Glossary2 Flashcards
(495 cards)
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Buddhist Glossary - Question & Answer CSV
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Abhidharma
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The topic of manifest phenomena, one of the three baskets (piṭaka) of the Buddhist scriptures.
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Absorption
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A state of deep meditative concentration.
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Actual Nibbāna
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The final cessation of suffering; synonymous with nirvana.
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Actualization
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The direct experiential realization of a spiritual truth or state.
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Adventitious
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Not intrinsic or inherent; arising incidentally or externally.
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Affirming negative
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A negation that implies the affirmation of something else. Contrasts with non-affirming negative.
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Affliction
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Mental factors that are afflictive in nature, such as ignorance, attachment, and aversion, which are the root causes of suffering (duḥkha) and cyclic existence (saṃsāra).
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Afflictive obscurations
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Obscurations that are primarily afflictions and prevent liberation from saṃsāra. See also cognitive obscurations.
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Aggregate
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The five psycho-physical components that constitute a sentient being: form, feeling, discrimination, compositional factors, and consciousness.
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Aggregates of clinging
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The five aggregates as objects of clinging, which lead to suffering.
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Ālaya consciousness
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Storehouse consciousness or foundational consciousness, a concept in some Mahāyāna schools, particularly Yogācāra, referring to a subtle level of consciousness that carries karmic seeds.
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Amitābha
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The Buddha of Infinite Light, the principal buddha in Pure Land Buddhism.
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Anāgāmin
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Non-returner; the third of the four stages of śrāvaka āryas, who will not be reborn in the desire realm.
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Analysis
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Detailed examination or investigation, a factor of meditative concentration.
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Analytic meditation
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Meditation involving conceptual analysis and reasoning to gain insight into the nature of reality.
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Anātman
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No-self, non-self, selflessness; the core Buddhist doctrine that there is no permanent, independent, or inherently existing self or soul.
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Anger
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A hostile mental factor that wishes harm upon others or upon the source of displeasure.
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Appearance
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The way phenomena manifest or appear to the mind. This can be deceptive or accord with reality.
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Apprehending aspect
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The subjective aspect of consciousness that apprehends or grasps an object.
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Arhat
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One who has overcome the enemy (afflictions); a liberated being who has attained nirvana by eliminating afflictive obscurations. This is the goal of the śrāvaka path.
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Ārya
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Noble one; a being who has had direct (nonconceptual) realization of emptiness or selflessness.
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Asaṅga
A major Indian Buddhist philosopher (4th century CE), one of the founders of the Yogācāra school and traditionally regarded as the human source of many texts attributed to Maitreya.
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Ascertainment
A definite understanding or conviction about something.
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Aspiration
A strong wish or prayer, often directed towards attaining enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.
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Aspirational bodhicitta
The aspiration to attain buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. Contrasts with engaged bodhicitta.
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Attachment
A desire or craving for objects, experiences, or ideas, leading to clinging and suffering.
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Attainment
The achievement of a spiritual state or realization.
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Attention
A mental factor that directs the mind towards an object.
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Attitude
A way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person's behavior.
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Avalokiteśvara
The bodhisattva of compassion, embodying the compassion of all buddhas.
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Aversion
A hostile mental factor that wishes to reject or destroy an object of dislike.
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Awakening
Enlightenment; the state of a buddha, characterized by perfect wisdom and compassion and freedom from all obscurations.
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Awareness
Mindfulness or clear comprehension; introspective awareness that monitors the state of one's mind and body.
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Basis of designation
The collection of parts or attributes upon which a phenomenon is mentally imputed or designated.
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Becoming
Existence or becoming; the process of cyclic existence (saṃsāra). One of the twelve links of dependent arising.
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Beginningless time
The Buddhist concept that saṃsāra has no discernible beginning.
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Being
A sentient being; any being possessing consciousness and subject to rebirth in saṃsāra.
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Belief in a self
View of a real self; the misconception of an inherently existent self, which is a primary root of suffering.
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Benefit
Advantage or positive outcome, often in a spiritual sense.
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Benevolence
Loving-kindness; the wish for others to have happiness and its causes.
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Bhāviveka
An Indian Madhyamaka philosopher (c. 500–570 CE), a proponent of the Svātantrika-Madhyamaka school.
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Birth
The arising of a new life in saṃsāra. One of the twelve links of dependent arising.
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Blessing
Spiritual inspiration or transformative power received from a buddha, bodhisattva, or spiritual mentor.
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Bodhicitta
The mind of awakening; the altruistic aspiration to attain full enlightenment (buddhahood) for the sake of all sentient beings. It has two aspects: aspirational and engaged bodhicitta.
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Bodhisattva
A being who is dedicated to achieving enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. They cultivate the six perfections and traverse the bodhisattva paths and grounds.
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Bodhisattva grounds
The ten stages a bodhisattva traverses on the path to buddhahood, starting from the direct realization of emptiness.
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Body
Physical form. In Buddhist contexts, can also refer to a collection or corpus (e.g., buddha body).
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Brahma
A high-ranking deity in the form realm, often considered a creator god in pre-Buddhist Indian religions but seen in Buddhism as a powerful being still within saṃsāra.
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Buddha
An awakened one; a being who has completely purified all obscurations and perfected all qualities, attaining full enlightenment. Generally refers to Śākyamuni Buddha, the historical founder of Buddhism.
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Buddha body
The 'bodies' or aspects of a buddha, often enumerated as two (dharmakāya and rūpakāya), three (dharmakāya, sambhogakāya, nirmāṇakāya), or four.
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Buddha nature
The inherent potential within all sentient beings to attain buddhahood. It can refer to the emptiness of the mind or the clear light nature of the mind.
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Buddhadharma
The teachings of the Buddha; the Buddhist doctrine or path.
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Buddhahood
The state of a fully enlightened buddha.
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Candrakīrti
A renowned Indian Madhyamaka philosopher (c. 600–650 CE), a key proponent of the Prāsaṅgika-Madhyamaka school.
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Canon
The collection of authoritative Buddhist scriptures, traditionally divided into three 'baskets': Vinaya (discipline), Sūtra (discourses), and Abhidharma (manifest phenomena).
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Capacity
Ability or potential.
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Cause
That which produces an effect. Buddhism analyzes various types of causes and conditions.
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Cessation
The elimination or ending of something, particularly suffering (duḥkha) and its causes. The third of the four noble truths.
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Changkya Rolpai Dorje
(1717–1786) A prominent Geluk scholar and reincarnate lama with significant influence in Tibetan Buddhism and at the Qing imperial court.
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Character
Defining characteristic or attribute of a phenomenon.
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Characteristic
A defining mark, quality, or feature that distinguishes a phenomenon.
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Citta
Mind, consciousness, thought. Often used interchangeably with vijñāna (consciousness) and manas (mental organ/mentality).
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Cittamātra
Mind-Only school; a major Mahāyāna philosophical school, also known as Yogācāra, which emphasizes the primary role of consciousness in the constitution of experience and reality.
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Clarity
Luminosity or clarity; a fundamental aspect of consciousness, its ability to illuminate or cognize objects.
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Clear light
Luminosity; the intrinsic nature of the mind, often associated with buddha nature and emphasized in tantric practices.
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Clinging
Grasping or attachment to phenomena, which perpetuates suffering and rebirth. One of the twelve links of dependent arising.
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Coarse
Gross, manifest, or obvious, as opposed to subtle.
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Cognition
The mental process of knowing or awareness. Can be valid or invalid, conceptual or nonconceptual.
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Cognitive obscurations
Subtle obscurations related to knowledge, which prevent omniscience and the attainment of buddhahood. These are primarily the imprints of afflictions and grasping at inherent existence. See also afflictive obscurations.
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Collection of merit
Accumulating positive potential or virtuous energy through actions such as generosity, ethical conduct, and patience. One of the two collections (along with the collection of wisdom) necessary for attaining buddhahood.
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Collection of wisdom
Developing wisdom, especially the wisdom realizing emptiness, through study, reflection, and meditation. One of the two collections (along with the collection of merit) necessary for attaining buddhahood.
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Commentary
An explanatory text that clarifies the meaning of a root text or scripture.
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Compassion
The wish for all sentient beings to be free from suffering and its causes. A cornerstone of Mahāyāna Buddhism and an essential quality for a bodhisattva.
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Composite
Conditioned, compounded; phenomena that arise from causes and conditions and are impermanent. Contrasts with noncomposite (unconditioned) phenomena.
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Compositional factors
One of the five aggregates, referring to volitional formations, karmic impulses, and other conditioning factors. Also, sometimes refers to all conditioned phenomena.
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Concentration
Meditative stabilization; a state of single-pointed focus of the mind, essential for developing wisdom and higher meditative states.
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Conception
Thought, conceptualization; the process of forming ideas or mental images. Often implies a level of distortion or imputation.
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Conceptual consciousness
Mind that operates through concepts and generalities, as opposed to direct, nonconceptual perception.
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Conceptual elaboration
Mental proliferation or fabrication; the tendency of the conceptual mind to create complex and often misleading constructs about reality.
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Condition
A factor that contributes to the arising of an effect, in conjunction with a cause.
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Conditioned phenomenon
Phenomena that are produced by causes and conditions, are impermanent, and subject to change. Most phenomena fall into this category.
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Confidence
Faith, conviction, or trust, often in the Three Jewels, karma, or the path to enlightenment.
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Conglomerate
A collection or mass of things.
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Consciousness
Awareness or knowing. One of the five aggregates, referring to the six types of sensory and mental consciousness. See also citta.
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Consequence
A logical deduction or implication used in Prāsaṅgika-Madhyamaka reasoning to demonstrate the untenability of an opponent's position by showing its absurd consequences.
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Constituent
Element, component, or realm. Can refer to the eighteen sensory constituents (āyatana and vijñāna), the elements of existence, or the disposition (buddha nature).
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Contemplation
Meditation or mental cultivation; the practice of familiarizing the mind with virtuous objects or insights.
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Continuity
Stream or continuum, particularly of consciousness or a series of moments that make up an individual's existence.
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Conventional
Relative, superficial, or conventional reality, as opposed to ultimate reality. Phenomena as they appear to ordinary, deluded perception.
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Conventional truth
Relative truth; the way things appear and function on a superficial or empirical level. One of the two truths, the other being ultimate truth.
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Correct view
Understanding reality as it is, especially selflessness and dependent arising. The first factor of the noble eightfold path.
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Cosmology
The Buddhist understanding of the structure and origins of the universe and its various realms of existence.
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Counteracting force
Antidote or remedy; a practice or understanding that counteracts an affliction or misconception (e.g., meditation on impermanence counteracts clinging).
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Craving
Thirst or desire, especially for sensory pleasures, existence, or non-existence. A key cause of suffering, identified in the four noble truths. One of the twelve links of dependent arising.
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Cyclic existence
The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, characterized by suffering (duḥkha) and driven by afflictions and karma. The state from which Buddhists seek liberation.
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Dalai Lama
Title of the spiritual leader of the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism, widely revered as an emanation of Avalokiteśvara. The current Dalai Lama is the Fourteenth, Tenzin Gyatso.
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Death
The cessation of life in one rebirth, leading to an intermediate state and then another rebirth in saṃsāra, unless liberation is attained. One of the twelve links of dependent arising.
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Deceiving
Misleading or deluding. Conventional truths are often described as deceiving in that they appear inherently existent while they are not.
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Defeat
A serious transgression of monastic vows that entails expulsion from the monastic community.
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Defilement
Mental impurity or stain, such as afflictions, that pollutes the mind and obscures its true nature.
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Definitive meaning
The ultimate or unambiguous meaning of a Buddhist teaching, as opposed to an interpretable meaning (neyārtha) that requires further explanation.
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Deity
A god or divine being residing in higher realms within saṃsāra. Also refers to meditational deities (iṣṭadevatā, yidam) in tantric practice, which are pure manifestations of enlightened mind.
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Delusion
Confusion or bewilderment, often used as a synonym for ignorance (avidyā), the root cause of suffering.
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Demon
An evil being or obstructive force that hinders spiritual progress. Can be external or internal (e.g., the māra of afflictions).
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Denigration
Disparagement or denial, especially of the law of karma, the reality of past and future lives, or the possibility of liberation and enlightenment. A wrong view.
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Dependent arising
The fundamental Buddhist doctrine that all phenomena arise in dependence upon causes and conditions; nothing exists independently or inherently. Often explained through the twelve links of dependent arising.
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Deprecation
To belittle or express disapproval of something; in a Buddhist context, often refers to disparaging the Dharma or realized beings.
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Descent into Lanka Sūtra
An influential Mahāyāna sūtra that discusses key concepts such as buddha nature (tathāgatagarbha), mind-only (cittamātra), and the ālaya consciousness.
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Desire
A strong wish or craving for something, often associated with attachment and suffering. The desire realm (kāmadhātu) is one of the three realms of saṃsāra.
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Desire realm
The lowest of the three realms of saṃsāra, characterized by strong sensory desires. It includes hell beings, hungry ghosts, animals, humans, and some gods.
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Destiny
Mode of existence or rebirth destination within saṃsāra, such as the six classes of beings (gods, demigods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, hell beings).
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Determination to be free
Renunciation; the firm resolve to attain liberation from saṃsāra and its sufferings.
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Deva
A god or deity; a being inhabiting the higher, more blissful realms of saṃsāra, but still subject to rebirth.
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Dharma
A multifaceted term. It can mean: (1) the teachings of the Buddha; (2) phenomena, things, events, or the way things are; (3) qualities or attributes; (4) reality or truth.
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Dharmakāya
Truth body or Dharma body; the ultimate aspect of a buddha, the embodiment of wisdom, emptiness, and the true nature of reality. One of the buddha bodies.
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Dharmakīrti
A highly influential Indian Buddhist philosopher and logician (c. 7th century CE), known for his works on epistemology (pramāṇa).
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Dharmanairātmya
Selflessness of phenomena; the doctrine that not only persons (pudgala) but all phenomena (dharmas) lack inherent existence.
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Dharmadhātu
Sphere of reality, expanse of Dharma; the ultimate nature of all phenomena, emptiness, suchness.
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Dhātu
Element, realm, constituent, or disposition (e.g., buddha nature).
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Diamond Sūtra
A widely revered Perfection of Wisdom sūtra that emphasizes emptiness and non-duality through striking paradoxes and negations.
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Dignāga
An important Indian Buddhist philosopher and logician (c. 480–540 CE), a founder of the Buddhist school of logic and epistemology.
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Direct valid cognizer
A direct perception that is non-deceptive and incontrovertible, such as sensory perception of an object or a yogi's direct perception of emptiness.
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Disciple
Follower or hearer; one who listens to and practices the Buddha's teachings. Often refers to followers of the foundational Buddhist path aiming for arhatship.
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Discipline
Ethical conduct, moral discipline; one of the three trainings (along with concentration and wisdom). Vinaya also refers to the specific code of monastic rules.
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Discouragement
Laziness or spiritual sloth, a hindrance to practice. It can also mean loss of heart or enthusiasm.
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Discrimination
Perception, recognition, or identification. One of the five aggregates, referring to the mental factor that distinguishes and labels objects.
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Discriminative awareness
Wisdom; the mental factor that accurately discerns the nature of phenomena, especially their selflessness and impermanence.
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Discussion
Investigation, analysis; sometimes paired with vitarka (initial inquiry) as factors of meditative concentration.
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Discursive thought
Conceptual or elaborative thought, often seen as an obstacle to direct perception and deep meditation.
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Distorted conception
Erroneous or wrong understanding; a cognition that misapprehends its object.
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Distraction
Mental scattering or agitation; a hindrance to concentration.
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Doha
Spiritual songs or verses of realization, often associated with mahāsiddhas in the Vajrayāna tradition.
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Doubt
Indecision or uncertainty, particularly regarding the Dharma, which can be an obstacle to progress. Can be afflictive or non-afflictive.
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Dromtönpa
(1004/5–1064) The principal Tibetan disciple of Atiśa and a key figure in the establishment of the Kadam school of Tibetan Buddhism.
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Dualistic appearance
The appearance of subject and object as separate and inherently existing entities. This is overcome by the realization of emptiness.
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Duḥkha
Suffering, pain, unsatisfactoriness, stress. The first of the four noble truths, encompassing physical and mental pain, the suffering of change, and the pervasive suffering of conditioned existence.
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Dzogchen
Great Perfection; a profound system of teachings and practices in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism (and also found in Bön), aiming at direct recognition of the primordial nature of mind.
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Earth
One of the four or five great elements (mahābhūta) constituting matter, characterized by solidity and support.
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Effect
Result or fruition that arises from a cause.
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Effort
Energy, diligence, or joyful endeavor in virtuous activities; one of the six perfections.
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Egocentrism
Self-centeredness; the habitual preoccupation with oneself and one's own welfare, seen as a major obstacle to developing compassion and bodhicitta.
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Element
Basic constituent of reality. Can refer to the physical elements (earth, water, fire, air, space) or other classifications of phenomena.
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Elimination
Abandonment or removal, particularly of afflictions and obscurations.
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Emanation
A manifested form or projection, often referring to a nirmāṇakāya buddha or a bodhisattva appearing in various forms to benefit beings.
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Emanation body
Manifestation body; one of the three buddha bodies, the form in which a buddha appears in the world to teach and guide sentient beings (e.g., Śākyamuni Buddha).
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Emptiness
The absence of inherent existence; the ultimate nature of all persons and phenomena. A central concept in Mahāyāna Buddhism, particularly emphasized in the Perfection of Wisdom sūtras and Madhyamaka philosophy. Realization of emptiness is crucial for liberation and enlightenment.
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Engaged bodhicitta
The actual engagement in the bodhisattva practices (the six perfections) motivated by the aspiration to attain buddhahood for all. Follows aspirational bodhicitta.
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Enlightenment
Awakening; the state of a buddha, characterized by complete wisdom, compassion, and freedom from all suffering and obscurations.
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Entity
An existent thing or substance; sometimes refers to something that has its own inherent nature, a notion refuted by Madhyamaka.
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Envy
Jealousy; a mental factor that is unable to bear the good fortune or excellence of others.
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Equanimity
Even-mindedness, impartiality; a mental state free from strong attachment or aversion. One of the four immeasurables and a factor of meditative development.
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Equality
Sameness or lack of differentiation, often in the context of seeing all sentient beings as equal in their desire for happiness and freedom from suffering, or the ultimate sameness of all phenomena in emptiness.
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Error
Mistake, delusion, or cognitive distortion that misperceives reality.
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Essence
Core nature or fundamental aspect of something, e.g., buddha essence (tathāgatagarbha).
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Eternal
Permanent and unchanging. Buddhism refutes the existence of an eternal, independent self or an eternal creator god.
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Ethical discipline
Moral conduct; one of the three higher trainings and one of the six perfections, encompassing virtuous actions of body, speech, and mind.
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Exaggeration
Superimposition or projection of qualities (especially inherent existence) onto phenomena that they do not possess. A form of wrong view.
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Exaltation
A state of being elevated or praised.
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Existence
The state of being or occurring. Buddhist philosophy analyzes different modes of existence (e.g., conventional vs. ultimate, inherent vs. dependent).
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Existent
Something that exists or is real, either conventionally or ultimately.
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Experience
Direct perception or feeling; the subjective apprehension of phenomena.
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Explanation
Clarification or exposition of a teaching or text.
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Exposition
A detailed explanation or description.
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Extinction
Cessation or extinguishment, typically of suffering, afflictions, and the cycle of rebirth.
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Extreme view
A view that clings to extremes, such as eternalism (belief in a permanent, unchanging self or reality) or nihilism (denial of karma, rebirth, or ultimate reality). Madhyamaka philosophy seeks to avoid such extremes.
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Fabrication
Mental construction or conceptual proliferation that distorts the perception of reality.
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Factor
A component, element, or aspect of something.
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Faculty
Sensory or mental capacity, such as the five sense faculties (eye, ear, nose, tongue, body) or the mental faculty.
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Faith
Trust, confidence, or conviction in the Three Jewels, karma, and the Buddhist path. It can be of different types: clear faith, aspiring faith, and confident faith.
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Falsity
Untruth or deception. Conventional phenomena are sometimes described as false in the sense that they appear inherently existent but are not.
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Familiarization
The process of repeatedly engaging with a practice or object of meditation to make it a part of one's being.
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Fear
An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.
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Feeling
One of the five aggregates, referring to the affective tone of experience as pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral.
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Final
Ultimate or conclusive.
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Fire
One of the four or five great elements, characterized by heat and maturation.
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Firmness
Steadfastness or stability, often in relation to meditative concentration or conviction.
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First Council
The first Buddhist council held shortly after the Buddha's parinirvāṇa to collect and codify his teachings.
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Five paths
The five stages of spiritual development leading to enlightenment: path of accumulation, path of preparation, path of seeing, path of meditation, and path of no-more-learning.
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Five perfections
Generosity, ethical discipline, patience, effort, and concentration. When wisdom is added, they become the six perfections.
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Flaw
Defect, fault, or imperfection.
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Foe destroyer
An epithet for an arhat, one who has conquered the 'enemy' of afflictions.
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Form
One of the five aggregates, referring to physical matter and sensory objects. Also, one of the three realms of saṃsāra (form realm).
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Form realm
The middle of the three realms of saṃsāra, inhabited by beings (devas) who have attained meditative states (dhyānas) associated with subtle form. It is above the desire realm and below the formless realm.
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Formless realm
The highest of the three realms of saṃsāra, inhabited by beings (devas) who have attained deep meditative absorptions devoid of form. Beings here exist only as consciousness.
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Four classes of tantra
The classification of Vajrayāna teachings in the Sarma (New Translation) schools of Tibetan Buddhism: Kriyātantra (Action Tantra), Caryātantra (Performance Tantra), Yogatantra (Yoga Tantra), and Anuttarayogatantra (Highest Yoga Tantra).
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Four immeasurables
Loving-kindness (maitrī), compassion (karuṇā), joy (muditā), and equanimity (upekṣā); boundless qualities cultivated by bodhisattvas.
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Four noble truths
The foundational teaching of the Buddha: the truth of suffering (duḥkha), the truth of the origin of suffering (samudāya), the truth of the cessation of suffering (nirodha), and the truth of the path to the cessation of suffering (mārga).
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Four reliances
Guidelines for understanding the Dharma: rely on the teaching, not the person; rely on the meaning, not the words; rely on the definitive meaning, not the interpretable meaning; rely on wisdom, not ordinary consciousness.
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Four seals
Four characteristic tenets of Buddhist philosophy: all compounded things are impermanent; all contaminated things are unsatisfactory (duḥkha); all phenomena are selfless (empty); nirvana is peace.
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Freedom
Liberation from saṃsāra and its suffering.
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Fruition
The result or effect of a cause, particularly the spiritual attainments resulting from practice.
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Full awakening
Perfect and complete enlightenment, the state of a buddha.
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Fundamental
Basic, primary, or foundational.
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Fundamental innate clear light mind
The primordial, most subtle level of consciousness, the ultimate nature of mind, emphasized in Highest Yoga Tantra and Dzogchen.
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Future
Time yet to come.
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Gampopa
(1079–1153) A major Tibetan master, disciple of Milarepa, and a key figure in the establishment of the Kagyu school. Author of The Jewel Ornament of Liberation.
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Ganges River
A major river in India, considered sacred.
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Garbha
Essence, embryo, heart, womb. Often used in tathāgatagarbha (buddha nature).
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Geluk
One of the major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, founded by Je Tsongkhapa in the late 14th/early 15th century, emphasizing scholarship, monastic discipline, and a gradual path to enlightenment.
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General
Universal, common, or not specific.
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Generosity
Giving; one of the six perfections, involving the giving of material aid, Dharma teachings, and fearlessness.
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Genuine
True, real, or authentic.
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Geshe
A Tibetan Buddhist academic degree for monks, equivalent to a doctorate in Buddhist philosophy, primarily awarded in the Geluk, Sakya, and Bön traditions.
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GIST
An acronym possibly used in the text for a specific analytical framework, not a standard Buddhist term.
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Global
Pertaining to the whole world or affecting all parts.
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Glorious
Illustrious, magnificent, or endowed with splendor.
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Goal
Purpose, aim, or objective.
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God
A being residing in heavenly realms, superior to humans in power and lifespan but still within saṃsāra.
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Gods of the form realm
Deities inhabiting the form realm, having subtle physical bodies and experiencing meditative bliss.
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Going for refuge
The act of formally committing oneself to the Buddhist path by taking refuge in the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṅgha.
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Good quality
Positive attribute, virtue, or excellence.
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Grasping
Clinging or apprehending, especially the erroneous grasping at inherent existence of self and phenomena.
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Great
Large, extensive, or profound.
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Great Compassion
The profound compassion of buddhas and advanced bodhisattvas, which is impartial and extends to all sentient beings without exception.
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Ground
Basis, foundation, or stage (as in bodhisattva grounds).
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Guhyasamāja Root Tantra
'Tantra of the Secret Assembly,' a foundational and highly influential father tantra in the Anuttarayogatantra class of Vajrayāna Buddhism.
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Gungtang Konchog Tenpai Dronme
(1762–1823) A prominent Geluk scholar and writer from Amdo.
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Guru
Spiritual teacher or mentor, considered essential for progress on the Vajrayāna path and highly respected in all Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
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Gyaltsab Darma Rinchen
(1364–1432) One of the two chief disciples of Je Tsongkhapa, a major scholar and holder of the Geluk lineage.
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Habitual tendency
Karmic propensity, latent imprint, or conditioning pattern stored in the mindstream, which influences future thoughts, actions, and experiences.
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Happiness
A state of well-being and contentment. Buddhism distinguishes between worldly, temporary happiness and the ultimate, lasting happiness of nirvana and enlightenment.
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Harm
Injury or damage inflicted on oneself or others.
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Hearer
Disciple; one who hears the Buddha's teachings and strives for arhatship, the goal of the foundational vehicle.
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Heart Sūtra
A concise and profound Perfection of Wisdom sūtra that famously declares, 'Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.'
228
Heaven
A blissful realm of gods (devas) within saṃsāra, a temporary state achieved through meritorious karma but not ultimate liberation.
229
Hell
A realm of intense suffering within saṃsāra, a rebirth resulting from extremely negative karma.
230
Heruka
A class of wrathful male meditational deities (yidams) in Vajrayāna Buddhism, representing the enlightened mind's power to overcome obstacles.
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Heterodox
Non-Buddhist; adherents of philosophical or religious systems outside of Buddhism, particularly those prevalent in ancient India.
232
Highest yoga tantra
The fourth and supreme class of tantra in the Sarma schools, emphasizing the transformation of subtle mind and energy, and practices such as the completion stage.
233
Hindrance
Obstacle or impediment to spiritual practice and realization, such as the five hindrances (sensory desire, ill will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and worry, doubt).
234
Hinayana
'Lesser Vehicle' or 'Smaller Vehicle'; a term coined by Mahāyāna proponents to refer to earlier Buddhist schools that focused on individual liberation (arhatship) rather than universal buddhahood. Some find the term pejorative; 'Foundational Vehicle' is often preferred.
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Honesty
Truthfulness, straightforwardness.
236
Hostility
Ill will or malevolence; a desire to harm others.
237
Human being
A sentient being born in the human realm, considered a precious rebirth offering excellent opportunities for Dharma practice.
238
Humility
Modesty or lowliness of mind; freedom from arrogance.
239
Hungry ghost
A class of beings in saṃsāra characterized by intense hunger and thirst due to past miserliness.
240
I
The sense of self or personal identity. Buddhist philosophy extensively analyzes the nature of the 'I,' refuting its inherent existence.
241
Ignorance
Unawareness or misapprehension of reality, especially the Four Noble Truths and the selfless nature of persons and phenomena. It is considered the root cause of suffering and cyclic existence. One of the twelve links of dependent arising.
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Illusion
Something that appears real but is not, like a magician's creation. Phenomena are often compared to illusions to illustrate their lack of inherent existence.
243
Immeasurable
Boundless or limitless, as in the four immeasurables (loving-kindness, compassion, joy, equanimity).
244
Impermanence
The truth that all compounded phenomena are subject to change, decay, and cessation. Contemplating impermanence helps to counteract clinging and attachment.
245
Implicit
Implied or suggested but not directly expressed.
246
Imprint
Latent tendency or habitual pattern established in the mind by past actions and experiences, which influences future behavior and perceptions.
247
Imputation
Mental designation or labeling of phenomena based on their parts or attributes. Phenomena exist as imputations but lack inherent existence from their own side.
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Inanimate
Not endowed with life or consciousness.
249
Inconceivable
Beyond the grasp of ordinary conceptual thought.
250
Independence
Self-sufficiency or autonomy. Madhyamaka philosophy refutes the independent existence of phenomena.
251
India
The land where Buddhism originated.
252
Indra
A powerful deity in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology, king of the gods in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.
253
Indrabhūti
Name of several important figures in Indian Buddhism, including a king who received tantric teachings.
254
Inference
A valid cognition that understands an object indirectly, based on logical reasoning or evidence.
255
Inferential valid cognizer
A reliable means of knowledge that ascertains an object through logical inference.
256
Infinite
Limitless or endless.
257
Influence
Power to affect or sway.
258
Inherent existence
Intrinsic or independent existence from the side of the object, without depending on causes, conditions, parts, or mental imputation. Buddhism, especially Madhyamaka, refutes inherent existence as the ultimate nature of reality.
259
Initial application
The initial directing of the mind towards an object of meditation; a factor of meditative concentration, often paired with vicāra (sustained analysis).
260
Innate
Existing from birth, natural, or co-emergent. Often refers to innate afflictions or the innate clear light mind.
261
Inner
Pertaining to the internal, especially the mind.
262
Insight
Special insight or clear seeing; wisdom that penetrates the true nature of reality, particularly emptiness and selflessness. One of the two main aspects of Buddhist meditation, along with calm abiding (śamatha).
263
Inspiration
Blessing or spiritual empowerment received from a holy being or object.
264
Instruction
Guidance or teaching, especially practical advice for spiritual practice.
265
Instrumental cause
The main or principal cause that directly produces an effect.
266
Integrity
Moral self-respect or a sense of shame that prevents one from engaging in non-virtuous actions.
267
Intellect
The faculty of understanding, reasoning, or discernment.
268
Intention
Volition or mental urge that directs action; karma is primarily defined by intention.
269
Interdependence
Synonym for dependent arising; the principle that all things exist in mutual dependence.
270
Intermediate state
The state between death and the next rebirth, lasting typically up to forty-nine days.
271
Interpretable meaning
Teachings of the Buddha that are not to be taken literally and require further interpretation to understand their deeper, definitive meaning. Contrasts with definitive meaning (nītārtha).
272
Intrinsic
Existing in its own right, inherent. Buddhism refutes intrinsic existence.
273
Investigation
Examination or analysis of phenomena to understand their nature.
274
Je Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa
(1357–1419) A great Tibetan scholar, yogi, and reformer, founder of the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism. Author of numerous influential works, including the Lamrim Chenmo (Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment).
275
Jñāna
Pristine wisdom, exalted wisdom, or gnosis; direct, nonconceptual awareness of ultimate reality. Often contrasted with vijñāna (ordinary consciousness).
276
Joy
One of the four immeasurables, the altruistic joy in the happiness and virtue of others. Also refers to a joyful mental state experienced in meditation.
277
Joyful effort
Enthusiastic perseverance in virtuous practice.
278
Judgment
A firm decision or conclusion.
279
Kadam
A school of Tibetan Buddhism founded by Atiśa's disciple Dromtönpa in the 11th century, emphasizing monastic discipline, scholarship, and the gradual path (lamrim).
280
Kagyu
One of the major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, tracing its lineage back to Indian mahāsiddhas like Tilopa and Nāropa, and Tibetan masters like Marpa, Milarepa, and Gampopa. Emphasizes Mahāmudrā teachings and meditative practice.
281
Kālacakra
'Wheel of Time'; a complex and profound tantric system in Vajrayāna Buddhism, involving teachings on cosmology, astrology, medicine, and practices for enlightenment.
282
Kalpa
An aeon or vast period of time in Buddhist cosmology, often of immense duration.
283
Karma
Action; the universal law of cause and effect, where intentional actions (of body, speech, and mind) create karmic imprints that lead to future experiences of happiness or suffering.
284
Karmic potency
The latent power of a past action to produce its result in the future.
285
Kindness
Benevolence, compassion, or affectionate concern for others.
286
King
Ruler of a country or territory.
287
Kleśa
Affliction; see Affliction.
288
Knowable object
Any phenomenon that can be known or cognized by a mind.
289
Knowledge
Understanding or awareness of something. Can range from ordinary information to profound spiritual wisdom.
290
Lama
Spiritual teacher or guru in Tibetan Buddhism.
291
Lamrim
Stages of the path; a genre of Tibetan Buddhist texts and a system of practice that presents the gradual path to enlightenment in a systematic order, as taught by Atiśa and popularized by Je Tsongkhapa.
292
Later
Subsequent or following in time.
293
Law of causality
The principle of cause and effect, i.e., karma.
294
Laxity
Mental dullness or sinking; a subtle form of hindrance in meditation where the mind loses clarity and focus on the object, though it may not be overtly agitated.
295
Learning
Hearing or studying the Dharma teachings. The first stage of the threefold process of wisdom: learning, reflection, and meditation.
296
Liberation
Freedom from saṃsāra and its suffering, attained by eliminating afflictions. The goal of arhats.
297
Life
The state of being alive; the duration of a single rebirth.
298
Light
Illumination. Clear light is a key concept for the nature of mind.
299
Like-mindedness
Congruity or similarity of disposition or type.
300
Limit
Boundary or extremity.
301
Lineage
An unbroken succession of teachings and spiritual transmission from teacher to disciple.
302
Link
A factor or connection, as in the twelve links of dependent arising.
303
Logic
The study of reasoning and valid inference, highly developed in Buddhist philosophy.
304
Longchenpa
(1308–1364) One of the most brilliant and influential masters of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, renowned for his Dzogchen teachings and extensive writings, such as the Seven Treasuries (mdzod bdun).
305
Lord
A term of respect for a high spiritual being or deity.
306
Loss
Deprivation or decline.
307
Love
Loving-kindness; the wish for others to be happy and have the causes of happiness.
308
Loving-kindness
One of the four immeasurables; see Love.
309
Luminosity
Clarity or radiance, the inherent nature of mind. See Clear light.
310
Madhyamaka
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.
311
Mahāmati
'Great Intellect'; a bodhisattva interlocutor in the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra.
312
Mahāmudrā
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.
313
Mahāsattva
Great being; an epithet for an advanced bodhisattva.
314
Mahāsiddha
Great accomplished one; highly realized tantric practitioners in India and Tibet, often known for their unconventional behavior and spiritual songs (dohas).
315
Mahāyāna
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.
316
Maitreya
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.
317
Mañjuśrī
The bodhisattva embodying the wisdom of all buddhas.
318
Manifest
Clearly apparent or directly perceived.
319
Mantra
Sacred syllables, words, or formulas recited in Vajrayāna practices to purify the mind, invoke deities, and attain realizations.
320
Māra
See Demon.
321
Marpa Lotsāwa
(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.
322
Master
A qualified spiritual teacher.
323
Material
Physical substance or matter.
324
Matter
Physical substance, form.
325
Māyā
Illusion. See Illusion.
326
Mean
Inferior or lesser.
327
Meaning
Significance, purpose, or import of something.
328
Means
Method or skillful technique, often paired with wisdom (prajñā) as essential components of the path.
329
Meditation
Mental cultivation or contemplative practice designed to develop qualities such as calm abiding (śamatha), insight (vipaśyanā), concentration, and wisdom.
330
Meditative absorption
Deep states of concentration achieved through meditation.
331
Meditative concentration
Single-pointedness of mind; see Concentration.
332
Meditative experience
Subjective experiences that arise during meditation practice, which can be signs of progress but should not be mistaken for ultimate realization.
333
Meditative stability
Calm abiding; a state of mental quiescence and focus achieved through concentration practices. A prerequisite for developing insight (vipaśyanā).
334
Mental
Pertaining to the mind or consciousness.
335
Mental consciousness
The sixth type of consciousness, which takes mental phenomena (thoughts, ideas, memories) as its objects.
336
Mental continuum
The stream of consciousness or mind that continues from moment to moment and life to life.
337
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).
338
Mental image
An object of focus or sign that appears in the mind during meditation.
339
Mental quiescence
Calm abiding; see Meditative stability.
340
Mental state
A particular condition or mode of the mind.
341
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.
342
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.
343
Method
Skillful means or technique used in spiritual practice.
344
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).
345
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.
346
Mind
The faculty of consciousness, awareness, thought, and experience. A central topic in Buddhist philosophy and psychology.
347
Mind of awakening
See Bodhicitta.
348
Mind-Only
See Cittamātra.
349
Mindfulness
Awareness, attentiveness, or recollection; the ability to keep an object in mind without forgetfulness. A key factor in meditation and ethical conduct.
350
Mindstream
See Mental continuum.
351
Mirage
An optical illusion, often used as an analogy for the deceptive nature of phenomena which appear real but lack inherent existence.
352
Misconception
Erroneous understanding or distorted view of reality.
353
Mode of apprehension
The way in which the mind grasps or perceives its object.
354
Mode of existence
The actual way phenomena abide or exist, their ultimate nature (i.e., emptiness), as opposed to how they appear.
355
Moment
An instant or very short period of time. Buddhist philosophy analyzes existence in terms of a series of discrete moments.
356
Monastery
A residence for monks or nuns, a center for Buddhist study, practice, and community life.
357
Monastic
Pertaining to monks or nuns, or their way of life.
358
Mundane
Worldly, ordinary, or pertaining to saṃsāra, as opposed to supramundane (lokottara) states or paths.
359
Nāga
Serpent-like beings in Buddhist cosmology, often dwelling in water bodies and associated with wealth and hidden treasures, including Dharma texts.
360
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).
361
Name
A word or term by which a person or thing is known.
362
Natural
Inherent, intrinsic, or arising spontaneously.
363
Natural abiding buddha nature
The naturally present potential for buddhahood, often identified with the emptiness of the mind or its clear light nature.
364
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.
365
Nature
The inherent character or essence of something. Madhyamaka refutes the existence of an independent, findable nature (svabhāva) for any phenomenon.
366
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.
367
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.
368
Negation
Denial or exclusion. Buddhist logic distinguishes between affirming negatives (paryudāsa-pratiṣedha) and non-affirming negatives (prasajya-pratiṣedha).
369
Negative
Non-virtuous, harmful, or unwholesome, particularly actions that lead to suffering.
370
Neutral
Neither virtuous nor non-virtuous; actions or mental states that do not have significant karmic consequence for future happiness or suffering.
371
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).
372
Neyārtha
Interpretable meaning; see Interpretable meaning.
373
Nibbāna
Cessation of suffering, liberation from saṃsāra. The goal of the foundational Buddhist path.
374
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.
375
Nine mental abidings
Nine stages of developing meditative concentration (śamatha), culminating in perfect single-pointedness.
376
Nirmāṇakāya
Emanation body; see Emanation body.
377
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).
378
Nītārtha
Definitive meaning; see Definitive meaning.
379
No-self
See Anātman.
380
Noble
See Ārya.
381
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.
382
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.
383
Non-Buddhist
See Heterodox.
384
Nonconceptual
Beyond concepts or thought constructions; direct perception or wisdom that is free from conceptual elaboration. The wisdom realizing emptiness is ultimately nonconceptual.
385
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).
386
Non-dual
Not two; the absence of inherent distinction or opposition, particularly between subject and object, saṃsāra and nirvana, or appearance and emptiness.
387
Non-existence
Absence of being or reality.
388
Non-inherent existence
The absence of intrinsic or independent existence; synonymous with emptiness (śūnyatā).
389
Non-objectifying
Without a fixed or inherently existent object of apprehension; a characteristic of the wisdom realizing emptiness.
390
Non-returner
See Anāgāmin.
391
Non-self
See Anātman.
392
Non-virtue
Unwholesome or harmful actions of body, speech, or mind that lead to suffering and unfavorable rebirths.
393
Nothingness
Emptiness or voidness, particularly the sphere of nothingness, one of the formless meditative absorptions.
394
Noun
A word that functions as the name of some specific thing or set of things.
395
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.
396
Object
That which is cognized or perceived by a subject (consciousness).
397
Object of observation
The specific focus or reference point for meditation or cognition.
398
Objectivity
From the side of the object; a way of considering phenomena as they are, independent of subjective perception, often debated in Buddhist epistemology.
399
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).
400
Observation
Focusing the mind on an object.
401
Obstacle
Hindrance or impediment to spiritual practice or worldly aims.
402
Omniscience
All-knowing wisdom; the state of a buddha who perceives all phenomena simultaneously and without error.
403
Once-returner
The second of the four stages of śrāvaka āryas, who will be reborn once more in the desire realm before attaining nirvana.
404
One-pointedness
Single-pointed concentration of mind, a key characteristic of meditative stability (śamatha).
405
Ontology
The philosophical study of being or existence.
406
Opponent
In debate, the person whose thesis is being challenged or refuted.
407
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.
408
Ordinary mind
The usual, untrained state of consciousness, characterized by conceptual thought, distractions, and afflictions.
409
Origin
Source or cause, particularly the origin of suffering (the second noble truth), which is identified as craving (tṛṣṇā) and afflictions (kleśa).
410
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.
411
Other
Different from oneself or from a given reference point.
412
Outer
External or pertaining to the outside.
413
Pacification
Calming or appeasement, often referring to the pacification of suffering or afflictions.
414
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.
415
Pain
Physical or mental suffering or discomfort.
416
Pāli
An Indo-Aryan language, closely related to Sanskrit, in which the scriptures of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition (Pāli Canon) are preserved.
417
Paramārtha
Ultimate; see Ultimate truth.
418
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.
419
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.
420
Part
Component or constituent of a whole.
421
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.
422
Patience
Forbearance, endurance, or tolerance; one of the six perfections, involving the ability to remain undisturbed by harm, suffering, or profound truths.
423
Peace
A state of tranquility and freedom from disturbance; nirvana is described as ultimate peace.
424
Perception
The process of becoming aware of something through the senses or mind. Direct perception (pratyakṣa) is a key type of valid cognition.
425
Perfect
Complete, flawless, or fully developed.
426
Perfection
See Pāramitā. Also means accomplishment or excellence.
427
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).
428
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.
429
Person
An individual being. Buddhist philosophy analyzes the person as a dependently arisen convention, lacking an inherent self.
430
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).
431
Pervasive
Present or spread throughout.
432
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.
433
Phenomenon
Any thing, event, object of experience, or knowable entity. Plural: phenomena.
434
Philosophical tenet
A philosophical viewpoint or doctrinal system, such as those of the four main Indian Buddhist schools (Vaibhāṣika, Sautrāntika, Cittamātra, Madhyamaka).
435
Piṭaka
Basket; refers to the main divisions of the Buddhist canon (Tripiṭaka: Vinayapiṭaka, Sūtrapiṭaka, Abhidharmapiṭaka).
436
Pleasure
Enjoyment or satisfaction.
437
Point
A specific location or aspect. In Vajrayāna, bindu (drop or essence) has specialized meanings related to subtle body energies.
438
Poison
A substance causing illness or death. The three root afflictions (ignorance, attachment, aversion) are called the three poisons.
439
Pollution
Defilement or impurity.
440
Potency
Power, capacity, or latent energy, e.g., karmic potency.
441
Potential
Inherent capacity or possibility for development, e.g., buddha nature as the potential for enlightenment.
442
Power
Strength, ability, or influence.
443
Practice
Engagement in spiritual exercises and conduct to cultivate desired qualities and attain realizations.
444
Prajñā
Wisdom, discriminative awareness; the understanding of the true nature of reality, especially emptiness. One of the six perfections and three higher trainings.
445
Prajñākaragupta
An Indian Buddhist scholar and logician (c. 9th-10th century), known for his commentary on Dharmakīrti's Pramāṇavārttika.
446
Prajñāpāramitā
Perfection of Wisdom. See Perfection of Wisdom.
447
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.
448
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.
449
Prātimokṣa
Code of individual liberation; the set of monastic vows for monks (bhikṣu) and nuns (bhikṣuṇī).
450
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.
451
Prayer
Aspirational wish or supplication.
452
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.
453
Preconception
A pre-existing idea or bias.
454
Preparation
Preliminary practice or activity.
455
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.
456
Present
Existing or occurring now.
457
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).
458
Primordial
Existing from the very beginning, original, or fundamental.
459
Primordial wisdom
Innate or fundamental wisdom, often referring to the direct awareness of the ultimate nature of mind.
460
Principle
A fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior.
461
Pristine
Pure, undefiled, or uncorrupted.
462
Pristine wisdom
See Jñāna.
463
Profound
Deep, abstruse, or difficult to understand, especially referring to teachings on emptiness.
464
Progression
A sequence or orderly advance.
465
Proof
Evidence or argument establishing a fact or the truth of a statement.
466
Propensity
Habitual tendency, predisposition, or latent inclination.
467
Protection
Safeguarding or defense from harm.
468
Pudgala
Person, individual. See Person.
469
Pudgalanairātmya
Selflessness of persons; the doctrine that persons lack an inherently existing self or soul.
470
Pure
Free from defilement, contamination, or error.
471
Pure Land
The blissful buddha-field or paradise of Buddha Amitābha, where beings can be reborn through faith and aspiration, and easily attain enlightenment.
472
Pure perception
The visionary experience in Vajrayāna of perceiving all phenomena as pure manifestations of enlightened deities and mandalas.
473
Purification
The process of cleansing the mind of afflictions, obscurations, and negative karma.
474
Purpose
The reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.
475
Quality
Attribute, characteristic, or virtue.
476
Question
An inquiry or query.
477
Quintessential instructions
Pith instructions; concise and profound guidance for spiritual practice.
478
Radiance
Brilliance or light emanating from a source.
479
Rainbow body
A rare attainment in Dzogchen practice where the physical body dissolves into light at death, signifying a high level of realization.
480
Ratiocination
The process of logical reasoning or argumentation.
481
Reality
The true nature of things, the way things actually are, as opposed to how they appear.
482
Realization
Direct experiential understanding or attainment of a spiritual truth or state.
483
Reason
A cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event; the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments logically.
484
Reasoning
The process of thinking about something in a logical way in order to form a conclusion or judgment.
485
Rebirth
The process of being born again into saṃsāra after death, driven by karma and afflictions.
486
Receptive
Willing to consider or accept new suggestions and ideas.
487
Recognition
Identification of something or someone from previous encounters or knowledge.
488
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.
489
Reflection
Thinking deeply or carefully about something. The second stage of the threefold process of wisdom: learning, reflection, and meditation.
490
Refuge
Protection or sanctuary. See Going for refuge.
491
Refutation
The act of proving a statement or theory to be wrong or false.
492
Relative truth
See Conventional truth.
493
Relativity
Interdependence or the way things exist in relation to other things.
494
Relaxation
Mental and physical pliancy or ease, a result of meditative practice.
495
Reliance
Dependence on or trust in something or someone.
