This glossary contains an alphabetical list of Buddhist terms that you may find on this website. Many of the terms now include phoneticized Sanskrit (Skt) as well as two forms of Tibetan—the phonetic version (Tib), which is a guide to pronunciation, and transliteration using the Wylie method (Wyl). Search for the term you want by entering it in the search box or browse through the listing by clicking on the letters below. Please see our Content Disclaimer regarding English terms in LYWA publications that may be outdated and should be considered in context.
A fully awakened being, who has totally eliminated (Tib: sang) all obscurations veiling the mind and has fully developed (Tib: gye) all good qualities to perfection. See also enlightenment, Shakyamuni Buddha.
The historical Buddha. See Shakyamuni Buddha.
The teachings of the Buddha. See also Dharma.
See enlightenment.
The eighth century Indian teacher who founded one of the Guhyasamaja systems; studied the Perfection of Wisdom teachings with Haribhadra.
One who has taken refuge in the Three Jewels of Refuge, Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, and who accepts the philosophical world view of the four seals: that all composite phenomena are impermanent, all contaminated phenomena are in the nature of suffering, all things and events are devoid of self-existence, and nirvana is true peace.
A ritual vase with a spout used in ceremonies and initiations.
The tantric practice of making offerings to a deity generated within a fire, such as Dorje Khadro or Jigten Gyima Lha (which simply means “worldly fire deity”). This ritual is performed as part of the preliminary practices or at the conclusion of an approximation retreat. Often called a fire puja.
A small town in West Bengal in eastern India, where most of the Tibetan monks who escaped to India in 1959 were accommodated. Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche both resided here after arriving in India.
