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The Shadow of the Dalai Lama – Glossary
© Victor & Victoria Trimondi
Glossary
of some Tantric Terms
The
Sanskrit terms are written without diacritical
marks.
Literal
translations appear in quotation marks.
abhisheka – „annointing“ – a form
of consecration, often involving sprinkling, that
transforms an heir apparent into a royal sovereign,
or a novice into a monk or member of a religious
order. In Tantra, abhisheka qualifies a person
to initiate or consecrate others.
acarya – “teacher, preceptor” – a guru
or instructor of sacred or secret teachings.
advaita – “nondualism” – the philosophical
position that all is One
ahimsa – “noninjury” – doctrine of noninjury
or non-violence
ajna – name of the sixth of the seven
charkas of the yogic body. It is at the level
of the ajna that the three principle subtle channels
come together in a plait between the eyebrows.
See also chakra and nadi
Amitabha - Amitabha is the most commonly
used name for the Buddha of Infinite Light and
Infinite Life. A transhistorical Buddha
venerated by all Mahayana schools and, particularly, Pure Land.
Presides over the Western Pure Land (Land of Ultimate
Bliss), where anyone can be reborn through utterly
sincere recitation of His name, particularly at
the time of death.
Anuttarayoga Tantra – “Tantra of Supreme
Yoga” – one of the four classes of Buddhist Tantric
texts, sects, and teachings
arhat - a Buddhist saint who has attained
liberation from the cycle of Birth and Death,
generally through living
a monastic life in accordance with
the Buddhas' teachings.
arya - any individual ennobled by his/her
own continuing effort on the path to enlightenment.
asana – “seated position” – yogic posture
in which a practitioner holds himself immobile
while practicing breath control and various types
of meditation.
asura - titanic demons, enemies of the
gods.
Avalokitesvara - The name is a compound
of Ishwara, meaning Lord, and avalokita, looked
upon or seen, and is usually translated as the
Lord Who Observes (the cries of the world); the
Buddhist embodiment of compassion as formulated
in the Mahayana Dharma.
atman – the individual self or soul
avadhuti – in Tantric Buddhist mapping of
the yogic body, the female energy that rises up
from the lower abdomen to the heart or cranial
vault, where it melts or is merged with
the subtle male principle. See also candali.
bardo (Tibetan) – “liminal passage, intermediate
state” – the state of consciousness in the course
of migration between death and rebirth. A stage
varying from seven to forty-nine days, after
which the Karmic body from previous lives will
certainly be reborn.
bija – “seed” – the seminal essence of
a sacred utterance or formula, usually monosyllabic,
which constitutes the energy of the deity it acoustically
embodies. See also mantra.
bhiksu - Religious mendicant;
Buddhist fully ordained monk. Bhiksuni is the
equivalent term designating a woman.
bodhi – “enlightenment” – perfect knowledge
or wisdom by which a person becomes a Buddha.
bodhicitta – “thought of enlightenment”
– the mental state in which an individual takes
the decision to become an enlightened being. In
Buddhist Tantra the inner energy of fluid that
flows through the practitioner’s charkas following
the internal union of female Wisdom (prajna) and
male Skill in Means (upaya).
bodhisattva – “One who possesses the
essence of enlightenment” – a deified saviour
figure, a fully enlightened being who remains
in the world in order to release other creatures
from suffering existence.
buddha – “enlightened being”
candali – “female outcast” – the Tantric
consort; also the subtle body, the “red element”,
female energy that rises up from the lower abdomen
to melt the male “white element” in the cranial
vault. See also avadhuti.
Carya Tantra – “Tantra of Observance”
– one of the four classes of Buddhist Tantric
texts, sects and teachings.
chakra – “circle, wheel” – one of the usually
seven energy centres aligned along the spinal
column of the yogic body.
chakravala - the nine chakravala
or concentric mountain ranges or continents, separated
by eight seas, of a universe.
chakravartin – “wheel-turner” – an
universal emperor and protector of Buddhism
cintamani - a talismanic pearl,
a symbol of bestowing fortune and capable of fulfilling
every wish.
citta - mind or heart. the two terms being
synonymous in Asian religious philosophy.
dakini – one of a group of powerful female
beings, possessed by the power of flight, who
mediate between the worlds of the buddhas, the
demonic, and the human in Tantric ritual and meditative
practice. A woman embodying enlightened wisdom.
chöd yul – “The object that is to
be cut off” – system of dramatic shamanic practices
that effect the severing or cutting off of demons
as a means to annihilating the ego that otherwise
keeps one trapped in suffering existence.
damaru – hourglass-shaped two-headed “schaman’s
drum” carried and played by Tantric deities and
practitioners.
deva – “shining one” – a celestial deity
who is nevertheless “un-liberated”.
dharini - extended mantra used in
esoteric branch of Buddhism to focus and expand
the mind. Its words, or sounds, should not communicate
any recognizable meaning.
dharma – the teachings of the Buddha; the
law, doctrine, or ethical precepts of Buddhism;
an underlying cosmic principle taught by the Buddha;
constituent element of reality; a phenomenon.
The complex of religious and social obligations
that a devout s required to fulfil; right action,
duty, morality, virtue
dharmadhatu – the absolute reality
experienced in enlightenment
dharmakaya – “body of teaching”
– in Mahayana and later forms of Buddhism, the
third and most exalted of the three bodies of
the Buddha, composed of Buddha’s teachings. Tantric
Buddhism knows of a fourth, called the diamond
body (see also vajrakaya).
dhatu – the space or sphere of absolute
reality itself
dhyana – ritual visualisation, inner vision,
yogic meditation; instructions for visualizing
a Tantric deity.
dorje – see: vajra
guru – a religious percept or teacher, often
the person from whom one receives initiation or
consecration.
hatha yoga – body of yogic practice
that combines posture, breath control, seals,
and locks as a means to bodily immortality and
supernatural power.
ida – mapping of the yogic body, the
major subtle channel identified with the moon
that runs the length of the spinal column, to
the left of the medial channel. See also nadi.
inana – “gnosis” – supreme knowledge;
the highest form of knowledge, which affords liberation
from suffering existence.
kalpa – sacred precept, law, ritual, or ordinance;
an eon, a fantastically long period of time.
kama – desire and sexuality used as a
means to liberation or transcendence of the human
condition
karma - volition, volitional or intentional
activity. Karma is always followed by its fruit,
Vipaka. Karma and Vipaka are oftentimes referred
to as the law of causality, a cardinal concern
in the Teaching of the Buddha.
Kriya Tantra –“Action Tantra” – one
of the four classes of Buddhist Tantric texts,
sects and teachings.
kshatriya - the second of the four
Hindu Castes at the time of Shakyamuni, they were
the royal caste, the noble landlord, the warriors
and the ruling castes.
maharaja - a great or superior king.
kundalini – “She who is coiled”;
the female energy that lies coiled at the base
of the yogic body. Through combined techniques,
the Kundalini is “awakened” and made to rise through
the charkas to the cranial vault. See also: shakti.
lama – a Tantric teacher or Guru in Tibetan
Buddhism
linga – the male sexual organ. See also
yoni.
mahamudra – “great seal” – gnosis
realizing the mind’s own emptiness in a non-dual,
androgynous fashion. The “inner woman” as part
of the yogic body. The ultimate nature of mind;
an instantaneous practice for purifying the mind.
mahasiddha – “great perfect being”
– “great sorcerer” – a highly perfected and accomplished
mystic; one of a legendary class of demigods or
superhuman Tantric practitioners who propagated
Tantra throughout South Asia and Tibet.
mani - a jewel, gem, precious stone;
especially a pearl bead or other globular ornament.
maithuna – “Pairing, coupling” – sexual intercourse
as a means of liberation, gnosis and transcendence
of the human condition; the fifth and ultimate
Tantric “sacrament”; an iconic representation
of a pair engaging in sexual intercourse. See
also yab-yum.
mandala – “circle” – an idealized circular
model of the cosmos, with the source of cosmic
or temporal power located at the centre, and deities
or beings representing lesser powers or energies
radiating outward toward the periphery, the limits
of the system. In Tantric practice, Mandalas are
often employed as visual meditation support.
mantra – “mental device, instrument oft
thought” – an acoustic formula whose sound shape
embodies the energy-level of a deity; a spell,
incantation or charm employed in Tantric ritual
or sorcery. Chants, magical formulae.
maya – “That which is measured out; cosmic
illusion”
Meru - the central mountain of every
universe.
mudra – “seal” – a symbolic gesture of the
body with ritual meanings. In Buddhist Tantra
mudra is on of the terms used for a male practitioner’s
female consort.
nadi – one of an elaborate network of
72.000 subtle ducts of the yogic body through
which breath and energy are channelled.
nirmanakaya – “form body” – the first
of the three bodies of the Buddha, the physical
form in which the historical Buddha appeared to
the world.
nirvana – “extinction” – the soteriological
goal of Buddhism; the final cessation of rebirth
into suffering existence.
pingala – mapping of the yogic body, the
major subtle channel identified with the un that
runs the length of the spinal column, to the right
of the medial channel. See also nadi.
pitha – “bench, footstool” – a pilgrimage
site and power place identified with a goddess
and her male consort.
prajna – “wisdom” – insight into the true
nature in reality; a Tantric practitioner‘s female
consort . The prajna becomes deified as a Buddhist
goddess with a bipolar relationship
to the male upaya (“skill”) represented by a god,
a buddha or a bodhisattva.
prajna-paramita – “perfection of wisdom”
– the female embodiment of wisdom. Prajna-paramita
becomes deified as a Buddhist goddess, also considered
to be the “mother of all buddhas”.
prana – “breath” – the breath of life;
one of the multiple breaths or energies that,
flowing through the nadis, vitalizes and is the
active element in the transformation of the yogic
body.
pratyekabuddha – a Buddha who loves
a solitary existence and realizes nirvana for
himself alone.
puja –“honouring, veneration”; the body
of practices that comprise the worship of a deity.
rainbow body (Tibet. ja’lus) – supernatural
body attained through Tantric techniques by means
of which the practitioner is able to disappear
into another dimension.
rasa – “juice, flavor’ – an essential
fluid of yogic, alchemical or Tantric practice.
The semen feminile.
sadhaka – a Tantric practitioner
sadhana – Tantric practice
shakti – “energy” – the energy of a deity
personified as his female consort
samadhi – total yogic integration; ecstatic
consciousness
samatha – “tranquil abiding, quiescence”
– a Buddhist form of meditation.
samaya – “coming together” – conventional
rule or practice; sacrament.
sambhogakaya – “body of shared enjoyment”
– the second of the Buddha’s three bodies, in
which he preaches to the assembled bodhisattvas.
samsara – “flowing together” – the cycle
of transmigration; suffering existence, phenomenal
reality.
sangha – “assembly” – Buddhist society,
comprised of monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen
siddha – “perfected being”- a Tantric practitioner who
has realized embodied liberation. The siddhas
also form a class of demigods who inhabit the
atmospheric regions.
siddhi – “perfection” – one of the many
supernatural powers possessed by siddhas as a
result of their practice, their sadhana. Included
among the siddhis are the power of flight, invisibility,
the power of attraction and the power to realize
one’s every desire.
shravaka – “auditor” – a person who attains
emancipation by listening a buddha.
stupa – a funerary monument in the shape
of a dome or pyramid, containing a relic of a
Buddha or some other objects of veneration; a
meditation support symbolizing the formless body
of the Buddha and the essential structure of the
cosmos.
shunyata – “emptiness” – the principle that
all objects of the senses, mental concepts, and
categories are void of self-existence.
susumna – mapping of the yogic body; the
major subtle channel identified with fire, which
runs down through the centre of the spinal column.
See also nadi.
tathatgata - “one who comes thus” – an
epithet of the Buddha or of one the five celestial
buddhas
terma – “treasure” – indigenous Tibetan
Budhist collections of works, mainly containing
instructions for special forms of Tantric practice.
They are brought to light by treasure-discoverer
specialists, either in the form of hidden manuscripts
or of visionary revelations with no physical substrate.
torma – conical flour and butter cones used
as ritual offerings to a person’s enlightened
beings and protectors.
tulku – “the form body of a Buddha” –
the recognized reincarnation of a past Buddha
master.
upaya – “skill in means” – array of expedient
devices employed by bodhisattvas to enlighten
beings trapped in suffering existence. Upaya becomes
deified as the male member of a bipolar relationship
– with the female prajna (“wisdom”).
vajra – (Tibetan dorje) – “Thunderbolt,
diamond, penis” – adamantine symbol of strength,
immovability, and transcendent nature of the state
aimed at by Tantric practitioners; name of an
implement used in Tantric ritual.
vajrakaya – “diamond body”
vajrayoga – “adamantine union”
– the fusion of wisdom realizing emptiness and
compassion, which spontaneously manifests appearances
in order to guide living beings to freedom from
samsara.
vidya – “esoteric knowledge, wisdom” –
wisdom personified as a goddess. Vidya is one
of the terms used for a male practitioner’s female
consort.
yab-yum (Tibetan) – “father-mother” – term
used to describe deities in sexual union.
yantra – “instrument of restraint; machine”
– one of a group of instruments, including diagrams,
amulets, and alchemical apparatus, used by a Tantric
practitioners to control or subdue his own mind,
demonic beings, or elements of the phenomenal
world.
yidam – “vow, oath, covenant” – a tutelary
deity.
Yoga Tantra – “Tantra of Yoga” –
one of the four classes of Buddhist Tantric texts,
sects and teachings.
yogin – a male practitioner of yoga.
yogini – one of a class of powerful, fierce
and often sexually alluring female demigods and
human sorceresses who imitate or are identified
with them; a female Tantric practitioner.
yoni – the female sexual organ,
womb.
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