Nadis
Bandhuka. The flower Pentapetes phoenicia. [RY]
Banner - 'phen, a flat hanging, made of pieces of different colored brocade. [MR-ShabkarNotes]
bar dbus gtsang ru bshi: 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 (dyas 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 (spus ri) and 2) Gungri (gung ri). 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 [LW1] [RY]
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) [LW1] [RY]
Barchey Künsel (bar chad kun sel). 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. [RY]
BARCHEY KÜNSEL (bar chad kun sel). See under 'Tukdrub Barchey Künsel.'[AL] [RY]
Barchey Künsel, “Clearing Away the Obstacles,” the external practice. A cycle of teachings revealed by Chokgyur Lingpa together with Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo consisting of about ten volumes of texts. [Primer] [RY]
Barchey Künsel; root tantra of [LWx] [RY]
Barchey Lamsel (bar chad lam sel). A supplication to Guru Rinpoche. [RY]
Barchey Lamsel [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 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: 'consciousness dissolving into space.' Then follows 'space dissolving intoluminosity,' 'luminosity dissolving into union,' 'union dissolving into wisdom,' 'wisdom dissolving into spontaneous presence,' 'spontaneous presence dissolving into primordial purity' and finally '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. 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. [RY]
Barom Kagyu ('ba' rom bka' brgyud). The lineage founded by Barom Dharma Wangchuk. [RY]
Bartang (bar thang) is a locality on the slopes of Jomo Karak overlooking the Tsangpo River. [MR-ShabkarNotes]
Bashey Annals, shorter and longer (sba bzhed rgyas bsdus). [ZL] [RY]
Bashey. (sba bzhad). Chronicles containing histories of the reigns of Trisong Deutsen (khri srong de tsan) and Muney Tsenpo (mu ne tsan po) . [RY]
- 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). [MR-ShabkarNotes]
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]
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 Svatantrika Madhyamaka; also known as Bhavya [RY]
Bhavaviveka; (legs ldan 'byed) An emanation of 'phags pa rab 'byor (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 Sautantrika, 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 renounced worldly life and taken the pledge to observe the 253 precepts of a fully ordained monk in order to attain liberation from samsara. [ZL] [RY]
Bhikshu (dge slong). A practitioner who has renounced worldly life and taken the pledge to observe the 253 precepts of a fully ordained monk in order to attain liberation from samsara.[AL] [RY]
Bhikshu (dge slong). A practitioner who has renounced worldly life and taken the pledge to observe the 253 precepts of a fully ordained monk in order to attain liberation from samsara.[Primer] [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 (sa). The bodhisattva levels; the ten stages 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]
Bhumi Sections (sa sde) [LW1] [RY]
bhumi; detailed expl. [Light of Wisdom, vol. I, pg. 201] [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'i Sangwa Nyingthig {bi ma la'i gsang ba snying thig}. The Bima 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 Drodul Lingpa (phreng po 'gro 'dul gling pa), also known as Sherab Ozer (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-dwellers, devas, and beings in the bardo; some dragons, garudas, and hungry ghosts; and human beings 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]
blackline hell (S: samghata; T: bsdus 'jams, thig nag) One of the hot hells primarily reserved for thieves. [Rain of Wisdom]
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]
Bodhichitta (byang sems, byang chub kyi sems). 'Awakened mind.' 1) The aspiration to attain enlightenment for the sake of all beings. 2) In the context of Dzogchen or Mahamudra, the innate wakefulness of awakened mind; synonymous with rig pa, awareness and nondual awareness. 3) The drop of liquid that sometimes appears from the nostrils after passing away. See also bodhicitta. [RY]
bodhichitta of abandoning all obscuration (sgrib pa spang ba'i sems bskyed) [LW1] [RY]
Bodhichitta of application ('jug pa'i byang chub kyi sems). Having taken the bodhisattva vow, the practitioner tries to implement the wish to liberate all beings. Comprised chiefly of the practices of the six paramitas. [Bardo Guide 91] [RY]
bodhichitta of application; expl.; listing of the four precepts [LWx] [RY]
Bodhichitta of aspiration (smon pa'i byang chub kyi sems). Motivated by love and compassion for all sentient beings, the practitioner engenders the wish to liberate all beings from the samsaric existence. Comprised chiefly of the four immeasurables. [Bardo Guide 91] [RY]
Bodhichitta of aspiration and application (smon 'jug byang sems). See each individually. [RY]
bodhichitta of aspiration; expl.; [LWx] [RY]
bodhichitta of devoted engagement (mos pa spyod pa'i sems bskyed) [LW1] [RY]
bodhichitta of maturation [LW1] [RY]
bodhichitta of pure superior intention (lhag bsam rnam par dag pa'i sems bskyed) [LW1] [RY]
bodhichitta training [LW1] [RY]
bodhichitta training; 1) five definitive precepts for a minister; 2) four black deeds [LWx] [RY]
Bodhichitta, twenty-two types of [LW1] [RY]
bodhichitta, conventional [LW1] [RY]
bodhichitta, ultimate; detailed expl.; meditation; resolving the view [LWx] [RY]
bodhichitta; arousing the bodhichitta of application; benefits of; essence of generating; focus of; four conditions for; four different types of; four principles of; generating according to Mantrayana; listing of four different types of; listing two kinds; manner of generating; of abandoning all obscuration; of devoted engagement; of maturation; of pure superior intention; ritual for taking the vow; seven points of; trainings; twenty-two analogies; twenty-two types of; two types of [LWx] [RY]
Bodhicitta (byang chub gyi sems), thought or mind of enlightenment is defined as the intention to achieve Buddhahood for the sake of all beings. It has two aspects, relative and absolute. The relative mind of enlightenment is itself divided into two steps: the wish to attain ultimate perfection to become able to free all beings from suffering, and the entry into spiritual practice to actualize this wish. The absolute mind of enlightenment is the realization of emptiness, the recognition that the Buddha-nature abides in every sentient being. See also Bodhichitta. [MR-ShabkarNotes]
Bodhicitta from Orgyen and consort: these are pills, discovered as terma, said to be made of the white "Bodhicitta" of Guru Padmasambhava (byang sems dkar po), and the red "Bodhicitta" (byang sems dmar po) of Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal. [MR-ShabkarNotes]
bodhicitta motivation. Bodhicitta. Tibetan: byang chub kyi sems. Literally, "enlightenment-mind". While its ultimate form is the realisation of the true nature of all phenomena, normally, as here, the reference is to its relative form, the wish and motivation to free all beings from suffering and to bring them all to the state of Buddhahood. [Peter Roberts]
Bodhicitta of undivided emptiness and compassion (stong nyid snying rje dbyer med byang chub kyi sems). Same as 'ultimate bodhicitta.' [RY]
Bodhicitta vows. [RY]
Bodhidharma - Patriarch of the Ch'an school credited with bringing Ch'an teaching to China [RY]
bodhi-factors, seven (seven bodhi factors) (byang chub kyi yan lag bdun) [LW1] [RY]
Bodhisattva - One who bases one’s practice on bodhicitta, generating the intention to lead all beings to enlightenment [RY]
Bodhisattva (byang chub sems dpa') a being in whom the thought of enlightenment has arisen, one who has formed the intention to strive for complete enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. After practicing the Dharma for countless lifetimes, a perfected Bodhisattva is reborn in the world to demonstrate the way to enlightenment by becoming a Buddha. [RY]
Bodhisattva (byang chub sems dpa') definition; are beings who have realized the empty nature of phenomena and the non-existence of individual self. They are free from the klesas, or ordinary emotions. There are ten bodhisattva levels or bhumis. The eleventh bhumi is that of consummate buddhahood, which is realized when both obscurations, that of the klesas and that which veils total wisdom, have been cleared in an irreversible way. In a broader sense a bodhisattva is a being engaged in practicing the Mahayana teachings. [MR]
Bodhisattva (byang chub sems dpa'). Someone who has developed bodhichitta, the aspiration to attain enlightenment in order to benefit all sentient beings. A practitioner of the Mahayana path; especially a noble bodhisattva who has attained the first level (see bhumi). [ZL] [RY]
Bodhisattva {byang chub sems dpa'}. A being who is on the path of enlightenment working for the sake of all sentient beings. It can also refer to a sublime being who has reached one of the ten Bodhisattva levels. [RY]
Bodhisattva Bhumi (byang sa) [LW1] [RY]
Bodhisattva Collections (byang sems kyi sde snod) [LW1] [RY]
bodhisattva precepts (byang sdom). According to the system of Nagarjuna, in the Chariot of the Profound View, the precepts are to refrain from the following: 1) to steal the funds of the Three Jewels; 2) to commit the act of forsaking the Dharma; 3) to punish or cause to lose the precepts etc. people who possess or have lapsed from the trainings; 4) to commit the five acts with immediate result; 6) to violate the five definite precepts for a king, such as keeping wrong views and so forth; 7) to violate the five definitive precepts for a minister such as destroying a village, a valley, a city, a district, or a country; 8) to give premature teachings on emptiness to people who haven't trained in the Mahayana; 9) to aspire towards the shravakas of the Hinayana after having reached the Mahayana; 10) to train in the Mahayana after forsaking the Individual Liberation; 11) to disparage the Hinayana; 12) to praise oneself and disparage others; 13) to be highly hypocritical for the sake of honor and gain; 14) to let a monk receive punishment and be humiliated; 15) to harm others by bribing a king or a minister in order to punish them; 16) to give the food of a renunciant meditator to a reciter of scriptures and thus causing obstacles for the cultivation of shamatha. 17) The eighty subsidiary infractions are to forsake the happiness of another being and so forth. According to the system of Asanga, the Chariot of the Vast Conduct, the precepts for the bodhichitta of aspiration are as follows: to never forsake sentient beings, to remember the benefits of bodhichitta, to gather the accumulations, to exert oneself in training in bodhichitta, as well as to adopt and avoid the eight black and white deeds. The four precepts for the bodhichitta of application are (to avoid the following): 1) out of desire, to have exceeding attachment to honor and gain and to praise oneself and disparage others, 2) out of stinginess, to refrain from giving material things, Dharma teachings and wealth to others, 3) out of anger, to harm others and be unforgiving when offered an apology, 4) out of stupidity, to pretend that indolence is Dharma and to teach that to others. The 46 minor infractions are to refrain from making offerings to the Three Jewels and so forth. The four black deeds are to deceive a venerable person, to cause someone to regret what is not regrettable, to disparage a sublime person, and to deceive sentient beings. The four white deeds are their opposites.[AL] [RY]
Bodhisattva Shantarakshita (mkhan po bodhi satva zhi ba 'tsho). The first abbot to ordain monks in Tibet. [RY]
Bodhisattva trainings (byang chub sems dpa'i bslab pa). The precepts and practices of a bodhisattva. [RY]
Bodhisattva vehicle (byang chub sems dpa'i theg pa). A synonym forMahayana. [RY]
Bodhisattva vows. [RY]
Bodhisattvayana (byang chub sems dpa'i theg pa). A synonym for Mahayana. [RY]
Bodhisattvayana is the vehicle of the Bodhisattva. Beginning with the generation of the mind dedicated to enlightenment, the Bodhisattva develops compassion and wisdom, the perfect knowledge of shunyata, the emptiness of all existence. He practices the six paramitas which begin as ordinary virtues (giving, morality, patience, effort, meditation, and wisdom) and culminate in perfect transcendent action. From within the six, four further paramitas arise: skillful means, vows, power, and primordial wisdom. The Bodhisattvayana has ten stages, the first beginning with entry into the Path of Seeing: the Joyous, the Immaculate, the Light-giving, the Radiant, the Invincible, the Realizing, the Far-reaching, the Immovable, the Beneficial, and the Cloud of Dharma. [RY]
Bodily form of mahamudra (phyag rgya chen po'i sku). The 'body of mahamudra' refers to the rainbow-like form of one's personal yidam. See the four vidyadhara levels. [RY]
Bodong Panchen Chogle Namgyal: 1376-1451 [MR]
Bodongpa ([[bo dong pa]). Recognized as a separate school after the great pandita Chokley Namgyal (1375-1451) who authored one hundred volumes and is known as the most prolific writer in Tibetan history.[EMP] [RY]
Body (of a Buddha) (kaya, sku). See Kaya [RY]
Body of light ('od kyi lus). The body of light of the five wisdoms. It's devoid of materiality. [RY]
Body representation. [RY]
Body Tantra of the Assemblage of Realization (dgongs 'dus sku rgyud). [RY]
Body, speech, mind, and cognition (lus ngag yid sems bzhi). Mind here refers to the mind consciousness (yid kyi rnam shes) and cognition (sems) refers to the all-ground consciousness (kun gzhi'i rnam shes). In the Lower Abhidharma it is taught that yid, sems and rnam shes are merely synonyms for the same meaning. The Higher Abhidharma teaches that sems is the all-ground consciousness, yid is the afflicted mind (nyon yid) and rnam shes is the six collections (tshogs drug). [RY]
body, speech, mind, qualities, and activities (sku gsung thugs yon tan phrin las) [LW1] [RY]
Bon - 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. [RY]
Bon - Religion of Tibet before the introduction of the Dharma [RY]
Bon (bon). The religion in Tibet before Buddhism. When used with a negative connotation, it means the use of rituals for mundane or selfish pursuits. [RY]
Bong Monastery. [RY]
Bönpo (bon po). The religion prevalent in Tibet before the establishment of Buddhism in the 9th Century. [ZL] [RY]
Boon-granting, vara-da, (mchog sbyin). Gesture in which the arm is outstretched with all the fingers extended and the palm outwards. [RY]
Böpa Tulku, Dongag Tenpai Nyima (mdo ngags bstan pa'i nyi ma): 1900/7-1959 [MR]
Border Temples (mtha' 'dul). 'Border Subduers.' Four temples built by Songtsen Gampo and his Chinese queen to subjugate evil forces in the outlying districts of Tibet. [ZL] [RY]
Borobodur - Massive ninth century Buddhist monument on Java showing tantric influence [RY]
Boudhanath. [RY]
Boundary sign [Peter Roberts]
Boundless Life (tshe dpag med pa, Skt. Amitayus). 1) Buddha Amitayus. 2) A Mahayana sutra. [ZL] [RY]
Bow of Indra (dbang po'i gzhu). Poetical name for a rainbow. [RY]
Brahma (tshangs pa)- chief of the gods residing in the realm of form; often described as the creator of world-systems. He has four faces. The creator of the universe according to the Vedas. [RY]
Brahma aperture is the fontanelle at the junction of the cranial bones. From there consciousness leaves the body during phowa, to merge with the guru's or the Buddha's mind, and to be transferred to a Buddhafield. [MR-ShabkarNotes]
Brahma Loka (tshangs pa'i 'jig rten). The samsaric realms of the god Brahma within the Realm of Form. [RY]
brahmacharin. A brahmin who practices spiritually pure acts, such as celibacy, diligent study, refraining from taking intoxicants, and so on. A person who is undergoing the training of the first of the four stages of a brahmin. [RY]
Brahma-like voice (tshangs pa'i dbyangs). The voice endowed with the perfect qualities of Brahma, the king of the gods. The voice endowed with the sixteen perfect qualities of Brahma, the king of the gods. A common description of a buddha's speech. [ZL] [RY]
Brahman (Skt. brahmana, bram ze). Member of the priestly caste. See alt. sp. Brahmin {bram ze}. One of the four castes of ancient Indian society, the priestly caste. [RY]
Brahma-raksasa (tshangs pa'i srin po). A type of demoniac spirit. [RY]
Brahmarandra (tshangs bug). See 'Aperture of Brahma.' [RY]
Brahmic voice, tones of Brahma, etc. (brahma ghosa, tshangs pa'i dbyangs). Common description of a Buddha's speech. [RY]
Brahmin Saraha. [Daki] [RY]
Bright Crystal Mirror, a life story of Padmasambhava by Yeshe Tsogyal from the Lama Gongdü cycle of termas revealed by Sangye Lingpa. 81 pages. Tibetan title: bla ma dgongs pa 'dus pa las, yid ches shing khungs btsun pa'i lo rgyus shel gyi me long gsal ba. [ZL] [RY]
Brilliant ('od 'phro ba). The fourth of the ten bodhisattva bhumis. Brilliant bhumi [LW1] [RY]
Brilliant Expanse (klong gsal gyi rgyud). [EMP] [RY]
bringer of daylight (nyin byed). A common poetic euphemism for the sun. [Peter Roberts]
Bringing the Four Enemies into the Path (dgra bzhi lam khyer). An instruction by Gampopa. [RY]
Brocade Cave of Rala (ra la za 'og phug), near Dzongka in Gungthang. [MR-ShabkarNotes]
Buddha (sangs rgyas ma). Female Buddha. [RY]
Buddha (sangs rgyas) Lit. 'awakened'; the Enlightened One; a perfected Bodhisattva, after attaining complete, perfect enlightenment in a human form, is known as a Buddha. The Buddha generally referred to is Shakyamuni Buddha, the Buddha of this era, who lived in India around the 6th century B.C But there have been perfected Bodhisattvas in ages past who have manifested the way to enlightenment. In the current fortunate era, there will be one thousand Buddhas, Shakyamuni Buddha being the fourth. In some eras, no Buddhas appear at all. [RY]
Buddha (sangs rgyas). Enlightened or Awakened One, who has completely abandoned all obscurations and perfected every good quality. [RY]
Buddha (sangs rgyas). The Enlightened or Awakened One who has completely abandoned all obscurations and perfected every good quality. A perfected bodhisattva after attaining true and complete enlightenment is known as a buddha. The Buddha generally referred to is Shakyamuni Buddha, the buddha of this era, who lived in India around the 6th century B.C. There have been innumerable buddhas in past aeons who manifested the way to enlightenment. In the current Good Aeon, there will be one thousand buddhas of which Buddha Shakyamuni is the fourth. [Bardo Guide 91] [ZL] [RY]
Buddha {sangs rgyas}. Awakaned One. One who has dispelled the darkness of the two obscurations {sangs}, and developed {rgyas} the two kinds of omniscience. [RY]
Buddha activity.(rtag khyab lhun grub kyi phrin las), the spontaneously present everlasting and all-pervasive activities. [RY]
Buddha Amitabha [LW1] [RY]
Buddha Amitayus (tshe dpag med) Lit. 'Buddha of Boundless Life; the Sambhogakaya aspect of Amitabha. The buddha associated with the 'empowerment of longevity' and longevity practice. [ZL] [RY]
Buddha Avatamsaka (sangs rgyas phal po che) [LW1] [RY]
Buddha Avatamsaka (sangs rgyas phal po che). 1) A Mahayana sutra. 2) a buddha after whom the Avatamsaka Sutra is named. [ZL] [RY]
Buddha Beneficial Speech (Tib. sangs rgyas phan bzhed, Skt. Hitaishin). [MR-ShabkarNotes]
Buddha Bright Lamp (Tib. sang rgyas mar me 'od, Skt. Pradipaprabha). [MR-ShabkarNotes]
buddhafield (sangs rgyas zhing) The heavenly realm of existence of a buddha.
Buddha Guhya. [Daki] [RY]
Buddha Immense Ocean. [Daki] [RY]
Buddha in the Palm of Your Hand is probably the famous rdzogs pa chen po mngon sum snying thig gi gdams pa thod rgal 'od gsal gyi zab khrid sangs rgyas lag 'chang, from the Dzogchen teachings in vol. 12 of the Collected Rediscovered Treasures of Namchö Mingyur Dorje (gnam chos mi 'gyur rdo rje, 1645-67). Commentaries on this cycle were written by Namchö's mentor, Karma Chagme Raga Asya (see chap.2, note 10). [MR-ShabkarNotes]
Buddha Maitreya. [Daki] [RY]
Buddha nature (bde gshegs snying po). Sugatagarbha, the essence of the sugatas; the potential for enlightenment or enlightened nature which is inherently present in each sentient being. For a detailed discussions, see Thrangu Rinpoche's 'Buddha Nature,' Rangjung Yeshe Publications. [RY]
Buddha Nature; book by Thrangu Rinpoche; expl.; quotation from [LWx] [RY]
Buddha of the Three Times, Guru Rinpoche (dus gsum sangs rgyas gu ru rin po che). The name of the six-lined prayer to Guru Rinpoche. For a commentary on its outer, inner and secret meaning, see Heart Practice of Guru Rinpoche, Vol 1, Rangjung Yeshe Publications. [RY]
Buddha of your own mind (rang sems sangs rgyas). The enlightened essence of one's own mind. [RY]
Buddha Samantabhadra (sangs rgyas kun tu bzang po). The primordially enlightened state of buddhahood from whom all other buddhas of the peaceful and wrathful mandalas emanate. This buddha principle is the ultimate source of all the tantras of Vajrayana. [Bardo Guide 91] [RY]
Buddha Shakyamuni (sangs rgyas sha kya thub pa). The historical Buddha, regarded as the chief teacher of our present age. [Bardo Guide 91] [RY]
Buddha Shakyamuni; why he was matchless [LWx] [RY]
Buddha Skull Tantra (sangs rgyas thod pa'i rgyud). [EMP] [RY]
Buddha Unchanging Light (sangs rgyas 'od mi 'gyur ba). The primordial buddha Samantabhadra; a synonym for the enlightened state of dharmakaya. [ZL] [RY]
Buddha, Dharma and Sangha (sangs rgyas chos dge 'dun). The Three Jewels. The true objects of refuge. For more details, see Thrangu Rinpoche's book 'Buddha Nature,' Rangjung Yeshe Publications, 1988. [RY]
Buddha. See also Precious Buddha [LW1] [RY]
Buddha-child, Buddha-son, jina putra, (rgyal sras). Bodhisattva. [RY]
Buddhadharma (sangs rgyas kyi bstan pa), bstan pa, chos. Buddhism, the teachings of the Buddha. The Buddhist Doctrine. [ZL] [RY]
Buddha-family. See Family. [RY]
Buddhafield (sangs rgyas kyi zhing khams). According to the sutras, a pure realm manifested through the aspirations of a bodhisattva in conjunction with the virtue of sentient beings. According to the tantras, an expression of the enlightened state. There are buddhafields which are pure sambhogakaya, half sambhogakaya and half nirmanakaya, and also the 'natural nirmanakaya' realms, such as 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. [Bardo Guide 91] [RY]
Buddhafield (sangs rgyas kyi zhing). 1) One of the realms of the five buddha families, either as sambhogakaya or nirmanakaya. 2) Pure personal experience. [RY]
Buddhafield of Manifest Joy (mngon par dga' ba) is the eastern Buddhafield of Vajrasattva. [MR-ShabkarNotes]
Buddhaghosha - Theravadin master who came to Sri Lanka early in the fifth century; famed as an author, compiler, and translator [RY]
Buddhaguhya - Seventh century Indian master who transmitted tantric teachings while in residence on Mt. Kailash [RY]
Buddhaguhya (sangs rgyas gsang ba) [LW1] [RY]
Buddhaguhya (sangs rgyas gsang ba). An Indian master who visited Tibet and remained at Mount Kailash where he taught emissaries of King Trisong Deutsen. [ZL] [RY]
Buddhahood (sangs rgyas). The perfect and complete enlightenment dwelling in neither samsara nor nirvana; the state of having eradicated all obscurations and being endowed with the wisdom of seeing the nature of things as it is and with the wisdom of perceiving all which exists. [ZL] [RY]
Buddhahood of omniscience (rnam mkhyen sangs rgyas kyi sgo 'phang). The state of complete enlightenment endowed with the perfect wisdom of seeing the nature of things as it is and with the wisdom of perceiving all that exists. [RY]
Buddha-locana (sangs rgyas spyan). Locana. [RY]
Buddhapalita - Founder of the Prasangika Madhyamaka [RY]
Buddhapalita; (sang rgyas bskyangs) A disciple of Nagarjuna and Samgharaksita he knew all the Buddhist and non-buddhist views. He was blessed by a vision of Manjushri. He composed a famous commentary upon Nagarjuna’s Madhymakamula, known as the Bhudhapalita which became the most authorative commentary on the dbu ma rtsa ba shes rab; (5242) [MR]
Buddha's doctrine of transmission and realization {rgyal ba'i lung rtogs kyi bstan pa}. The teachings that were actually given and the states of wisdom to be realized by practicing those teachings. [RY]
Buddhism enters China: 1st century AD [MR]
Buddhism enters Japan: 550 [MR]
Buddhist Sanskrit - Mixed dialect similar to Prakrit used in some Buddhist manuscripts of the northern tradition [RY]
Budhgaya {rdo rje gdan}. Vajraseat. Place in the center of India where the Buddha attained enlightenment. [RY]
Building of Jowo Lhakhang: 641 [MR]
Building of Tahsilhunpo by Gedun Drup: 1453 [MR] Bujo. [RY]
Bull with upper teeth (ya so can) - Cattle do not have upper teeth, so a bull with upper teeth is a bull-like human being. A tail-less dog is a dog-like human being. [MR-ShabkarNotes]
Bumthang (bum thang). Sacred place in Bhutan. [ZL] [RY]
Burmo Tak. [RY]
Burnt Offerings (gsur). Smoke produced by burning flour mixed with pure food and sacred substances. This smoke, offered during a meditation on Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, can nourish the bardo consciousness as well as hungry ghosts.[AL] [RY]
Business ('du 'dzi) means here associating with many people and one's mind becoming distracted after being disturbed with a lot of talk and activities. [RY]
Butön (bu ston) (1290-1364). Fourteenth century Tibetan scholar and historian; early compiler of the Kangyur, the Tibetan Buddhist Canon. [EMP] [RY]
Butön: 1290-1364 [MR]
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