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 Please see our Content Disclaimer regarding English terms in LYWA publications that may be outdated and should be considered in context.
The aggregates of an ordinary being that are contaminated by the seeds of delusion and therefore pervaded by suffering because they are controlled by delusion and karma.
The altruistic mind of enlightenment; a mental primary consciousness holding the two aspirations of wishing to benefit all sentient beings and wishing to attain enlightenment in order to do this. See also ultimate bodhicitta.
The manifestation in ordinary form of the absolute guru, in order to benefit sentient beings.
Also called relative refuge; the objects of refuge—the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha—as known to an obscured mind, The conventional Buddha refers to the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, and any other buddha, the conventional Dharma refers to three baskets of teachings—Vinaya, Abhidharma and Sutra—as well as the virtuous actions we do, and conventional Sangha refers to any assembly of four or more fully ordained monks or nuns living in pure vows who have yet to attain the state of arya being. Lama Zopa Rinpoche also refers to the conventional Buddha as "the Buddha that is true to the all-obscuring mind" or "illusory Buddha." See also absolute refuge.
As opposed to ultimate truth, which is the understanding of the ultimate nature of reality (emptiness), conventional truth is what is true to the valid conventional consciousness. It is also called concealer truth or all-obscuring truth because, although true on one level, it obscures the ultimate nature. Conventional and ultimate truth form the important subject in Buddhist philosophy called the two truths.
The six realms of conditioned existence, three lower—hell, hungry ghost (Skt: preta) and animal—and three upper—human, demigod (Skt: asura) and god (Skt: sura). It is the beginningless, recurring cycle of death and rebirth under the control of delusion and karma and fraught with suffering. It also refers to the contaminated aggregates of a sentient being.
A bandit.
The pure land of Vajrayogini.
Jampel Lhundrup. Pabongka Rinpoche's root guru for lamrim teachings; author of the Jorchö text A Necklace for the Fortunate; his reincarnation has lived in France for many years.
Literally, a "sky-goer." A male being who helps arouse blissful energy in a qualified tantric practitioner.
Literally, a "female sky-goer." A female being who helps arouse blissful energy in a qualified tantric practitioner.
Gyalwa Tenzin Gyatso. Revered spiritual leader of the Tibetan people and tireless worker for world peace; winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989; a guru of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
