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 Please see our Content Disclaimer regarding English terms in LYWA publications that may be outdated and should be considered in context.

Thogme Zangpo (1295–1369)

Also known as Gyalse Ngulchu Thogme. A great master of the Nyingma and Sakya traditions and author of Thirty-seven Practices of a Bodhisattva and a famous commentary on Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life.

thought transformation

lojong (Tib); blo sbyong (Wyl)

Also known as “mind training” or “mind transformation”. A powerful approach to the development of bodhicitta, in which the mind is trained to use all situations, both happy and unhappy, as a means to destroy self-cherishing and self-grasping.

three doors

go sum (Tib); sgo gsum (Wyl)

Body, speech and mind.

three higher trainings

lhagpäi lab pa sum (Tib); lhag pa'i bslab pa gsum (Wyl)

The three higher trainings of ethics, concentration and wisdom when conjoined with refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. See three trainings.

three holy places of Heruka

Three places in the Himalayas that represent Heruka's body, speech and mind, they are: Mt. Kailash, Tsari and Lapchi.

Three Jewels

triratna (Skt); kon chog sum (Tib); dkon mchog gsum (Wyl)

Also called the Triple Gem or the Three Rare Sublime Ones. The objects of Buddhist refuge: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Lama Zopa Rinpoche prefers “Three Rare Sublime Ones” as a more direct translation of kon chog sum.