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 Please see our Content Disclaimer regarding English terms in LYWA publications that may be outdated and should be considered in context.

relics

sharira (Skt); rig sel (Tib); ring bsrel (Wyl)

Small, pearl-like pills that manifest spontaneously from holy objects such as statues, stupas or the cremated bodies of great practitioners.

renunciation

nihsarana (Skt); nge jung (Tib); nges ‘byung (Wyl)

Literally “definite emergence," an abbreviation of nges 'byung gi bsam pa, "the mind of definite emergence," which means to emerge from the depths of samsara. The state of mind not having the slightest attraction to samsaric pleasures for even a second and having the strong wish for liberation. The first of the three principal aspects of the path. See also bodhicitta and emptiness.

resultant refuge

drabüi kyab (Tib); 'bras bu'i skyabs (Wyl)

The potential of our own mind to achieve the absolute refuge, to become a buddha ourselves (resultant Buddha), to actualize the true path within our mental continuum (resultant Dharma) and to attain the state of an arya being (resultant Sangha). To achieve resultant Buddha, Dharma and Sangha we need to first practice causal refuge by relying on the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha already achieved by others. See also conventional refuge.

Ribur Rinpoche (1923–2006)

Recognized as a reincarnation by the Thirteenth Dalai Lama; a geshe of Sera Me Monastery; suffered under Chinese oppression for twenty-one years; a guru of Lama Zopa Rinpoche; lived in the USA and taught in many Western countries. He was given the name Phulchung Gyatso by Phagpa-la Gyatso and Gyalten Ngawang Gyatso by Pabongka Rinpoche when he was ordained, but he never used this name.