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| Glossary of terms A B C D
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| Alaya | The basis of all of samsara and nirvana. |
| Abbot | In general means someone who gives monastic vows. This title is also given to a person who has attained a high degree of knowledge of the dharma and is in charge of teaching it. It can also simply be the title given to the eldest monk during a traditional summer retreat. |
| Abidharma | (Tib. Mngon pa) one of the three pitaks. The foundation of Buddhist psychology and logic. It describes the universe, the different kinds of beings, the steps on the path to enlightenment, refutes mistaken beliefs etc. |
| Absolute space | (Tib. Chos dbyings, Skt dharmadhatu) the expanse of reality. From the point of view of realisation, all phenomena appear as the expanse of emptiness. |
| Absolute truth | (Tib. Don dam bden pa, ) actual truth perceived through wisdom, without mental fabrications. Its characteristic is to be 'beyond mind, unthinkable, inexpressible'. |
| Appearance and Existence | Whatever can be experienced and has a possibility of existence ( the five aggregates). This term usually refers to the world and sentient beings. |
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| Becoming | (Tib srid pa) the process of samsaric existence. The Tibetan word is often used in the sense of 'possibility', and represents all the concepts which we project onto reality and which become the illusory world that we perceive. It is often used as synonym for samsara as opposed to zhi ba, the peace of nirvana`. |
| Bhagavan | (tib bcom ldan 'das) an epithet of the Buddha. He who has vanquished (bcom) the four demons, possess (ldan) all the qualities of realisation, and is beyond ('das) samsara and nirvana. |
| Bliss | (experience) (Tib bde stong), one of the three types of experience in meditation. |
| Bodhisattva | (Tib. Byang chub sems dpa) a being who has decided to bring all beings to enlightenment and is practising the Bodhisattva path. |
| Bodhisattva levels | (Tib. 'phags pa'I sa) Skt.bhumi) the ten levels of realisation reached by Bodhisattvas on the paths of seeing, meditation and beyond learning. |
| Brahmin | A person belonging to the priestly caste. |
| Buddhahood | The perfect and complete enlightenment of dwelling in neither samsara nor nirvana. |
| Buddha Nature | (Tib de gsegs sning po) Skt tathagatagarbha. The potential of Buddhahood present in every being. |
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| Central Channel | (Tib rtsa dbu ma) the central axis of the subtle body. Its exact description varies according to the particular practice. It represents non dual wisdom. |
| Channel | (Tib rtsa, Skt nadi) subtle veing in which the subtle energy circulates. The left and right principal channels run from the nostrils to just below the navel, where they join the central channel. |
| Chenrezei | (tib spyan ras gzigs) the Tibetan name for Avalokitesvara. |
| Chittamatra | The Mind Only school of mahayana, asserting the view that all phenomena are 'only' the appearances of' mind '. |
| Circumambulation | (Tib skor ba) act of veneration consisting in walking clockwise, concentratedly and with awareness, around a sacred object eg a temple, stupa, holy mountain or spiritual master. |
| Clarity | (experience) (Tib gsal nyams) one of the three types of experience in meditation. |
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| Daka | (Tib mkha 'gro) Tantric equivalent of Bodhisattva. Male equivalent of dakini. |
| Dakini | (Tib mkha' 'gro ma) The feminine principle associated with wisdom. This term has several levels of meaning. There are ordinary dakinis who are beings with a certain degree of spiritual power, and wisdom dakinis who are fully realised. |
| Dakpo Kagyu | The Kagyu lineage as transmitted through Gampopa, who is also known as Dakpo Lhaje, the "Doctor from Lhaje". |
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| Eight Practice Lineages | The eight independent schools of Buddhism that flourished in Tibet; Nyingma, Kadampa, Marpa Kagyu, Shagpa Kagyu, Sakya, Jordruk, Shije and Cho. |
| Eight Worldly Concerns | Attachment to gain, pleasure, praise and fame; and aversion to loss, pain. Blame and bad reputation. |
| Eightfold Noble Path | Literally the 'eight aspects of the path of noble beings'; right view, thought, speech, conduct, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration. These are perfected on the path of cultivation. |
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