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 Please see our Content Disclaimer regarding English terms in LYWA publications that may be outdated and should be considered in context.

Karmapa (Tib)

kar ma pa (Wyl)

The head of the Kagyü lineage, one of the four Tibetan traditions. The tradition of the Karmapa was founded in 1110. His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje is the seventeenth Karmapa.

karmic view

The way in which things appear to us influenced by karma created in the past.

Khadro-la (b. 1976)

Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme, a female oracle to His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and highly realized being, now also teaching throughout the world.

Kham

The region of Tibet east of Lhasa and west of Amdo.

khangtsen (Tib)

khang tshan (Wyl)

In Tibetan monasteries, colleges are divided into houses (khangtsen), and monks are generally assigned to these houses according to the region of Tibet (or neighboring country) from which they come.

khatag (Tib)

kha btags (Wyl)

A white cotton scarf used by Tibetans for greetings and for offering to holy objects.

khatvanga (Skt)

ka tam ga (Tib); kha twam ga (Wyl)

A tantric implement, a trident with symbolic elements.