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 Please see our Content Disclaimer regarding English terms in LYWA publications that may be outdated and should be considered in context.
Panchen Lama
A Gelug lineage of incarnations of Amitabha Buddha originally based in Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Shigatse; the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama are the two highest spiritual leaders of Tibet.
Panchen Losang Chökyi Gyaltsen (1570–1662)
The fourth Panchen Lama, who composed Guru Puja (Lama Chöpa) and Path to Bliss Leading to Omniscience, a famous lamrim text; a tutor of the Fifth Dalai Lama.
pandita (Skt)
khäpa (Tib); mkhas pa (Wyl)
Scholar; learned person. Often referred to as pandit, (without the final a), which is the Hindi pronunciation of the Sanskrit.
Paramitayana (Skt)
Pharchin thegpa (Tib); phar phyin theg pa (Wyl)
The Perfection Vehicle, another name for Bodhisattvayana or Sutrayana; the non-tantric Mahayana path.
parinirvana (Skt)
The final nirvana the Buddha attained when he passed away in Kushinagar, India. See also liberation.