Property:Gloss-def
From Buddha-Nature
This is a property of type Text.
T
lowest of the three realms that make up a world-system; inhabited
by hell-beings, pretas, animals, humans, and the lower gods. +
in Northern India, west of Rājagrtia, where the Buddha, seated
under the Bodhi tree, gained enlightenment. +
The Mahāyāna recognizes the three aspects (Trikāya) of the
Buddha: Dharmakāya (Tib. Chos-kyi sku), lit. 'Dharma body'; Sambhogakāya
(Tib. Longs-spyod-kyi sku), lit. 'Enjoyment body'; and Nirmāṇakāya (Tib. sPrul-
sku), lit. 'Representation body' The Dharmakāya is voidness and its realization, beyond time and space, and is
pure transcending awareness. The Sambhogakāya, the pure enjoyment aspect of the
Dhyānibuddhas, also represents the aspect of communication. The Nirmāṇakāya
forms are embodiments taken by Buddhas among earthly beings in order to clarify
the way to enlightenment. The Sambhogakāya and the Nirmāṇakāya are sometimes known together as the
Rūpakāya (Tib. gZugs-sku), lit. 'Form body'; all three kāyas are sometimes
considered aspects of a fourth body, called the Svābhāvikakāya (Tib. Ngo-bo-
nyid-sku). +
a native religion of Tibet, whose founder is said to be gShen-rab who came
from either Ta-zig (which may be Persia) or Zhang-zhung, an area of western
Tibet. +
the state of Buddhahood charac-
terized by perfection of the accumulations of merit and wisdom, and by the
removal of the two obscurations. +
stage of tantric practice
focussing on the processes of visualizations-oneself as deity, the outer world as a
maṇḍala, and the beings within as gods and goddesses. See also Tantra. +
see Eight Great Disciplines. +
great Buddhist scholar; usually refers to the Buddhist scholars from
Kashmir or India. +
the cycle of teachings given by the Buddha; three such
cycles, known as the Three Turnings of the Wheel of the Dharma, were taught by
Sākyamuni Buddha during his lifetime. +
lit. 'means of attainment'; special tantric practices
for gaining certain spiritual attainments. +
lit. 'action'; its wider meaning encompasses the causal connec-
tions between actions and their consequences. +
Avalokiteśvara, Vajrapāṇi, and
Mañjuśri. +
Vase Empowerment, Secret Empowerment, Wisdom
Empowerment, Creativity Empowerment. +
each of the five types of Pristine Awareness
is associated with one of the Dhyānibuddhas: Mirror-like Awareness (Skt.
Ādarśajñāna, Tib. Me-long ye-shes) is associated with Akṣobhya; Awareness of
Fundamental Sameness (Skt. Samatājñāna, Tib. mNyam-nyid ye-shes) is associ-
ated with Ratnasambhava; All-encompassing Investigating Awareness (Skt.
Pratyavekṣaṇajñāna, Tib. So-sor rtogs-pa'i ye-shes) is associated with Amitābha;
All-accomplishing Awareness (Skt. Kṛtyānuṣṭānajñāna, Tib. Bya-grub ye-shes) is
associated with Amoghasiddhi; The Awareness of the Expanse of Dharma (Skt.
Dharmadhātujñāna, Tib. Chos-dbyings ye-shes) is associated with Vairocana. +
gestures symbolizing particular spiritual attributes or
steps toward perfection. There are technically four types of mudrā: the symbolic
seal (Skt. Upāyamudrā, Tib. Dam-tshig phyag-rgya); the female partner in tantric
practices or the visualized partner who represents Pristine Awareness (Skt.
Karmamudrā orJñānamudrā, Tib. Las-kyi phyag-rgya or Ye-shes-kyi phyag-rgya);
the seal of the Absolute (Skt. Dharmamudrā, Tib. Chos-kyi phyag-rgya); and the
Great Seal (Skt. Mahāmudrā, Tib. Phyag-rgya chen-po). +
three great Tibetan kings who encouraged the transmission of
Buddhism to Tibet and became known as the three great Dharma Kings: Srong-
btsan sgam-po, Khri-srong lde'u-btsan, and Ral-pa-can. Srong-btsan sgam-po (7th century) first great Dharma King, who united the
Tibetan kingdom. He married two Buddhist princesses, Bhjľkūṭl of Nepal and
Wen-ch'eng of China. He built the first Buddhist temples, established a code of
laws based on Dharma principles, developed the Tibetan script with the help of his
minister Thon-mi Sambhoṭa, and also began the translation of Buddhist texts into
Tibetan. Srong-btsan sgam-po was succeeded by; Gung-srong, Mang-srong,
'Dus-srong, and Khri-lde gTsug-btsan (Mes-ag-tshoms). Khri-srong lde'u-btsan (8th century) second great Dharma King, who invited
to Tibet Padmasambhava, Sāntarakṣita, Vimalamitra, and many other Buddhist
teachers including Jinamitra and Dānaśīla. With the aid of Sāntarakṣita and
Padmasambhava, he built bSam-yas, the great monastery and teaching center
modelled after Odantapurī. He proclaimed Buddhism the religion of Tibet, and
during his reign the first monks were ordained. Paṇḍitas and lotsāwas translated
many texts, and large numbers of practice centers were established. He was
succeeded by: Mu-ne and Khri-lde srong-btsan (Sad-na-legs). Ral-pa-can (9th century) third great Dharma King, who supported the
standardization of new grammar and vocabulary for translation and the revision of
old translations. He renewed old centers and invited many Buddhist scholars to
Tibet. He was renowned for his devotion to the Dharma. +
discourses given by the Buddha on the Dharma. +
teachings which establish the discipline and moral conduct
(śīla) that support all Dharma practice. +
lit. 'wisdom holder'; holder of the Enlightened
Lineage; those who have attained great spiritual and magical abilities. Having
received and manifested the teachings of the enlightened lineage, they are able to
transmit these teachings to others. +
goddess of Euphony and patron of the arts and sciences; early known as
goddess of a sacred river in northern India and as the goddess of speech and
learning; traditionally regarded in India as the source of the Sanskrit language and
Devanāgari letters. +
