The bodhisattva (or buddha) of wisdom. Recipient of the wisdom lineage of Shakyamuni Buddha's teachings, which he passed on to Nagarjuna.

Literally, mind protection. Mantras are Sanskrit syllables usually recited in conjunction with the practice of a particular meditational deity and embody the qualities of that deity.

A mantra visualized as a rosary, its syllables representing beads; usually circular, as in the syllables of the one hundred syllable mantra standing around the edge of the moon disc.

See Vajrayana.

The demonic obstructor to spiritual progress; the one who attempted to block Shakyamuni Buddha as he strove for enlightenment under the bodhi tree. See also four maras.

One of the four types of maras; interferes with meditation by increasing desire for sensual pleasures. The personification of desire and temptation that the Buddha defeated just before his enlightenment.

See four maras.

Founder of the Kagyü tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He was a renowned tantric master and translator, a disciple of Naropa and the guru of Milarepa.

One of the two principal disciples of the Buddha, with Shariputra. Maudgalyayana was considered the disciple most accomplished in miraculous powers developed through meditation.

The area of Dharamsala where His Holiness the Dalai Lama and many of the Tibetan refugees live.

The direct realization of emptiness that is conjoined with the pure illusory body in the completion stage of Highest Yoga Tantra to become the union of no more learning, the direct precursor to enlightenment. See also clear light, example clear light and union of clear light and illusory body.

Familiarization of the mind with a virtuous object. There are two types, fixed (Tib: jog gom) also called stabilizing or placement meditation, and analytic or insight meditation (Tib: che gom). See also single-pointed concentration.