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 Please see our Content Disclaimer regarding English terms in LYWA publications that may be outdated and should be considered in context.

tantra (Skt)

gyü (Tib); rgyud (Wyl)

Literally, thread, or continuity. The secret teachings of the Buddha; a scriptural text and the teachings and practices it contains. Also called Vajrayana or Mantrayana.

tantric vows

sang ngag kyi dom pa (Tib); gsang sngags kyi sdom pa (Wyl)

Vows taken by tantric practitioners.

Tara (Skt)

Drolma (Tib); sgrol ma (Wyl)

A female meditational deity who embodies the enlightened activity of all the buddhas; often referred to as the mother of the buddhas of the past, present and future. The Twenty-one Praises to Tara prayer is usually recited before debate sessions at Tibetan Buddhist monasteries.

Tashi Lhunpo Monastery (Tib)

bkra shis lhun po (Wyl)

The Panchen Lama's monastery in Shigatse in Tibet; built by the First Dalai Lama, Gyalwa Gendun Drub; now re-established in exile in south India.

tathagata (Skt)

de zhin sheg pa (Tib); de bzhin gshegs pa (Wyl)

Epithet for a buddha; literally, “one who has gone to suchness.”

Tehor Khampa (Tib)

tre hor khams pa (Wyl)

Anyone from the Tehor region in the eastern part of Kham in Tibet. Tehor is the largest of the fourteen regional house groups at Sera Je Monastery.

temporal happiness

jigtenpäi dewa (Tib); 'jig rten pa'i bde ba (Wyl)

The worldly happiness of humans and gods.

ten great mantras

With the five great mantras, these are especially beneficial at the time of death. They are: 1) Chenrezig long and short mantra; 2) Namgyälma long and short mantra; 3) Milarepa’s mantra; 4) the mantra of Kunrig; 5) Medicine Buddha mantra (short); 6) Zung of the Exalted Completely Pure Stainless Light; 7) Stainless Pinnacle mantra; 8) Lotus Pinnacle of Amoghapasha; 9) Buddha Mitukpa mantra; 10) the mantras of Buddha Maitreya’s promise.

ten grounds or stages

dasha-bhumi (Skt); sa chu (Tib); sa bcu (Wyl)

The ten stages a bodhisattva progresses through once reaching the path of seeing, the first level being there, the second to seventh during the path of meditation and the eighth to tenth during the path of no more learning. See also bhumi.