Kadampa master and one of Atisha's three main disciples, the other two being Khuton Tsondru Yungdrung and Ngok Lepai Sherap (collectively known as "the trio Khu, Ngok and Drom").

Subtle substances that permeate the body, caused by the coalescing of the mind and its accompanying wind at certain parts of the body. Said to have originated from the original white drop from the father and the red drop from the mother, drops are an important element in Vajrayana practice.

Attaining house, a place where a meditation practice or retreat is done; so called because here attainments can be achieved.

The ignorant view characteristic of the unenlightened mind in which all things are falsely conceived to have concrete self-existence. To such a view, the appearance of an object is mixed with the false image of its being independent or self-existent, thereby leading to further dualistic views concerning subject and object, self and other, this and that, etc.

Suffering, the term used by the Buddha in the sutra Setting the Wheel of Dharma in Motion (Pali: Dammacakkappavattana-sutta), also known as the Four Noble Truths Sutra; often translated as dissatisfaction. See also the four noble truths.

See Collected Topics.

A protector said to increase wealth; a manifestation of Ratnasambhava.

See completion stage.

Literally "Great Perfection", the practice to attain the mind's natural, primordial state.

As opposed to aspirational bodhicitta, which is uncontrived, this is the wish to achieve enlightenment for all sentient beings that arises through reasoning. See bodhicitta and effortless bodhicitta.

The spontaneous, uncontrived wish to achieve full enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings, without needing reasoning, like a mother's concern for a beloved child. See bodhicitta and effortful bodhicitta.

The wrong conception of the self; the mistaken belief that "I am self-existent." The fundamental ignorance that has caused us to circle through cyclic existence since beginningless time.