phyag chen,phyag rgya chen po;Mahamudra;In the context of this book, mahamudra refers to the "supreme attainment of mahamudra," which is synonymous with complete enlightenment or the vidyadhara level of mahamudra, the third of the four vidyadhara levels. +
rnal 'byor chen po;Mahayoga;The first of the Three Inner Tantras. Mahayoga as scripture is divided into two parts: Tantra Section and Sadhana Section. The Tantra Section consists of the Eighteen Mahayoga Tantras, while the Sadhana Section is comprised of the Eight Sadhana Teachings. Jamgőn Kongtrŭl says in his Treasury of Knowledge: "Mahayoga emphasizes means (Skt. upaya), the development stage, and the view that liberation is attained through growing accustomed to insight into the nature of the indivisibility of the superior two truths." The superior two truths in Mahayoga are purity and equality: The pure natures of the aggregates, elements, and sense factors are the male and female buddhas and bodhisattvas. At the same time, everything that appears and exists is of the equal nature of emptiness. +
bskang ba,bskang chog;Fulfillment ritual;fulfillment ritual;A practice to purify outer, inner, and secret or innermost breaches and violations of a practitioner's Hinayana precepts, Mahayana vows, or Vajrayana commitments. +
rin chen gter mdzod chen mo;"The Great Treasury of Precious Termas." A collection of the most important revealed termas of Padmasambhava, Vimalamitra, Vairochana, and other of their closest disciples, compiled by Jamgőn Kongtrűl Lodrő Thaye with the help of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. Originally sixty-three volumes. Published by His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche in New Delhi, with the addition of several more volumes of termas and commentaries. +
dpal 'bar ba khro mo'i rgyud;Glorious Blazing Wrathful Goddess Tantra;glorious blazing wrathful goddess tantra;A Mahayoga scripture. A tantra of this name is found in the Nyingma Gyūbum, vol. PA. +
thos bsam sgom gsum;Learning,reflection,and meditation;learning,reflection,and meditation;"Learning" means receiving oral teachings and studying scriptures, in order to clear away ignorance and wrong views. "Reflection" is to eradicate uncertainty and misunderstanding through carefully thinking over the subject. "Meditation" means to gain direct insight through applying the teachings in ones personal experience. +
rdo rje phag mo;"Vajra Sow." A sambhogakaya manifestation of the female buddha Samantabhadri. She is also one of the chief yidam deities of the Sarma Schools, as well as a wisdom dakini. +
'bre rgyal ba'i bio gros;Gyalwey Lodrő of Drey;gyalwey lodrő of drey;One of the first Tibetans to take ordination as a monk. He received transmission from Hungkara in India. At first, he was a trusted attendant of Trisong Deutsen by the name Gőnpo and, later, at the time of taking ordination, he was given the name Gyalwey Lodrŏ, "Victorious Intelligence." He became erudite in translation and attained accomplishment after receiving transmission from Humkara. It is said that he visited the land of Yama, the Lord of Death, and saved his mother from the hell realms. After receiving teachings from Padmasambhava, he displayed the feat of transforming a zombie into gold. Some of this gold has been revealed in termas in later times. He achieved the vidyadhara level of longevity and is reputed to have lived until the time of Rongzom Pandita Chőkyi Sangpo (rong zom chos kyi bzang po;1012—1088), to whom he gave teachings. +
ldan ma rtse mang;Tsemang of Denma;tsemang of denma;Important early Tibetan translator of the Tripitaka. Extremely well-versed in writing, his style of calligraphy is continued to the present day. Having received transmission of Vajrayana from Padmasambhava, he had realization and achieved perfect recall. He is said to be the chief scribe, who wrote down many termas, including the Assemblage of Sugatas connected to the Eight Sadhana Teachings. +
sgrag yang rdzong shel gyi brag phug;Crystal Cave of Drag Yangdzong;crystal cave of drag yangdzong;The retreat place of Padmasambhava s body. Situated between Lhasa and Samye in Central Tibet. +
gsang ba'i snying po;Essence of Secrets;essence of secrets;Guhyagarbha;The widely renowned tantra of the Early Translations which, according to Jam-gőn Kongtrŭl, is the chief of the Eighteen Mahayoga Tantras, exalted above them all like the banner of victory. The first text in the Nyingma Gyūbum, vol. PHA. A great number of commentaries on this tantra is found in the Nyingma Kama collection. +