Skip to main content
Glossary

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 Please see our Content Disclaimer regarding English terms in LYWA publications that may be outdated and should be considered in context.

Gelug (Tib)

dge lugs (Wyl)

The Virtuous Order. The order of Tibetan Buddhism founded by Lama Tsongkhapa and his disciples in the early fifteenth century and the most recent of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Developed from the Kadam School founded by Atisha and Dromtönpa. Cf Nyingma, Kagyü and Sakya.

Gen (Tib)

rgan (Wyl)

Literally, elder. A title of respect.

geshe (Tib)

kalyanamitra (Skt); dbge bshes (Wyl)

Literally, a virtuous friend; derived from the Tibetan ge wä she nyen. The title conferred on those who have completed extensive studies and examinations at Gelug monastic universities on these five topics: Abdhidharma, Vinaya, Madhyamaka, Pramana and Prajnaparamita. The highest level of geshe is the lharampa.