Glossary1 Flashcards
(450 cards)
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Madhyamaka
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Middle Way school; a major Mahāyāna philosophical school founded by Nāgārjuna, which emphasizes emptiness (śūnyatā) and dependent arising, avoiding the extremes of eternalism and nihilism.
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Mahāmati
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‘Great Intellect’; a bodhisattva interlocutor in the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra.
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Mahāmudrā
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Great Seal; a profound system of teachings and meditation practices in the Kagyu and other schools of Tibetan Buddhism, focusing on the direct realization of the nature of mind and phenomena.
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Mahāsattva
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Great being; an epithet for an advanced bodhisattva.
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Mahāsiddha
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Great accomplished one; highly realized tantric practitioners in India and Tibet, often known for their unconventional behavior and spiritual songs (dohas).
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Mahāyāna
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Great Vehicle; one of the two major branches of Buddhism (the other being Theravāda or the Foundational Vehicle). It emphasizes the bodhisattva path, the ideal of attaining buddhahood for the sake of all sentient beings, and the wisdom realizing emptiness. Prominent in East Asia and Tibet.
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Maitreya
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The future Buddha, currently a bodhisattva residing in Tuṣita heaven. Also, the name attributed to the author of five important Mahāyāna treatises (e.g., Ornament of Clear Realizations, Sublime Continuum) said to have been revealed to Asaṅga.
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Mañjuśrī
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The bodhisattva embodying the wisdom of all buddhas.
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Manifest
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Clearly apparent or directly perceived.
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Mantra
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Sacred syllables, words, or formulas recited in Vajrayāna practices to purify the mind, invoke deities, and attain realizations.
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Māra
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See Demon.
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Marpa Lotsāwa
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(1012–1097) A great Tibetan translator and master, who traveled to India multiple times to receive teachings from Nāropa, Maitrīpa, and other mahāsiddhas. He was the guru of Milarepa and a key figure in the Kagyu lineage.
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Master
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A qualified spiritual teacher.
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Material
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Physical substance or matter.
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Matter
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Physical substance, form.
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Māyā
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Illusion. See Illusion.
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Mean
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Inferior or lesser.
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Meaning
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Significance, purpose, or import of something.
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Means
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Method or skillful technique, often paired with wisdom (prajñā) as essential components of the path.
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Meditation
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Mental cultivation or contemplative practice designed to develop qualities such as calm abiding (śamatha), insight (vipaśyanā), concentration, and wisdom.
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Meditative absorption
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Deep states of concentration achieved through meditation.
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Meditative concentration
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Single-pointedness of mind; see Concentration.
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Meditative experience
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Subjective experiences that arise during meditation practice, which can be signs of progress but should not be mistaken for ultimate realization.
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Meditative stability
Calm abiding; a state of mental quiescence and focus achieved through concentration practices. A prerequisite for developing insight (vipaśyanā).
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Mental
Pertaining to the mind or consciousness.
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Mental consciousness
The sixth type of consciousness, which takes mental phenomena (thoughts, ideas, memories) as its objects.
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Mental continuum
The stream of consciousness or mind that continues from moment to moment and life to life.
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Mental factor
Concomitants of mind; specific mental events or functions that arise in conjunction with a primary consciousness (citta) and color its experience (e.g., feeling, attention, intention, faith, anger).
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Mental image
An object of focus or sign that appears in the mind during meditation.
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Mental quiescence
Calm abiding; see Meditative stability.
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Mental state
A particular condition or mode of the mind.
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Merely designated I
The self or 'I' that is merely imputed or labeled by thought in dependence on the psycho-physical aggregates, lacking inherent existence.
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Merit
Positive potential, virtue, or good karma accumulated through virtuous actions, which leads to happiness and favorable rebirths, and contributes to the attainment of enlightenment. See Collection of merit.
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Method
Skillful means or technique used in spiritual practice.
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Middle Way
The path taught by the Buddha that avoids the extremes of harsh asceticism and sensual indulgence. Philosophically, it refers to the Madhyamaka view that avoids the extremes of eternalism (inherent existence) and nihilism (complete non-existence).
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Milarepa
(1040/1052–1123/1135) One of Tibet's most famous yogis and poets, renowned for his perseverance in practice, attainment of enlightenment in a single lifetime, and his spiritual songs (mgur 'bum). Disciple of Marpa Lotsāwa and guru of Gampopa.
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Mind
The faculty of consciousness, awareness, thought, and experience. A central topic in Buddhist philosophy and psychology.
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Mind of awakening
See Bodhicitta.
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Mind-Only
See Cittamātra.
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Mindfulness
Awareness, attentiveness, or recollection; the ability to keep an object in mind without forgetfulness. A key factor in meditation and ethical conduct.
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Mindstream
See Mental continuum.
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Mirage
An optical illusion, often used as an analogy for the deceptive nature of phenomena which appear real but lack inherent existence.
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Misconception
Erroneous understanding or distorted view of reality.
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Mode of apprehension
The way in which the mind grasps or perceives its object.
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Mode of existence
The actual way phenomena abide or exist, their ultimate nature (i.e., emptiness), as opposed to how they appear.
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Moment
An instant or very short period of time. Buddhist philosophy analyzes existence in terms of a series of discrete moments.
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Monastery
A residence for monks or nuns, a center for Buddhist study, practice, and community life.
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Monastic
Pertaining to monks or nuns, or their way of life.
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Mundane
Worldly, ordinary, or pertaining to saṃsāra, as opposed to supramundane (lokottara) states or paths.
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Nāga
Serpent-like beings in Buddhist cosmology, often dwelling in water bodies and associated with wealth and hidden treasures, including Dharma texts.
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Nāgārjuna
A highly influential Indian Mahāyāna philosopher (c. 150–250 CE), founder of the Madhyamaka school and author of seminal works on emptiness, such as the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā (Root Verses on the Middle Way).
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Name
A word or term by which a person or thing is known.
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Natural
Inherent, intrinsic, or arising spontaneously.
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Natural abiding buddha nature
The naturally present potential for buddhahood, often identified with the emptiness of the mind or its clear light nature.
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Natural nirvāṇa
The primordial purity or natural state of liberation, referring to the inherent emptiness and luminosity of the mind, which is always present though obscured.
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Nature
The inherent character or essence of something. Madhyamaka refutes the existence of an independent, findable nature (svabhāva) for any phenomenon.
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Nature body
Intrinsic nature body; one of the buddha bodies, referring to the ultimate emptiness of a buddha's omniscient mind. Often considered synonymous with dharmakāya in its aspect of emptiness.
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Near attainment
A stage in the absorption of consciousness during death or deep meditation, just before the manifestation of the clear light mind. Often associated with the 'black near-attainment' experience.
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Negation
Denial or exclusion. Buddhist logic distinguishes between affirming negatives (paryudāsa-pratiṣedha) and non-affirming negatives (prasajya-pratiṣedha).
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Negative
Non-virtuous, harmful, or unwholesome, particularly actions that lead to suffering.
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Neutral
Neither virtuous nor non-virtuous; actions or mental states that do not have significant karmic consequence for future happiness or suffering.
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New Translation schools
Schools of Tibetan Buddhism whose lineages derive from translations and transmissions that occurred from the late 10th century onward, including the Kagyu, Sakya, Kadam, and Geluk traditions. Contrasts with Nyingma (Old Translation school).
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Neyārtha
Interpretable meaning; see Interpretable meaning.
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Nibbāna
Cessation of suffering, liberation from saṃsāra. The goal of the foundational Buddhist path.
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Nihilism
The extreme view that denies the existence of continuity after death, karma, rebirth, or any ultimate reality or moral values. Madhyamaka avoids this extreme as well as eternalism.
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Nine mental abidings
Nine stages of developing meditative concentration (śamatha), culminating in perfect single-pointedness.
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Nirmāṇakāya
Emanation body; see Emanation body.
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Nirvāṇa
'Extinction' or 'cessation'; the state of liberation from saṃsāra and its suffering, achieved by eradicating afflictions and their causes. It has different levels: nirvana with remainder (of aggregates) and nirvana without remainder (parinirvāṇa).
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Nītārtha
Definitive meaning; see Definitive meaning.
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No-self
See Anātman.
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Noble
See Ārya.
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Noble eightfold path
The path to the cessation of suffering (the fourth noble truth), consisting of: correct view, correct intention, correct speech, correct action, correct livelihood, correct effort, correct mindfulness, and correct concentration.
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Non-affirming negative
A negation that simply negates its object without implying anything else in its place (e.g., 'there is no elephant in this room'). Emptiness is often described as a non-affirming negative, the mere absence of inherent existence.
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Non-Buddhist
See Heterodox.
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Nonconceptual
Beyond concepts or thought constructions; direct perception or wisdom that is free from conceptual elaboration. The wisdom realizing emptiness is ultimately nonconceptual.
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Noncomposite
Unconditioned, uncompounded; phenomena that do not arise from causes and conditions, are permanent, and do not undergo change. Examples include space and nirvana (cessation).
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Non-dual
Not two; the absence of inherent distinction or opposition, particularly between subject and object, saṃsāra and nirvana, or appearance and emptiness.
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Non-existence
Absence of being or reality.
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Non-inherent existence
The absence of intrinsic or independent existence; synonymous with emptiness (śūnyatā).
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Non-objectifying
Without a fixed or inherently existent object of apprehension; a characteristic of the wisdom realizing emptiness.
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Non-returner
See Anāgāmin.
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Non-self
See Anātman.
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Non-virtue
Unwholesome or harmful actions of body, speech, or mind that lead to suffering and unfavorable rebirths.
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Nothingness
Emptiness or voidness, particularly the sphere of nothingness, one of the formless meditative absorptions.
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Noun
A word that functions as the name of some specific thing or set of things.
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Nyingma
'Old' or 'Ancient' school; the oldest school of Tibetan Buddhism, tracing its origins to the initial transmission of Buddhism to Tibet in the 7th-9th centuries, particularly associated with Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche). Its teachings include Dzogchen.
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Object
That which is cognized or perceived by a subject (consciousness).
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Object of observation
The specific focus or reference point for meditation or cognition.
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Objectivity
From the side of the object; a way of considering phenomena as they are, independent of subjective perception, often debated in Buddhist epistemology.
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Obscuration
Veil or hindrance that prevents the perception of true reality and the attainment of liberation or enlightenment. There are two main types: afflictive obscurations (kleśāvaraṇa) and cognitive obscurations (jñeyāvaraṇa).
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Observation
Focusing the mind on an object.
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Obstacle
Hindrance or impediment to spiritual practice or worldly aims.
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Omniscience
All-knowing wisdom; the state of a buddha who perceives all phenomena simultaneously and without error.
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Once-returner
The second of the four stages of śrāvaka āryas, who will be reborn once more in the desire realm before attaining nirvana.
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One-pointedness
Single-pointed concentration of mind, a key characteristic of meditative stability (śamatha).
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Ontology
The philosophical study of being or existence.
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Opponent
In debate, the person whose thesis is being challenged or refuted.
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Ordinary being
A common person, an individual who has not yet attained any of the ārya paths, still bound by afflictions and karma in saṃsāra.
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Ordinary mind
The usual, untrained state of consciousness, characterized by conceptual thought, distractions, and afflictions.
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Origin
Source or cause, particularly the origin of suffering (the second noble truth), which is identified as craving (tṛṣṇā) and afflictions (kleśa).
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Ornament of Clear Realizations
A core Mahāyāna treatise attributed to Maitreya (via Asaṅga), which systematically outlines the stages of the bodhisattva path to enlightenment as presented in the Perfection of Wisdom sūtras. It is a foundational text in Tibetan monastic curricula.
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Other
Different from oneself or from a given reference point.
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Outer
External or pertaining to the outside.
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Pacification
Calming or appeasement, often referring to the pacification of suffering or afflictions.
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Padmasambhava
'Lotus-Born'; a great Indian tantric master who is credited with establishing Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th century and is highly revered in the Nyingma school as Guru Rinpoche.
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Pain
Physical or mental suffering or discomfort.
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Pāli
An Indo-Aryan language, closely related to Sanskrit, in which the scriptures of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition (Pāli Canon) are preserved.
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Paramārtha
Ultimate; see Ultimate truth.
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Pāramitā
Perfection, transcendent virtue; qualities cultivated by bodhisattvas on the path to enlightenment, traditionally enumerated as six: generosity, ethical discipline, patience, effort, concentration, and wisdom.
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Parinirvāṇa
Complete or final nirvana; the cessation of the aggregates of a buddha or arhat upon their physical death, signifying the full transcendence of saṃsāra.
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Part
Component or constituent of a whole.
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Path
The spiritual way or course of practice leading to a specific goal, such as liberation or enlightenment. The fourth noble truth is the path to the cessation of suffering.
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Patience
Forbearance, endurance, or tolerance; one of the six perfections, involving the ability to remain undisturbed by harm, suffering, or profound truths.
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Peace
A state of tranquility and freedom from disturbance; nirvana is described as ultimate peace.
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Perception
The process of becoming aware of something through the senses or mind. Direct perception (pratyakṣa) is often emphasized in Buddhist practice.
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Perception
The process of becoming aware of something through the senses or mind. Direct perception (pratyakṣa) is a key type of valid cognition.
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Perfect
Complete, flawless, or fully developed.
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Perfection
See Pāramitā. Also means accomplishment or excellence.
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Perfection of Wisdom
(1) Transcendent wisdom that directly realizes emptiness. (2) A collection of Mahāyāna sūtras that teach emptiness and the bodhisattva path (e.g., Heart Sūtra, Diamond Sūtra).
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Permanent
Lasting or existing forever; unchanging. Buddhism refutes the existence of truly permanent, independent entities, though some unconditioned phenomena (like space or nirvana) are described as permanent in the sense of not being subject to momentary change.
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Person
An individual being. Buddhist philosophy analyzes the person as a dependently arisen convention, lacking an inherent self.
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Personal identity
The sense of being a distinct, enduring self. When this involves grasping at an inherently existent self, it is a misconception (satkāya-dṛṣṭi).
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Pervasive
Present or spread throughout.
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Pervasive suffering
The subtle, underlying unsatisfactoriness that pervades all conditioned existence in saṃsāra simply by virtue of being impermanent and under the control of afflictions and karma. The third type of duḥkha.
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Phenomenon
Any thing, event, object of experience, or knowable entity. Plural: phenomena.
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Philosophical tenet
A philosophical viewpoint or doctrinal system, such as those of the four main Indian Buddhist schools (Vaibhāṣika, Sautrāntika, Cittamātra, Madhyamaka).
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Piṭaka
Basket; refers to the main divisions of the Buddhist canon (Tripiṭaka: Vinayapiṭaka, Sūtrapiṭaka, Abhidharmapiṭaka).
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Pleasure
Enjoyment or satisfaction.
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Point
A specific location or aspect. In Vajrayāna, bindu (drop or essence) has specialized meanings related to subtle body energies.
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Poison
A substance causing illness or death. The three root afflictions (ignorance, attachment, aversion) are called the three poisons.
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Pollution
Defilement or impurity.
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Potency
Power, capacity, or latent energy, e.g., karmic potency.
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Potential
Inherent capacity or possibility for development, e.g., buddha nature as the potential for enlightenment.
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Power
Strength, ability, or influence.
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Practice
Engagement in spiritual exercises and conduct to cultivate desired qualities and attain realizations.
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Prajñā
Wisdom, discriminative awareness; the understanding of the true nature of reality, especially emptiness. One of the six perfections and three higher trainings.
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Prajñākaragupta
An Indian Buddhist scholar and logician (c. 9th-10th century), known for his commentary on Dharmakīrti's Pramāṇavārttika.
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Prajñāpāramitā
Perfection of Wisdom. See Perfection of Wisdom.
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Pramāṇa
Valid cognition, reliable means of knowledge; a key concept in Buddhist epistemology, which identifies direct perception (pratyakṣa) and inference (anumāna) as the two main types.
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Prāsaṅgika
Consequentialist; a subschool of Madhyamaka founded by Buddhapālita and elaborated by Candrakīrti. It primarily uses consequential reasoning (prasaṅga) to demonstrate the emptiness of inherent existence by refuting others' assertions without positing its own independent theses about ultimate reality.
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Prātimokṣa
Code of individual liberation; the set of monastic vows for monks (bhikṣu) and nuns (bhikṣuṇī).
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Pratyekabuddha
Solitary realizer; an arhat who attains enlightenment on their own, without relying on a teacher in their final life, and does not extensively teach others. One of the two types of śrāvaka path attainers.
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Prayer
Aspirational wish or supplication.
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Precious human life
A human rebirth endowed with specific freedoms (dal) and endowments ('byor) that make it exceptionally conducive for Dharma practice and attaining enlightenment.
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Preconception
A pre-existing idea or bias.
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Preparation
Preliminary practice or activity.
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Preparatory path
Path of preparation; the second of the five paths, where one cultivates śamatha and vipaśyanā focused on emptiness, leading to the direct realization of the path of seeing.
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Present
Existing or occurring now.
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Primary consciousness
The main aspect of mind that is aware of the general nature of an object. It is always accompanied by mental factors (caitasika).
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Primordial
Existing from the very beginning, original, or fundamental.
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Primordial wisdom
Innate or fundamental wisdom, often referring to the direct awareness of the ultimate nature of mind.
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Principle
A fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior.
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Pristine
Pure, undefiled, or uncorrupted.
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Pristine wisdom
See Jñāna.
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Profound
Deep, abstruse, or difficult to understand, especially referring to teachings on emptiness.
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Progression
A sequence or orderly advance.
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Proof
Evidence or argument establishing a fact or the truth of a statement.
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Propensity
Habitual tendency, predisposition, or latent inclination.
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Protection
Safeguarding or defense from harm.
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Pudgala
Person, individual. See Person.
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Pudgalanairātmya
Selflessness of persons; the doctrine that persons lack an inherently existing self or soul.
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Pure
Free from defilement, contamination, or error.
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Pure Land
The blissful buddha-field or paradise of Buddha Amitābha, where beings can be reborn through faith and aspiration, and easily attain enlightenment.
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Pure perception
The visionary experience in Vajrayāna of perceiving all phenomena as pure manifestations of enlightened deities and mandalas.
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Purification
The process of cleansing the mind of afflictions, obscurations, and negative karma.
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Purpose
The reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.
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Quality
Attribute, characteristic, or virtue.
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Question
An inquiry or query.
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Quintessential instructions
Pith instructions; concise and profound guidance for spiritual practice.
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Radiance
Brilliance or light emanating from a source.
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Rainbow body
A rare attainment in Dzogchen practice where the physical body dissolves into light at death, signifying a high level of realization.
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Ratiocination
The process of logical reasoning or argumentation.
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Reality
The true nature of things, the way things actually are, as opposed to how they appear.
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Realization
Direct experiential understanding or attainment of a spiritual truth or state.
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Reason
A cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event; the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments logically.
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Reasoning
The process of thinking about something in a logical way in order to form a conclusion or judgment.
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Rebirth
The process of being born again into saṃsāra after death, driven by karma and afflictions.
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Receptive
Willing to consider or accept new suggestions and ideas.
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Recognition
Identification of something or someone from previous encounters or knowledge.
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Red increase
A stage in the dissolution of consciousness during death or deep meditation, characterized by a reddish light experience, following the white appearance and preceding the black near-attainment.
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Reflection
Thinking deeply or carefully about something. The second stage of the threefold process of wisdom: learning, reflection, and meditation.
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Refuge
Protection or sanctuary. See Going for refuge.
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Refutation
The act of proving a statement or theory to be wrong or false.
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Relative truth
See Conventional truth.
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Relativity
Interdependence or the way things exist in relation to other things.
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Relaxation
Mental and physical pliancy or ease, a result of meditative practice.
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Reliance
Dependence on or trust in something or someone.
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Renunciation
Determination to be free from saṃsāra; disillusionment with worldly pleasures and a strong aspiration for liberation.
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Repudiation
Rejection of a proposal or idea; denial of the truth or validity of something.
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Requisite
A thing that is necessary for the achievement of a specified end.
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Resemblance
Similarity or likeness.
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Respect
Admiration or esteem for someone or something.
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Result
Effect or outcome of an action or cause.
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Resultant state
The final attainment or fruition of a spiritual path, e.g., buddhahood.
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Revelation
A surprising and previously unknown fact, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way; divine or supernatural disclosure to humans.
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Reverence
Deep respect for someone or something.
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Rigpa
Awareness, intelligence, knowing. In Dzogchen, primordial awareness, the intrinsic nature of mind.
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Root
The fundamental cause or basis of something, e.g., root afflictions.
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Root text
A foundational scripture or treatise that serves as the basis for commentaries and further study.
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Rosary
A string of beads used for counting mantras or prayers.
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Rūpakāya
Form body; the physical aspect of a buddha, which includes both the sambhogakāya (enjoyment body) and nirmāṇakāya (emanation body). One of the buddha bodies.
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Sacred
Connected with God or a god or dedicated to a religious purpose and so deserving veneration; holy.
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Śākyamuni Buddha
The historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (c. 5th-4th century BCE), founder of Buddhism.
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Sakya
One of the major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, founded by Khön Könchok Gyalpo in 1073, with a strong tradition of scholarship and tantric practice, particularly the Lamdré (Path and Fruition) teachings.
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Śamatha
Calm abiding, meditative quiescence; see Meditative stability.
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Sambhogakāya
Enjoyment body or complete enjoyment body; one of the three buddha bodies, a subtle, luminous form in which a buddha teaches advanced bodhisattvas in pure lands.
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Saṃsāra
Cyclic existence; see Cyclic existence.
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Saṃskāra
Compositional factors, volitional formations. See Compositional factors.
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Saṅgha
Community; one of the Three Jewels. Can refer to: (1) the community of ārya beings (noble Saṅgha); (2) the ordained monastic community of monks and nuns; (3) more broadly, the community of Buddhist practitioners.
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Sanskrit
An ancient Indo-Aryan language of India, the language of many Mahāyāna Buddhist scriptures and philosophical texts.
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Sarma
New Translation schools of Tibetan Buddhism. See New Translation schools.
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Satkāya-dṛṣṭi
View of the transitory collection (the aggregates) as a real self; misconception of an inherently existing 'I' or 'mine'. A primary affliction.
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Sautrāntika
Sūtra School; one of the two main Hīnayāna or Foundational Vehicle philosophical schools in India, which accepted the authority of the sūtras but not necessarily the Abhidharma commentaries as the literal word of the Buddha. They asserted that external objects are real but cognized indirectly through mental aspects.
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Scholar
A learned person, especially one with profound knowledge of Buddhist philosophy and scriptures.
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School
A tradition or system of thought within Buddhism, e.g., Madhyamaka school, Geluk school.
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Scripture
Sacred writings, especially the discourses of the Buddha.
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Seal
A mark of authenticity or a symbolic gesture. See Four seals. In Vajrayāna, mudrā also refers to hand gestures or a consort in tantric practice.
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Search
The act of looking for something.
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Second turning of the Dharma wheel
The Buddha's teachings on emptiness and the Perfection of Wisdom, primarily delivered at Vulture Peak Mountain. These teachings form the basis of Mahāyāna philosophy.
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Secret Mantra
An alternative name for Vajrayāna or tantric Buddhism, emphasizing its esoteric nature and use of mantras.
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Seed
Karmic latency or potential in the mindstream that ripens into future experiences. Also, buddha nature as the seed of enlightenment.
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Seeing
Perception or view. The path of seeing (darśana-mārga) is the third of the five paths, where one has the first direct, nonconceptual realization of emptiness.
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Seeking
Trying to find or obtain something.
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Self
The individual person or identity. Buddhism refutes the existence of a permanent, independent, inherently existing self (anātman).
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Self-centeredness
Egocentric attitude; see Egocentrism.
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Self-cognition
Self-awareness or reflexive awareness of consciousness; the mind's capacity to be aware of its own cognizing activity. A concept debated among Buddhist schools, affirmed by Yogācāra and some others.
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Self-grasping
Clinging to or apprehending a self as inherently existent.
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Self-knowledge
Understanding of oneself. In Buddhism, true self-knowledge involves realizing selflessness (anātman).
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Selflessness
No-self; the absence of an independent, permanent, or inherently existing self in persons (pudgala-nairātmya) and phenomena (dharma-nairātmya). Synonymous with emptiness in relation to the self.
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Selflessness of phenomena
The lack of inherent existence in all things or events beyond the mere person.
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Selflessness of persons
The lack of an inherently existing self or soul associated with an individual.
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Seminal heart
Pith essence teachings, often associated with Dzogchen.
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Sense consciousness
The five consciousnesses associated with the sense faculties: eye, ear, nose, tongue, and body consciousness.
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Sense faculty
The physical organs or capacities of perception (eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind).
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Sense object
That which is perceived by a sense faculty (e.g., sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tactile objects, mental objects).
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Sense source
'Entrance' or 'base' for consciousness. Refers to the twelve sources: the six sense faculties and their six corresponding sense objects.
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Sentient being
Any living being possessing consciousness and subject to rebirth in saṃsāra, from hell beings to gods.
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Sequence
Order or progression.
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Sevenfold reasoning of the chariot
A classical Madhyamaka line of reasoning used by Candrakīrti to demonstrate the emptiness of a person by analyzing the relationship between the person (like a chariot) and their aggregates (like the parts of a chariot).
241
Seventh Dalai Lama, Kelsang Gyatso
(1708–1757) Recognized as the seventh Dalai Lama, a renowned scholar and practitioner.
242
Shame
Sense of moral propriety or concern for the opinions of others that restrains one from non-virtuous actions. Often paired with integrity (hrī).
243
Śīla
Ethical discipline, morality. See Ethical discipline.
244
Sign
Mark, indication, or characteristic.
245
Seventh Dalai Lama
(1708–1757) Recognized as the seventh Dalai Lama, a renowned scholar and practitioner.
246
Śīla
Ethical discipline, morality.
247
Sign
Mark, indication, or characteristic. In meditation, a mental image or sign that arises.
248
Signlessness
Absence of characteristics or conceptual marks; an aspect of emptiness, realizing that phenomena lack inherent signs or defining features.
249
Simile
Analogy or comparison used to illustrate a point.
250
Simplicity
Modesty, lack of complexity, or having few desires.
251
Simultaneous
Occurring at the same time.
252
Single-pointedness
See One-pointedness.
253
Six perfections
The six transcendent practices of a bodhisattva: generosity (dāna), ethical discipline (śīla), patience (kṣānti), effort (vīrya), concentration (dhyāna), and wisdom (prajñā).
254
Skillful means
The ability of buddhas and bodhisattvas to adapt their teachings and actions to suit the diverse capacities and needs of sentient beings.
255
Sleep
A state of rest for the body and mind, characterized by a temporary suspension of consciousness. Can be a hindrance in meditation if it is sloth or torpor.
256
Sloth
Mental heaviness or sluggishness, a component of sloth and torpor (styāna-middha), a hindrance to meditation.
257
Solitary realizer
See Pratyekabuddha.
258
Sorrow
Mental distress or grief.
259
Soul
An enduring, independent spiritual essence of a person. Buddhism denies the existence of such a soul (anātman).
260
Source
Origin or place from which something comes.
261
Space
One of the unconditioned (asaṃskṛta) phenomena, characterized by the absence of obstruction. Also, one of the five great elements in some classifications.
262
Special insight
See Insight.
263
Specific
Particular, individual, or unique characteristic.
264
Speech
Communication through language. Correct speech is part of the noble eightfold path.
265
Sphere
Expanse, realm, or domain.
266
Sphere of reality
See Dharmadhātu.
267
Spiritual mentor
A virtuous friend or spiritual guide who teaches the Dharma and supports one's practice.
268
Stabilizing meditation
Meditation aimed at developing calm abiding or meditative stability.
269
Stable
Firm, unchanging, or enduring.
270
Stage
A level or phase in a process, especially in spiritual development (e.g., bodhisattva stages/grounds).
271
Stain
Defilement or impurity that obscures the mind.
272
State
Condition or mode of being.
273
Statement
An expression or declaration.
274
Storehouse consciousness
See Ālaya consciousness.
275
Stream-enterer
The first of the four stages of śrāvaka āryas, one who has entered the stream leading to nirvana and will attain it within seven rebirths at most.
276
Study
The act of learning and investigating the Dharma teachings.
277
Stūpa
A dome-shaped monument containing relics of the Buddha or other holy beings, or sacred texts, serving as an object of veneration and pilgrimage.
278
Subject
The cognizing mind or consciousness, as opposed to the object (viṣaya) it perceives.
279
Subject clear light
The subjective aspect of the clear light mind, the mind itself as luminous awareness, often contrasted with object clear light (emptiness).
280
Subjectivity
From the side of the subject or mind; perspective emphasizing the role of the perceiver.
281
Sublime
Of great excellence or beauty; exalted.
282
Sublime Continuum
An influential Mahāyāna treatise, attributed to Maitreya (via Asaṅga), that discusses buddha nature (tathāgatagarbha) as the inherent potential for enlightenment in all beings.
283
Substance
Material or essence. In some Buddhist contexts, a truly existent, independent entity, a notion refuted by Madhyamaka.
284
Substantial cause
A cause that transforms into its effect, providing the continuum or substance for the result (e.g., a seed is the substantial cause of a sprout).
285
Substantial entity
Something that exists as a substance, often implying independent or ultimate existence.
286
Subtle
Fine, delicate, or not obvious; difficult to perceive or understand. Contrasts with coarse (audārika).
287
Subtle mind
A refined or less gross level of consciousness, such as the clear light mind.
288
Suchness
Thusness, the true nature of reality as it is, emptiness, ultimate reality free from conceptual elaborations.
289
Suffering
See Duḥkha.
290
Sukhāvatī
'Land of Bliss'; see Pure Land.
291
Superior
Higher in rank, status, or quality.
292
Superimposition
See Exaggeration.
293
Supramundane
Transcending the world or saṃsāra; pertaining to the noble paths, nirvana, and enlightenment.
294
Sūtra
Discourse or sermon of the Buddha or an authorized disciple. One of the three baskets (piṭaka) of the Buddhist canon.
295
Sūtrayāna
The Sūtra Vehicle; the path to enlightenment based on the sūtras, often used to refer to the Mahāyāna path that emphasizes the perfections (pāramitās), as distinct from the Vajrayāna (Tantrayāna) path.
296
Svabhāva
Intrinsic nature, inherent existence, or self-nature. Madhyamaka philosophy systematically refutes the existence of svabhāva in all phenomena.
297
Svātantrika
Autonomist; a subschool of Madhyamaka founded by Bhāviveka, which, unlike Prāsaṅgika, uses autonomous syllogisms (svatantra-anumāna) that are accepted as valid from both conventional and ultimate perspectives to establish emptiness.
298
Syllogism
A form of logical reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed propositions (premises).
299
Synonym
A word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language.
300
System
A set of principles or procedures according to which something is done; an organized scheme or method.
301
Tainted
Contaminated or defiled by afflictions and karma, leading to suffering and rebirth in saṃsāra.
302
Tangible
Perceptible by touch; having physical substance.
303
Tantra
Continuum, thread, or treatise. Refers to: (1) the esoteric teachings and practices of Vajrayāna Buddhism; (2) the texts that embody these teachings.
304
Tantrayāna
Tantric Vehicle; see Vajrayāna.
305
Taoism
A Chinese philosophical and religious tradition emphasizing living in harmony with the Tao (Way or Path).
306
Tārā
'She Who Liberates'; a female bodhisattva and buddha embodying enlightened activity and compassion, very popular in Tibetan Buddhism.
307
Tathāgata
'One Thus Gone' or 'One Thus Come'; an epithet for a buddha, signifying one who has realized suchness (tathatā) and acts in accordance with it.
308
Tathāgatagarbha
Buddha essence, buddha nature; see Buddha nature.
309
Tathāgatagarbha Sūtra
A Mahāyāna sūtra that teaches the concept of buddha nature (tathāgatagarbha) as present in all sentient beings.
310
Teaching
Instruction or doctrine, especially the Buddha's teachings.
311
Temporary
Lasting for only a limited period of time; not permanent.
312
Tenet
See Philosophical tenet.
313
Text
A written work.
314
The Sūtra Unraveling the Thought
An important Yogācāra sūtra that explains the three turnings of the Dharma wheel and concepts like the ālaya consciousness.
315
Thesis
A statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved in a debate.
316
Theistic
Relating to or characterized by belief in the existence of a god or gods.
317
Theravāda
'Way of the Elders'; the oldest surviving branch of Buddhism, prevalent in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, which emphasizes the Pāli Canon and the path to arhatship.
318
Thing
An object, entity, or phenomenon.
319
Thinking
The process of using one's mind to consider or reason about something.
320
Third turning of the Dharma wheel
The Buddha's teachings that clarify the nature of mind and buddha nature, often associated with the Yogācāra school and sūtras like the Saṃdhinirmocana Sūtra and Tathāgatagarbha Sūtra.
321
Thorough
Complete with regard to every detail; not superficial or partial.
322
Thought
An idea or opinion produced by thinking, or the process of thinking.
323
Three baskets
The three main divisions of the Buddhist canon: Vinayapiṭaka (discipline), Sūtrapiṭaka (discourses), and Abhidharmapiṭaka (manifest phenomena/higher knowledge).
324
Three buddha bodies
The three aspects or 'bodies' of a buddha: dharmakāya (truth body), sambhogakāya (enjoyment body), and nirmāṇakāya (emanation body).
325
Three Jewels
The Buddha (the enlightened teacher), the Dharma (his teachings), and the Saṅgha (the community of practitioners, especially āryas). Taking refuge in the Three Jewels marks entry into the Buddhist path.
326
Three poisons
The three root afflictions: ignorance (moha), attachment/desire (rāga), and aversion/hatred (dveṣa).
327
Three principal aspects of the path
Renunciation, bodhicitta, and the correct view of emptiness; identified by Je Tsongkhapa as the essential foundations for the Mahāyāna path.
328
Three realms
The three levels of existence within saṃsāra: desire realm (kāmadhātu), form realm (rūpadhātu), and formless realm (ārūpyadhātu).
329
Three trainings
The threefold practice of ethical discipline (śīla), meditative concentration (samādhi), and wisdom (prajñā).
330
Three turnings of the Dharma wheel
Three major phases of the Buddha's teachings: (1) the Four Noble Truths (Foundational Vehicle basis); (2) the Perfection of Wisdom on emptiness (Mahāyāna basis); (3) teachings on buddha nature and the luminous nature of mind (often associated with Yogācāra and Tathāgatagarbha literature).
331
Tibet
A country and region in Central Asia, historically a major center of Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna Buddhism.
332
Tibetan
Relating to Tibet, its people, or its language.
333
Time
The indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.
334
Torpor
Mental dullness or drowsiness, often paired with sloth (styāna) as a hindrance to meditation.
335
Tradition
A long-established custom or belief that has been passed on from one generation to another; a particular school or lineage of teachings.
336
Tranquility
A state of peacefulness and calm.
337
Transcend
To go beyond the range or limits of something.
338
Transcendence
The act of rising above or going beyond the limits of ordinary experience.
339
Transform
To change in form, appearance, or character.
340
Transformation
A marked change in form, nature, or appearance.
341
Transforming buddha nature
The aspect of buddha nature that is the mind itself, which can be transformed and purified to become the wisdom of a buddha. Contrasts with naturally abiding buddha nature (emptiness).
342
Transgression
An act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; especially a breach of monastic vows.
343
Transitory
Not permanent; fleeting.
344
Translation
The process of rendering text from one language into another.
345
Transmigration
Movement from one state of existence to another; rebirth.
346
Transmission
The passing on of teachings, empowerments, or spiritual realization from teacher to disciple.
347
Treatise
A written work dealing formally and systematically with a subject, especially a philosophical or religious commentary.
348
True
In accordance with fact or reality.
349
True cessation
The third of the four noble truths: the truth that suffering can cease completely.
350
True existence
Inherent or real existence from its own side. Madhyamaka philosophy refutes this for all phenomena.
351
True origin
The second of the four noble truths: the truth of the cause of suffering, which is craving and afflictions.
352
True path
The fourth of the four noble truths: the truth of the way to eliminate suffering, which is the noble eightfold path.
353
Truly existent
Existing in reality, often implying inherent existence.
354
Truth
That which is true or in accordance with fact or reality. See Two truths.
355
Truth body
See Dharmakāya.
356
Tsultrim Zangpo
(1884–c.1957) A disciple of Dodrup Jigme Tenpai Nyima, a noted Dzogchen scholar and practitioner.
357
Tuṣita Heaven
'Joyous Realm'; a deva realm where Bodhisattva Maitreya currently resides, and where many great masters are said to be reborn before their final human birth as a buddha.
358
Twelve links of dependent arising
The twelvefold chain illustrating how suffering and rebirth in saṃsāra occur due to ignorance: (1) ignorance, (2) compositional factors, (3) consciousness, (4) name and form, (5) six sense sources, (6) contact, (7) feeling, (8) craving, (9) clinging, (10) becoming, (11) birth, (12) aging and death.
359
Two accumulations
The accumulation of merit (puṇya-sambhāra) and the accumulation of wisdom (jñāna-sambhāra), both necessary for attaining buddhahood.
360
Two bodies of a buddha
Dharmakāya (truth body) and Rūpakāya (form body).
361
Two collections
See Two accumulations.
362
Two extremes
The extremes of eternalism (belief in inherent existence) and nihilism (denial of conventional reality or causality), which the Middle Way (Madhyamaka) avoids.
363
Two obscurations
Afflictive obscurations (kleśāvaraṇa) and cognitive obscurations (jñeyāvaraṇa).
364
Two truths
Conventional truth (saṃvṛti-satya) and ultimate truth (paramārtha-satya); a fundamental Madhyamaka distinction regarding the nature of reality.
365
Ultimate
Final, fundamental, or absolute.
366
Ultimate bodhicitta
The direct realization of emptiness, often considered the ultimate aspect of bodhicitta.
367
Ultimate nature
The final or true way something exists, i.e., its emptiness of inherent existence.
368
Ultimate reality
See Ultimate truth.
369
Ultimate truth
The final or absolute truth; the way things actually exist, which is their emptiness of inherent existence. One of the two truths, the other being conventional truth.
370
Unborn
Not arisen or produced; a characteristic of ultimate reality (emptiness), indicating freedom from the conceptual extremes of arising and ceasing.
371
Unchanging
Not subject to alteration or variation.
372
Uncompounded
See Noncomposite.
373
Unconditioned
See Noncomposite.
374
Understanding
Comprehension or realization of something.
375
Undefiled
Pure.
376
Undefiled
Pure, uncontaminated by afflictions.
377
Undifferentiable
Not able to be distinguished or separated.
378
Union
Joining or merging. In Vajrayāna, often refers to the state of union of method and wisdom, or bliss and emptiness.
379
Unique
Distinctive or particular.
380
Uninterrupted
Continuous, without break.
381
Unity
The state of being one or undivided.
382
Universal
Pertaining to all; general.
383
Unobstructed
Free from hindrance or impediment.
384
Unpolluted
See Undefiled.
385
Unreal
Not existing in fact; imaginary or illusory.
386
Unsatisfactory
Causing discontent or suffering; a characteristic of saṃsāric existence.
387
Unseen
Not perceived or observed.
388
Unshakeable
Firm, immovable, especially in relation to meditative stability or conviction.
389
Unsound
Not based on valid reasoning or evidence.
390
Untainted
See Undefiled.
391
Untranquil
Not peaceful; agitated.
392
Unvirtuous
Non-virtuous; see Non-virtue.
393
Upādāna
Clinging, grasping. See Clinging.
394
Upaniṣad
A collection of ancient Sanskrit philosophical texts that form the basis of Hindu Vedanta philosophy.
395
Upāsaka/Upāsikā
Lay male/female devotee who has taken the five lay precepts.
396
Valid cognition
See Pramāṇa.
397
Validly established
Proven or ascertained through a reliable means of knowledge.
398
Vasubandhu
An influential Indian Buddhist philosopher (c. 4th-5th century CE), brother of Asaṅga. Initially associated with Sarvāstivāda/Sautrāntika Abhidharma, he later converted to Mahāyāna and became a key figure in the Yogācāra school. Author of the Abhidharmakośa.
399
Vajra
'Diamond' or 'thunderbolt'; a symbol of indestructibility, clarity, and power in Vajrayāna Buddhism, representing the ultimate nature of reality or enlightened mind. Also a ritual implement.
400
Vajradhara
'Vajra Holder'; a primordial buddha in some Vajrayāna lineages, representing the ultimate source of tantric teachings.
401
Vajrasattva
'Vajra Being'; a buddha associated with purification practice in Vajrayāna.
402
Vajrayāna
Diamond Vehicle or Tantric Vehicle; a branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism that employs powerful tantric methods (meditation on deities, mandalas, mantras, yoga of subtle energies) to achieve rapid enlightenment. Prevalent in Tibet, Himalayas, and Japan.
403
Vehicle
Spiritual path or system of practice leading to a specific goal (e.g., Śrāvakayāna, Bodhisattvayāna, Vajrayāna).
404
Veil
Obscuration or hindrance. See Obscuration.
405
Verse
A stanza or metrical line in poetry or scripture.
406
View
Perspective, opinion, or philosophical understanding. Correct view (samyag-dṛṣṭi) of reality, especially emptiness, is essential on the Buddhist path. Wrong views (mithyā-dṛṣṭi) are obstacles.
407
Vigor
Energy or effort in practice.
408
Vihāra
Monastery or dwelling place for monastics.
409
Vijñāna
Consciousness, awareness. See Consciousness.
410
Vimalakīrti
A renowned lay bodhisattva, the central figure in the Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra.
411
Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra
An influential Mahāyāna sūtra emphasizing non-duality, emptiness, and the skillful means of bodhisattvas, featuring the lay practitioner Vimalakīrti.
412
Vinaya
Monastic discipline; one of the three baskets (piṭaka) of the Buddhist canon, containing the rules and procedures for the monastic Saṅgha.
413
Vipaśyanā
Insight, special insight. See Insight.
414
Virtue
Goodness, moral excellence, or wholesome actions that lead to happiness and spiritual progress.
415
Virtuous
Wholesome, meritorious, or conducive to happiness and enlightenment.
416
Visible form
That which can be seen; physical shape or appearance.
417
Vision
The faculty or action of seeing; a mental image or revelation.
418
Vital
Essential for life.
419
Voidness
Emptiness; see Emptiness.
420
Volition
Intention or will; the mental factor that directs the mind towards an action and is central to the concept of karma.
421
Vow
A solemn promise or commitment, such as monastic vows, bodhisattva vows, or tantric vows.
422
Vulture Peak Mountain
A hill near Rājagṛha in India where the Buddha is said to have delivered many Mahāyāna sūtras, especially the Perfection of Wisdom teachings.
423
Waking state
The ordinary state of consciousness when one is awake, as opposed to dreaming or deep sleep.
424
Water
One of the four or five great elements, characterized by fluidity and cohesion.
425
Way
Path or method.
426
Wealth
Riches or abundance.
427
Wheel
A circular object that revolves on an axle. Symbolically, the Dharma wheel (dharmacakra) represents the Buddha's teachings.
428
Wheel of Dharma
The Buddha's teachings, which set in motion the path to enlightenment. See Three turnings of the Dharma wheel.
429
White appearance
A stage in the dissolution of consciousness during death or deep meditation, characterized by a whitish light experience, preceding the red increase.
430
Whole
Entire or complete.
431
Will
Intention or determination.
432
Wind
One of the four or five great elements, characterized by movement and support. In Vajrayāna, also refers to subtle energies or vital currents (prāṇa) in the body.
433
Wisdom
Discriminative awareness that understands the true nature of reality, especially emptiness. The highest of the six perfections and three higher trainings.
434
Wisdom dharmakāya
The wisdom aspect of the dharmakāya, the omniscient mind of a buddha.
435
Wish
Desire or aspiration.
436
Wish-granting gem
A mythical jewel said to fulfill all wishes.
437
Wishless
Free from aspiration or craving; an aspect of emptiness, realizing that there is nothing to be ultimately wished for or attained in phenomena that are empty of inherent existence.
438
Withdrawal
Retraction or drawing back.
439
Word
A unit of language.
440
World
The universe or a particular realm of existence within saṃsāra.
441
Worldly
Pertaining to saṃsāra or ordinary life, as opposed to spiritual or supramundane matters.
442
Worry
Regret or anxiety; a mental factor that can be a hindrance.
443
Worship
Veneration or adoration of a deity or holy being.
444
Wrathful
Fierce or angry in appearance, often a characteristic of certain enlightened deities in Vajrayāna whose wrathful aspect symbolizes the power to overcome obstacles and negativities.
445
Wrong view
Erroneous understanding or belief that contradicts reality, such as denying karma or grasping at inherent existence. A major obstacle to spiritual progress.
446
Yāna
Vehicle; see Vehicle.
447
Yidam
Meditational deity; an enlightened being one chooses as a focus for tantric practice to achieve realizations.
448
Yoga
Union, discipline, or spiritual practice. In Buddhism, it refers to various methods of mental and physical cultivation to attain enlightenment.
449
Yogācāra
'Practitioner of Yoga'; one of the two major Mahāyāna philosophical schools, co-founded by Asaṅga and Vasubandhu. It emphasizes the role of consciousness in constructing reality and teaches concepts like the ālaya consciousness and the three natures. Also known as Cittamātra (Mind-Only).
450
Yogi/Yoginī
A male/female practitioner of yoga or intensive spiritual discipline.
