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 Please see our Content Disclaimer regarding English terms in LYWA publications that may be outdated and should be considered in context.

Naropa (1016–1100)

The Indian mahasiddha, a disciple of Tilopa and guru of Marpa and Maitripa. Naropa transmitted many tantric lineages, including that of the renowned Six Yogas of Naropa.

Nechung oracle (Tib)

gnas chung (Wyl)

The official State Oracle of Tibet, currently residing in Dharamsala, India.

Ngari

Western Tibet, where Atisha first arrived. He wrote Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment at the monastery of Thöling in Zhang-Zhung, or Gugé.

nihilism

kurdeb (Tib); skur 'debs (Wyl)

The doctrine that nothing exists; that, for example, there's no cause and effect of actions, or no past and future lives; as opposed to eternalism.

nihilist

In the context of Buddhist teachings, someone who, upon hearing about emptiness, comes to the mistaken conclusion that nothing exists; for example, that there's no cause and effect of actions or no past and future lives.

nine stages of calm abiding

The nine stages a meditator passes through to attain calm abiding (Skt: shamatha). They are mental placement, continuous placement, patched placement, close placement, taming, pacification, complete pacification, one-pointed attention, balanced placement.

nine-point death meditation

The nine-point death meditation is an important meditation on the impermanence of this life. It consists of three main roots: 1) death is certain; 2) the time of death is uncertain; and 3) nothing can help at the time of death except Dharma practice. Each root has three points and a conclusion.