Glossary

Much of this glossary is oriented towards Tibetan Buddhism; however, there are terms included here from other traditions.

Chin.—Chinese; Jap.—Japanese; Pali—Pali; Sans.—Sanscrit; Tib.—Tibetan

Abbot (Tib., khenpo)—the head official of a monastery
Abhidharma-pitaka (Sans.)—a philosophical systematization of the Buddha's teaching, including a detailed analysis of Buddhist psychology
Abhidharma (Sans.)—scholastic system derived from the discourses of the Buddha which summarizes key points and classifies teachings
Acharya (Tib.)—teacher; equivalent of a spiritual master
Aggregates—see Skandhas
Alms—the offering of food to monks on their daily rounds and the donation of goods and money to monasteries
Amida Butsu (Jap.)—Japanese version of Amitabha Buddha. See Amitabha       Amitabha (Sans.)—one of the Five Transcendant Buddhas, the Buddha of the western direction and also of the western paradise, or Pure Land. Associated with the Buddha Amitayus (Infinite Life) and considered the spiritual father of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.
Anapanasati (Pali)—mindfulness of in-and-out breathing used in many forms of meditation
Ananda—friend, cousin, and favorite disciple of the Buddha, and monk who remembered the Sutras
Ani (Tib.)—nun
Ani gompa (Tib.)—nunnery
Annitya (anicca) (Sans.)—impermanence
Arahant (Pali; Sans., Arhat)—Worthy One, a name for the Buddha; a person who has destroyed the mental defilements and become detached from the phenomena of cyclic existence, a kind of nirvana, but not quite yet Buddhahood; a Buddhist monk who is free from all illusions and who has achieved personal enlightenment (primarily Theravadan)
Ascetic—one whose life or practice is characterized by abstinence from all worldly pleasures, and who perceives these actions as virtuous, helping to purify the body to further the chance for enlightenment
Asuras (Sans.)—“demi-gods,” and one of the six realms of existence, these beings are sometimes considered to be the chief of the evil spirits
Atisha—great Indian scholar who arrived in Tibet in 1042 at the invitation of rulers of western Tibet. He worked to reform and revive Buddhist teachings and practices and first formulated the lam-rim teachings; one of his disciples, Dröntompa, is credited with founding the first Buddhist order in Tibet, the Kadampa.
Atman (Sans.)—Hindu concept of a soul: the individual consciousness that is continually reborn
Attachment—inability to separate from a person or thing, although it will ultimately lead to suffering; usually exaggerates the good qualities of the object; one of the primary delusions which prevents the achievement of enlightenment
Auspicious—marked by lucky signs or good omens, and therefore by the promise of success or happiness; can be a date or a symbol or a number or a name
Avalokiteshvara (Sans.) (Tib. Chenrezig)—Bodhisattva of Compassion; see Chenrezig
Avidya (Sans.)—ignorance, delusion

Bardo (Tib.)—an intermediate state; often the time between death and rebirth is called bardo
Bardo Thodol (Tib.)—name for the Tibetan Book of the Dead, which describes the process of dying and how one can improve one’s chances of a good rebirth
Barkhang (Tib.)—middle or second floor
Barkhor (Tib.)—intermediate circumambulatory passage; kora around the Jokhang in Lhasa, which also contains many shops selling Tibetan goods
Beyül (Tib.)—“Hidden valley” in which people can take refuge during times of upheaval and where Buddhism can be safely practiced
Bhagavan (Sans.)—the blessed one, a name for the Buddha
Bhikkshu (Sans.; Pali, Bhikku)—monk
Bhikkshuni (Sans.; Pali, Bhikkuni)—nun
Bö, Böd (Tib.)—Tibet
Bodh Gaya—town in Indian state of Bihar where the historical Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment sitting beneath the Bodhi tree
Bo Tree—see Bodhi tree
Bodhi (Pali)—term meaning “awakening,” sometimes translated as enlightenment
Bodhi tree—the tree beneath which Siddhartha Gautama sat meditating while he attained enlightenment
Bodhicitta (Sans.)—the “mind of enlightenment;” the altruistic intention to become enlightened in order to benefit all sentient beings
Bodhidharma—monk who brought Buddhism to China in the 6th century
Bodhisattva (Sans.)—an enlightened being; one who has generated bodhicitta and seeks enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings
Bön (Tib.)—pre- and non-Buddhist religion of Tibet
Bön-po—practitioners of the Bön tradition of Tibet
Brahma (Sans.)—the supreme deva, who convinced Buddha to teach after his enlightenment
Brahman (Sans.)—a member of the priestly caste of Hinduism
Buddha (Tib., sangye)—the historical Buddha, known as Siddhartha Gautama, who is credited with establishing Buddhist doctrine in the present era; a term meaning Enlightened One
Buddha-nature—the nature innate in every sentient being; the potential for attaining Buddhahood; the inherent potential in each being to become a Buddha
Bumpa (Tib.)—a ritual vase used during initiation, healing, and purification rites
Butsu-dan (Jap.)—Japanese Buddhist household altar

Calm abiding—another term for samatha, the meditation that one does to calm or make the mind more tranquil
Cat (Tib.,shimi)—feline mammal
Chaitya (Tib.)—assembly hall for monks
Cham (Tib.)—monastic ritual dance
Ch’an (Chin.)—form of Mahayana Buddhism in China; Japanese tradition is called Zen
Chakra (Sans.)—one of a series of focal points of the system of circulation of prana throughout the body.
Chakstal (Tib.)—prostration
Chandaka—squire to Siddhartha Gautama, who aided him in leaving his princely life
Chenrezig (Tib.)—name for Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion; patron deity of Tibet; the Dalai Lamas are emanations of Chenrezig
Chikhor (Tib.)—outer circumambulatory passage
Chöd (Tib.)—meditational practice involving visualizing one’s body being cut up and offered to deities and other beings; a key practice for many Tibetan lay tantric practitioners
Chokhang (Tib.)—offering hall
Chömay (Tib.)—butter lamp
Chöra (Tib.)—debating courtyard
Chorten (Tib.)—stupa
Chu (Tib.)—river or stream
Circumambulation (Tib., kora)—walking a circular route around a holy place (clockwise in Buddhist and counter-clockwise in the Bön tradition); one of the most common of merit-making activities in the Buddhist world
Citta (Sans.)—basic mind or consciousness
Citta-matra (Sans.)—mind only; idealism
Compassion (Sans., karuna)—sympathy and love for all beings; one of the two principle Buddhist virtues (the other being wisdom); leads to the wish to free all sentient being from dukkha (suffering)

Daka (Sans.)—male equivalent of Dakini
Dakini (Sans.)—female tantric Buddha and women who are the keepers of the secret lore of Tantra, which they pass on to adepts
Dalai Lama (“Ocean of wisdom”)—the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet and the emanation of Chenrezig; the current Dalai Lama, the 14th, Tenzin Gyatso, lives in Dharamsala, India, with the Tibetan government-in-exile. Also known as Kundun (“The Presence”) and Yeshi Norbu
Damaru (Tib.)—two-sided hand drum, usually round, having two “strikers” attached, which hit the heads of the drum when the drum is quickly rotated side to side
Damchen(Tib.)—a deity protector of the dharma, and one who has been bound under oath by Padmasambhava
Darchen (Tib.)—flagpole used for prayer flags
Deer Park—location in Sarnath, near Benares, India, where the Buddha gave his first sermon, also called the first turning of the Wheel of Dharma; a sacred place to Buddhists
Defilements(Tib., dripb pa, “veil”)—that which would prevent us from gaining knowledge or insight; the root defilements are ignorance, desire, hostility, self-centeredness, and skeptical doubt
Deity—symbolic form of a pure being, manifested from Buddha’s wisdom
Delusion—“that which afflicts from within;” the main delusion is ignorance, out of which grow attachment, hatred, and jealousy
Demigod (Sans., asura)—one of the six classes (realms) of beings, whose predominant emotion is jealousy
Dependent origination—doctrine that refers to cause and effect; one of the key realizations attained by Buddha during his awakening
Devadatta—“evil cousin” of Buddha, blamed for causing a schism within the monastic order; he reportedly tried to have Buddha assassinated three times
Devas (Pali)—beings that inhabit the god realm, the highest of the six levels within cyclic existence
Dhamma (Pali)—dharma
Dharma (Sans.; Tib., chö)—Buddhist doctrine, teachings, and practice; one of the Three Jewels (along with the Buddha and the Sangha); other definitions include: the basic building blocks of reality; a law of rule to be followed; good qualities; and truth
Dharmapala (Tib.)—see Dharma protector
Dharma protector (Tib., dharmapala)—those entities that protect the teachings of dharma—Buddha’s words—from being diluted or distorted. They are sometimes emanations of Buddhas or bodhisattvas; other times they might be spirits or demons that have been subdued by a master (such as Padmasambhava) and made to protect the teachings
Dharmakaya (Sans.)—truth body of a Buddha; the pure, omniscient mind of a Buddha, the result of the transformation of the ordinary mind
Dhyana (Sans.)—meditation, or internal contemplation; the practice of mind control by which we seek to realize the truth
Dog (Tib., kyi)—it is thought that many of the dogs that congregate around monasteries are the reincarnations of naughty monks
Dogen—monk who brought Soto Zen to Japan
Dorje (Tib.; Sans., vajra)—in tantric Buddhism, a five-pronged scepter, the two ends of which are said to represent wisdom and compassion. As a whole, it represents the unbreakable union of wisdom and compassion; in ceremonies, a dorje is usually used in conjunction with a bell (drilbu)
Drilbu (Tib.)—hand bell that is used in Tibetan Buddhist ceremonies, almost always in conjunction with a Dorje
Drubkhang (Tib.)—meditation hermitage
Duchen (Tib.)—large assembly hall in a monastery
Dukhang (Tib.)—assembly hall in a monastery
Dukkha (Pali)—suffering, the First Noble Truth; a primary goal of Buddhism is overcoming dukkha
Dungchen (Tib.)—long horns that are played during ceremonies, creating very deep bass tones; due to the lengths (they can be up to 15 feet), the horns are made to telescope for easy transport
Dungkhor (Tib.)—large prayer wheel, usually permanently attached to a wall, to be spun by pilgrims
Dzogchen (Tib.)—meditation practice associated with the Nyingma school based on the concept that all appearances are creations of the mind
Dzong (Tib.)—fort or fortress

Ecumenical—teachings that do not identify with only one particular school or lineage, but include all schools and paths in its dharma; Rimé is an example of such a school
Eightfold Path (Sans., magga)—the path, described by Buddha, that leads to the cessation of suffering: right view, aspiration, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration
Emanation—a thing which comes from a source, i.e., the Dalai Lama is an emanation of Chenrezig
Empowerment—ceremony which introduces the practitioner to the powerfield of a certain Buddha aspect. It may be given as a blessing or at the start of a practice. Examples of prominent empowerments would be Tara and Kalachakra. Sometimes also termed an initiation, which empowers one to practice the teachings of a particular deity
Emptiness (Sans., sunyata)—the doctrine that all concepts and phenomena lack inherent existence, that lack independent, self-existence, and that everything is dependent on something outside of itself in order for it to exist
Enlightenment (Sans., bodhi)—highest level of development, having forever eliminated all defilements and karmic imprints, and having developed all good qualities and wisdom to their fullest extent; full awakening; Buddhahood
Equanimity—being unbiased; the state of mind in which one does not distinguish or discriminate between good/indifferent/bad or friend/stranger/enemy
Excellent Words—the words of the Buddha

Five sadhus—the five ascetics who practiced self-mortification with Siddhartha Gautama (one of the early paths the Buddha experienced in his search)
Four Noble Truths (Sans., Arya-Satya)—the Doctrine as taught by the Buddha: 1. the truth of suffering (dukkha); 2. the truth of the arising (causes) of suffering (trishna); 3. the truth of the cessation of suffering (nirodha); and 4. the truth of the path that leads beyond suffering (the Eightfold Path) (magga)

Ganachakra (Tib.)—vajra feast
Gassho (Jap.)—hand gesture, placing the fingertips and palms together in a prayerlike position. Used to show reverence to the Buddha or teachers
Gati (Sans.)—realm; used for the six realms (gods, demi-gods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, and hell-beings)
Gautama (Gotama)—family name of the historical Buddha of this age
Gelug (Geluk) (Tib.)—largest order of Tibetan Buddhism, founded by Tsongkhapa (15th century); sometimes called Yellow Hats. Main emphasis is on ethics and sound scholarship prior to serious meditation. It claims to be a more authentic version of Indian Buddhism than other schools. Dalai Lama is of this school, although traditionally the Dalai Lama would study all schools and many traditions
Gen (Tib.) (Gen-la)—respected teacher (title)
Geshe (Tib.)—degree/title awarded to monks, similar to Doctor of Theology, although it may take 15 to 20 years to attain. Includes such areas of study as monastic discipline, logic, debate, epistemology, cosmology, and traditional medicine. Levels of the degree are: Lharampa (highest, meaning “divine scholarly spiritual friend”), Tsokrampa, Lingse, and Dorampa
Gompa (Tib.)—monastery, a place of meditation; spiritual community
Göngkhang (Tib.)—chapel in a monastery where protective deities are worshipped
Götshang (Tib.)—mountain hermitage
Guardian deity—the deity with which a practitioner has a special relationship, based on specific criteria with which the deity reveals to the individual; also known as protector deity or tutelary deity. For example, Palden Lhamo is the guardian deity of the Dalai Lama
Guru (Sans.)—spiritual teacher
Guru Rinpoche—see Padmasambhava
Guru-yoga (Sans.)—form of meditation through which one realizes that one’s own mind is inseparable from the mind of the teacher and from the ultimate reality—enlightenment; practice of connecting one’s mind with the mind of the teacher
Gyaling (Tib.)—musical reed instrument, similar to an oboe, played during ceremonies
Gyaltsen (Tib.)—victory banner mounted on the roof of a monastery
Gyalwa (Tib.)—usually translated as “the Victorious One.” In a more general context, “Gyalwa” refers to a Buddha (Martin, Music in the Sky)

Habitual tendencies—thoughts, speech, or actions that are exhibited through what one has done in past lives
Heart disciple—a person receiving and knowing and acting upon all of his or her teacher’s teachings and the teachings and actions of the teacher’s lineage. A teacher can have more than one “common” heart disciple, but only one “uncommon” heart disciple. Not all teachers will have a heart disciple
Hell Being (Tib., dmyalba; Sans., naraka)—a resident of the lowest of the six realms of existence
Hinayana (Sans.)—Buddhist path leading to individual (rather than collective) liberation from samsara; sometimes called lesser vehicle (Mahayana being called the greater vehicle)
HE—His Eminence (e.g., HE Tai Situ Rinpoche)
HH—His Holiness (e.g., HH the 14th Dalai Lama)

Ignorance (Sans., avidya)—unawareness, lack of enlightenment; not knowing the principles of karma; not seeing that which exists, or the way in which things exist; one of the three poisons (along with attachment and anger)
Inherent existence—that which exists in its own right and is not dependent on anything else to exist
Initiation—similar to empowerment

Kadam (Tib.)—Tibetan Buddhist tradition founded by Indian teacher Atisha, who came to Tibet in 1042; it emphasizes monastic discipline and the cultivation of Bodhicitta; many of its teachings were taken up by other schools, particularly Gelug
Kagyü (Tib.)—group of Tibetan Buddhist schools founded by the disciples of the 11th century saint, poet, and lama Milarepa and his student Gampopa; emphasizes practice of tantric yoga
Kalachakra (Sans.)—“wheel of time;” a tantra containing a complex cosmology, including apocalyptic theory of history involving a great war at the end of history, and triumph in Shambhala
Kalpa (Sans.)—lifetime of a universe, millions of years, an eternity
Kamma (Pali)—karma
Kangling (Tib.)—ritual musical instrument—a trumpet/horn—made out of a human thighbone
Kangyur (Kanjur)(Tib.)—collection of all sutras and tantras spoken by Shakyamuni Buddha translated from Sanskrit into Tibetan; reportedly stored in 1334 in Shalu Monastery, it comprised 108 volumes, and became the basis for all later editions. Tengyur is the collection of commentaries on the sutras and tantras. Also see Tengyur
Karma (Sans.; Tib., lay)—universal law of cause and effect which governs rebirth and the world of samsara; the concept that binds beings to an endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth and, according to one’s deeds in life, determines the condition of one’s rebirth
Karmapa (Tib.)—suborder of the Kagyu order of Tibertan Buddhism, also known as the Black Hats; title of the reincarnate lama who heads it, currently the 17th Karmapa, Trinlay Thaye Dorje
Karuna (Pali)—compassion or mercy, the special kindness shown to those who suffer; an attitude of active concern for the suffering of sentient beings
Kaya (Sans.)—“body;” in Mahayana, the three aspects of the body of a buddha: the body of dharma, the body of bliss, and the body of transformation
Khang (Tib.)—house; house within a college within a monastery
Khangtsen (Tib.)—house in a monastic college; residential quarters of monks
Khata (Kata, Katag) (Tib.)—scarf, usually white of fine cotton or silk, used for ceremonial purposes, as a ritual offering or a gift
Khenpo (Tib.)—abbot of a monastery
Khorla (Tib.)—Dharma wheel
Koan (Jap.)—a riddle, tale, or short statement used in Zen to bring practitioners to sudden insight (such as “What is the sound of one hand clapping?”)
Kora (Tib.)—ritual circuit; path along which one circumambulates (clockwise for Tibetan Buddhists, counterclockwise for practitioners of Bön)
Kudung khang (Tib.)—reliquary room, where sacred relics are kept
Kumbum (Tib.)—large, multi-leveled, multi-chapel stupa, such as those found at Kumbum Jampaling Monastery in Amdo in northeast Tibet, and in Gyantse, southwest of Lhasa
Kundun (Tib.)—name for the Dalai Lama, meaning “The Presence;” title of a book (1997) and a movie (1997) about the Dalai Lama and his family from the time of his discovery as a reincarnation until the time he fled Tibet in 1959
Kushinagara (Pali)—town in northern India where Shakyamuni Buddha attained parinirvana. One of the major Buddhist pilgrimage sites
Kuten (Kuden) (Tib.)—term used for the person through which a deity is able to communicate with the human realm from the spirit realm
Kwan Yin (Chin.)—name for Avalokiteshvara
Kwannon (Jap.)—name for Avalokiteshvara
Kyabje (Tib.)—honorific title bestowed on revered teachers, meaning “glorious refuge”

La (Tib.)—pass (as in a high mountain pass); honorific, placed at the end of someone’s name, such as Jamyang-la; “soul” or “spirit”
Labrang (Tib.)—residence of an abbot
Lama (Tib.)—literally translated as “none higher” or “superior one.” It indicates a person who has been recognized as a spiritual guide; a teacher, capable of giving initiations and guiding students along the Vajrayana path. It can mean a personal religious teacher, or the head or leading figure within a spiritual community, or a properly qualified performer of Tantric ritual. A lama plays a crucial role in Tibetan Buddhism particularly in the transmission of teachings and rituals to students. Different orders and sects have different qualifications for this title. The role of a monk and a lama are different—most monks are not lamas, and all lamas are not necessarily monks.  Corresponds to Sanskrit guru, but has a wider range of meanings in Tibetan
Lamaism—term used in the late 19th and 20th centuries by some western scholars to describe their concept of Tibetan Buddhism
Lha gyal lo (Tib.)—“victory to the gods;” traditional Tibetan phrase of celebration or rejoicing
Lha (Tib.)—general term for deities, including local gods as well as Tantric deities
Lhakhang (Tib.)—chapel or temple
Lhasa (“Abode of the Gods”)—capital city of Tibet, and center of Tibetan culture
Liberation—state of being after defilements and karma (which cause samsara) have been removed; freedom from samsara
Lineage—the succession of Buddhist teachers who transmit a particular tradition from teacher to student in a continuous line; the chronological listing of teachers belonging to a specific line of tantric practice
Lingkhor (Tib.)—external (from a monastery) circumambulatory circuit
Lokapala (Tib.)—“worldly protector;” any of the protector deities that have not reached complete enlightenment
Losar (Tib.)—Tibetan New Year’s festival, taking place in the first week of the first lunar month of the Tibetan calendar (usually February)
Lower Realms— of the six modes of existence, the three lower regions: hells, hungry ghosts, and animals
Lu (Tib.; Sans. naga)—water-dwelling, serpent-like spirits
Lumbini Grove—located in Nepal, near the border with India; where Shakyamuni Buddha was born. An important Buddhist pilgrimage site
Lungta (Tib.)—prayer flag

Madhyamaka (Sans.)—middle way school, whose doctrines are based on the notion that all phenomena are empty of inherent existence
Magga (Pali)—path leading to the cessation of suffering, the Eightfold Path—the fourth of the Four Noble Truths
Mahakala (Sans.)—wrathful aspect of Avalokiteshvara. Considered by Mongolians to be that country’s patron Buddha and by Tibetans as a dharma-protector
Mahamaya (Mayadevi, Maya)—Buddha’s mother, who died seven days after giving birth to him
Mahamudra (Sans.)—“great seal;” meditation system found in all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, based on a direct, personal realization of truth
Mahaprajapati—stepmother and aunt of the Buddha, and the founder of Buddhist nuns
Mahayana (Sans.)—Buddhist path which leads to Buddhahood for all sentient beings; sometimes called the greater vehicle (see Hinayana)
Maitreya—the Buddha of the future; the next (fifth) Buddha of this era, following Buddha Shakyamuni
Mala (Sans.; Tib., treng ah)—sometimes called prayer beads, they are used to count the repetitions of one’s mantras, or of other spiritual practices. Buddhists traditionally use a 108-bead mala. The beads, strung together in a circle on a string, can be made of any type of material, including seeds, wood, glass, bone, or gemstones
Mandala (Sans.)—circular diagram used in meditation as an aid to visualization, which represents the residence and perfected attributes of a Buddha; symbolic representation of the universe; can occur as either a two- or three-dimensional form
Mani stone (Tib.)—stone inscribed with a Buddhist prayer, usually Om Mani Padme Hum
Mani wall (Tib.)—wall made up of mani stones; pilgrims would traditionally visit a shrine or holy place and add a mani stone to the mani wall, thus acquiring merit
Manjushri (Sans.)—Mahayana and Vajrayana diety of transcendent insight (prajna), patron of scholarship and wisdom; often depicted holding a flaming sword of wisdom (that cuts through false views) in one hand and a Perfection of Wisdom text in the other
Mantra (Sans.; Tib., ngag)—a series of syllables designed as a tool to focus the mind through repetition, and often used during meditation; commonly invokes the power of a particular Buddha. A widely used mantra is: Om Mani Padme Hum, the mantra of Avalokiteshvara (“Hail the Jewel in the Lotus”)
Mara (Sans.)—demon associated with death and hindrances to enlightenment. It was Mara who tempted Buddha beneath the bodhi tree. According to Buddhist mythology, there are many maras, whose goal is to tempt people into ignorance, delusion, hatred, and desire
Marga (Sans.)—the path; general term for Buddhist practice that leads to liberation from cyclic existence; specifically, the eightfold path, that leads beyond suffering
Marpa—main disciple of Naropa
Maya—mother of Shakyamuni Buddha
Meditation (Tib., gom)—general term that encompasses a wide range of mental practices. Some aim at pacifying the mind and quieting the mental confusion that afflicts people (shamatha), while others are concerned with developing clear understanding and insight of Buddhist practices (vipassana).
Meditational Deity—a deity that one visualizes during meditation to represent a particular aspect of the full enlightenment of Buddhahood
Mendicant—a beggar; a member of a religious order (monks) who because of the vow of poverty, must be supported by alms
Merit (Sans., punya)—good actions in one of a person’s successive states of existence which help to determine his or her fate in the next or future states; positive imprints left on the mind; spiritual credit held to be earned by performance of righteous acts and to ensure beneficial future rebirths
Merit field—a technique used in some tantric practices where one visualizes a field (sometimes in the form of a tree) with your lama, lineage masters and teachers, Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas in front of you
Middle Way—the path that was taught by the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, one that led to enlightenment by avoiding the extremes of self-indulgence on one end or self-mortification on the other, but rather took the middle path, or the Middle Way
Milarepa—great figure in Tibetan Buddhism (1040-1123) particularly revered as an ordinary person who attained enlightenment in one lifetime
Mindstream—continuity of the mind; “that which is clear and knowing”
Monlam Chenmo (Tib.)—great prayer festival/ceremony initiated by Tsongkhapa in 1409. Celebrated annually, beginning at Tibetan New Year (Losar), involving both lay and monastics, and includes prayer, chanting, prostrations, and public lectures
Mount Meru—huge mountain in the center of  the universe, as conceived by Tibetan Buddhist cosmology. Below Mount Meru are the hungry ghosts and hell-beings; at the base of Mount Meru is the animal realm; above that is the human realm, and higher up the slopes are the demi-gods and the gods, making up the six realms of existence within samsara. Also sometimes referred to as Mount Sumeru
Mudra (Sans.)—hand gestures, often seen in Buddhist iconography (such as statues and thangkas), which have various meanings, such as meditation, reassurance, earth-touching, and teaching
Mundane attachment—the feelings one has for all worldly things, or that which is mundane

Nagarjuna—Indian sage of the 1st-2nd century ce, renowned for writing on the Middle Path
Nagas (Sans.)—beings with serpent-like bodies and human heads said to inhabit rivers, lakes, or oceans.According to legend, Buddha gave “Perfection of Wisdom” texts to the nagas to keep until someone who was able to interpret them came along, which happened in the early second century
Namu Amida Butsa (Jap.)—mantra used in the Pure Land traditions of Buddhism, “Praise to Amitabha Buddha”
Nangkhor (Tib.)—inner circumambulatory passage
Naraka (Sans.)—hell beings, the lowest realm of rebirth
Naropa—student of Tilopa
Nekhor (Tib.)—pilgrimage circuit (kora) around a holy site
Nibbana (Pali)—nirvana
Nichiren (Jap.)—Japanese school of Buddhism, emphasizing chanting
Nirodha (Sans.)—cessation of suffering (the Third Noble Truth)
Nirvana (Sans.)—liberation, enlightenment, liberation from the cycle of rebirth and suffering (samsara); a goal of spiritual practice in Buddhism
Non-duality—the absence of an ultimate distinction between the self and divine reality
Nyingma—oldest Tibetan Buddhist tradition, founded in the 8th century with the teachings of Padmasambhava; emphasizes tantric tradition and Dzogchen practice.

Obscurations—those things that have been put in front of us that do not allow us to see reality
Obstructions—those things which make it difficult to progress (towards enlightenment)
Om Mani Padme Hum—mantra of Avalokiteshvara

Padmasambhava—also known as Guru Rinpoche, this great Indian tantric master came to Tibet in 817 CE and, after dispelling evil forces, introduced Buddhist teachings
Pali—language similar to Sanskrit, but a different dialect from a particular area of northwestern India
Pali canon—body of Buddhist texts written in Pali and regarded as the canon by Theravadan schools; the Tibetan equivalent is the Kangyur
Pancha shila (Sans.)—the five moral precepts: avoid killing or harming any living being; avoid stealing; avoid sexual misconduct or irresponsibility; avoid lying or any hurtful speech; and avoid alcohol and drugs which diminish clarity of consciousness Panchen Lama (Tib., “Great Scholar”)—title of successive incarnations of Sakya Pandita, traditionally residing at Tashilunpo Monastery; the second highest incarnation of Tibet, after the Dalai Lama
Pandita (Sans.)—scholar (or great scholar), most often associated with those from India, who are learned in the five traditional sciences
Pañña (Pali)—Prajña
Paramita (Sans.)—see Perfections
Parinirvana (Sans.)—final nirvana and passing away of the Buddha
Pecha (Tib.)—religious text, usually horizontal pages block-printed on one side only; bound between two “covers” which are traditionally made of wood
Pehar (Pekar) (Tib.)—important guardian deity who manifests through a spirit medium (kuten) to advise the Dalai Lama and his government, through the Nechung Oracle
Perfections—qualities (usually six) that, bringing to perfection, define the path of a bodhisattva: generosity, ethical discipline, patience, perseverance, meditative concentration, and discriminative awareness
Phuk (Tib.)—cave
Phurba (Tib.)—Purba
Pitaka (Sans.)—basket, referring to the Tripitaka, or scriptures
Prajña (Sans.)—wisdom, or discriminative awareness; it represents the wisdom obtained during enlightenment, and one of the key insights is emptiness
Prajña-Paramita Sutra—collection of Mahayana texts, including the Heart and Diamond Sutras, dealing with Prajna and its attainment
Prana (Sans.)—“breath,” “wind,” “energy;” wind/energy in Tantra which is the vehicle of consciousness
Prateyaka-buddha (Sans.)—a Buddhist practitioner who has attained personal enlightenment and Nirvana without the aid of a teacher
Preta (Sans.)—hungry ghost; a being obsessed by attachment, living in the preta-realm within the desire realm (one of the six realms of existence), mainly suffering from lack of food, drink, and shelter
Protective deity—see Guardian deity
Puja (Sans.)—a traditional religious ceremony during which offerings and prayers are made to Buddha or other deities, to request help from them or to ask for their blessings
Purba (Phurba) (Tib.)—small dagger with a triangular blade, used in Buddhist ritual
Pure Land—realms where pure beings, such as Buddhas and bodhisattvas, abide, where samsara does not exist, and where all conditions are conducive for practicing dharma

Rahula—son of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni
Refuge (Tib., skyabs)—when one has reached the conclusion that he or she wants to commit to a Buddhist practice, refuge vows are taken, when one declares that one has decided to rely on the Three Jewels of Buddhism—the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha
Refuge Tree—a visualization, either mental or physical as in the form of a thangka, where your spiritual guru sits, and all about him are the lineage of gurus and teachers that came before. Each school of Tibetan Buddhism has a thangka representing the lineage of that school, called a Refuge Tree; in the Gelug version, for example, Tsongkhapa would have a prominent position as founder of the sect
Reincarnation—the belief that the spirit/consciousness/essence of a person returns to life through rebirth in a new body, bringing with it positive and negative karmic imprints from previous lives
Renunciation—the determination to be free from samsara
Retreat—a time (and place) of personal solitude when one engages in reflection, meditation, and spiritual practices. In Tibet, this was often done in caves located for this purpose
Ri (Tib.)—mountain
Rimé (Tib.)—movement begun in Tibet towards the end of the 19th century which stresses the common grounds of the Buddhist lineages and meditation, and minimizes the differences among the different schools
Rinpoche (Tib.)—“Precious one;” honorific applied to reincarnate lamas and other highly respected individuals
Root lama—the individual who comes to be one’s personal spiritual guide and from whom one learns about enlightenment and the nature of the mind
Rupa (Sans.)—form; the physical body; senses; a Buddhist statuealso known as Guru Rinpoche, this great Indian tantric master cam to Tibet in 817 CE and, after dispelling evil forces, introduced Buddhist teachings

Sadhana (Sans.)—tantric meditational ritual usually focusing on a particular deity or group of deities; normally involves visualization, recitation of verses and mantras, physical gestures, and real or visualized offerings to a particular deity in order to attain enlightenment
Sadhu (Sans.) (saddhu)—in Hinduism, an ascetic or practitioner of yoga (yogi) who has given up pursuit of worldly pleasures and is solely dedicated to achieving liberation. The term sadhu has its roots in Hinduism, but is also used for followers of other religions if they live the sadhu lifestyle. Perhaps the most famous non-Hindu following the sadhu lifestyle was Buddha
Sakya (Tib.)—one of the four major Buddhist schools, which stresses scholarship and tantric practice; monastery founded in 1073 by Kon Chögyal Pho in central Tibet
Samadhi (Sans.)—one-pointed meditation where the meditation object and the meditator are experienced as inseparable
Samatha (Pali)—shamatha
Samaya (Sans.)—commitment, promise; sacred link between a teacher and disciple
Samsara (Sans.; Tib., kor wa)—the cycle of repeated existence; the world where we must continuously be reborn, die, be reborn, die, due to the accumulated negative karma of previous lifetimes
Samudaya (Sans.)—arising of suffering, the second Noble Truth
Sangha (Sans.)—the community of Buddhist practitioners; sometimes used to mean monks and nuns, sometimes meant to include all followers on the path; one of the Three Jewels, along with Buddha and Dharma
Sanskrit—early language of northern India, modified and used as a religious language by some Buddhists
Satori (Jap.)—Zen term for enlightenment
Sentient being (Sans., sattva)—a being that has consciousness. The five factors necessary for this are feeling, discrimination, intention, mental activity, and contact
Shakyamuni (Sakyamuni)—Family name of the historical buddha, living in 6th centruy BCE. Literally means sage of the Shakya (clan); the Buddha of our time, and the fourth Buddha of this era
Shamatha (Shamata) (Tib.)—one form of meditation, also called calm abiding, used to pacify the mind
Shambala (Shambhala) (Tib.)—mythical Buddhist kingdom said to be in a hidden valley, protected from outsiders, in the north of Tibet; branch of Mahayana Buddhism developed in the early 1980s by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
Shravaka (Sans.)—“hearer,” one who needs the help of others to become enlightened
Shunyata (sunyata) (Sans.)—emptiness; the belief that all things are empty of inherent existence—they do not exist except in relationship with other things
Siddha (Sans.)—one who had acquired supernatural powers
Siddhartha Gautama—name given at birth to the historical Buddha of this time
Silnyen (Tib.)—flat cymbals played during ceremonies
Six realms of existence (Tib. rikdruk)—gods, demi-gods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, and hell-beings
Skandhas (Sans.)—aggregate, parts of the self: form (body), feeling, recognition, volition, and primary consciousness
Spiritual companions—students with whom one has received teachings, or students of the same teacher
Spiritual friend—spiritual teacher, but not necessarily one’s root lama
Stupa (Sans.; Tib., chörten)—traditionally, dome-shaped monuments containing relics of the Buddha or his disciples. In Tibetan Buddhism, they are of a particular shape and proportion, representing the Buddha’s mind, and may contain relics of a deceased teacher or sacred objects. Also serve to identify important Buddhist sites
Suchness—see Emptiness
Suffering (Sans., dukkha)—the first Noble Truth as defined by Buddha; a condition that results in physical and/or mental pain
Sumeru—see Mount Meru
Sungkhang (Tib.)—chapel of the protective guardian
Sutra (Sans.)—an oral teaching directly attributed to the historical Buddha
Sutra pitaka (Sans.)—section of Buddhist canon containing sermons attributed to the historical Buddha
Sutta (Pali)—sutra

Tantra (Sans.)—Buddhist texts that outline the practices of vajrayana
Tara (Sans.)—popular Buddha in Tibetan cosmology.  Female in gender, she has twenty-one main emanations, the most popular being White Tara (Tib., Drolma) and Green Tara (Tib., Drolkar)
Tathagata (Sans.)—“One thus gone”—an epithet of buddhas signifying the attainment of awakening and a transcendental state that surpasses all mundane attachments. “It is thus taken to signify one who, having thus gone, will not come again, i.e., who will have no rebirths—hence, one who has attained supreme enlightenment” (www.exoticindia.com)
Tengyur (Tenjur) (Tib.)—collection of commentaries of Buddha’s teachings translated from Sanskrit into Tibetan, comprising 225 volumes including philosophical treatises and commentaries. In 1334 it was stored at Shalu Monastery (southwest of Shigatse), and became the basis for all later editions. See also Kangyur
Terma (Tib.)—“hidden treasure;” general term for relics and/or texts hidden by Padmasambhava or his disciples during the eighth century, to be discovered later by the appropriate finder. See Tertön
Tertön (Tib.)—“treasure discoverer” or “finder of terma;” some believed to be rebirths of disciples of Padmasambhava, they were preordained to find certain objects or texts when the time was right for their discovery
Thangka (tangka) (Tib.)—painting on a cloth, meant to be able to be rolled up for transport or storage, typically of a religious nature, and considered sacred
Theraveda (Sans.)—dominant Buddhist tradition found in Southeast Asia, and following the Hinayana school
Three fires (poisons)—the basic causes of suffering: ignorance/delusion (moha), attachment/greed (lobha), and anger/hatred (dosa); the three poisons are subdued by using the antidote—the three jewels: meditation, non-attachment, and compassion and love.
Three Jewels/Gems—the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha
Thusness—the nature of things; emptiness
Tibet (Tib., Pho, Po)—Asian country, north of India, and west of China. Independent until the 1950 invasion and occupation by the People’s Republic of China, which claimed that Tibet was, and is, an integral part of China. Prior to the occupation, Tibet was virtually 100 percent Buddhist, and ruled spiritually and temporally by the Dalai Lamas since the 15th century.
Tilden (Tib.)—alter cloth
Tilopa—Indian Tantric sage (988-1069 AD) who is credited with starting the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism
Tipitaka (Pali)—Tripitaka
Tonglen (Tib.)—mind training to overcome selfishness and develop compassion for others; giving up one’s own happiness and taking other’s suffering (often called give and take); generally undertaken to prepare the mind for attainment of bodhicitta
Torma (Tib.)—offering used during rituals, made of butter and barley flour, shaped and dyed in many sizes and shapes, in homage to Buddhist deities
Tratsang (Tib.)—monastic college
Tripa (Tib.)—head of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism; also serves as the abbot of Ganden Monastery
Tripitaka (Sans.)—“three baskets;” the three collections of Buddhist scriptures: 1. vinayana pitaka;  2. sutra pitaka; and 3. abhidharma pitaka
Triple Jewels (Triple Gems)—the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha
Trishna (Sans.)—“desire;” the second of the Four Noble Truths; divided into three types: 1. craving for sensual pleasures; 2. craving for continued existence; and 3. craving for non-existence
Tsa Tsa (Tib.)—a small clay Buddha, deity, or stupa, made from a mold; sometimes they will have the ashes from a deceased person combined with the clay they are made from
Tsamkhang (Tib.)—hermitage; meditation room
Tsampa (Tib.)—a staple food in Tibet, made of roasted barley (including the husk) ground into very fine flour, then usually mixed with tea and rolled into small balls and eaten with fingers;  it may be mixed with butter, sugar, or curds to add flavor
Tshokchen (Tib.)—great assembly hall
Tshokhang (Tib.)—assembly hall
Tso (Tib.)—lake
Tsog (Tsok) (Tib.)—“gathering;”  a ceremony for the Buddhas when one makes offerings of food and drinks along with prayers; one method for purifying negativity, receiving blessings, and accumulating merit
Tsongkhapa—founded Ganden Monastery (1409), which became the basis for the Gelug (“Virtuous Ones”) school
Tsuglag Khang (Tib.)—Tibetan name for the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, and also for the Central Temple in Dharamsala, India
Tubo (Tib.)—Ancient name for Tibet. Nowadays, many Tibetans living in Tibet prefer to use this name for Tibet rather than the Chinese name “Xizang” since it only includes central Tibet and leaves Amdo (north-east Tibet) and Kham (south-east Tibet) out. Amdo was incorporated into the Chinese provinces of Qinghai and Gansu, and Kham into the provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan.
Tulku (Tib.)—recognized reincarnation of a lama
Tushita (Sans.)—Joyous Land; the Bodhisattva pure realm of the 1000 Buddhas of this aeon
Tutelary deity—see yidam

Upali—one of the ten main disciples of Buddha, and the first person ordained by him as a monk; after ordination, he specialized in the study of the Vinaya, or monastic rules
Urna (Sans.)—mark on the Buddha’s forehead between his eyes, signifying his great intuition
Ushanisha (Sans.)—protuberance on top of the Buddha’s head, signifying his great wisdom

Vajra (Sans.)—see Dorje
Vajrasattva (Sans.)—an important Buddha in Tibetan tantric Buddhism, specially relating to purification practices; the practice/ceremony of purifying negative actions
Vajrayana (Sans.)—Tibetan tantric Buddhist practice
Ven.—Venerable (an ordained monk on nun)
VV—Very Venerable
Vihara (Sans.)—cave dwelling for monks; monastery, temple
Vinaya pitaka (Sans.)—one of the three major divisions of Buddhist scriptures, governing the rules of discipline for the monastic community
Vipashyana (Sans.)—seeing beyond, superior or excellent seeing, insight; meditation technique involving the analysis of a meditative object, aiming at direct realization of its final nature (called Vipassana meditation)
Virtue—merit, positive potential; positive actions imprinted on the mindstream, leading to future happiness
Visualization—to form a mental image of something, often a deity

Wat (Thai, from Sans.)—term used in Therevadan countries, such as Cambodia and Thailand, for a Buddhist temple or monastery, such as Angkor Wat, in Cambodia
Wheel of Dharma (Tib., khorla)—a symbol of the Buddha’s teachings (often shown in conjunction with two deer, to symbolize his first teaching at a deer park in Sarnath, India); to turn the wheel of Dharma means to teach the Dharma; during his lifetime, the Buddha gave three major series of teachings, which are referred to as the first, second, and third