abhidharma (Skt.) [Tib. chos mngon pa]  Higher Dharma. The part of the Tripitaka that contains the scholarly analysis of phenomena. See also Tripitaka.

absolute truth  See two truths.

afflictive emotions  See klesha.

aggregates  See skandha.

Amitabha (Skt.) [Tib. ‘od dpag med]  Buddha of Boundless Light. One of the five dhyana buddhas, who correspond to the five buddha families. He presides over the pure realm of Sukhavati and is lord of the Lotus family. Rebirth in his pure land guarantees complete enlightenment in one lifetime. See also Dewachen.

animal realm  See six realms.

anuttara yoga tantra (Skt.) [Tib. bla na med pa’i rnal ‘byor]  The highest of the four categories of tantra in the Sarma, or New Translation, school of Tibetan Buddhism. Examples of anuttara yoga are the Karma Pakshi, Hevajra, Chakrasamvara, and Kalachakra tantras.

arhat (Skt.) [Tib. dgra bcom pa]  Worthy one. An arhat is one who, having exhausted all defilements and mental afflictions, passes into nirvana.

Asanga (Tib. thogs med)  Asanga lived in India during the fourth century ce and established the Yogachara school with his brother, Vasubandhu. After twelve years of retreat, he received a vision of Maitreya and subsequently wrote the five Maitreya texts, which have had a profound impact on Mahayana Buddhism.
asura realm  See six realms.

Atisha (982–1055 ce)  Atisha Dipamkara Shrijnana was a renowned Buddhist scholar and teacher at the monastic university, Vikramashila, in India. He was invited to Tibet in 1043, where he founded the Kadampa school and wrote his most influential work, The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, which teaches the gradual path to enlightenment.
avadhuti (Skt.) [Tib. dbu ma]  Central channel; a subtle channel of the body.

Avalokiteshvara (Skt.)  See Chenrezik.

bardo (Tib. bar do)  Intermediate state; most often referring to the period between death and rebirth. There are six bardos: the bardo of birth, dreams, meditation, the moment before death, the bardo of dharmata or suchness, and the bardo of becoming.

benza (Tib. ba dzra)  Tibetan transliteration of the Sanskrit word vajra.

bhikshu (Skt.)  See gelong.

bhikshuni (Skt.)  See gelongma.

bhumi (Skt.) [Tib. sa]  A level in the series of stages of spiritual development of a bodhisattva on the path to buddhahood. The Mahayana tradition recognizes ten such levels, often called the bodhisattva levels; the Vajrayana recognizes thirteen.

Bodhgaya (Skt.) [Tib. rdo rje gdan]  A town in Bihar, India, where Buddha Shakyamuni attained enlightenment under the bodhi tree. The Mahabodhi Temple was built there during Ashoka’s period. Bodhgaya has been a major pilgrimage site for centuries.

Bodhicharyavatara (Skt.) [Tib. byang chub sems dpa’i spyod pa la ‘jug pa]  The Way of the Bodhisattva, composed by Shantideva, an Indian pandita, who lived between 650 and 750 ce. A major text and a great classic of Mahayana Buddhism, the text is a guide to cultivating enlightened mind for the benefit of all beings.

bodhichitta (Skt.) [Tib. byang chub kyi sems]  Mind of awakening. Relative bodhichitta is the desire to practice the six paramitas to attain buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings; absolute bodhichitta is immediate insight into the emptiness of phenomena.

bodhisattva (Skt.) [Tib. byang chub sems dpa’]  In the Mahayana tradition, a bodhisattva dedicates his or her existence throughout all rebirths to the attainment of enlightenment in order to liberate other beings who are suffering in samsara. The bodhisattva ideal is in contrast to the way of arhats and Pratyekabuddhas, who attain nirvana solely for their own benefit.

bodhisattva vow (Skt.) [Tib. byang chub sems dpa’i sdom pa]  The essence of the bodhisattva vow is to preserve the mind of bodhichitta that sincerely wishes to benefit all beings, not merely for the temporary alleviation of sufferings but to bring all beings without exception to a state of full and complete awakening. The bodhisattva vow is received from a master who has maintained the vow unbroken.

Bön (Tib. bon)  The religion of pre-Buddhist Tibet, believed by its adherents to have been introduced by Shenrap from an area located in what is now Persia. Bön now reflects many aspects of Tibetan Buddhism but still retains a distinct identity.

Buddha Shakyamuni (Skt.) [Tib. sha kya thub pa]  Sage of the Shakyas. The historical buddha was born a prince into the Shakya clan in the fifth century bce. Upon attaining enlightenment at Bodhgaya, Buddha Shakyamuni taught the Dharma. He is the fourth of the thousand buddhas of the present era.

Chakrasamvara (Skt.) [Tib. ’khor lo bde mchog]  A main yidam that belongs to the anuttara tantra set of the New Translation school, who is associated with practices for mental purification and the transformation of obstacles. His consort is Vajravarahi (Dorje Phakmo).

chakravartin (Skt.) [Tib. ‘khor los sgyur ba’i rgyal po)  A universal ruler; a king who propagates the Dharma.

charya tantra (Skt.) [Tib. spyod rgyud]  The second of the four tantras of the New Translation school of Tibetan Buddhism. It emphasizes external ritual with internal visualization. See also anuttara yoga tantra, kriya tantra, and yoga tantra.

Chenrezik (Tib. spyan ras gzigs) [Skt. Avalokiteshvara]  The bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all buddhas. Chenrezik is the patron deity of Tibet. Both His Holiness Karmapa and His Holiness Dalai Lama are manifestations of Chenrezik.
chö (Tib. gcod)  Meditation practice in which the meditator offers his or her body in order to overcome the false belief in and attachment to the ego, including the fear associated with the ego’s dissolution. The practice was widely taught by Machik Lapdrön, who received it from the Indian teacher Phadampa Sangye.

Chokyi Wangchuk (Tib. chos kyi dbang phyug)  The Sixth Shamar Rinpoche, Karma Chakme Rinpoche’s guru.

daka (Skt.) [Tib. dpa’ bo]  Male counterpart of the dakini.

dakini (Skt.) [Tib. mkha’ ‘gro ma]  Sky-walker. Female tantric deity who fulfills enlightened activities and who protects and serves the Buddhist teachings and practitioners. Dakinis transmit secret teachings to select practitioners when the time is ripe.
deva putra mara  See mara.

Dewachen (Tib. bde ba can) [Skt. Sukhavati]  The pure realm of Amitabha Buddha, located in the west. See also Amitabha.

Dharma (Skt.) [Tib. chos]  The teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha; one of the Three Jewels in which one takes refuge. It is also a term for “phenomena,” “truth,” “law,” etc.

dharmadhatu (Skt.) [Tib. chos dbyings]  The all-encompassing space, without origin or beginning, in which emptiness and interdependent origination are inseparable.
dharmakaya  See kaya.

dharmapala (Skt.) [Tib. chos skyong]  Protector of the doctrine. Fierce and powerful, the Dharma protectors vow to guard the Dharma and its practitioners. Dharmapalas are wisdom protectors, who are emanations of buddhas or bodhisattvas, and mundane protectors, who are virtuous samsaric beings.

Dorje Phakmo (Tib. rdo rje phag mo) [Skt. Vajravarahi]  The embodiment of wisdom, she is one of the main yidams of the Kagyu lineage and the consort of Chakrasamvara.

Dusum Khyenpa (Tib. dus gsum mkhyen pa) [1110–1193]  The first Karmapa. Dusum Khyenpa was a student of Gampopa, who empowered him to practice Hevajra and Mahamudra. He received the Kalachakra and the lam dre teachings from Virupa. See also Kagyupa, Karma Kagyu, and Karmapa.

Dzokchen (Tib. rdzogs chen) [Skt. maha ati]  The Great Perfection is the highest yana of the Nyingma school. Taught by Garab Dorje, it is the ultimate way to achieve direct realization of the clear and luminous quality of mind itself.

eight consciousnesses (Tib. rnam shes tshogs brgyad)  The five sense consciousnesses are sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and body sensation. The sixth is mental consciousness; the seventh is afflicted consciousness, the klesha mind; and the eighth, the alaya, is the ground consciousness.

empowerment (Tib. dbang bskur) [Skt. abhishekha]  Empowers, or authorizes, the student to engage in a specific Vajrayana practice. It must be conferred by a Vajrayana master who embodies the teaching of the lineage.

emptiness (Tib. stong pa nyid ) [Skt. shunyata]  In the second turning of the wheel of Dharma, the Buddha taught that neither external phenomena nor internal phenomena have any real or inherent existence and are therefore “empty.”

five deeds with immediate result  See five negative straight-through actions.

five negative straight-through actions (Tib. mtshams med lnga)   Actions that cause the doer to assume immediate rebirth in the lowest quarters of hell without passing through the bardo. These are killing one’s mother, killing one’s father, killing an arhat, intentionally causing a buddha to bleed and doing so with the desire to harm, and causing a schism in the sangha.

five poisons  See klesha.

form kaya  See kaya.

four immeasurables (Tib. tshad med bzhi)  Also called the four inconceivables or the four boundless qualities. They are unlimited love, boundless compassion, unsurpassable joy, and
fundamental impartiality.

four noble truths (Tib. ‘phags pa’i bden pa bzhi)  First sermon taught by the Buddha, at Sarnath, India. The four noble truths are the truth of suffering, the truth of the causes of suffering, the truth of the cessation of suffering, and the truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering.

four ordinary foundations  See four thoughts.

four powers (Tib. stobs bzhi)  To be authentic and fully effective, any act of confession must contain all four of the following components—the power of reliance or support; the power of regret; the power of remedy for harmful actions, which is any virtuous action specifically dedicated to purification; and the power of resolution, or the intention never to repeat the wrongdoing.

four special foundations  See ngondro.

four thoughts that turn the mind (Tib. blo ldog rnam bzhi)  They are reflection on precious human birth, impermanence and the inevitability of death, karma and its effects, and the pervasiveness of suffering in samsara.

ganachakra (Skt.) [Tib. tshogs kyi ‘khor lo]  Literally, “wheel of gathering.” A ritual feast offering, part of many sadhanas.

gandi (Skt.)  A wooden gong, which when beaten with a wooden stick, calls the community to come together for work, ceremonies, and other matters.

gelong (Tib. dge slong) [Skt. bhikshu]  A fully ordained Buddhist monk.

gelong Dorje Dzinpa (Tib. dge slong rdo rje ‘dzin pa)  Gelong refers to the vows kept by the fully ordained, and Dorje Dzinpa refers to the tantric samayas. Clear examples of ordained monks who are Vajrayana practitioners and turn the wheel of the tantric teachings are His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa.

gelongma (Tib. dge slong ma) [Skt. bhikshuni]  A fully ordained Buddhist nun.

gelopma (Tib.) [Skt. shikshamana] A postulant nun. Women are required to take the vows for a postulant nun, which are taken after the vows for a novice nun and before the vows of full ordination. See also getsulma and gelongma.

Geluk (Tib. dge lugs)  One of the four main lineages of Tibetan Buddhism and the most recent of the New Translation schools, founded by Tsongkhapa (1357–1419 ce).

generation and completion (Tib. bskyed rim and rdzogs rim)  Two stages that are the means and knowledge of Vajrayana practice. The creation phase, the visualization, is based on pure perception (perceiving sight, sound, and thought as deity, mantra, and wisdom). The completion stage is resting in the natural state of mind.

genyen (Tib. dge bsnyen) [Skt. upasaka]  A Buddhist layman who is given this status by taking refuge in the Three Jewels. He maintains precepts and gives alms to ordained sangha.

genyen Dorje Dzinpa (Tib. dge bsnyen rdo rje ‘dzin pa)  Genyen refers to the vows of the lay practitioner, and Dorje Dzinpa refers to the tantric samayas. Genyen Dorje Dzinpa are tantric teachers who are not ordained. This includes highly respected lamas such as His Holiness Sakya Trizin of the Sakya tradition and His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche of the Nyingma lineage.

genyenma (Tib. dge bsnyen ma) [Skt. upasika]  A Buddhist laywoman, who is given this status by taking refuge in the Three Jewels. She maintains precepts and gives alms to ordained sangha.

getsul (Tib. dge tshul) [Skt. shramanera]  A novice monk.

getsulma (Tib. dge tshul ma) [Skt. shramaneri]  A novice nun.

god realm  See six realms.

guru yoga (Tib. bla ma’i rnal ‘byor)  A practice of devotion to the guru culminating in receiving his blessing and becoming inseparable with his mind. It is also the fourth preliminary practice of the Vajrayana ngondro.

hell realm  See six realms.

Hinayana (Skt.) [Tib. theg pa dman]  The vehicle or path in which practitioners contemplate the four noble truths and the twelve links of interdependence with the aim of achieving liberation from the sufferings of samsara. The only Hinayana school that survives today is the Theravadin.

human realm  See six realms.

hungry ghost realm  See six realms.

interdependent origination (Tib. rten ‘brel) [Skt. pratityasamutpada]  The doctrine that nothing exists independently, but only comes into existence dependent on previous causes and conditions. See also twelve links.

Jambudvipa (Skt.) [Tib. ‘dzam bu gling]  The southern of the four principal continents in Buddhist cosmology.

Jetsun (Tib. rje btsun)  A title indicating a master, teacher, or lord; for example, Jetsun Milarepa.

Kadampa (Skt.) [Tib. bka’ gdams pa]  A tradition brought to Tibet by Atisha at the end of the first millenium. The Kadampa school, which emphasized the gradual path, has not survived as an independent school, but rather has been absorbed into the other schools.

Kagyu (Tib. bka’ brgyud)  The teaching lineage, whose teachings and practices are passed down through a succession of realized teachers. The Kagyu traces its lineage back to the mahasiddha Tilopa, who received the teachings directly from Vajradhara. The Kagyu are particularly known for their many great yogis as well as the monastic tradition that began with Gampopa (1079–1153). One of the four main lineages of Buddhism in Tibet and one of the three main schools of the New Translation school, the Kagyupa school is subdivided into four greater and eight lesser lineages, not all of which have survived to the present day.

Kalachakra (Skt.) [Tib. dus kyi khor lo’i rgyud]  The literal meaning is “wheel of time.” A deity manifested by Shakaymuni Buddha at the request of the king of Shambhala. Kalachakra is an anuttara yoga tantra. Receiving the empowerment is thought to guarantee rebirth in Shambhala.

karma (Skt.) [Tib. las]  Action. The universal law of cause and effect according to which one inevitably experiences the results of one’s own positive and negative actions.

Karma Kagyu (Tib. ka rma bka’ brgyud)  The supreme Kagyu sect under the leadership of the Gyalwa Karmapas. It was established, in the twelfth century, by the first Karmapa, Dusum Khyenpa (1110–1193), one of Gampopa’s students. See also Kagyu and Karmapa.

Karmapa (Tib. ka rma pa)  The Gyalwa Karmapa, is the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The present Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, is the seventeenth in an unbroken lineage that began with Dusum Khyenpa. The Gyalwa Karmapas, who embody the activity of buddhahood, were prophesied by both Buddha Shakyamuni and Padmasambhava. A manifestation of Chenrezik, they are pure examples of wisdom and compassion, and have revealed their realization as scholars, yogins, artists, and poets. See also Kagyu, Karma Kagyu, and Dusum Khyenpa.

kaya (Skt.) [Tib. sku]  The three natures, or “bodies,” of buddhas. The three kayas are the nirmanakaya, or emanation body, by which buddhas appear in physical form in the realm of sentient beings; the sambhogakaya, or enjoyment body, through which buddhas appear to bodhisattvas; and the dharmakaya, which is the unoriginated wisdom beyond form, which manifests in the sambhogakaya and the nirmanakaya. There is a fourth kaya, the svabhavikakaya, or the body of essential nature, and it expresses the ultimate unity of the three aforementioned kayas. The term rupakaya, “form body,” refers to both the sambhogakaya and the nirmanakaya. There is a fifth kaya as well, the mahasukhakaya, or body of great bliss, which is the quality of the other four kayas combined.

khenpo (Tib. mkhen po)  Title of someone who has completed the advanced studies of Buddhism.

klesha (Skt.) [Tib. snyon mongs]  Emotional obscurations. The three primary kleshas, the three poisons, are attachment or desire, aversion or anger, and ignorance or delusion. Along with pride and envy, they are referred to as the five kleshas.

kriya tantra (Skt.) [Tib. bya ba’i rgyud]  Action tantra. The first of the outer tantras; focusing on cleanliness, purity, and correct behavior.

Lotus sutra, Sutra of the Lotus of the True Doctrine (Tib. dam pa’i chos padma dkar po’i mdo) [Skt. Saddharma-pundarika-sutra] A foundational text of Mahayana Buddhism in which the Buddha explains the principles underlying the unity of the three yanas and the concept of skillful means in adapting the teaching to the capacities of different beings.

lung (Tib.)  Reading transmission given to a student by a lineage holder, which is a necessary preliminary to doing the practice.

Mahamudra (Skt.) [Tib. phyag rgya chen po]  Literally, “great seal.” A meditation practice particularly emphasized in the Kagyu
tradition, Mahamudra is the direct experience of the empty, luminous, and pure nature of mind.

mahasiddha (Skt.) [Tib. grub thob chen po]  Great adept; the highly realized masters in the Vajrayana tradition. Also refers to the eighty-four great and eccentric mahasiddhas who lived in India between the eighth and twelfth centuries ce and who reached great spiritual attainment through the diligent practice of tantra. Tilopa and Naropa are two of the eighty-four mahasiddhas.

mahasukhakaya  See kaya.

Mahayana (Skt.) [Tib. theg pa chen po]  The “greater vehicle.” The teachings of the second turning of the wheel of Dharma in which shunyata (emptiness) and compassion for all beings are emphasized. See also bodhichitta, bodhisattva.

Maitreya (Skt.) [Tib. byams pa]  The buddha of the future, who at the present time resides in Tushita, a heavenly realm, from which he emanates manifestations into other realms. He will take birth as the fifth buddha of the present era.

mandala (Skt.) [Tib. dkhyil ‘khor]  Symbolic representation depicting the palace of a particular deity. These circular diagrams are sometimes elaborately executed with grains of colored sand and are used for empowerments and elaborate meditation practices. The mandala offering, the third of the four special foundations, perfects the accumulation of merit by repeatedly offering the entire universe to the sources of refuge.

Manjushri (Skt.) [Tib. ‘jam dpal dbyangs]  The bodhisattva manifesting the perfection of wisdom and thus a frequent figure in the prajnaparamita sutras of the Mahayana tradition. He is shown wearing sambhogakaya ornaments and holding a flaming sword in his right hand and a text in his left hand.

mantra (Skt.) [Tib. sngags]  Sacred sounds representing various energies that symbolize and communicate the nature of a deity. Mantras, which are manifestations of the speech aspect of enlightenment, range from single syllables to lengthy combinations. om mani peme hung, the mantra of Chenrezik, is among the most widely practiced.

mara (Skt.) [Tib. bdud]  Mara is anything that obstructs the practice of Dharma and seduces you into abandoning your practice in favor of worldly activities. The first of the four maras is the deva putra mara, which is attachment to and craving for pleasure. The second, the klesha mara, causes one to take rebirth in the six realms of samsara. The third is called skandha mara because the skandhas or aggregates are the cause for the presence of suffering. The fourth one is the mara of death.

mental afflictions  See kleshas.

Milarepa (Tib. mi la ras pa)  This famous yogi (1040–1143) is one of the greatest and most celebrated teachers in Tibetan Buddhism. Despite having accumulated heavy negative karma in his early adulthood, he became the student of Marpa and attained full awakening in one lifetime. He then composed the 100,000 Songs, spontaneously created to elucidate his experience of realization. His students include Gampopa and Rechungpa.

mountain dharma (Tib. ri chö) Refers to serious retreat practice, especially solitary retreat in the mountains. The essential point of mountain Dharma is to abandon all concerns of this life and to undertake solitary retreat with the intent of experiencing the nature of your mind.

Mount Meru (Tib. ri rab lhun po)  The giant mountain at the center of the Buddhist world system that is surrounded by smaller mountains, lakes, oceans, and the four continents. Meru, or Sumeru, is visualized as a vast peak, and serves as the focus of mandala offerings.

naga (Skt.) [Tib. klu]  Powerful serpent beings who inhabit waters and are often the custodians of treasures, either texts or actual material treasures.

Nagarjuna (Skt.) [Tib. klu sgrub]  A leading Buddhist philosopher in the interpretation of shunyata, the founder of the Madhyamaka school, and the author of The Fundamental Treatise of the Middle Way. Lived in India in the late second century ce.

Nam Chö (Tib. gnam chos)  Literally, “Sky Dharma.” A tradition of terma.

namthar (Tib. rnam thar)  Literally, “records of liberation.” Biographies of the enlightened masters of Tibet containing the spiritual path by which the master attained enlightenment, most often written by their disciples.

ngondro (Tib. sngon ‘gro)  The preliminary practices of Tibetan Buddhism in which the practitioner begins the Vajrayana path, performing 111,111 repetitions of refuge prayers and prostrations; 111,111 Vajrasattva mantras; 111,111 mandala offerings; and 111,111 guru yoga practices. The preliminary practices prepare the student for the successive stages on the Vajrayana path.

nirmanakaya  See kaya.

nirvana (Skt.) [Tib. mya ngan las ‘das pa]  The extinction of the causes of samsaric existence—false ideas and afflictive emotions—accomplished by spiritual practice and resulting in liberation from cyclic existence. See also samsara.

nyalwa dorje den (Tib. mnyal bar do rje gdan)  Vajra hell, where the suffering is limitless and unbearable.

Nyingma (Tib. rnying ma)  The “old” school, or ancient translation school, which represents the Buddhist teachings as they were first translated into Tibetan from Sanskrit and other languages. This school began in the eighth century ce with Padmasambhava, who buried terma, or hidden treasures, to be discovered at the appropriate time in the future by tertons, or treasure discoverers. Dzokchen is the highest meditation practice in the Nyingma tradition.

nyungne (Tib. smyung gnas)  The fasting practice of Thousand-armed Chenrezik, the bodhisattva of infinite compassion.

Padmasambhava (Skt.) [Tib. pad ma ‘byung gnas, gu ru rin po che] Literally, the “lotus-born” buddha of Uddiyana, who brought the Vajrayana teachings to Tibet in the ninth century ce. He subdued the negative forces of Tibet, founded the Nyingma school, and concealed Dharmic treasures (terma) for the benefit of future generations.

Palden Lhamo (Tib. dpal ldan lha mo) [Skt. Shri Devi]  Female Dharma protector, the only female of the eight Dharma protectors.

paramita (Skt.) [Tib. pha rol tu phyin pa] Reaching the other shore, transcending concepts of subject, object, and action. The six paramitas, or the six perfections, are the transcendent actions of generosity, discipline, patience, exertion, meditation, and knowledge. The ten paramitas include these six plus means, strength, power, and wisdom.

parinirvana (Skt.) [Tib. yongs su mya ngan las’das pa]  Final nirvana, the highest nirvana, which is entered at death once having achieved complete enlightenment.

prajnaparamita (Skt.) [Tib. shes rab kyi pha rol tu phyin pa] Transcendent knowledge. The Mahayana teachings on the cultivation of insight resulting in the direct realization of emptiness.

pratimoksha vow (Skt.) [Tib. so sor thar pa]  Literally, “individual liberation.” The self-liberating vow that constitutes the basic ethical commitments of a lay disciple, a novice, or a monastic.

Pratyekabuddha (Skt.) [Tib. rang sangs rgyas]  A solitary realized one. A Hinayana arhat who concentrates on his or her own liberation and contemplates the twelve links of interdependence.

puja (Skt.) [Tib. mchod pa]  Buddhist ceremonies that range from the very simple to the most elaborate. See also sadhana.

Raga Asya (Skt.)  Sanskrit for Karma Chakme.

Rangjung Dorje (Tib. rang ‘byung rdo rje)  The Third Karmapa (1284–1339), renowned for his texts used extensively in the Kagyu lineage, among which are The Aspiration Prayer of Mahamudra of Definitive Meaning, The Profound Inner Meaning, and Treatise on Buddha Essence.

renunciation (Tib. nges ‘byung)  The stable renunciation of samsara, which means that what you previously regarded with attachment you now regard with revulsion and disgust because you recognize the futility of samsara and the value of liberation. See also four thoughts and four powers.

root guru (Tib. rtsa ba’i bla ma)  According to the anuttara yoga tradition of the Vajrayana, your root guru is the embodiment of all buddhas because the mind of the guru is the dharmakaya, the wisdom of all buddhas. Since the guru is the source of Dharma, the speech of the guru is the embodiment of all Dharma. Whether the guru manifests as a monastic or as a chakravartin, the body of the guru as the foremost member of the sangha is the embodiment of the whole sangha. The qualities of the guru are what manifest as the yidams and other deities, and the activity of the guru is what manifests as dakinis and Dharma protectors. In Karma Chakme’s Mountain Dharma your root guru is defined as the teacher who points out the nature of your mind.

Rudra (Tib. ru dra)  The demon of ego clinging. In Tibetan Buddhism, the personification of the destructiveness of ego.

rupakaya  See kaya.

sadhana (Skt.) [Tib. grub thabs]  Literally, “means of accomplishment.” A Vajrayana liturgy and method for one of many deities that includes chanting, visualization, and mantra recitation. See also puja.

Sakya (Tib. sa kya)  One of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The lineage, headed by His Holiness Sakya Trizin, is passed from father to son. It emphasizes lam dre teachings and Buddhist logic.

Samantabhadra (Skt.) [Tib. kun tu bzang po]  Literally, “all good.” One of the eight great bodhisattvas, he is an emanation of Vajrasattva, and the primordial dharmakaya buddha for the Nyingma lineage.

samaya (Skt.) [Tib. dam tshig]  Sacred word or vow. The sacred commitment of Vajrayana is primarily to one’s root guru and to the practice one has committed to, but also to the sangha.

sambhogakaya  See kaya.

samsara (Skt.) [Tib. ‘khor ba]  Cyclic existence, in which ordinary beings are trapped in an endless cycle of rebirth in the six realms, which contain endless suffering. The state of ordinary beings bound to suffering by attachment, aggression, and ignorance. See also nirvana.

samyaksambuddha (Skt.) [Tib. yang dag par rdzogs pa’i sangs rgyas] Completely and perfectly awakened.

Sangha (Skt.) [Tib. dge ‘dun]  The community of practitioners who have taken refuge in the Three Jewels. Also, the noble sangha of realized ones.

Sarma (Tib. Sar ma)  The New Translation school, which includes the Kagyu, Geluk, and Sakya schools. These schools rely on the texts of the second propagation, brought by Rinchen Zangpo.

secret mantra (Tib. gsang sngags)  Refers to the Vajrayana.

seven branches  Stanzas of confession from the “Seven Branches,” found in The Aspiration to the Conduct of Excellence, a part of many sadhanas.

shamatha (Skt.) [Tib. zhi gnas]  Literally, “calm abiding.” Tranquillity meditation in which the meditator uses techniques, such as following the breath, to attain a calm and focused mind.  See also vipashana.

Shariputra  Highly regarded arhat and foremost disciple of Buddha Shakyamuni, he was known for his attainment of wisdom and his exemplary qualities of compassion, patience, and humility. The Buddha declared that Shariputra was a perfect disciple.

shinay (Tib.)  See shamatha
shramanera (Skt.)  See getsul.

shramaneri (Skt.)  See getsulma.

Shravaka (Skt.) [Tib. nyan thos]  Early disciples of Buddha Shakyamuni, the Shravakas practiced meditation and contemplated the Buddha’s words, which they actually heard because they were present at that time. The Shravakayana was the first yana.

shunyata (Skt.) [Tib. stong pa nyid]  Emptiness. Conceptual frameworks are empty of any true essence or self, are dependent on causes and conditions, and thus lack inherent existence.

siddhi (Skt.) [Tib. dngos grub]  Accomplishment. The eight ordinary siddhis show mastery of the mundane everyday world; the supreme siddhi is enlightenment.

Sister Palmo  A Western woman, a devotee of His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa, was ordained by His Holiness as Gelongma Kachok Palmo, but was known as Sister Palmo. With His Holiness, she helped to found and operate a school for young lamas. Initially, some forty young tulkus from the four traditions of Tibetan Buddhism attended the school, acquired English, and were able to greatly benefit many Westerners. She traveled with His Holiness to the West in 1974. Sister Palmo was responsible for making available many early translations of sadhanas and prayers. She also significantly helped the Tibetans in their early years in India.

six dharmas of Naropa (Tib. na ro chos drug)  Naropa taught Marpa these tantric practices, which are an important part of the Kagyu teachings and a standard practice in the traditional three-year, three-month, three-day retreat. They consist of tummo, illusory body, dream yoga, clear light, bardo, and phowa.

six realms (Tib. khams drug)  The six realms of samsaric existence as shown on the Wheel of Life. The god realm is the highest of the six realms, where beings are dominated by pride and suffer because they will fall to the lower realms. In the asura realm, the beings are dominated by jealousy and envy and suffer as a result of their constant quarreling and fighting. The human realm is characterized by desire and attachment, and although the beings suffer from ceaseless struggle, it is the best rebirth because one has the opportunity to practice Dharma. The animal realm is dominated by ignorance and stupidity; beings there suffer from constant fear. The hungry ghost realm is dominated by greed, and the preta beings suffer terribly from hunger and thirst. The lowest of the realms, the hell realm, is dominated by hatred and aggression, and the beings endure intense suffering.

six-syllable mantra  Usually refers to om mani peme hung, the mantra of Chenrezik. In Karma Chakme’s Mountain Dharma, it often refers to the six-syllable essence mantra of Vajrasattva, om benza satto hung.

skandha (Skt.) [Tib. phung po lnga]  Literally, “heap.” The five skandhas, or aggregates, are form, feeling, conception, formation, and consciousness. In the confused state, we cling to one or another aspect of these five as a concrete self. When the skandhas are actually seen for what they are, no self is found in them, either singly or taken together. In Vajrayana they are correlated to the five buddhas of the mandala.

soha  Tibetan transliteration of the Sanskrit word svaha.

stupa (Skt.) [Tib. mchod rten]  A monument that contains the relics of the Buddha or high teacher. The stupa symbolizes the dharmakaya, the mind of the Buddha, and can range from small and simple to monumental structures.

Sutra Taught to the King (Tib. rgyal po la gdams pa’i mdo) [Skt. rajavavadaka]  The Buddha’s summary of the commitments of the bodhisattva vow.

Svabhavikakaya  See kaya.


tantrika (Skt.) [Tib. ngags pa]  Tantric practitioner.

Tathagata (Skt.) [Tib. de bzhin gshegs pa]  Literally, “thus-gone.” A fully enlightened buddha.

tathagatagarbha (Skt.) [Tib. de bzhin gshegs pa’i snying po]  The essence of the tathagatas, it is the seed or essence of enlightenment that all beings have and is what gives them the potential to be a buddha.

ten unvirtuous actions  There are three unvirtuous actions of body: to intentionally kill, to steal or take that which is not offered, and to engage in sexual misconduct. The four unvirtuous actions involving speech are lying, slander, verbal abuse, and mindless talk. The three types of mental unvirtuous actions are covetousness, spite or maliciousness, and wrong view.

ten virtuous actions  These involve abandoning the ten unvi