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 Please see our Content Disclaimer regarding English terms in LYWA publications that may be outdated and should be considered in context.

bodhisattva vows (Skt)

chang sem dom pa (Tib); byang sems sdom pa (Wyl)

The vows taken when one enters the bodhisattva path.

Bon (Tib)

The religion in Tibet that preceded Buddhism. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has recognized Bön as the fifth tradition along with the four major traditions of Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyü and Gelug. Practitioners of Bön are called Bönpos.

Boudhanath

A village just outside Kathmandu that is built around the Boudhanath Stupa, a famous Buddhist pilgrimage site.

Brahma (Skt)

tsangpa (Tib); tshangs pa (Wyl)

The Hindu god of creation, one of the principal three deities with Vishnu and Shiva.

Brahmin

A member of the priest caste of Indian society.

buddha field

buddhakshetra (Skt); sang gye kyi zhing (Tib); sangs rgyas kyi zhing (Wyl)

In some ways synonymous with pure land, although it can also mean any pure environment, seen as a manifestation of wisdom.