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 Please see our Content Disclaimer regarding English terms in LYWA publications that may be outdated and should be considered in context.
Born in Lhokha, South Tibet, the son of the first Serkong Dorje Chang and an incarnation of Darma Dodé. After studying at Ganden Monastery, he became a lharampa geshe, and was one of seven tsenshaps or "master debate partners" to His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. See also Tsenshap Serkong Rinpoche 2.
Born in Spiti Valley, India, and recognized as the incarnation of Tsenshap Serkong Rinpoche by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Rinpoche commenced his studies at Ganden Jangtse Monastery in South India at the age of six and continued his education at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala, where he attained the status of Master of Madhyamika Buddhist Philosophy. Rinpoche is now based in Dharamsala and teaches Buddhist philosophy in India and abroad.
Literally, gathering—a gathering of offering substances and a gathering of disciples to make the offering.
Founder of the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and revitalizer of many sutra and tantra lineages and the monastic tradition in Tibet.
A region in Nepal, where Geshe Lama Konchog (and his reincarnation) was born.
A state of meditation in which a great spiritual master with deep insight into emptiness remains absorbed in clear light after their death. The meditative absorption may last for days, weeks or months. Read more about tukdam here.
A reincarnated lama; one who through the mind of bodhicitta can choose where to be reborn in order to best serve all sentient beings. The title given to such a lama in most Tibetan traditions. (In the Gelug tradition the term used is Rinpoche.)
See inner fire.
The Joyous Land. There are two Tushita realms. One is the pure land of the thousand buddhas of this eon, where the future buddha, Maitreya, and Lama Tsongkhapa reside. The other is the abode of one of the six divisions of desire realm gods (Tib: död lha rig drug; Wyl: 'dod lha rigs drug). See also the six abodes of the desire realm gods.
