bka’ gdams pa, Kadampa

(Buddha’s) Word as Practical Instruction (tradition)

gcod, Chö

"cutting"; a Vajrayana practice of cutting through ego-clinging

bka’ brgyud, Kagyü

"Practice Lineage" (tradition)

dge lugs, Geluk

"The Virtuous Ones"

sa skya, Sakya

"Grey Earth"; one of the four main traditions of Tibetan Buddhism founded by Khön Könchok Gyalpo in the eleventh century

(Bhaṭṭārikā) Tārā

(rje btsun) sgrol ma, (Jetsün) Drölma

“Liberatrice”, “Saviouress”; a female Tibetan Buddhist deity

(Catuḥ-) kāya

sku (bzhi), ku (shi)

(four) bodies of a Buddha

(Devī) Sarasvatī

(lha mo) dbyangs can ma, (Lhamo) Yangchenma

Goddess of wisdom, literary and poetry

(Saṭ-) pāramitā

pha rol tu phyin pa (drug), pharöltu chinpa (druk)

(six) transcendental perfections

Abhidharma

chos mngon pa, chö ngönpa

"Higher Doctrine"; the third of the Three Baskets which is primarily concerned with the training in wisdom; it presents teachings of the sutra section on mind and mental events, cosmology, etc., in a systematic order

Abhāvanā

sgom med, gommé

Beyond Meditation (fourth yoga of mahamudra)

Adhimukti

mos gus, mögü

appreciation and respect; devotion

Amitābha

'od dpag med, Öpakmé

Buddha of Infinite Light. Other names: Nangwa Thaye, Amideva Öpakmé

Amoghapāśa

don yod zhags pa, Dönyö' Zhagpa

“Unfailing Lasso”; a form of Chenrezig

Animiṣa

mig mi 'dzum, Mikmi Dzum

Son of King Tshibkyi Mukhyü, who would become Chenrezig

Anuttarayoga tantra

rnal ’byor bla na med pa’i rgyud, naljor lana mepai gyü

Highest Yoga Tantra

Aranemi

rtsib skyi mu khyud, Tsibkyi Mukhyü

Name of the king who would become Buddha Amitābha

Avalokiteśvara

spyan ras gzigs, Chenrezig

Buddha of Compassion

Bhagavān

bcom ldan 'das, chomdendé

An epithet of the Buddha

Bhikṣuṇī

dge slong ma, gelongma

nun

Bhāvayati

sgom, gom

cultivate; meditation

Bhūmi

sa

“Earth”, “ground”; level of realization of Bodhisattvas

Bodhicitta

byang chub kyi sems, jangchub-kyi sem

awakening mind, enlightened attitude; the Bodhisattva attitude of aspiring towards Awakening for the benefit of all sentient beings

Bodhisattva

byang chub sems dpa’, jangchup sempa

"Hero of Enlightenment"; A person who has generated Bodhicitta and thus embarked upon the journey to Buddhahood

Brahmā

tshangs pa, Tshangpa

Lord of the three worlds

Buddhi-śodhana / citta-śodhana

blo sbyong, lojong

mind training or transformation

Catur mahārāja-kāyika

rgyal chen sde bzhi, gyalchen deshi

Kings of the Four Directions / Four Great Kings

Caturvidhaṃ nirvṛtacittaṃ

blo ldog rnam bzhi, lodok namshi

four thoughts that turn the mind to dharma

Catvāra mahāmudrā yoga

rnal ’byor bzhi, naljor shi

four yogas (of mahamudra)

Cittamātra

sems tsam pa, semtsampa

Mind Only (school of thought); one of the two mahayana schools from the four main tenets of Tibetan Buddhism, founded by Acharya Asanga in the fourth century

Derge

sde dge, Degé

An important principality in the province of Kham, in eastern Tibet

Deva

lha

god

Dharma

chos, chö

phenomena; Buddhist teaching

Dharmadhātu

chos kyi dbyings, chökyi ying

basic space of phenomena

Dharmakāya

chos sku, chöku

"Body of truth"; the ultimate modality of a fully awakened Buddha, manifesting from the removal of the obscurations that temporarily veil the Buddha-nature mind

Dvādaśabud-dhakṛtya

mdzad pa bcu gnyis, dzäpa chunyi

Twelve Deeds of a Buddha

Ekarasa / samarasa

ro gcig, rochik

One Taste (third yoga of mahamudra)

Ekāgra

rtse gcig, tsechik

One-pointedness (first yoga of mahamudra)

Gandharva

dri za, drisa

"Scent Eater"; a class of beings. The term can refer to a class of demi-gods who are singers and musicians; or to beings in the intermediate state

Gāthā

dbyangs kyis bsnyad pa, yang-kyi nyepa

“Comprehension of melody”; a particular poetic meter; one of the 12 composition styles of Buddha’s teachings

Indra

dbang po, Wangpo

Lord of immortality, King of the Heaven Realm of the Thirty-Three. Other name: Śakra

Indrabhūti

in dra bhu ti, Indrabhuti

King of Orgyen

Iṣṭadeva

yi dam, yidam

personal meditation deity

Jagat, Jāgati

skye 'gro, kyedro

“Born-move” (sentient beings); here: Twelve-syllable syntax in Sanskrit composition

Kalpa

bskal pa, kalpa

aeon

Kalyāṇamitra

dge ba’i bshes gnyen / dge bshes, gewai shenyen / geshé

"Virtuous Friend"; in its more common usage, it refers to a degree title in the Geluk school for a monk-scholar who has successfully completed 25 years of intensive studies at a Geluk shedra

Khak-khara

'khar gsil, kharsil

Staff carried by mendicant lamas or monks

Kṛiyāyoga

bya rgyud, ja gyu

"Action Tantra"

Lakśmīkānta

dpal mdzes / lha mo 'od zer can ma, Pal Dzé / Lhamo Özer Chenma

One of the seven Indian masters

Lochava, Anuvādaka

lo tsA ba, lotsāwa

translator

Loka

'jig rten, jigten

World, universe

Madhyamaka

dbu ma, uma

"Middle Way School"; one of the Four Buddhist Tenets or Schools of Thought which roots in Acharya Nagarjuna’s exposition on the prajnaparamita sutras

Maheśvara

dbang phyug chen po, Wangchuk Chenpo

Chief of the gods; also known as Śiva

Mahākalpagrahanti

skal pa chen po 'dzin pa, Kalpa Chenpo Dzinpa

“Great Kalpa, Grasping”. Name of a previous kalpa

Mahāmudrā

phyag rgya chen po, chakya chenpo

Great Seal

Mahāsaṅdhi / ati yoga

rdzogs pa chen po, dzokpa chenpo

Great Perfection

Mahāyāna

theg pa chen po, thegpa chenpo

Great or Universal Vehicle

Maitri-Śrī

nub byams pa'i dpal (bzang po), Nup Jampäi Pal (Zangpo)

A renowned Tibetan translator

Manas

yid, yi

egoic or defiled consciousness

Mantra-caryā

sngags spyod, ngagchö

Lifestyle of a practitioner of Mantrayāna

Mañjuśrī

'jam dpal dbyang, Jampalyang

The embodiment of wisdom; one of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas

Muni

thub pa, thubpa

“King of Sages”. An epithet of the Buddha

Māra

bdud, dü

obstructing force, demon

Māra Kāmadeva

dga' rab dbang phyug, Garab Wangchuk

Lord of the desire realm

Mārgakrama

lam rim, lamrim

stages of the path

Mārgaphala

lam ’bras, lamdré

the path and its result

Nirmāṇakāya

sprul sku, trülku

emanation body; an honorific title

Nivasanaṃ

sham thabs, shamthab

Lower garment (of monks and nuns or lamas)

Niṣprapānca

spros bral, trödral

Unelaborated (second yoga of mahamudra)

Nyr

rnying ma, Nyingma

Ancient

Nāga

klu, lu

A serpent-like type of being living in water or below the surface of the earth

Nāgārjuna

klu sgrub, Ludrup

(c. 150-250) Famous scholar, whose teachings constitute the root for Mādhyamika; revealer of the Prajñāpāramitā

Nārāyaṇa

mthu bo che, Thuwoché

One of the Eight Guardians of the World; the Hindu god Viśnu

Paraśūnyatā

gzhan stong, zhentong

Empty of Other

Pañca-triṃśat Āpattideśanā Buddha

gsheg lha so lnga, sheglha songa

Thirty-Five Confession Buddhas

Pañcamārga

lam lnga, lam nga

five paths

Paṇḍita, vidwān

mkhas pa, khepa

Title in Indian Buddhism bestowed upon someone who has mastered the Five Sciences

Potala

ri bo gru 'dzin, Riwo Drudzin

Pure Land of Chenrezig

Poṣadha

gso sbyong, sojong

“Restoration and purification”; a purification practice

Prajñāpāramitā

shes rab kyi pha rol tu phyin pa, sherap kyi pharöltu chinpa

Perfection of Wisdom

Prajñāpāramitā

sher phyin, sherchin

“Perfection of Wisdom”; here it refers to a class of Buddhist teachings on the central topic of emptiness

Pramāṇa

tshad ma, tsema

valid cognition

Pratyekabuddha

rang sangs rgyas, rang sangye

Solitary realizer

Praṇidhāna

smon lam, mönlam

aspiration (prayer)

Prāsaṅgika

thal ’gyur, thalgyur

Consequentialists

Prātimokṣa (-saṃvara)

so sor thar pa (gyi sdom pa), sosor tharpa (gyi dompa)

self-liberation (vows)

Prāṇāyāma

srog rtsol, soktsöl

life and effort

Pūrvaga / pūrvayoga

sngon ’gro, ngöndro

Four Foundational Practices

Pṛthivī

sa'i lha, sa-i lha

God of the earth

Ratnagarbha

rin chen snying po, Rinchen Nyingpo

Name of a previous Buddha

Rūpakāya

gzugs sku, zugku

“Form body” of a buddha; referring to the nirmāṇakāya and saṃbhogakāya forms

Sadāprarudita

'phags pa rtag tu ngu, Phagpa Tagtu Ngu

Bodhisattva “Ever-crying”; Well-known for the inspirational narratives around his quest for the Perfection of Wisdom Sūtras

Samaya

dam tshig, damtsik

pledge

Samādhi

ting nge ’dzin, tingezin

meditative concentration

Samādhi

ting nge 'dzin, tingedzin

Meditative absorption or concentration

Savicārabhāvanā

dpyad sgom, chegom

analytical meditation

Saṃbhogakāya

longs sku, longku

enjoyment body

Saṃkrānti

’pho ba, phowa

transference (of consciousness)

Saṃprajanya

shes bzhin, sheshin

clear comprehension

Saṃsāra

'khor ba, khorwa

(conditioned) cyclic existence

Saṅgha

dge ’dun, gendün

Those Who Aspire for Virtue; holy community

Siddha

grub thob, drubthop

Adept or accomplished yogic practitioner

Siddhi

dngos grub, ngödrub

Spiritual power, yogic accomplishment, realization

Sikṣā

bslab bya, labja

precepts for training

Sthāpyabhāvanā

’jog sgom, jokgom

settling meditation

Sudhana

gzhon nu nor zang, Zhönu Norzang

The Merchant’s Son, who became a highly realized bodhisattva

Sugata

bde bar gshegs pa, dewar shekpa

One Gone to Bliss

Sukhāvatī

bde ba can, Dewachen

Pure land of Buddha Amitābha

Svabhāvikakāya

ngo bo nyid sku, ngowo nyiku

essence body

Svātantrika

rang rgyud pa, rangyüpa

Autonomists

Sādhanā

sgrub thabs, drubthab

“Means of Accomplishment”; liturgic text of Vajrayāna Buddhism

Sūtra

mdo, do

discourse; Buddha’s word

Sūtra

mdo, do

“Buddha’s Word”; Buddhist texts which are said to contain Buddha’s direct teachings

Tathāgata

de bzhin gshegs pa, Dezhin Shegpa

“Thus-gone one”; an epithet of the Buddha

Tri-stub

gsum sngags, sum ngag

“Tri-praise”; a form of composition in Sanskrit grammar

Upadeśa

man ngag, mengak

pith instructions

Upasarga

nye bsgyur, nyegyur

Prepositional factor in Sanskrit grammar

Upavāsa

bsnyung gnas, Nyung-né

A fasting practice where the practitioner abstains from food, speech, etc.

Upavāsa

bsnyen gnas, Nye-né

A one-day fasting practice during which the practitioner takes one meal per day only

Utpannakrama-Niṣpannakrama/ Utpattikrama-Niṣpattikrama

bskyed (rim) rdzogs (rim), kyedzog

Creation and completion stages of Vajrayāna practices

Vaidūrya

bai-durya, bendurya

A stone similar to Lapis Lazuli

Vaiśākha

sa ga zla ba, Saga Dawa

The 4th month in the Tibetan calendar which is considered particularly important since Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and passing fall into it

Vajrayāna

rdo rje theg pa, dorjé thekpa

Vehicle of the Thunderbolt

Varadha

mchog sbyin, chokjin

Mudrā of supreme generosity

Varuṇa

chu'i lha, chu-i lha

God of water

Vidyā

rig pa, rikpa

primordial awareness; knowledge

Vighna

gegs, gek

obstacle, obstruction

Vinaya

’dul ba, dülwa

(self-) discipline, disciplinary code

Vāsanā

bag chag, bakchak

habitual tendencies

Vāyu

rlung lha, lung lha

God of wind or air

Yama

gshin rje, shindje

Lord of death

Yogatantra

rnal ’byor rgyud, naljor gyü

Yogatantra

Yogācāra

rnal ’byor spyod pa, naljor chöpa

(School of) Yoga Practitioners

Yāna

theg pa, thekpa

vehicle

Ādāna-pradāna

gtong len, tonglen

sending and receiving

Āgama

lung

reading transmission

Āgama-anuvāda/Buddhavacana

bka' 'gyur, Kangyur

“Translated Words of the Buddha”; (Tibetan) Buddhist canon

Ālaya

kun gzhi, künshi

universal basis

Ārya

'phags pa, phagpa

Noble, Superior

Īśvra

dbang phyug, Wangchuk

“All-mighty”; Supreme god of the form realm (rūpadhātu)

Śamatha

zhi gnas, shiné

calm abiding

Śruta cintā bhāvanā

thos bsam sgom gsum, thösam gomsum

hearing, contemplation, meditation

Śrāvaka

nyan thos, nyenthö

Hearer

Śrī Jagatamitra Nanda

dpal 'gro ba'i mgon po dga' bo, Pal Drowä’i Gönpo Gawo

A great yogi from Kashmir

Śrī Singha

dpal gyi seng ge, Palgyi Senge

A siddha and accomplished master of great compassion

Śākyamuni Buddha

sangs rgyas shAkya thub pa, Sangye Shakya Thubpa

The Buddha of our era.

Śāstra

bstan 'gyur, Tengyur

Collection of commentaries on the Buddha’s teachings; part of the canon

Ḍhāraṇī

gzungs, zung

A long mantra, retentive formula

Ḍākinī

mkha' 'gro, Khandro

“Sky-goer”; a (female) realized being who supports tantric practitioners