Glossary of Buddhist Terms
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Abhidharma Skt. The section of Buddhist scriptures concerned with philosophical, cosmological and psychological analysis.

Acharya Skt. An honorific title denoting great spiritual attainment.

Adi Buddha Skt. The Original Buddha.

Amitaba Skt. Öpame Tib.. The Buddha of limitless light. One of the five Dhyani Buddhas

Amitayus Skt. Tsepame Tib.. The Buddha of boundless life.

Amrita Skt. Dutsi Tib.. Nectar.

Anuttarayogatantra The highest of the four levels of Vajrayana teachings.

Arhat One who has "conquered the enemy", that is, "the emotions and ignorance that keep one locked in Samsara". The Arhat represents the Hinayana ideal, one who has experienced the cessation of suffering.

Avalokiteshvara Skt. see Chenrezi.

Bardo Literally, "between two". In general, any interval, "a between". Six bardos are usually spoken of in the Vajrayana teachings:

  • 1. The Death Process. The interval from the moment when the individual begins to die until the moment when the separation of the mind and body takes place.
  • 2. The Cho Nyi Bardo. The interval of the ultimate nature of phenomena (the Dharmata), when the mind is plunged into its own nature. The first phase of the after-death experience.
  • 3. The Bardo Of Becoming. The interval in which the mind moves towards rebirth.
  • 4. The Bardo Between Birth and Death. Ordinary waking consciousness during the present lifetime.
  • 5. Dream. The dream state we experience in sleep.
  • 6. Meditative Concentration. The state of meditative stability.
In the west "bardo" is usually referred to only the first three of these, that is, the states between death and rebirth. These states are no more and no less illusory than dreams and ordinary waking consciousness.

Bhumi Literally "ground". One of the ten stages of realization and activity through which a Bodhisattva progresses towards Enlightenment.
The ten bhumis are:

  • 1. The Supremely joyful.
  • 2. The Stainless.
  • 3. The Illuminating.
  • 4. The Radiant.
  • 5. Very Difficult to Train For.
  • 6. The Manifesting.
  • 7. The Far Going.
  • 8. The Unwavering.
  • 9. Excellent Intelligence.
  • 10. Cloud of Dharma.

Bodhi Skt. The state of realization of Buddhahood.

Bodhicitta Skt. The Enlightened Attitude Proclaimed by the Mahayana - the aspiration to rescue all sentient beings from the sufferings of cyclic existence and bring them to Enlightenment, and perserverance in deeds and practice towards that end. The development of Bodhicitta is an indispensable part of all Vajrayana practice as well.

Bodhisattva One who has taken the great vow to rescue all beings from suffering and guide them to enlightenment.

Chakra Skt. Khorlo Tib. Wheel, center, cycle. Also refers to the subtle energy centers of the physical body.

Chakrasamvara Skt. Khorlo Demchog Tib. An important tantric diety (Yidam) of the Karma Kagyu lineage. He is a heruka belonging to the Lotus family, and is an important Buddha aspect in the six yogas of Naropa.

Chenrezi Tib. Avalokitesvara Skt. Loving Eyes. The Bodhisattva of compassion. Chenrezi is the patron Buddha of Tibet.

Dakini The feminine energy principle, associated with knowledge, intelligence and wisdom. Literally means 'one who goes to the sky'.

Dasabhumi The ten stages of Bodhisattva realization. (see Bhumi)

Dewachen The pure realm of Buddha Amitabha.

Dharma Skt. Cö Tib. Among the many meanings, three are especially important:
1. The Buddha's teaching.
2. Any constituent of a moment of existence, a "thing" or phenomenon.
3. Truth, or ultimate reality.

Dharmadhatu The realm of all phenomena, the space in which all transpires.

Dharmakaya One of the Trikaya (three "bodies") of a Buddha: the body of Dharma. It is equivalent to the ultimate truth and is also expressed as the intrinsic emptiness of mind. Although it is without form and distinct from all activity, it manifests the Sambhokakaya and Nirmanakaya for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Dharmata The fundamental nature of all phenomena, the essence of reality.

Dharmapala Skt. chö kyong Tib. Protector of the Dharma. Buddha aspect, usualy fierce in appearance, that helps practitioners overcome or eliminates, obstacles encountered along the way to enlightenment.

Dhyani Buddha Skt. The five Dhyani Buddhas are:

  • Amitaba
  • Akshobya
  • Amoghasiddhi
  • Ratnasambhava
  • Vairocana

Dolma Skt. Tara Tib.

Dorje Tib. Vajra Skt. Something invisible, something that can cut through anything else. Literal translations of vajra (a word cognate with english "vigor") are "thunderbolt" and "diamond". The dorje or vajra is a Vajrayana ritual implement symbolizing meathod.

Dorje Chang Tib. Vajradhara Skt. The form in which the Buddha or the Lama manifests when giving Vajrayana Teachings. Dorje Chang is the ultimate source of all Buddhist and tantric teachings.

Dorje Naljorma Tib. see Dorje Phagmo

Dorje Phagmo Tib. Vajravarahi Skt. The main Yidam of the Kagyu tradition. She is the embodiment of Wisdom.

Dorje Sempa Tib. Vajrasattva Skt. He whose being is of the nature of the Vajra. The Buddha of purification. Dorje Sempa meditation, one of the four preliminary practices, involves acknowledging all one's unskillful negative actions and attitudes, and aims to eradicate the habitual tendencies from which they arise.

Dzog Chen Tib. Mahasampana Skt. The Great Perfection. The tantra of non-duality practiced by followers of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.

Empowerment Wang Tib. Ritual initiation into a particular practice of meditation, conferred by a Lama who is part of a lineage, and thus himself a recipient and practitioner of such transmissions. Authorization to engage in the meditative practice is not complete without the formal instruction and textual transmission.

Emptiness The absence in beings and objects of independent existence and enduring self-nature; the essential quality of mind, corresponding to the Dharmakaya aspect of Enlightenment. Emptiness is the central theme of Prajnaparamita texts and Madhyamaka philosophy.

Enlightenment Complete enlightenment is a state of realization in which the most subtle traces of ignorance about the nature of reality are eliminated; sometimes called "the embodiment of the "Three Kayas". There are degrees or stages of enlightenment (see Bhumi).

Five Paths Lam ngaTib. The five paths on the way to full enlightenment are:

  • 1 - The path of Accumulation. The practitioner here focuses on purification and the accumulation of merit (positive impressions).
  • 2 - The Path of Application. The teachings of the Dharma are applied here where the focus is cutting desire at its root.
  • 3 - The Path of Seeing. Here one has gone beyond the cycle of existence and has reached the first bhumi.
  • 4 - The Path of Meditation. The phase between the second and tenth stage of a Boddhisattva.
  • 5 - The Path of No More Learning. Full enlightenment. The stage past the tenth bhumi.

Five Skandhas Phung po ngaTib. The five aggregates that comrise the constitution of sentient beings. They are:

  • 1 - Form.
  • 2 - Sensation.
  • 3 - Recognition
  • 4 - Formation.
  • 5 - Consciousness.

Four Buddha Activities Trin Le ZhiTib. The four activities that embody the active compassion of Buddhas. They are:

  • 1 - Pacifying
  • 2 - Growing
  • 3 - Magnetizing
  • 4 - Protective

Gau Tib. An amulet box, reliquary.

Gelong Tib. An ordained monk.

Gelugpa Tib. The 'Reformed' sect of Tibetan Buddhism founded by Je Tsonkhapa. Also refered to as the 'Yellow Hat' sect. The head of the Gelugpa sect is the Dalai Lama.

God Inhabitant of the least painful of the Six Realms of Samsara. The lives of gods, while long and marked by sensuous bliss, are ended in great sorrow as they foresee their future lower rebirth. There are gods of the Desire, Form and Formless Realms.

Gompa Literally "to meditate". Third phase of practice, which follows receipt of teachings and instruction and effort made to comprehend them. Gompa is the actual pursuit of meditational practice.

Gonpo Tib. A protector.

Guru Yoga One of the Four Preliminary Practices. A meditation in which through visualization and recitation the meditator receives the blessing of the Lama and the lineage.

Gyalwa Tib. Victorious one. The honorific name of Karmapas.

Gyalwa Gyamtso Tib. A red, four armed form of Chenrezi.