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| B |
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| Bardo |
The interval of consciousness between the end of one life
and rebirth into another, or any other of the six distinctive intervals of consciousness,
such as dream, waking, meditation, etc. |
| Bodhicitta |
In its most general sense, bodhicitta signifies awakened
mind. Ultimate bodhicitta is the union of emptiness and compassion that arises from
directly realizing Buddha nature, free from concepts. Relative bodhicitta is the
aspiration to establish all beings in bodhi, buddhahood, freedom, from suffering, having
seen the helplessness inherent in the unenlightened state of existence. |
| Bodhisattva |
A manifestation of a Buddha, or one who is cultivating the
path to become a Buddha, whose life is guided by the aspiration to establish all beings in
buddhahood, free from suffering. |
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| Dharma |
Dharma is the teaching of the Buddha. Though the general
meaning of dharma is phenomenon, the term most frequently refers to the Holy Dharma,
profound manifestation, and the path that leads all beings to liberation from suffering-to
enlightenment. |
| Dharmata |
Dharmata is often translated as "suchness" or
"the true nature of things" or "things as they are." It is phenomena
as it really is or as seen by a completely enlightened being without any distortion or
obscuration, so one can say it is "reality." |
| Dharani |
A longer type of mantra or prayer, usually in more textual
form, which possesses symbolic and blessed words. |
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| Empowerment |
A ritual in which a master invokes the enlightened
presence of a deity or bodhisattva to bless the open, devoted mind of a disciple. The
disciple thereby receives the authority, blessing transmission, and empowerment to
cultivate the meditation of that deity. |
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| Five Buddha
families |
(Tib. rig nga)
These are the buddha, vajra, ratna, padma, and karma families. |
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| Guru |
(Tib. lama)
A teacher in the Tibetan tradition who has reached realization. |
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| Hinayana |
Literally, the "lesser vehicle." The term
referes to the first teachings of the Buddha, which emphasized the careful examination of
mind and its confusion. |
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| Kagyu |
One of the four major schools of Buddhism in Tibet. It is
headed by His Holiness Karmapa. The other three are the Nyingma, the Sakya, and the Gelupa
schools. |
| Karmapa |
The title of seventeen successive incarnations of Dusum
Khyenpa who have headed the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. |
| Klesha |
(Tib. nyön mong)
The emotional obscurations (in contrast to intellectual obscurations) which are also
translated as "disturbing emotions" or "poisons." The three main
kleshas are (passion or attachment), (aggression or anger); and (ignorance or delusion).
The five kleshas are the three above plus pride and (envy or jealousy). |
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| Lama |
La means highest and ma means mother. Properly applied,
this term refers to one who has developed the highest qualities and therefore directly
perceives all beings impartially with the selfless love and compassion of a mother for an
only child. |
| Lineage |
The unimpaired continuity of wisdom, commencing with the
Buddha, transmitted from master to disciple unbroken down to the present time. |
| Lung |
(Tib.)
This is a Tibetan word for ritual reading. In order to perform a vajrayana practice, one
must have a holder of the lineage read the text straight through (Tib. lung), give an
explanation of the practice (Tib. tri) and give the empowerment for the practice (Tib.
wang). |
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| Mahayana (Great
Vehicle) |
Among the three general approaches to enlightenment taught
by the Buddha, the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattva will carry all sentient beings to
liberation without leaving any behind. |
| Mudra |
(Tib. chak gya)
A "hand seal" or gesture which is performed in specific tantric ritual practices
to symbolize certain aspects of the practice being done. Also, on images, symbolizes a
certain meaning such as offering, protection, etc. |
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| Ngöndro |
(Tib. and pronounced "nundro")
Tibetan for preliminary practice to purify negative deeds and accumulate merit. One
usually begins the vajrayana path by doing the four preliminary practices which involve
about 100,000 refuge prayers and prostrations, 100,000 vajrasattva mantras, 100,000
mandala offerings, and 100,000 guru yoga practices. |
| Nyungne |
This is a two-day retreat to perform 1000 Arm Chenrezig
practice. It is a powerful and effective practice to purify one’s body, speech and
mind, devised by Gelongma Palmo who was inspired by her great devotion to Chenrezig, the
Lord of Compassion. |
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| Rinpoche |
"Supremely precious," a title of respect
normally reserved for highly revered incarnate masters. |
| Root lama |
(Tib. tsa way lama)
A teacher whom which one has received the instructions and empowerments that form the core
of one’s practice. |
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| Samaya |
(Tib. dam sig)
The vows or commitments made in the vajrayana which can be to a teacher or to a practice. |
| Samsara |
Conditioned existence; ordinary life suffering which
occurs because one still possesses passion, aggression, and ignorance. It is contrasted to
nirvana. |
| Siddha |
One who has attained miraculous powers, particularly
through the supreme attainment, enlightenment. |
| Six Yogas of Naropa |
The supreme methods of the Kagyu lineage for the
realization of Mahamudra, condensing the essential points of all the various methods of
tantra. The six yogas are: subtle heat, illusory body, dream, clear light, bardo, and powa
(transference of consciousness). |
| Stupa |
A monument or reliquary representing the enlightened mind.
The traditional shapes of stupas symbolize the stages of realization. Stupas are built to
pacify disharmony in a country or region; peace, health, prosperity, and other positive
conditions arise through their blessing. |
| Sutra |
These are the hinayana and Mahayana texts which are the
words of the Buddha. These are often contrasted with the tantras, which are the
Buddha’s vajrayana teachings, and the shastras, which are commentaries on the words
of the Buddha. |
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| Thangka |
A Tibetan religious scroll or holy painting. |
| Torma |
(Tib., Skt. bali)
A ritual object made of dried barley and butter and put on the shrine used as a symbolic
offering to the deities. |
| Transmission |
The transfer of wisdom, particularly as the maturation of
the practices of meditation and devotion. |
| Tulku |
In general, this refers to the compassionate manifestation
of enlightenment that ordinary beings can see. In Tibetan Buddhism, beginning with the
first Karmapa, this term commonly refers to masters who have intentionally taken rebirth
in order to benefit sentient beings. |
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| Vajrayanna |
There are three major traditions of Buddhism (hinayana,
Mahayana, vajrayana) The vajrayana is based on the tantras and emphasizes the clarity
aspect of phenomena and is mainly practiced in Tibet. |
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| Yidam |
(Skt. ishtadevata)
A tantric deity that embodies qualities of Buddhahood and is practiced in the vajrayana.
Also called a tutelary deity, a yidam is used as one’s principal meditation deity |
| Yogi |
(Tib. naljorpa)
A buddhist practitioner who engages in intensive meditation and yogic practices; often
refers to someone who has gained realization. |
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