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 Please see our Content Disclaimer regarding English terms in LYWA publications that may be outdated and should be considered in context.
Another term for a Buddhist, so called because the person has entered "inside" the teachings of the Buddha by taking heartfelt refuge in the Three Jewels, thus differentiating from an outer being who relies on non-Buddhist philosophies and external phenomena as sources of happiness.
The Dharma practiced by Buddhists, as opposed to "outer Dharma" which is practiced by non-Buddhists.
The energy residing at the navel chakra, aroused during the completion stage of Highest Yoga Tantra, and used to bring the energy winds into the central channel. It is also called inner or psychic heat.
A tantric offering whose basis of transformation is one’s five aggregates visualized as the five meats and the five nectars.
The principal meditation taught in the Theravada tradition. It is based on the Buddha’s teachings on the four foundations of mindfulness. It is sometimes called mindfulness meditation. In the Mahayana, vipashyana (Skt) has a different connotation, where it means investigation of and familiarization with the actual way in which things exist and is used to develop the wisdom of emptiness.
Sometimes translated as "faculty of imagination." A human being’s capacity for thinking and imagination that enables us to project into the future, recollect past experiences and so forth; a faculty that often leads us into conflict. The insight, or wisdom, that enables us to judge between long- and short-term benefit and detriment.
Various hindering spirits who try to prevent pure Dharma practice.
The state between death and rebirth.
One of two main ways of understanding a Dharma teaching, this one is where the content is not to be taken literally but needs interpretation, as opposed to the definitive meaning.
Of the four continents surrounding Mount Meru in Buddhist cosmology, this is the southern continent where human beings live. The other three continents are Godaniya in the west; Kuru in the north and Videha in the east.
Also called Jamyang. See Manjushri.
Nephew of Lha Lama Yeshe Ö, the king who first wished Atisha to come to Tibet to regenerate the Dharma. When his uncle died, Jangchub Ö sent emissaries to India and brought Atisha to Tibet.
A foremost scholar and tantric practitioner from Sera Je Monastery and former abbot of Gyüme Tantric College. Since then Rinpoche has taught extensively in India and the West. In 2017 he was appointed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the 104th Gaden Tripa, the head of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.
The volumes of stories, mostly in the Pali Canon, but also within the Sanskrit and Tibetan texts, that relate to the lives of Shakyamuni Buddha before he became enlightened. The tales generally hold a strong moral lesson.
A ceremony that allows the disciple to recite a mantra and practice a sadhana, but is not considered a full initiation.
The principal English translator of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a learned scholar, translator and editor of many books including the Library of Tibetan Classics titles The Book of Kadam and Mind Training.
Also known as the wisdom dharma body (Skt: jnanadharmakaya, Tib: yeshe chö ku, Wyl: ye shes chos sku). The omniscient mind of a buddha, which is the wisdom aspect of the truth body, or dharmakaya. The emptiness of the truth body is the svabhavikakaya (nature body).
The main temple in Lhasa, Tibet.
The six preparatory practices that prepare the mind for lamrim meditation.
Tsechokling Rinpoche. A recent lineage lama of Mahamudra; tutor of the Eighth Dalai Lama; founded Tsechok Ling Monastery in Lhasa.
The order of Tibetan Buddhism founded in the eleventh century by Atisha, Dromtönpa and their followers, the "Kadampa geshes"; the forerunner of the Gelug School.
A practitioner of the Kadam lineage. Kadampa geshes are renowned for their practice of thought transformation.
Slang for feces.
Literally, Cycle of Time. A male meditational deity of Highest Yoga Tantra. The Kalachakra Tantra contains instructions in medicine, astronomy and so forth.
Wrathful male meditational deity connected with Yamantaka.
The great Indian scholar from Nalanda Monastery who accompanied Shantarakshita to Tibet to try to revitalize Buddhism there. He is noted for his three texts called Stages of Meditation (Skt: Bhavanakrama).
The second buddha of this eon. See also Krakucchanda, Kashyapa, and Maitreya.
The part of the Tibetan Canon that contains the sutras and tantras; literally, "translation of the (Buddha's) word." It contains 108 volumes.
Skull cup, e.g., the one held by Yum Dorje Nyemma.
Action; the working of cause and effect, whereby positive (virtuous) actions produce happiness and negative (non-virtuous) actions produce suffering.
The head of the Kagyü lineage, one of the four Tibetan traditions. The tradition of the Karmapa was founded in 1110. His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje is the seventeenth Karmapa.
The way in which things appear to us influenced by karma created in the past.
The third buddha of this eon. See also Krakucchanda, Kanakamuni and Maitreya.
Buddha-body or holy body. A body of an enlightened being. See also dharmakaya, rupakaya, two kayas, three kayas and four kayas.