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The Rangjung Yeshe Gilded Palace of Dharmic Activity (Front Cover)

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Bandhuka. The flower Pentapetes phoenicia. [RY]

Banner - 'phen, a flat hanging, made of pieces of different colored brocade. [MR-ShabkarNotes]

bar dbus gtsang ru bzhi: Initially the The Four Regions in U and Tsang were described as follows: In U (bdus) 1) Uru (dbu ru) all the regions on the left side of the Kyichu River first and then of the Tsangpo River after Chaksam, where the Kyichu River meets the Tsangpo. 2) Yoru (g.yo ru), the regions on the right sides of these two rivers. In Tsang (tsang) 3) Yeru (g.yas ru), the Right Region (on the right side of the Tsangpo which come from Mt Kailash) and 4) Yönru (g.yon ru), the Left Region, on the left side of the Tsangpo. (this last region was also known as Rulag, ru lag). Later on they also became described as In U 1) Puri (spu ri phug mo che shel gyi brag phug) and 2) Gung-ru (gung ru). In "Tsang 3) Yeru (g.yas ru) and 4) Yönru (g.yon ru). For a discussion about this see the The Ocean-like Annals, part I, p.4. [MR]

Barampa Dharma Wangchuk Dorje Gyalpo: 1100-? [MR]

Baratani - A reference and a teaching from The Light of Wisdom, vol. 1, pg. 181-2, Appendix 6. Rangjung Yeshe Publications

Barawa ('bar ra ba rgyal mtshan bzang po) : 1250-1331 or 1310-1391 (Stein) [MR]

Barawa (chos rje 'ba' ra ba rgyal mtshan bzang po) (1310-1391). Disciple of Zurphugpa, Shuksebpa and Kodragpa Sönam Gyaltsen.[EMP] [RY]

Barbarian (kla klo). A human being in an uncivilized area where the Dharma has not flourished. [RY]

Barchey Künsel (bar chad kun sel) Guru's Heart Practice that Dispels All Obstacles, the external practice. Also see under 'Tukdrub Barchey Kunsel. A cycle of teachings revealed by Chokgyur Lingpa together with Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo consisting of about ten volumes of texts. See foreword to Vajra Heart, and Heart Practice of Guru Rinpoche, Vol. 1 & 2, Rangjung Yeshe Publications. Also see Barchey Künsel; root tantra of [LWx] [RY]

Barchey Lamsel (bar chad lam sel). A supplication to Guru Rinpoche. [LW1][RY]

Bardo - the state of consciousness between death and rebirth; the 'space' between waking and sleeping; the 'space' between thoughts, etc. [RY]

Bardo (bar do) or "intermediate state" commonly refers to the state and lapse of time occurring between death and the next rebirth. More precisely one can recognize six bardos or intermediate states: the bardo of birth and life, of meditative concentration, of dream, of the instant of death, of the absolute nature, and of seeking a new existence. [MR]

Bardo (bar do), "intermediate" or "transition" state, commonly refers to the transitional state between death and the next rebirth. One also speaks of six bardos: the bardos of birth and life (skye gnas rang bzhin gyi bar do), of meditative concentration (bsam gtan gyi bar do), of the dream-state (rmi lam gyi bar do), of the moment of death ('chi kha'i bar do), of the absolute nature (chos nyid bar do), and of taking a new existence (srid pa'i bar do). [MR-ShabkarNotes]

Bardo (bar do). The intermediate state between death and the next rebirth which can last up to 49 days. [RY]

Bardo (bar do, antarabhava). 'Intermediate state.' Usually refers to the period between death and the next rebirth. For details of the four bardos, see Mirror of Mindfulness, Shambhala Publications. [RY]

Bardo (bar do, antarabhava). 'Intermediate state.' Usually refers to the period between death and the next rebirth. For details of the four bardos, see Mirror of Mindfulness, (Shambhala Publications) and Bardo Guidebook, (Rangjung Yeshe Publications). [RY]

Bardo of becoming (srid pa'i bar do). The period from the arising of confusion and one's emergence in a mental body until entering the womb of the next life. It is the time of seeking a new rebirth. The word 'becoming' here also means 'possibility.' [Bardo Guide 91] [RY]

Bardo of dharmata (chos nyid kyi bar do). The period from dying until emerging in the mental body of the bardo of becoming. Dharmata (dharmata) means 'innate nature.' In the short version of the Bardo Tantra of the Union of the Sun and Moon, concealed as a terma by Padmasambhava and revealed by Pema Lingpa, the bardo of dharmata is described as a sequence of seven very subtle dissolution stages: 1) 'consciousness dissolving into space.' Then follows 2) 'space dissolving into luminosity,' 3) 'luminosity dissolving into union,' 4) 'union dissolving into wisdom,' 5) 'wisdom dissolving into spontaneous presence,' 6) 'spontaneous presence dissolving into primordial purity' and finally 7) 'the omniscient wisdom of primordial purity dissolving into the threefold wisdom of unity.' These stages are described in The Mirror of Mindfulness, pgs. 51-60. The bardo of dharmata is when the appearances of this lifetime have subsided, there is no physical body, and no conditioned experience. Everything perceived is 'pure phenomena,' the sounds, colors and lights of dharmata, our innate nature. The person who has not gained stability in this state will again fall prey to ignorance and habitual tendencies: dualistic experience reoccurs and the bardo of becoming begins. [Bardo Guide 91] [RY]

Bardo of dreaming (rmi lam gyi bar do). The period from falling asleep until waking up again. This duration should also be embraced by the oral instructions of one's teacher. [Bardo Guide 91] [RY]

Bardo of dying ('chi kha'i bar do). The period from catching a fatal sickness until the end of the three dissolution stages. The period from the onset of the process of dying until the end of the three subtle dissolution stages. [RY]

Bardo of meditation (bsam gtan gyi bar do). The bardo of the meditation state takes place within the bardo of this life. When a practitioner has received the pointing-out instruction, this bardo is the period beginning with recognizing the mind essence and ending when being distracted therefrom. [Bardo Guide 91] [RY]

Bardo of this life (skye gnas kyi bar do). The period from being conceived in the womb until catching a fatal disease or meeting with an irreversible cause of death. 'This life' literally means 'being born and remaining alive. [RY]

Bardo state (bar do'i srid pa). Usually it refers to the intermediate state between death and the next rebirth, but in this context it means "gap" or "period" between two things. Sometimes it is translated as intermediate state. [RY]

bardo. The general teachings outline six bardos (please see above). Two of these, the bardo of meditation and the bardo of dreams, occur within the bardo of this life, which is defined as the period following birth until the onset of death. The actual process of passing away is called the bardo of dying. The bardo of dharmata occurs immediately after death, with the cessation of the outer and inner breath. Finally, the consciousness seeking a new rebirth is called the bardo of becoming. [Primer] [RY]

Barom Dharma Wangchuk ('ba' rom dar ma dbang phyug). A disciple of Lord Gampopa who founded the Barom Monastery in northern Lato and who is regarded as the father of the Barom Kagyu lineage which is the lineage founded by him. [RY]

Bartang (bar thang) is a locality on the slopes of Jomo Karak overlooking the Tsangpo River. [MR-ShabkarNotes]

Bashey Annals or, simply 'Bashey' (sba bzhad), shorter and longer (sba bzhed rgyas bsdus). The histories of the reigns of Trisong Deutsen (khri song lde'u btsan) and Muney Tsenpo (mu ni tsan po [?]). [ZL] [RY]

Basic Strayings, Four

• Basic straying from the essence of emptiness (stong nyid gshis shor). [RY]
• Basic straying into generalized emptiness (stong nyid rgyas 'debs su gshis shor). [RY]
• Basic straying from the path (lam gyi gshis shor). [RY]
• Basic straying from the remedy (gnyen po gshis shor). [RY]

Bebchen. [RY]

Bebchung. [RY]

Becoming (bhava, srid pa). Synonym for samsara. The three becomings (or the Three States of Existence) are the Desire Realm, Form Realm and Formless Realm. [RY]

Beginning of construction of Samye: 762 C.E. [MR]

Beings. Usually for 'migrating beings' ('gro ba) or 'sentient beings' (sattva, sems can) - it excludes Enlightened Beings unless written with a capital B. [RY]

Bell (ghant, dril bu). As a Tantric implement, symbolizes the Wisdom which directly comprehends Emptiness. It is held in the left hand (female side), while the vajra is held in the right. [RY]

Ben refers to an orthodox Buddhist monk, Bön to a follower of the Bönpo religion. [MR-ShabkarNotes]

Benchen. [RY]

Bende Drimey Dashar (ban de dri med brda shar). One of the close disciples of Guru Rinpoche. Same of Jnanakumara of Nyag. [RY]

Beneficial Moon (chos bshad gzhan phan zla ba); the Beneficent Jewel (chos bshad gzhan phan nor bu); and the Offering Cloud of Samantabhadra (chos bshad kun bzang mchod sprin). Beneficial Sun ('chos bshad gzhan phan nyi ma), composed by Shabkar, see Appendix 5. [MR-ShabkarNotes] See The Life of Shabkar, by Matthieu Ricard = [MR]

Benefits, two (don gnyis). The present and ultimate benefit of self and others. [MR-ShabkarNotes]

Bhadrakalpa (bskal pa bzang po) – 1) The present, fortunate era, in which a thousand buddhas appear. 2) Good Aeon, (Skt. bhadrakalpa). This present aeon in which one thousand buddhas appear, lasting no less than 160 million years. 3) bskal pa bzang po'i sangs rgyas stong - {bskal pa bzang po'i sangs rgyas stong sangs rgya ba'i gnas} - the thousand buddhas of the good kalpa all attain enlightenment here in this present, fortunate era. [RY]

Bhagavan (bcom ldan 'das). 'Lord', 'Blessed One'; fem. Bhagavati. A title of Buddhas. [RY]

Bhagavan Shakyamuni (bcom ldan 'das sha kya thub pa). Same as Buddha Shakyamuni. [RY]

Bhagavan Vajrasattva (bcom ldan 'das rdo rje sems dpa'). The buddha Vajrasattva who is the embodiment of the hundred families of victorious ones. [RY]

Bhagavat is rendered in Tibetan by bcom ldan 'das literally the one who "has vanquished" (bcom) the obscuring emotions, is "endowed" (ldan) with the excellence of enlightenment, and is "beyond" ('das) suffering. [MR-ShabkarNotes]

Bhaita (bhai ta). [ZL] [RY]

Bhaksakara Vajra Pinnacle Tantra (bha ksa ka ra rdo rje rtse mo'i rgyud). A tantra belonging to Yoga Tantra. [ZL] [RY]

Bhata, Mongolia (bha ta hor). [ZL] [RY]

Bhavaviveka; Founder of the Sautrantika Madhyamaka; also known as Bhavya (legs ldan 'byed) An emanation of 'phags pa rab 'byor (The Noble Subhuti) (Arya Pratiyog) who deliberately took rebirth in south India as a holder of the tradition of Nagarjuna to make clear the view of Madhyamaka. A disciple of Samgharaksita he had vision of Vajrapani. After the death of Buddhapalita he composed a commentary on the rtsa ba shes rab known as the Wisdom Lamp (Skt. Janandeepa, shes rab sgron ma, 5253) which refuted some of Buddhapalita's views and expounded the view of the Sautrantika, relying upon Nagarjuna teachings, in a way which is meant to lead through skillfull means to the view of the Prasangika Madhyamaka, which is more difficult to understand. [MR]

Bhikshu (dge slong). A fully-ordained Buddhist monk, observing 253 rules (or thereabouts). [RY]

Bhikshu (dge slong). A practitioner who has taken the pledge to observe the 253 precepts of a fully ordained monk. [RY]

Bhikshu Bodhisattva Shantarakshita [LW1] [RY]

Bhikshu Purna (dge slong pur na). The previous life of the Tibetan translator Vairochana. [ZL] [RY]

bhumi; detailed expl. The Light of Wisdom, vol. I, pg. 201] [RY]

Bhumi Sections (sa sde) [LW1] [RY]

bhumis (sa in it's meaning as 'level') [LW1] [RY]

Bhumis (sa). The 'bodhisattva levels' (see bhumis); the ten stages (see also bhumis) a bodhisattva proceeds through on the quest for complete and perfect enlightenment or the eleventh bhumi. These ten stages correspond to the last three of the five paths of Mahayana. See also 'ten bhumis.' [RY]

Bhurkumkuta. (sme ba brtsegs pa). [Peter Roberts]

Bhutan. [RY]

bilingual (skad gnyis smra ba). Lotsawa, translators [RY]

billion worlds. In Buddhist cosmology, one world system comprises of a flat disc with a central mountain encircled by an ocean in which there are four major continents. This is orbited by the sun and moon. One thousand such worlds make "a thousand world-system". A thousand of these grouped together, make "a million world-system". A thousand of those make up "the billion world-system" (literally the "three-thousands") which is our universe, and the field of activity of our successive Buddhas such as Shakyamuni, a thousand million Buddhas appearing simultaneously, one in each world. [Peter Roberts]

Billionfold universe (stong gsum 'jig rten gyi khams). The domain of a supreme nirmanakaya consisting of one billion Mount Sumerus each surrounded by four continents and rings of mountains. [RY]

Bimala {bi ma la}. The Indian scholar Vimalamitra, teacher at Nalanda University. He was an emanation of Manjushri and a disciple of Shri Singha. [RY]

Bimala Sangwa Nyingthig {bi ma la'i gsang ba snying thig}. The Vima Nyingthig, transmitted by Vimalamitra. Writings of the innermost unsurpassed cycle of pith instructions of Atiyoga. [RY]

Bimbisara - Ruler of Magadha at the time of the Buddha's enlightenment; strong supporter of the Dharma [RY]

'Bimpala tree' (shing bim pa la). Perhaps an error for bimba, Momordica monadelpha, a plant with bright red gourd fruits. [RY]

Binding the Entrustment to Nagas (klu gta' sdom pa). [ZL] [RY]

Bindu (thig le). 1). Essences. 2). Circles or spheres. [RY]

Bindu (thig le). In the context of deity yoga, a tiny sphere of light, often the size of a pea. [RY]

Bindu of Liberation. (grol tig). A terma discovered by Trengpo Drodül Lingpa ('phreng po 'gro 'dul gling pa), also known as Sherab Özer (shes rab 'od zer) also ('phrang mgo gter ston shes rab 'od zer) (1517-1584). Its full title is grol tig dgongs pa rang grol "The Bindu of Liberation, the Spontaneous Liberation of the Mind". The great Nyingma master Jigme Lingpa (1729-1798) was a principal master and propagator of this teaching. [Peter Roberts]

bindu. See also channels, winds, and essences [LW1] [RY]

Bindus (thig le) 1) The red and white essences. 2) Spheres or circles of light. [Bardo Guide 91] [RY]

Bindus. 1) The red and white essences. 2) Spheres or circles. [RY]

Bir. [RY]

Birth by transformation. (Instantaneous or miraculous birth). When a being is suddenly born with all the sense-organs and limbs of a complete body, without depending on anything such as an egg or a womb, he said to be born by transformation or born ethereally. All hell beings (dmyal ba rnams) or (dmyal ba pa); devas, and beings in the bardo; some dragons ('brug), garudas (khyung), and hungry ghosts (yi dvags); and human beings (rkang gnyis pa), (skye rgyal) or (skye bo), etc. - at the very beginning of a kalpa are born in this manner. [RY]

Birth, four doors of (skye sgo bzhi). Birth from a womb, from an egg, from moist heat, or miraculously. [RY]

bka' gdams and dge lugs, bka' brgyud, shangs pa bka' brgyud, sa skya, gcod and zhi byed, dus 'khor or sbyor drug, and o rgyan bsnyen sgrub. [MR-ShabkarNotes]

Black and multicolored garudas (khyung nag and khyung khra). Sadhanas related to these can be found in RT, Vol. 46, (Mi). [MR-ShabkarNotes]

Black Maras (nag po bdud). [ZL] [RY]

Black Naga's Devil (klu bdud nag po), known in full as the "Supreme Herb, Black Diamond Naga's Devil" (rtswa mchog klu bdud rdo rje nag po), is the bonnet bell-flower (Codonopsis). According to information received in conversation with Dr. Sherap Jorden, this is a creeping plant with grey-blue flowers and an unpleasant smell. The preparation made from its roots, leaves, flowers, and fruits is said to cure all diseases, especially leprosy and epilepsy; to enable one to fly in the sky and walk on water; and to bring forth all ordinary and extraordinary siddhis. It is used in the preparation of a sacramental substance (dam rdzas) called the "rainbow light pill" ('ja 'od ril bu), the mere taste of which liberates one from rebirth in the three lower realms of samsara. The common klu bdud (Codonopsis nervosa) is used, associated with eighteen other medicines, as an anti-inflammatory, an analgesic, a tonic, and as a treatment for gout, abscesses and leprosy. See also, T.J. Tsarong (1986). On the likely identification of the klu bdud rdo rje as Codonopsis convolvulaceae or Codonopsis ovata, and for a detailed description of this plant and its varieties see Fletcher (1975), Martin (1988, pp. 351-354), and Sorensen (1990). According to Terton Rinchen Lingpa (gter ston rin chen gling pa, 1295-1375), this plant is called Diamond Naga's Devil, because it is precious like a diamond and because it overcomes the nagas that cause leprosy and other skin diseases (see gso ba rig pa'i tshig mdzod g.yu thog dgongs rgyan, p. 18). According to Trogawa Rinpoche, the Diamond Naga's Devil (klu bdud rdo rje) should not be confused with the ordinary Naga's Devil (klu bdud): only some persons with spiritual capacities can see and find the former at dusk, when the plant is said to emit a faint glow. [MR-ShabkarNotes]

Black Powerful One (stobs ldan nag po). The chief figure in the mandala of Maledictory Fierce Mantra among the Eight Sadhana Teachings. [ZL] [RY]

Black Quintessence (yang ti nag po); see chap.4, note 17. [MR-ShabkarNotes]

Blackness (nag lam). An experience of utter blackness which is the third stage of appearance, increase and attainment. [Bardo Guide 91] [RY]

blazing A and melting Hang: this refers to the letters or syllables visualized during tummo practice. The white letter Hang (ham) represents the male aspect, the means of compassion. It is visualized on the top of one's head. From it, drops of amrita fall and fuel the fire which originates from the Ah or Asheh (a shad) which is visualized below the navel center. For the visualization, only part of the Tibetan letter Ah is visualized, the Asheh, which is the vertical downward stroke at the far right of the letter. It represents the female aspect,the wisdom of emptiness. [MR-ShabkarNotes]

Blazing Blue Light (mthing 'od 'bar ma). An emanation of Yeshe Tsogyal who is the consort of Raksha Tötreng. [RY]

Blazing Jewel That Grants All Wishes (smon lam 'dod 'byung nor bu 'od 'bar), a prayer composed by Shabkar. [MR-ShabkarNotes]

Blazing Lamp Tantra (sgron ma 'bar ba'i rgyud). This tantra teaches how to identify the 'lamps' related to awareness, their terminology, analogies for how wisdom arises, the unity of awareness and how to clear misconceptions about self-cognizance and how to practice. [RY]

Blazing Like Cosmic Fire Tantra (bskal pa me ltar 'bar ba'i rgyud). One of the Eighteen Mahayoga Tantras. [ZL] [RY]

Blessed One (bhagavant, fem. Bhagavati). Buddha. [RY]

blessing yourself. Self-blessing: (rang byin rlabs). This is a term for the practices involving the subtle channels, airs and bindus of the body. Described in the preliminary text as the self-blessing of the completion stage of the Anu Yoga. [Peter Roberts]

bliss, clarity and nonthought [LW1] [RY]

Bliss, clarity, and nonthought (bde gsal mi rtog pa). Three temporary meditation experiences. Fixation on them plants the seeds for rebirth in the three realms of samsara. Without fixation, they are adornments of the three kayas. [Bardo Guide 91] [RY]

Blissful Realm (bde ba can) Sukhavati. The pure land of Buddha Amitabha in which a practitioner can take rebirth during the bardo of becoming through a combination of pure faith, sufficient merit, and one-pointed determination.[AL] [RY]

Bliss-sustainer (bde skyong). Same as Kapala. [RY]

Blood-drinker (khrag 'thung). Same as Heruka. [RY]

Blue Annals composed by 'gos lo tsa ba between 1476 and 1478. (deb ther sngon po) [MR]

Blue Lake, (in Tibetan, mtsho sngon po; in Mongolian, Kokonor; in Chinese, Qinghai, the Blue Sea) is located in the north of Amdo, a province of Greater Tibet presently assimilated to the Qinghai province of China. The lake is also known as Trishok Gyalmo (khri gshog rgyal mo), the "Queen who Destroyed Ten Thousand." This name is explained as follows by Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche: "A long time ago the site of the lake was a vast plain; at its center was a spring. There lived an old woman who each day sent her daughter to fetch water from the spring. Knowing that it was not an ordinary spring, she told her daughter always to be careful to put back the flat stone that kept the spring covered. One day, the girl forgot. The water kept on flowing, filled the whole plain and destroyed ten thousand homes, hence the name of the lake." This account is almost identical to the one given by Sumpa Khenpo (see the Bibliography), who, however, spells the name khri shor rgyal mo, the "Queen Who Swept Away Ten Thousand." The legend also says that Guru Padmasambhava came to the lake and miraculously manifested a small hill that covered the spring and stopped the flood. This hill was Heart of the Lake Island, Tsonying Mahadeva (mtsho snying mahadeva). Sumpa Khenpo quotes early references to this lake, e.g. in the writings King Songtsen Gampo who speaks of the "Bodhisattva Naga Minister from the Ocean that Flooded Ten Thousand" (khri bshos rgya mtsho'i klu blon byang chub sems.) The lake is said to be inhabited by the naga king Bodhisattva and by four naginis, the four Menmo (sman mo) sisters, one of whom is Trishok Gyalmo. These four sisters also happen to be, with the White Mahakala (mgon dkar) and Vaishravana (rnam thos sras), the guardians (gter srung) of the rta phag yid bzhin nor bu (see Appendix 4). [MR-ShabkarNotes]

Blue-Clad One (gos sngon can). A Mahayana sutra. [ZL] [RY]

Bodh Gaya - Location of Vajrasana, the place in Bihar, Northern India, west of Rajagriha, where the Buddha seated under the Bodhi tree revealed enlightenment. [RY]

Bodhi (byang chub). Awakening to Buddhahood, Enlightenment, awakening, state of realization. See also 'enlightenment.' [ZL] [RY]

Bodhi Temple (byang chub gling). A temple at Samye. [ZL] [RY]

Bodhisattva-caryavatara {byang chub sems 'pa'i spyod pa la 'jug pa}. Text by Shantideva on Entering the Way of the Bodhisattva. Also known by the titles Bodhicharya Avatara (spyod 'jug) and Bodhicharyavatara (spyod 'jug) see also A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, (Library of Tibetan Works and Archives). [RY]

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Go to

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The Rangjung Yeshe Gilded Palace of Dharmic Activity (Front Cover)

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--Richard 03:45, 5 March 2006 (EST)