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 Please see our Content Disclaimer regarding English terms in LYWA publications that may be outdated and should be considered in context.

wish-granting jewel

cintamani (Skt); yizhin norbu (Tib); yid bzhin nor bu (Wyl)

Also called "wish-fulfilling jewel". A jewel that brings its possessor everything that they desire.

wrong view

mithya-drishti (Skt); logta (Tib); log lta (Wyl)

A mistaken or deluded understanding that leads to suffering. In Buddhism there are various ways of defining wrong views. The most common one is as the last of the ten nonvirtues, also known as heresy, but it can also be either all five of the afflicted views among the unwholesome mental factors—the view of the transitory aggregates, extreme views, views of superiority of belief, the views of superiority of morality and discipline, and mistaken or wrong views—or the last one alone.

yabyum (Tib)

yab yum (Wyl)

Literally, “father mother,” the image of a male and female tantric deity in union, signifying the union of method and wisdom.

yaksha (Skt)

nö jin (Tib); gnod sbyin (Wyl)

Spirits, usually described in Tibetan Buddhism as blood-drinking, flesh-eating cannibals, but in other forms of Buddhism they can be either malevolent or benevolent.

yama (Skt)

shinje (Tib); gshin rje (Wyl)

A guardian of the hell realm.

Yama (Skt)

shinchi dagje (Tib); gshin 'chi bdag rje (Wyl)

The Lord of Death, seen on the Wheel of Life.

Yamantaka (Skt)

shinje she (Tib); gshin rje gshed (Wyl)

The "Destroyer of Death," also known as Vajrabhairava, "Terrifying Vajra" (Tib: Droje Jigje; Wyl: rdo rje 'jigs byed). A wrathful meditational deity from the father tantra class of Highest Yoga Tantra.

yana (Skt)

Literally, vehicle; a spiritual path that  leads to an awakened state. The vehicle and spiritual journey depends on the attitude of the practitioner. See also Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana.