Literally "to run around"; the condition of recurrent birth through the force of action (''karma'') and afflictive mental states. It applies to all states of existence of the three realms and their six life-forms. +
Mayopama, "like a (magical) illusion" (''maya-upama'') , emphasizes the fact that the mind distorts experience of reality in the way a magician alters our perceptions. Our conditioned perception causes the world to appear as something it is not. +
The totality of samsara. The desire realm-so named because its inhabitants are primarily concerned with sensory gratification-includes beings of all six states of existence. The form and formless realms consist exclusively of gods whose mental states correspond with those of the eight absorption levels. The form realm corresponds to the first four absorption levels and the formless realm to the second four levels. +
The afflictional obscuration (''kleśāvararza'') consists of negative mental states that obscure nirvana's freedom from misery. The objective obscuration (''jñeyāvararza'') consists of fundamental misperceptions of the world that obscure perfect enlightenment. +
The world as it appears when perception is conditioned by verbal conventions. The term "reality" emphasizes the fact that, owing to its relative self-consistency, it does appear to be a valid reality to ordinary beings. +
The ten main evils are killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, slander, abusive speech, senseless speech, coveting, ill will, and wrong views. The ten main virtues are abstaining from these evils. +
The six states or classes of life-forms of samsara: gods (''deva'') , anti-gods (''asura''), humans (''manuṣya''), animals (''tiryagyona''), frustrated spirits (''preta''), and hell beings (''nairayika''). The first three are called higher states and the last three lower states. +
The cessation of one's own misery through eradication of affiictional mental states. In the Great Vehicle nirvana is used in distinction to enightenment, which involves not only the eradication of misery but also the attainment of unique abilities and insights into reality. +
Four practices performed by a bodhisattva primarily for the welfare of others: giving, relevant communication, assisting the development of others, and serving as an example for others. +
The two stages of tantric practice. The first, the production phase (''utpattikrama''), involves the visualized production of the tantric deities and their domains. The second, the completion phase (''utpannakrama''), is the completion of this process by perceiving the voidness of all appearances. +
The mentally controlled body of an accomplished yogi. (When unhyphenated it indicates the ordinary body of an undeveloped being that takes its form through deluded preconceptions). Synonym: rainbow-body, vajra-body. +