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 Please see our Content Disclaimer regarding English terms in LYWA publications that may be outdated and should be considered in context.
An object to be refuted or eliminated. There are different objects of negation in different contexts, but when meditating on emptiness according to Prasangika (the Middle Way Consequence school), the object of negation is inherent existence.
One of the six groups of mental factors, these accompany all virtuous minds and their function is to ascertain the object. There are five: aspiration, belief, mindfulness, stabilization, and wisdom.
Also known as obstructions; the negative imprints left on the mind by negative karma and delusion, which obscure the mind. The disturbing-thought obscurations (Tib: nyön drib) obstruct attainment of liberation and the more subtle obscurations to knowledge (Tib: she drib) obstruct the attainment of enlightenment. See also two obscurations.
One of the two obscurations, the more subtle ones that block enlightenment; also known as subtle obscurations, obscurations to enlightenment and cognitive obscurations (Berzin’s translation). See also disturbing-thought obscurations and two obscurations.
See Orgyen.
The mani; the mantra of Chenrezig, Buddha of Compassion.
One of the six groups of mental factors, these accompany every main mind. There are five: feeling, discrimination, intention, mental engagement and contact.
See enlightenment.
