'action mudra' or 'wisdom mudra', and to hand gestures used in Tantric rituals.
Naga A non-human being not normally visible to humans. Nagas normally live in the oceans of the world but they sometimes inhabit land in th region of rocks and trees. They are very powerful, some being benevolent and some malevolent.
New Kadampa Tradition Please click here
Nirvana See Liberation
Light Offerings
Offerings Please click here
Perfection of Wisdom Sutras Sutras of the Second Turning of the Wheel of Dharma in which Buddha revealed his final view of the ultimate nature of all phenomena - lack of inherent existence.
Prajnaparamita Please click here
Primary Mind A cognizer that principally apprehends the mere entity of an object. There are six primary minds: the eye awareness, the ear awareness, the nose awareness, the tongue awareness, the body awareness and the mental awareness.
Prostration
Prostration There are three types of prostration: physical, verbal, and mental. We make physical prostrations by paying respect with physical actions of our body, such as by making full length or half length prostrations, bowing our head, or pressing the palms of our hands together. We make verbal prostrations by paying respect with our speech, such as by reciting praises to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. We make mental prostrations by paying respect mentally, such as by developing faith in the Three Jewels.
Puja A ceremony in which offerings and other acts of devotion are performed in front of holy beings.
Pure Land
Pure Land A pure environment in which there are no true sufferings. There are many Pure Lands. For example, Tushita is the Pure Land of Buddha Maitreya, Sukhavati is the Pure Land of Buddha Amitabha, and Dakini Land, or Keajra, is the Pure Land of Buddha Vajrayogini and Buddha Heruka.
Purification Generally, any practice that leads to the attainment of a pure body, speech, or mind. More specifically, a practice for purifying negative karma by means of the four opponent powers.
Realization A stable and non-mistaken experience of a virtuous object that directly protects us from suffering.
Refuge Actual protection. To go for refuge to Buddha, Dharma and Sangha means to have faith in these Three Jewels and to rely upon them for protection from all fears and suffering.
Sadhana A ritual that is a method for attaining spiritual realizations. It can be associated with Sutra or Tantra
Samayavajra Please click here
Samsara This can be understood in two ways: as uninterrupted rebirth without freedom or control, or as the aggregates of a being who has taken such a rebirth.
Ordained Sangha
Sangha Please click here
Secret Mantra See Tantra
Seed-letter HRIH
Seed-letter The sacred letter from which a deity is generated. Each deity has a particular seed-letter. For example, the seed letter of Manjushri is DHI, of Tara is TAM, of Amitayus is HRIH, and of Vajrayogini is BAM.
Self-Cherishing A mental attitude that considers oneself to be precious or important. It is regarded as a principal object to be abandoned by Bodhisattvas.
Self-Grasping A conceptual mind that holds any phenomenon to be inherently existent. The mind of self-grasping gives rise to all other delusions such as anger and attachment. It is the root cause of all suffering and dissatisfaction.
Snow Lion
Snow Lion In Buddhism the snow lion symbolizes the four fearlessnesses of a Buddha.
Spiritual Guide 'Guru' in Sanskrit, 'Lama' in Tibetan. A Teacher who guides us along the spiritual path.
Spontaneous Great Bliss A special bliss that is produced by the drops melting inside the central channel. It is attained by gaining control over the inner winds.
Stupa
Stupa Please click here
Superior Being 'Arya' in Sanskrit. A being who has a direct realization of emptiness.
Superior Seeing A special wisdom that sees its object clearly and that is maintained by tranquil abiding and the special suppleness that is induced by investigation.
Sutra The teachings of Buddha that are open to everyone to practice without the need for empowerment.
Tantra Tantric teachings are distinguised from Sutra teachings in that they reveal methods for training the mind by bringing the future result, or Buddhahood, into the present path. Tantric practitioners overcome ordinary appearances and conceptions by visualizing their body, environment, enjoyments and deeds as those of a Buddha. Tantra is the supreme path to full enlightenment. Tantric practices are to be done in private, and only by those who have received a Tantric empowerment. Synonymous with "Secret Mantra". For more information please click here
Thirty Five Confession Buddhas Please click here
Thousand Armed Avalokiteshvara Please click here
Three Jewels The three objects of refuge, which are the Buddha Jewel, the Dharma Jewel and the Sangha Jewel. They are called "Jewels" because they are both rare and precious.
Torma
Torma Offering A special food offering made according to either Sutric or Tantric rituals.
Tranquil Abiding A concentration that possesses the special bliss of suppleness of body and mind that is attained in dependence upon completing the nine mental abidings.
Transference of Consciousness A practice for transferring the consciousness to the Pure Land at the time of death.
Tsog A 'tsog' is an assembly of Heroes and Heroines. The terms 'Hero' and 'Heroine' and 'Daka' and 'Dakini' are interchangeable.
Ultimate Truth Synonymous with emptiness, lack of inherent existence.
Vajra
Vajra Generally the Sanskrit word 'Vajra' means indestructible like a diamond and powerful like a thunderbolt. In the context of Secret Mantra
it means the indivisibility of method and wisdom.
Vajra and Bell A ritual sceptre symbolizing great bliss and a ritual hand-bell symbolizing emptiness.
Vajradhara Please click here
Vajradharma Please click here
Vajrapani Please click here
Vajrasattva
Vajrasattva Please click here
Vajrayogini Please click here
Very Subtle Mind There are different levels of mind: gross, subtle, and very subtle. Subtle minds manifest when the inner winds gather and dissolve within the central channel.
Vows Promises to refrain from certain actions. The three sets of vows are the Pratimoksha vows of individual liberation, the Bodhisattva vows, and the Secret Mantra vows.
Wheel of Dharma
Wheel of Dharma Buddha gave his teachings in three main phases, which are known as 'the three turnings of the Wheel of Dharma'. During the first Wheel he taught the four noble truths, during the second he taught the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras and revealed the Madhyamika-Prasangika view, and during the third he taught the Chittamatra view.
Wheel of Life Please click here
White Tara Please click here
Wisdom A virtuous, intelligent mind that makes its primary mind understand its object thoroughly. A wisdom is a spiritual path that functions to release our mind from delusions or their imprints. An example of wisdom is the correct view of emptiness.
Worldly Concerns, Eight The objects of the eight worldly concerns are happiness and suffering, wealth and poverty, praise and criticism, and good reputation and bad reputation. These are called 'worldly concerns' because worldly people are constantly concerned with them, wanting some and trying to avoid others.
Yogi / Yogini Sanskrit words usually referring to a male or a female meditator who has attained the union of tranquil abiding and superior seeing.
