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 Please see our Content Disclaimer regarding English terms in LYWA publications that may be outdated and should be considered in context.

Collected Topics

dura (Tib); bsdus grwa (Wyl)

A preliminary subject in the Tibetan Gelug tradition that serves as an introduction to syllogistic reasoning and systematizes and defines basic Buddhist concepts and terms.

common siddhi

sadharanasiddhi (Skt); tun mong gi ngo drub (Tib); thun mong gi dngos grub (Wyl)

Also called mundane siddhi, an attainment or realization of psychic power acquired as a by-product of the spiritual path, not considered helpful in developing toward enlightenment. Includes the various forms of common clairvoyance, invisibility, the ability to fly or travel great distances extremely quickly and so forth. For the traditional list see eight common siddhis. See also siddhi and supreme siddhi. For clairvoyance see five forms of clairvoyance.

compassion

karuna (Skt); nying je (Tib); snying rje (Wyl)

The wish that others be free from suffering.

completing karma

drubje kyi lä (Tib); 'grub byed kyi las (Wyl)

Also called finishing karma, the karmic imprints that ripen to determine the type of experiences we have when we are reborn, as opposed to throwing karma that determines the actual rebirth. There are three types of completing karma: the possessed result and two types of result similar to the cause—that similar in experience and that similar in habit, or tendency. 

compositional factors

samskara (Skt); du je kyi phung po (Tib); ’du byed kyi phung po (Wyl)

Also called conditioning factors; the fourth of the five aggregates, consisting of 49 of the 51 mental factors (excluding feeling and discriminative awareness) that compound the result—that is, they are compounding—as opposed to compounded phenomena, which refers to the result itself.

compounded phenomena

samskrta (Skt); du jä kyi chö (Tib); ’dus byas kyi chos (Wyl)

Phenomena that arise due to causes and conditions.

Condensed Advice

Shiksa-samuccaya (Skt); lab tu (Tib); bslab btus (Wyl)

An important work by Shantideva with descriptions of the hell realm.