Property:Gloss-term
From Buddha-Nature
This is a property of type Text.
T
sadhana;A tan trie practice for realizing the nature of a particular deity, who is the focus of the text. It usually begins with the preliminaries of taking refuge and generating bodhichitta, then moves to the main section of visualizing the deity and reciting its mantra, and closes with dissolution of the image and dedication. +
Prasangika Madhyamaka;Sometimes translated as "the Consequentialist school," so named for its method of debate, which consists of drawing out unwanted consequences from another's argument while avoiding making assertions. This is the main Rangtong school and sometimes synonymous with it, although the Svantantrika school (q.v.) is also considered part of Rangtong. +
aggregates;aggregates;skandhas;The five constituents of our mental and physical life: form, sensation, discrimination, mental formations, and consciousness. +
Tseringma;tseringma;A special protectress of the Karmapas lineage, and also known as a goddess whose dialogues with Milarepa are famous. +
bindu;A sphere or drop of light, which rides the prana (q.v.) in the nadi (q.v.) of the illusory or subtle body. +
maras,four;The four maras are the afflictions, the five aggregates, the children of the gods (devaputra), and the Lord of Death (Yama). The Karmapa explains that in general, "The label 'mara' is given to what blocks a practitioner from attaining awakening or perfect liberation." +
Amitayus;The manifestation of Amitabha on the sambhogakaya level and one of the three main deities connected with long life along with White Tara and Ushnisha- Vijaya. +
Vairochana;The central white buddha of the five buddha families, associated with the wisdom of the dharmadhatu. +
vehicle;vehicle;yana;Refers to the three major systems of Buddhist teachings from the Tibetan perspective: the Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. The term "vehicle" is used because these teachings carry one along the path of practice into ultimate realization. +
bardo;bardo;An intermediate state or interval, of which six types are usually enumerated: birth, dream, meditation, the time of death, dharmata, and becoming. The common understanding of bardo encompasses the last three, from the process of dying, to the dharmata, the various appearances, and rebirth. +
Madhyamaka;The Middle Way school of philosophy, which evolved from the thought of the great Indian scholar Nagarjuna (second century C.E.). Its view focuses on the empty nature of all phenomena that allows for their dependent origination. Its reasonings radically cut through any tendency to reify an object or a subject. Of its two main subschools, the Rangtong approach emphasizes the empty aspect of mind s nature, while the Shentong approach emphasizes its clear and radiant aspect. Ultimately, the two are inseparable. +
Barkhor;barkhor;The wide stone pathway that is a pilgrimage route encircling the Jokhang, the central temple of Lhasa, where the most sacred statue of the Buddha, the Jowo, is enshrined. +
gyaling;gyaling;A reed horn, sounding a bit like an oboe, used in rituals and played to welcome important lamas in general and, in particular, to usher them into ceremonial events. +
chang chub sems dpa;bodhisattva;literally, "warrior of enlightenment." Bodhisattvas are those who have dedicated their lives to compassionate action and the realization of mind s nature in order to help others on the path to liberation.The term refers both to individuals on the Mahayana path and to those who have achieved a high level of realization and abide in other realms, such as Chenrezik and Manjushri. +
Maitreya;The fifth and future buddha, now abiding in Tushita heaven as Shakyamuni did before taking birth. Also considered the author, through Asanga, of "The Five Texts of Maitreya," an important set of teachings of which one is ''The Supreme Continuum''. +
lama;lama;In general, a teacher. There are many levels of lamas and different ways of awarding the title. +
Vajrayana;It is said that like a diamond, a ''vajra'' is able to cut through everything, and this quality makes it a symbol of the realization of mind s nature that cuts through all delusions of duality. Vajrayana is translated as "diamond vehicle," a synonym for the tantric Buddhism that developed in India and came to Tibet, forming the core of its Buddhist practice. +
tsampa;tsampa;Roasted barley flour, a staple of the Tibetan diet. +
khata;khata;A long white scarf, usually of silk, that is offered to deities and to individuals as a gesture of respect and devotion or simply as a welcoming greeting. +
Three Jewels;three jewels;The Buddha as the teacher, the Dharma as what he taught, and the Sangha as those who help one along the path. The Sangha is divided into three groups: the lay sangha, the ordained sangha, and the bodhisattvas. +
