GLOSSARY
Achala (Sanskrit, "Immovable") This Fierce Dharma Protector is the wrathful manifestation of the Great Sun Buddha (Mahavairocana). He remains firm and immovable in the face of temptation. He is usually depicted holding a sword in his right hand to smite the guilty, and vajra rope in his left hand to bind the wicked.
Acharya (Sanskrit, lit. "teacher") is a Dharma Master.
Adi-Buddha (Sanskrit, "First Awakened One") is the primordial Buddha and the source of all phenomena. Although formless, the Adi-Buddha is represented by Vajradhara. The Five Dhyani Buddha originated from the Adi-Buddha.
Akshobya (Sanskrit, "Immovable") One of the Five Dhyani Buddhas. He is usually depicted with his right hand forming the Earth Witness Mudra (the hand is pointed towards the earth and is turned inward). He embodies the Mirror-Like Great Wisdom which takes sense impressions and the idea of individual forms and recognizes the inherent emptiness of them all.
Alaya consciousness (Sanskrit, "storehouse consciousness") The primordial awareness. The alaya consciousness is the storehouse of all previous impressions. These impressions are the seeds (bija) from which all phenomena arise when conditions and mental associations call the forth.
Amala consciouness The ninth level of consciousness, also known as the clear consciousness. This is the true mind, The Ultimate Truth. It is only surpassed by the tenth consciousness, "all encompassing, single pointed consciousness".
Amitabha (Sanskrit, lit. "Boundless Light") One of the Five Dhyani Buddhas. The embodiment of compassion and wisdom, he is typically depicted as red in color, with his hands held together in the Meditation Mudra (the right hand rests on the left hand with the tips of the thumbs touching). Embodying the Wisdom of Discriminating Vision, he transmutes perception into inner vision.
Amoghasiddhi (Sanskrit, "One Who Accomplishes His Goal") One of the Five Dhyani Buddhas. He is usually depicted with his right hand forming the Fearless Mudra (right palm raised and facing outward). He embodies the All-Accomplishing Wisdom which transforms the will into the egoless activity of the Buddha.
Arhat (Sanskrit, "Worthy One") Goal of Hinayana Buddhism. An arhat is one who has freed himself from the cycle of rebirth by extinguishing all passions and desires. According to Mahayana Buddhism, the arhat still has yet to achieve the ultimate goal. By emphasizing his own salvation, the arhat has yet to attain Buddhahood, as he has not fully awakened his compassion by working for the salvation of all beings.
Armor Protection A Tantric Buddhist Practice to protect one from negative energies and psychic attack.
Ashvaghosa A famous Buddhist philosopher and poet that lived in the first and second centuries A.D. An exponent and writer of the Mahayana system that was coming into prominence at the time, he is considered one of the most important Buddhist authors.
Attached Spirits These are spirits or ghosts who, due to some karmic nond, attach themselves to people. By disrupting that person's energy field, they can cause accidents, illnesses, etc. in the individual.
Bliss Body See Trikaya
Bodhidharma (470-543 a.d.) After being confirmed as the twenty-eight patriarch of Buddhism, Boddhidharma left India and traveled China. There he became the First Patriarch of Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism.
Boddhisattva (Sanskrit, lit. "Wisdom Being") One who has developed the altruistic motive of attaining Enlightenment to help all sentient beings. These are ten stages in the Boddhisattva process. Those who have reached the tenth stage and delay entering complete Enlightenment so they can help others are sometimes referred to as Mahasattvas.
Bodhicitta (Sankrit, "awakened mind") The key to Mahayana Buddhism, it refers both to an enlightened mind and to the resolution arising from the profound compassion to attain and Enlightened mind for the purpose of assisting all beings.
Body Offering Practice Here one visualizes one's blood becoming rivers, one's bone becoming rocks, etc. so one may offer one's body for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Chakra (Sankrit, lit. wheel) The seven chakras in the human body act as subtle energy centers. The root chakra lies in the area if the sacrum and is said to hold one's sleeping or dormant spiritual energy. Once awakened, this spiritual energy travels up through the other five chakras until it reaches the crown chakra at the top of the head.
Channels (or Nadis) Subtle energy paths through which the chi flows. The three main channels are the central channel (sushumna), the left (ida), and the right (pingala) channels which run parallel to and in front the spinal column.
Chi (Chinese, "breath or energy") Subtle energy or vital force. In Taoism, chi is the cosmic energy that permeates all things. Within the human body, the chi is seen as the vital force of the body and is closely associated with the breath. During the act of breathing, in addition to oxegenating the blood with the outer breath (wai chi), one breathes in with the inner breath (nei chi) the surrounding cosmic energy to resupply the inner chi or life force of the body.
Ching, Chi , and Shen In Taoism, these are the three life energies that make up the human being. The ching refers to the reproductive energy, the chi refers to the vital energy of the body, and the shen is the spirirt of the person. Taoist practices seek to transform the ching to chi, and the chi into shen. (See also chi).
Clear Light ("prabhasvara" in Sanskrit) This light illuminates the Universe as its deepest level. Perceiving the Clear Light is the most fundamental level of consciousness. Arriving at this level, one can view all phenomena as a manifestation of this level of consciousness.
Daka Male counterpart of the Dakini.
Dakini (Sanskrit, lit. Sky-Dancer) These are accomplished female spirits that have attained the Clear Light and assist practitioners in removing physical hindrances and spiritual obstacles. As they are female beings that travel in space, they are linked with giving birth to the full range of expansive potentialities.
Dalai Lama (Tibetan, lit. "Ocean of Wisdom") The political and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, he is also considered and emanation of Avalokistesvara (Kuan Yin) Bodhisattva. The present Dalai Lama is the fourteenth incarnation.
Damaru Drum A two sided drum that represents the heart beat of the Buddhas.
Deliverance Ceremony This is a ceremony to assist spirits who are between rebirth (Bardo State). Through the ceremony, the spirits are able to attain a higher level of rebirth. One may perform the Deliverance (Bardo) Ceremony for one's ancestor, for attached spirits, and/or for local earth spirits. Deva (Sanskrit, lit. "shining one") These are the gods or heavenly beings. Because of their good merit, they are able to enjoy the pleasure of heaven. At some point, when their merits are used up, they are reborn into one of the lower realms.
Deva Kings These are the Four Celestial Kings who dwell on Mount Meru and guard the four gates at the four compass points if Indra's (Ruler of the Devas) paradise. They are considered guardians of Buddhism. The four deva kings are: Dhrtarstra, who guards the East and is King of the Gandharvas (celestial musicians), He is white in color and holds a stringed instrument. Virudhuka, whi guards the South and is King of the Khumbanda (giant demons). He is blue and holds a sword. Vaisravana, who guards the North and is King of the Yakshas (wild demonic being). He is yellow and holds a banner in his right hand and a mongoose in his left hand. Because he oversees the Treasures in the North, he is sometimes called the Treasure Deva King. Virupaksa, who guards the West and is King of the Serpent Gods, He is red in color and holds serpent and a jewel.
Dharma The cosmic law which governs the Universe. It may also refer to the teachings (of a Buddha) which are manifestations of this law.
Dharma Body See Trikaya.
Diamond Sutra An important teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha which he shows that all things are ultimately empty and devoid of any inherent reality, including the ideas of oneself, other sentient beings, and the Dharma. The name comes from the sutra being "hard and sharp like a diamond that will cut away all arbitrary conceptions and bring one to the other shore of Enlightenment".
Dream Mahamudra (milam in Tiebetan) This is one of the Six Yogas of Naropa, wherein one exerts conscious control of one's dreams.
Dzogchen (Tibetan, li. "Great Perfection") This is the highest teaching of the Tibetan sect known as the Nyingmapa. Through this accomplishment, one recognizes the purity of mind that is always present and realizes the union of emptiness and wisdom. Dzogchen is not merely another practice or technique; it is the mind's original and fundamental state.
Earth Gods Spirits who rule over the energy of a particular location.
Easy Posture A posture for sitting on the ground in which one's legs are crossed near the ankles. It is an easy posture to attain in but it is difficult to keep one's spine erect in this position.
Eight Principal Deities of the True Buddha School These are: Amitabha, Kuan Yin, Ksitigarbha, Maha Cundi Bodhisattva, Jambhala, Padmasambhava, Padmakumara, and Medicine Buddha. After one completes the Four Preliminary Practices and the Guru Yoga, the practitioner chooses one of these Deities as his/her Personal Deity.
Emanation Body See Trikaya.
Basics [37]. More to come....
Readers can write to purekarmaservices@gmail.com for a .pdf or .doc copy of this book.
Om Guru Lian Sheng Siddhi Hom
Lama Lotuschef
Achala (Sanskrit, "Immovable") This Fierce Dharma Protector is the wrathful manifestation of the Great Sun Buddha (Mahavairocana). He remains firm and immovable in the face of temptation. He is usually depicted holding a sword in his right hand to smite the guilty, and vajra rope in his left hand to bind the wicked.
Acharya (Sanskrit, lit. "teacher") is a Dharma Master.
Adi-Buddha (Sanskrit, "First Awakened One") is the primordial Buddha and the source of all phenomena. Although formless, the Adi-Buddha is represented by Vajradhara. The Five Dhyani Buddha originated from the Adi-Buddha.
Akshobya (Sanskrit, "Immovable") One of the Five Dhyani Buddhas. He is usually depicted with his right hand forming the Earth Witness Mudra (the hand is pointed towards the earth and is turned inward). He embodies the Mirror-Like Great Wisdom which takes sense impressions and the idea of individual forms and recognizes the inherent emptiness of them all.
Alaya consciousness (Sanskrit, "storehouse consciousness") The primordial awareness. The alaya consciousness is the storehouse of all previous impressions. These impressions are the seeds (bija) from which all phenomena arise when conditions and mental associations call the forth.
Amala consciouness The ninth level of consciousness, also known as the clear consciousness. This is the true mind, The Ultimate Truth. It is only surpassed by the tenth consciousness, "all encompassing, single pointed consciousness".
Amitabha (Sanskrit, lit. "Boundless Light") One of the Five Dhyani Buddhas. The embodiment of compassion and wisdom, he is typically depicted as red in color, with his hands held together in the Meditation Mudra (the right hand rests on the left hand with the tips of the thumbs touching). Embodying the Wisdom of Discriminating Vision, he transmutes perception into inner vision.
Amoghasiddhi (Sanskrit, "One Who Accomplishes His Goal") One of the Five Dhyani Buddhas. He is usually depicted with his right hand forming the Fearless Mudra (right palm raised and facing outward). He embodies the All-Accomplishing Wisdom which transforms the will into the egoless activity of the Buddha.
Arhat (Sanskrit, "Worthy One") Goal of Hinayana Buddhism. An arhat is one who has freed himself from the cycle of rebirth by extinguishing all passions and desires. According to Mahayana Buddhism, the arhat still has yet to achieve the ultimate goal. By emphasizing his own salvation, the arhat has yet to attain Buddhahood, as he has not fully awakened his compassion by working for the salvation of all beings.
Armor Protection A Tantric Buddhist Practice to protect one from negative energies and psychic attack.
Ashvaghosa A famous Buddhist philosopher and poet that lived in the first and second centuries A.D. An exponent and writer of the Mahayana system that was coming into prominence at the time, he is considered one of the most important Buddhist authors.
Attached Spirits These are spirits or ghosts who, due to some karmic nond, attach themselves to people. By disrupting that person's energy field, they can cause accidents, illnesses, etc. in the individual.
Bliss Body See Trikaya
Bodhidharma (470-543 a.d.) After being confirmed as the twenty-eight patriarch of Buddhism, Boddhidharma left India and traveled China. There he became the First Patriarch of Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism.
Boddhisattva (Sanskrit, lit. "Wisdom Being") One who has developed the altruistic motive of attaining Enlightenment to help all sentient beings. These are ten stages in the Boddhisattva process. Those who have reached the tenth stage and delay entering complete Enlightenment so they can help others are sometimes referred to as Mahasattvas.
Bodhicitta (Sankrit, "awakened mind") The key to Mahayana Buddhism, it refers both to an enlightened mind and to the resolution arising from the profound compassion to attain and Enlightened mind for the purpose of assisting all beings.
Body Offering Practice Here one visualizes one's blood becoming rivers, one's bone becoming rocks, etc. so one may offer one's body for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Chakra (Sankrit, lit. wheel) The seven chakras in the human body act as subtle energy centers. The root chakra lies in the area if the sacrum and is said to hold one's sleeping or dormant spiritual energy. Once awakened, this spiritual energy travels up through the other five chakras until it reaches the crown chakra at the top of the head.
Channels (or Nadis) Subtle energy paths through which the chi flows. The three main channels are the central channel (sushumna), the left (ida), and the right (pingala) channels which run parallel to and in front the spinal column.
Chi (Chinese, "breath or energy") Subtle energy or vital force. In Taoism, chi is the cosmic energy that permeates all things. Within the human body, the chi is seen as the vital force of the body and is closely associated with the breath. During the act of breathing, in addition to oxegenating the blood with the outer breath (wai chi), one breathes in with the inner breath (nei chi) the surrounding cosmic energy to resupply the inner chi or life force of the body.
Ching, Chi , and Shen In Taoism, these are the three life energies that make up the human being. The ching refers to the reproductive energy, the chi refers to the vital energy of the body, and the shen is the spirirt of the person. Taoist practices seek to transform the ching to chi, and the chi into shen. (See also chi).
Clear Light ("prabhasvara" in Sanskrit) This light illuminates the Universe as its deepest level. Perceiving the Clear Light is the most fundamental level of consciousness. Arriving at this level, one can view all phenomena as a manifestation of this level of consciousness.
Daka Male counterpart of the Dakini.
Dakini (Sanskrit, lit. Sky-Dancer) These are accomplished female spirits that have attained the Clear Light and assist practitioners in removing physical hindrances and spiritual obstacles. As they are female beings that travel in space, they are linked with giving birth to the full range of expansive potentialities.
Dalai Lama (Tibetan, lit. "Ocean of Wisdom") The political and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, he is also considered and emanation of Avalokistesvara (Kuan Yin) Bodhisattva. The present Dalai Lama is the fourteenth incarnation.
Damaru Drum A two sided drum that represents the heart beat of the Buddhas.
Deliverance Ceremony This is a ceremony to assist spirits who are between rebirth (Bardo State). Through the ceremony, the spirits are able to attain a higher level of rebirth. One may perform the Deliverance (Bardo) Ceremony for one's ancestor, for attached spirits, and/or for local earth spirits. Deva (Sanskrit, lit. "shining one") These are the gods or heavenly beings. Because of their good merit, they are able to enjoy the pleasure of heaven. At some point, when their merits are used up, they are reborn into one of the lower realms.
Deva Kings These are the Four Celestial Kings who dwell on Mount Meru and guard the four gates at the four compass points if Indra's (Ruler of the Devas) paradise. They are considered guardians of Buddhism. The four deva kings are: Dhrtarstra, who guards the East and is King of the Gandharvas (celestial musicians), He is white in color and holds a stringed instrument. Virudhuka, whi guards the South and is King of the Khumbanda (giant demons). He is blue and holds a sword. Vaisravana, who guards the North and is King of the Yakshas (wild demonic being). He is yellow and holds a banner in his right hand and a mongoose in his left hand. Because he oversees the Treasures in the North, he is sometimes called the Treasure Deva King. Virupaksa, who guards the West and is King of the Serpent Gods, He is red in color and holds serpent and a jewel.
Dharma The cosmic law which governs the Universe. It may also refer to the teachings (of a Buddha) which are manifestations of this law.
Dharma Body See Trikaya.
Diamond Sutra An important teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha which he shows that all things are ultimately empty and devoid of any inherent reality, including the ideas of oneself, other sentient beings, and the Dharma. The name comes from the sutra being "hard and sharp like a diamond that will cut away all arbitrary conceptions and bring one to the other shore of Enlightenment".
Dream Mahamudra (milam in Tiebetan) This is one of the Six Yogas of Naropa, wherein one exerts conscious control of one's dreams.
Dzogchen (Tibetan, li. "Great Perfection") This is the highest teaching of the Tibetan sect known as the Nyingmapa. Through this accomplishment, one recognizes the purity of mind that is always present and realizes the union of emptiness and wisdom. Dzogchen is not merely another practice or technique; it is the mind's original and fundamental state.
Earth Gods Spirits who rule over the energy of a particular location.
Easy Posture A posture for sitting on the ground in which one's legs are crossed near the ankles. It is an easy posture to attain in but it is difficult to keep one's spine erect in this position.
Eight Principal Deities of the True Buddha School These are: Amitabha, Kuan Yin, Ksitigarbha, Maha Cundi Bodhisattva, Jambhala, Padmasambhava, Padmakumara, and Medicine Buddha. After one completes the Four Preliminary Practices and the Guru Yoga, the practitioner chooses one of these Deities as his/her Personal Deity.
Emanation Body See Trikaya.
Basics [37]. More to come....
Readers can write to purekarmaservices@gmail.com for a .pdf or .doc copy of this book.
Om Guru Lian Sheng Siddhi Hom
Lama Lotuschef
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