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A General Dharma Glossary from Matthieu Ricard

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Rang snang, three main meanings

1) Manifestation of one's own nature: as when one says that the manifestation which arises from the primordial ground is the manifestation of the absolute nature of the ground itself, or when one says that Samantabhadra recognizes that the arising of phenomena is a manifestation of his own nature and is liberated.

2) Natural manifestation: as when one says that the sambhogakaya Buddhafields are a natural manifestation of Samantabhadra's pristine wisdom.

3) Manifestation appearing to oneself: as when one speaks of the nirmanakaya Buddhafields which appear to the the Buddhas themselves but not to other beings, not even to the Bodhisattvas of the tenth bhumi. (As opposed to gzhan snang, "which appears to others").

Although according to the context one of these meanings can be emphasized and chosen as translation, the three meanings of rang snang are always present. [MR]

rgyal tshab spyi lugs kyi dbang:
When the Chakravartin was to designate his successor he would gather his five hundred sons and give the empowering vase to his royal elephant who would go and put it on the head of the prince who has been chosen, who at that very moment became the heir to the throne.
It also refers to an essential form of bestowing the four empowerments condensed into one, by giving the blessing with the vase and transferring the totality of the blessing as it emptying completely one vase into another.
the corresponding six wisdoms and liberate from suffering the beings of the six realms. [MR]

Samye, (bsam yas). The first monastery built in Tibet, by Guru Padmasambhava, where the Buddhist canonical scriptures were translated into Tibetan, and where Guru Rinpoche gave many profound teachings and initiations. [MR]

Seven Noble Riches ('phags pa'i nor bdun)
Faith, which is like a river;
discipline, which is like a flower;
generosity, which is like a jewel;
learning, which is like an ocean;
samaya, which is like a crystal;
sense of shame, which is like not being deceived by one's parents (pa mas mi bslu ba lta bu);
and wisdom, which is like a sun. [MR]

Seven-point posture of Vairochana (nam snang chos bdun):

1) The legs should be crossed in the Vajrasana posture, the right one over the left.
2) The hands closed into fists, with the thumb pressing the base of the fourth finger, are placed on the thighs at the juncture with the pelvis, and the elbows then locked straight. (Two variations of this are to place the hands palms up, right over left, on the lap, with elbows bent out to the sides, or to place both hands palms down, relaxed, on the knees.)
3) The shoulders should be raised and rolled slightly forward.
4) The spine should be kept straight, "like a pile of golden coins."
5) The chin should be tucked in slightly towards the throat.
6) The tip of the tongue should be curled up to touch the palate.
7) The eyes should be kept unwaveringly focused at a distance of l2 fingers' breadth ahead of the tip of the nose, without blinking. [MR]

Seventy-five Glorious Protectors (dpal mgon bdun cu rtsa lnga)
sku yi mgon po sta gzhon/,,gsung gi mgon po bing dmar po/,,thugs kyi mgon po gri gug can/,,yon tan mgon po legs ldan nag/,,phrin las mgon po trag shad/,,lha chen po brgyad/,,klu chen po brgyad/,,drangs srong chen po brgyad/,,
bza' chen po brgyad/,,rgyu skar nyer bdun brgyad/,,phyogs skyong bcu/,,'jigs byed dgu/,,rgyal chen bzhi/

For detailed list of these, see the offering section of the bka' srung ma mgon lcam dral of the klong chen snying thig cycle (Vol. 2 pp...)
[MR]

Six basic miseries in samsara:

(1) Friends and enemies are changeable. (2) We never seem to have enough. (3) We die again and again. (4) We are reborn again and again. (5) We go up and down in samsara again and again. (6) We are essentially alone.

Six basic suffering in samsara:

(1) Friends and enemies are changeable. (2) We never seem to have enough. (3) We die again and again. (4) We are reborn again and again. (5) We go up and down in samsara again and again. (6) We are essentially alone. [MR]

Six bones ornaments (rus pa'i rgyan drug)
rna rgyan,
mgul rgyan,
mchod phyir thogs,
lag gdub,
rkang gdub
[MR]
Six clairvoyances -- (mngon shes drug)

1)rdzul 'phrul gyi mngon par shes pa
2) lha'i rna ba'i mngon par shes pa
3)gzhan gyi sems shes pa
4)sngon gyi gnas rjes su dran pa
5)lha'i mig
6)zag pa zad pa'i mgnon par shes pa [MR]

Six masters (slob spon drug): The spyi'i slob dpon is a prominent master who is everyone's teacher, like His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
'dren pa'i slob dpon is the teacher who takes you across the door of the Dharma. (For instance one who gives you refuge or monastic vows.)
dam tshig dbang gi lob dpon is the master from whom you received an abhisheka, and to whom you are thus linked with samayas.
nyams chag skong ba'i slob dpon is the one who receives your confession and helps you repair any breach of the Three Vows (sdom gsum).
shes rgyud 'grol gyi slob dpon is the one who gives you instructions and explains the scriptures, thus liberating your being.
man ngag lung gi slob dpon is the one who transmits you the pith instructions.[MR]

The six lopons mentioned in the tshig mdzod chen mo and are taken from the chos kyi rnam grangs shes ldan yid kyi dga' ston of the Second Jamyang Shepa, Jigme Konchog Wangpo. This is a different enumeration. [MR]

Six modes of exposition ('chad pa'i mtshul drug) are: body straight, the eyebrows hightened, gazing with the eyes half closed, mouth open, with the tongue extended in between the conch-white teeth, and speaking with the melodious voice of Brahma. [MR]

Six ways of expounding the inner tantras (drug:'chad pa'i mtha' drug), as mentioned in the rgyud gal po che: (1) According to the conventional meaning /truth (drang don), (2) Ultimate certain meaning /truth (nges don), (3) With a hidden meaning behind intelligible words which have an ordinary meaning (dgons pa can), (4) In a explicit way, without hidden meaning (dgons min), (5) In ordinary words of common language (sgra ji bzhin pa), and (6) in symbolic words arranged in sentences which makes no sense without a key for their understanding (sgra ji bzhin ma yin pa) [MR]

Six Yogas, meaning of (drug:tshig don chos drug) [MR]

Sur burnt offering (gsur) : and offering of smoke produced by burning barley flour, tsampa, mixed with the "three whites" (milk, butter, and cheese), the "three sweets" (sugar, molasses and honey), and blessed substances. This smoke, accompanied with a meditation upon the Buddha of Compassion, Avalokiteshvara in the form of Kasarpani and the recitation of his mantra, Om mani padme hum, relieves from the unending pangs of hunger and thirst of the hungry ghosts, the pretas. [MR]

Ten unvirtuous actions: (mi dge ba bcu) Three by body - to kill, to steal, and to have an improper sexual conduct; four by the speech - to lie, to slander, to chatter uselessly, and to say harsh words; and three by the mind - to wish to harm, to envy, and to hold false views. The ten virtuous actions are to avoid the ten unvirtuous ones and practice their opposite. [MR]

Ten glorious ornaments (dpal gyi chas bcu)
rgya bye chen po lcags kyi chas,
bse khrab dbang gi chas,
gcan gzan gzig gi chas,
sprul pa rdo rje'i chas,
gdug pa sbrul kyi chas,
dpa' bo stag gi chas,
gzi gdangs zhing lpags kyi chas,
dmar gsal khrag gi chas,
rtsal chen seng ge'i chas,
gdug pa dom kyi chas. [MR]


Three Divisions of Dzogchen (rdzogs chen sde gsum)

The Great Perfection (rdzog pa chen po) contains three mains divisions,
the Cycle of Mind (sems sde)
the Cycle of Space /Expanse (klong sde),
and the Cycle of Pith Instruction (man gnag sde).
The Cycle of Mind was transmitted linearly following two main lineages, that of Nyang Yeshe Jungney (nyang ye shes 'byung gnas) and Aro Yeshe Jungney (A ro ye shes 'byung gnas), to which one often add a third, the lineage of Kham, Eastern Tibet (khams lugs). The Cycle of Mind includes eighteen tantras among which the (kun byed rgyal po) is the root. The root tantra of the Cycle of Space is the (rdo je zam pa) and the root tantra of the Pith Instruction Cycle is the (sgra thal 'gyur). [MR]

Three levels of wisdom(ye shes gsum):

1) Conventional, worldly wisdom:
Basically consists of the four traditional sciences, which are healing, logic, languages and crafts.
2) Ultimate, transworldly wisdom:
Is the inner science based on the teachings of the sravakas and the pratyekabuddhas, and leads to recognition that physical aggregates which are unclean necessarily involve suffering, are impermanent and devoid of inherent existence.
3) The wisdom of realization:
Is based upon the mahayana teachings and leads to the thorough realization of the empty nature of phenomena, which are unoriginated, baseless and rootless. Each of these wisdoms must be practiced gradually through hearing, reflecting, and assimilating them through meditation. [MR]

Three planes (sa gsum) :
The realms of celestial beings above the earth, of human beings upon the earth,
and of the nagas below the earth. [MR]

Three pure conditions for eating meat:
That one doess not kill an animal for meat, or ask someone to kill it, or take the meat of an animal that has been killed for oneself even though one did not ask for it. [MR]

Three sorts of laziness (le lo gsum):
Indolence, which is to be prone to sleep and idleness. Faint-heartedness, which is to be discouraged before even beginning to strive, thinking, "Someone like me will never reach enlightenment, however much I may try." Laziness of neglecting true priorities, which is to be stuck in non-virtuous ways of acting and be only concerned only with affairs limited to this life. [MR]

Three vows, (sdom gsum):
The pratimoksa vows concern all the lay and monastic precepts of conduct taught by Lord Buddha in the Vinaya.
The bodhisattva vows are in essence the wish to generate, cultivate and preserve the vow to dedicate all one's thoughts, words and actions solely to the benefit of others.
Relatively, this means the exercise of loving kindness, compassion, and the six paramitas, ultimately leading all beings to complete enlightenment.
The samaya vows are the sacramental links created when a disciple attends a spiritual master and receives from him an initiation. Although it is said that there are one hundred thousand samayas in the Mantrayana, they can be condensed into the samayas related to the body, speech and mind of the guru. [MR]

Trekchö and Thögal, (khregs chod and thod rgal):
The practices of cutting through the solidity of clinging and of direct vision, these two relating respectively to primordial purity (ka dag) and spontaneous accomplishment (lhun grup). [MR]

twelve deeds performed by fully enlightened Buddhas (mdzad pa bcu gnyis):
1) Descending from Tushita Heaven, ('pho ba).
2) Entering the womb of his mother, (lhums bzhugs).
3) Taking birth, (bltams pa).
4) Becoming skilled in worldly arts and demonstrating physical prowess, (bzo la mkhas par ston pa).
5) Enjoying his retinue of queens, (rol rtse).
6) Renouncing the world, (nges 'byung).
7) Practicing austerities and renouncing them, (dka' spyad drug).
8) Going to the Bodhi Tree, (byang chub shin drung du gshegs pa)
9) Defeating the legions of Mara, (bdud sde bcom).
10) Attaining full enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. (byang chub)
11) Turning the Wheel of the Dharma, (chos 'khor).
12) Passing into the ultimate peace beyond suffering (parinirvana, myang 'das). [MR]


Twelve months (bcu gnyis:zla ba bcu gnyis):
mgo (11),
rgyal (12),
mchu (1),
dbo (2),
nag pa (3),
sa ga (4),
snron (5),
chu stod (6),
gro bzhin (7),
khrums (8),
tha skar (9),
smin drug (10). [MR]

The Twelves Qualities of Spiritual Training -- (spyangs ba'i yon tan bcu gnyis)
(1)spyod pa dgon pa pa
(2) phyag dar khrod pa
(3) bsod snyoms pa
(4) stan gcig pa
(5) tsog pu pa
(6) zas phyis mi len pa
(7) chos gos gsum pa
(8) phying pa ba
(9) gzhi ji bzhin pa
(10) dur khrod pa
(11) shing drung pa
(12) bla gab med pa. [MR]

Ushnisha: (gtsug thor) - one of the major marks of a fully enlightened Buddha is a protuberance which raises at the infinite in space from the top of a Buddha' head, and can be seen only by a bodhisattva who attained the first bhumi. In the Kalachakra Tantra, the usnisa corresponds to the Sky Chakra (gnam mkha'i 'khorlo), the sixth chakra, which extends upwards without limit and represents the unlimited wisdom of enlightenment. In the thögal practice of the Great Perfection, the usnisa corresponds to the visions of five-color lights and buddhafields which manifest above one's head as the infinite display of sambhogakaya's realization. [MR]

Victorious One (rgyal ba):
an epithet of the Buddha; someone who has totally conquered the enemies of ignorance and the other emotions. [MR]

eight Water with eight qualities -- chu yan lag brgyad ldan):
Water which is cool, sweet, light, soft, clear, pure, and which neither upsets the stomach nor irritates the throat. [MR]

Eighteen distinctives qualities of Buddhahood (ma 'dres pa bco brgyad):

A) Six concerning conduct (spyod pa):
1. (sku 'khrul pa med pa)
2. ([[gsung la ca co med pa)
3. (dran pa nyams pa med pa)
4. (thugs la mnyam par ma bzhag pa med pa)
5. (tha dad pa'i 'du shes med pa)
6. (ma brtags pa'i btang snyoms mi bda' ba)

B) Six concerning realization (rtogs pa):
1. ('dun pa)
2. (brtson 'grus)
3. (dran pa)
4. (ting 'dzin)
5. (shes rab)
6. (rnam par grol ba las nyams pa med pa)

C) Three concerning activity ([[phrin las):
(sku gsung thugs kyi phrin las las ye shes kyi sngon du 'gro zhing rjes su 'brang ba)

D) Three concerning primordial wisdom (ye shes):
('das ma 'ongs da lta ba la ma chags ma thogs pa'o ye shes mnga' ba) [MR]

Wati Sangpo (wa ti bzang po):
A most famous sandal wood image of Avalokiteshvara in the form of Kasarpani, which used to frequently speak to the temple keepers and give prophecies. People used to come from all over Central Tibet to have the blessing of this image. This image, about the size of a five year old child, is now preserved by His Holiness the 14th Dalai, at Dharamsala in India. [MR]

On rang stong and gzhan stong: [MR]

Adamantine Bridge tantra 12
Arhat 1
Bardo 1
Bodhisattvas
definition 1
Changteu damaru 1
Channels 1
Creator /Doer of All, tantra 12
Crushing /Overwhelming Sound /?, tantra 12
Eight
Classes of Herukas 1
conditions that cause one to drift away from the dharma 6
conditions that limit one's natural potential to attain freedom 6
consciousnesses 2
freedoms 1
inner classes of gods and rakshas 2
outer inner classes of gods and rakshas 2
qualities of loving kindness 2
secret classes of gods and rakshas 2
Water with eight qualities 14
Eleven
Stainless Lingpa 3
Five
-fold Mahamudra 4
Degenerations 3
Demons 3
Dry Skulls 3
Guru Kutsap 3
heart sons, lord, subjects, and consort of Guru Padmasambhava 3
Kayas 7
main disturbances to samatha meditation 3
Major Sacred Places 3
Sciences 4
simile illustrating the five steps of the gradual pacification of mind 4
trainings in aspiration Bodhicitta 4
Four
certainties about karma 4
Demons, or Maras 5
dharmas of the Kadampas 5
Great Wheels 5
Kayas 7
Ornaments 5
rivers of samsara 5
Rivers of the Transmission 5
Vajrayana Masters 6
ways of reciting mantras 6
Four traditional sciences 12
Great Perfection 6
Gyalwa Longchenpa, Longchen Rabjam 6
Karma
four certainties about -, 4
Kayas, enumeration 7
Man gnag sde 12
Meaning of rang snang 9
Meditation
see five main disturbances to -, 3
see nine antidotes, 3
Meditation on impermanence, 3 roots, 9 considerations, 3 conclusions 7
Mind
see nine ways of settling the -, 8
Nine
anditodes 3
kinds of shastras 8
moods of dance 8
ways of settling the mind 8
Nyang Yeshe Jungney 12
Obscuring emotions, see klesas 8
Pith Instruction Cycle 12
Pratyekabuddhas 12
Samye, monastery 10
Seven
Noble Riches 10
Seven-point posture of Vairocana 10
Six
basic miseries in samsara 10
basic suffering in samsara 10
bones ornaments 10
clairvoyances 10
masters 11
modes of exposition 11
ways of expounding the inner tantras 11
Yogas, meaning of 11
Sky Chakra 14
Sravakas 12
Sur burnt offering 11
Ten
favorable conditions 1
unvirtuous actions 12
Thögal 13, 14
Three
Divisions of Dzogchen 12
Kayas 7
levels of wisdom 12
planes 12
pure conditions for eating meat 12
sorts of laziness 12
The Outer (The), the inner, and the other 9
vows 13
Trekchö 13
Two
Kayas 7
Ushnisha 14
Victorious One 14
Wati Sangpo 14
Wisdom
see three levels of, 12

dgra bcom pa 1
bar do 1
byang chub sems dpa' 1
rtsa 1
brgyad
sdrub pa bka' brgyad 1
brgyad
dal ba brgyad 1
bcu
'byor ba bcu 1
lnga
rang 'byor lnga 2
lnga
gzhan 'byor lnga 2
brgyad
phyi'i gi ba'i lha srin sde brgyad 2
brgyad
nang gi ba'i lha srin sde brgyad 2
brgyad
gsang ba'i lha srin sde brgyad 2
brgyad
byams pa'i yon tan brgyad 2
brgyad
rnam shes tshogs brgyad 2
bcu gcig
dri med gling pa bcu gcig 3
lnga
rnyigs ma lnga 3
lnga
thod skam lnga 3
lnga
bdud lnga 3
lnga
sku tshab sde nga 3
lnga
thugs sras rje 'bangs lnga 3
lnga
gnas chen lnga 3
lnga
rigs pa'i gnas lnga 4
lnag
rigs pa'i gnas chung lnga 4
brgyad
rigs pa'i gnas bco brgyad 4
lnga
smon sems kyi bslab bya lnga 4
phyag chen lnga ldan 4
bzhi
bdud bzhi 5
bzhi
dka' gdams chos bzhi 5
bzhi
'khor lo chen po bzhi 5
bzhi
rgyan bzhi 5
bzhi
bka'i chu bo bzhi 5
bzhi
slob dpon bzhi 6
bzhi
'dzab kyi dgongs pa bzhi 6
rdzogs pa chen po 6
brgyad
'phral byung rkyen gyi mi khom rnam pa brgyad 6
brgyad
ris chad blo yi mi khom rnam pa brgyad 6
sku 7
nyon-mongs 8
ma-rig-pa 8
thi-mug 8
the-tsom 8
lta-ba nyon-mong can 8
dgu
bstan bcos dgu 8
dgu
gar gyi nyams dgu 8
gsum
phyi nang gzhan gsum 9
chos nyid dbyings kyi 'khyil 'khor 9
Rang snang 9
rgyal tshab spyi lugs kyi dbang 9
bsam yas 10
bdun
'phags pa'i nor bdun 10
bdun
nam snang chos bdun 10
drug
rus pa'i rgyan drug 10
drug
mngon shes drug 10
drug
slob spon drug 11
drug
'chad pa'i mtshul drug 11
drug
'chad pa'i mtha' drug 11
drug
tshig don chos drug 11
gsur 11
bcu
mi dge ba bcu 12
gsum
rdzogs chen sde gsum 12
sems sde 12
klong sde 12
nyang ye shes 'byung gnas 12
A ro ye shes 'byung gnas 12
khams lugs 12
kun byed rgyal po 12
rdo je zam pa 12
sgra thal 'gyur 12
gsum
ye shes gsum 12
gsum
sa gsum 12
gsum
le lo gsum 12
gsum
sdom gsum 13
khregs chod 13
thod rgal 13
ka dag 13
lhun grup 13
bcu gnyis
mdzad pa bcu gnyis 13
gtsug thor 14
gnam-mkha'i 'khorlo 14
rgyal ba 14
brgyad
chu yan lag brgyad ldan 14
wa ti bzang po 14