A
adhimukti: [Sanskrit] Trust or confidence.

Advaita: [Sanskrit] Non-dual Vedanta.

agni: Fire.

ahamkara: [Sanskrit] Sense of I. Often translated as “ego.”

ajna: [Sanskrit] The third eye (chakra). Located in mid-forehead.

akasha: [Sanskrit] Primordial space beyond description. Ether. One of the five elements, the others being earth, water, fire, and air.

Amitabha: Buddha of infinite light. Personification of compassion.

amrit: Nectar.

anahata: [Sanskrit] The heart (chakra). Root of all emotions and associated with the inner sounds that practitioners and others hear on occasion.

anand: [Sanskrit] Bliss.

anapanasati: [Pali] Mindfulness while breathing in and out. A natural progression of sixteen contemplations.

anatta: [Pali] Not-self.

anicca: [Pali] Impermanence.

antarabhava: [Sanskrit] see “bardo.”

arahant: [Pali] arahat.

arahat: [Sanskrit] A free being. A fully awakened one.

arhat: [Sanskrit] A “worthy one.”

asana: [Sanskrit] Pose. Usually a position taken in Hatha Yoga.

ashram: A gathering place where spiritual disciplines are taught and practiced.

asshtanga: [Sanskrit] The eight-fold path of meditation and yoga.

atman: [Sanskrit] Soul.

aura: That visible, non-physical, area around people, plants, animals, trees, and inanimate objects that sometimes manifests colors.

Avalokiteshvara: Bodhisattva “one who hearkens to the cries of the world.”

avidya: [Sanskrit] Ignorance. (“marigpa” in Tibetan).

awareness matrix: That which contains all that is and all that has been and all that ever will be. (“chidakasha” in Sanskrit).

Ayurveda: An ancient system of health.

B
bardo: [Tibetan] “in-between state.” Most often refers to the state between death and rebirth, but it can refer to any intermediate state.

bandhas: [Sanskrit] Bind or “lock.” Refers to muscular locks in yoga.

Bhakti Yoga: The path of devotion. One of the four classic paths of yoga.

bhikku: [Pali] Practitioner. (often translated as “monk”).

bindu: [Sanskrit] Sacred point (through which om manifests). (See “tigle”).

bodhi: [Sanskrit] The supreme wisdom for a follower of Buddha.

bodhisattva: [Sanskrit] Someone seeking enlightenment purely for the benefit of others.

Bon: The indigenous religion of Tibet, predating Buddhism. Often referred to as shamanic, Bon also has extensive teachings in the monastic, transformational, and esoteric traditions. Bon claims to have an unbroken lineage of over 16,000 years.

bodhicitta: [Sanskrit] The awakened heartmind. The higher mind.

brahmacharya: The yoga of celibacy.

Buddha: Enlightened one.

buddhi: [Sanskrit] The determinative faculty. One of the four basic constituents of the mind. The others are “chitta,” “manas,” and “ahamkara.”

C
chakras: [Sanskrit] Subtle energy centers throughout the body. Literally means circle or wheel.

ch’an: [Chinese] Zen. Concentration. (from the Sanskrit word “dhyana”).

channel: See “nadi.”

channeling: Bringing another authority’s opinion into this reality.

chidakasha: [Sanskrit] See “awareness matrix.”

chitta: [Sanskrit] Memory. Do not confuse with “citta.”

chod: [Tibetan] To “cut through” or “cut off.” A practice using mantra and visualization to remove attachments to body and ego.

cit: [Sanskrit] Consciousness.

citta: Mind-heart. Consciousness. Do not confuse with “chitta” (memory).

D
dakini: [Sanskrit] “female-sky-traveler”. The manifestation of feminine energies completed, human-form or goddess. Also references emptiness.

Dai-ji: [Japanese] One of the diagrams of dharma transmission, or secret teachings transmitted one to one.

Daiosho: [Japanese] “great priest.”

dhamma: [Pali] dharma.

dharana: [Sanskrit] Short contemplation of self.

dharma: [Sanskrit] Spiritual teachings. Correct action in accordance with your spiritual nature. Also the spiritual path itself.

dharmakaya: [Sanskrit] The body that is non-dual and beyond all conceptual limitations. The “truth” body.

dhyana: [Sanskrit] meditation.

doan: [Japanese] The person who leads the chanting.

dogen Zenji: (1200-1253) Founder of Soto Zen in Japan.

dukkha: [Pali] Suffering. hard to endure.

dzogchen: [Tibetan] (also rdzogs chen and Zogcen and rDzogchen). The Great Perfection. The highest teachings in the Tibetan systems.

E
eightfold path: They are right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration (also the fourth Noble Truth).

Eisai: (1141-1215) Monk who brought Rinzai Zen from China to Japan.

ekaggata: [Pali] One-pointedness of mind.

eko: [Japanese] The transfer of one’s merits to another.

F
Four basic constituents of Mind: “ahamkara,” “buddhi,” “chitta,” and “manas.”

Four classic paths of Yoga: “Bhakti,” “Jnani,” “Karma,” and “Raja.”

G
gassho: [Japanese] A gesture or greeting of respect in which the hands, joined palm to palm with fingers extended, are held level with the upper chest or the lower part of the face. It symbolizes unity of body and mind.

gatha: [Pali] Short dharma verses. Aphorisms.

gong-ter: [Tibetan] (dgongs gter) Mind treasure. Teachings that are uncovered directly from the “awareness matrix.”

Goto Egen: Historical records of Chinese zen masters.

guardian[s]: Male and female beings sworn to protect the teachings and the practitioners of the teachings.

guna[s]: Containing three qualities – “rajasic,” “tamasic,” and “sattvic.”

guru: Spiritual teacher. Spiritual guide.

H
hara: [Japanese] A central area in the lower abdomen, a point of balance and source of ki.

Hatha Yoga: A yoga designed to strengthen and heal the physical body.

I
ida: The main lunar “nadi.” Sometimes referenced to parasympathetic system.

J
jaku: [Japanese] There is no one with whom you want to talk.

jakujo: [Japanese] Complete tranquility.

jalus: [Tibetan] Rainbow body.

japa: [Sanskrit] mantric repetition (usually including one of the names of God).

Jnana Yoga: The wisdom path. One of the four classic paths of yoga.

jo: [Japanese] Serenity.

K
kalpa: [Sanskrit] 4,320 million years. (an unimaginably long time).

kanno doko: [Japanese] Wholeheartedness.

karma: [Sanskrit] Literally “action.” The law of cause and effect, most particularly referring to the consequence of an individual’s thoughts, words, and actions modified by their intentions.

Karma Yoga: The path of good deeds. One of the four classic paths of yoga.

kasana: [Sanskrit] A split second (one/sixty fifth of a second).

Kashmir Shaivism: A non-dual philosophy which sees the entire universe as a play of divine consciousness.

kaya: [Sanskrit] body.

khandro: [Tibetan] see “dakini.”

kilesa: [Pali] A torment of mind.

kinhin: [Japanese] Slow walking meditation done between “zazen” sessions.

koan: [Japanese] A question or problem that cannot be answered intellectually.

koromo: [Japanese] Outer robe worn by Zen Buddhist monks.

kriya: To do. Often associated with cleansing and cleansing phenomena.

kumbhaka: Vase breathing (assisting practice through bhandas and retention).

kundalini: [Sanskrit] The divine creative power of the universe.

kung-an: [Chinese] koan.

kunzhi: [Tibetan] In Bon the basis of all that exists. The unity of emptiness and clarity.

L
la: [Tibetan] (also bla) (in Egyptian ka) Soul. Also human goodness.

lama: [Tibetan] (also bla ma) Spiritual teacher. Also a title of respect. Literally means “nothing higher.”

loka: [Sanskrit] Literally “world.” In English it usually refers to the six realms of cyclic existence.

lung: [Tibetan] (also rlung) see “prana.”

M
mahavakya: [Sanskrit] A “great statement.” From the Advaita viewpoint it refers to one of the four “great statements” of the Vedas.

Mahayana: The Great Vehicle.

Maitreya: The future Buddha.

mala: [Sanskrit] Literally means obstacle but its common usage is for a string of 108 beads that practitioners carry about and often use as an aid in mantric practice.

manas: [Sanskrit] Mind.

mandala: An often circular, often geometric, painting used as a practice aid.

manipura: Solar plexus (chakra).

mantra: [Sanskrit] Sacred phrase often used in practice, usually repetitively.

marigpa: [Tibetan] Ignorance. (Same as Sanskrit “avidya”)

meditation: Focus of the mind on a subject, a subject relating to the higher centers.

meridians: Energetic pathways. See “nadis.”

mindfulness: Developing awareness through purposeful attention.

mooladhara: [Sanskrit] (also muladhara) Base (chakra) located at the perineum.

mudra: Positioning of the hand and fingers to augment spiritual practice.

N
nada: The four stages of sound.

nadi: [Sanskrit] The channels which connect the primary, secondary, and tertiary chakras within the body.

naga[s]: [Sanskrit] (klu in Tibetan) (Serpent) spirits associated with water.

namaste: [Sanskrit] literally “I bow to the divine in you.” Done as described in gassho entry.

namu: [Japanese] To take refuge.

ngon dro: [Tibetan] (also ngondro and sngron ‘gro) Refers to a set of preliminary or preparatory practices.

nibbana: [Pali] nirvana.

nirmanakaya: Refers to the visible physical manifestation of a buddha.

nirvana: [Sanskrit] To go beyond all suffering.

nivarana: [Pali] The five hindrances that are obstacles to mental development: 1) craving for sensory gratification, 2) aversion, 3) sloth and torpor, 4) restlessness and agitation, 5) skepticism.

O
om: Also aum. The sacred beginning sound of our spectrum. Amen.

P
Pali: The canon of texts preserved by the Theravada school and, by extension, the language in which those texts were composed.

panna: [Pali] Discernment, wisdom, insight.

paramita: [Sanskrit] Highest point, perfection.

pho wa: [Tibetan] (also pho ba or powa) The practice of consciously leaving the body at the time of death.

pingala: The main solar nadi. Referenced to the sympathetic system.

piti: [Pali] Joy.

prajna: Transcendental wisdom.

prakriti: [Sanskrit] “That which gives shape.” At the physical level, body and mind.

prana: [Sanskrit] The vital energy.

pranayama: [Sanskrit] Breath exercises with spiritual intentions.

pratyahara: [Sanskrit] Turning the attention from the outer world to the inner world.

purusha: [Sanskrit] Spirit. The indwelling witness.

Q

R
Raja Yoga: The “kingly” path, which includes the other yogic disciplines including many that deal with training body, energy, and mind. One of the four classical paths of yoga.

rajasic: One of the three “gunas.” Steeped in activity.

rigpa: [Tibetan] Awareness or “knowing” state. The innate primordially pure non-dual awareness.

Rinpoche: [Tibetan] (rin po che) An honorific widely used in addressing an incarnate lama. Means “precious one.”

root poisons: Ignorance, desire, and aversion. (“mulaklesha” in Sanskrit).

roshi: “venerable old man.”

rushen: [Tibetan] (ru shan) Practices of undifferentiated freedom which help separate conceptual mind from the nature of mind.

S
samadhi: [Sanskrit] Deep meditative state with one-pointed mind.

samatha: [Pali] Serenity of mind.

sadhaka: [Sanskrit] Practitioner. Spiritual seeker.

sadhana: [Sanskrit] Spiritual path. Spiritual practice. Spiritual discipline[s].

sahasrara: The crown (chakra).

samaya: [Sanskrit] Vow. Commitment.

sambhogakaya: The “light” body. The formless form. The manifest with qualities.

samsara: [Sanskrit] Illusion. The realm of suffering that arises from the dualistic mind, from understanding the false to be real, the temporary to be permanent. Conditional existence, subject to continual suffering.

sangha: A spiritual community following the same path.

sat: [Sanskrit] Truth.

sati: [Pali] Mindfulness.

sattvic: One of the three gunas. Characterized by peacefulness, vitality, and relaxed attention.

sem: [Tibetan] (also sems) Mind. Usually refers to the conceptual mind and not the nature of mind.

sesshin: [Japanese] A retreat, or intensive, where most of the day is spent in meditation.

Shakyamuni Buddha: Gautama Siddhartha, the historical founder of Buddhism.

Shenrab Miwoche: The founder of Bon on this planet.

Shinto: “the Way of the Gods.” Japan’s indigenous religion.

shradda: [Sanskrit] Faith. According to Shankara, “self-confidence.”

sila: [Pali] Moral precepts. Morality. (relates to “ahimsa”) (discipline).

shunyata: [Sanskrit] Emptiness.

siddhi[s]: [Sanskrit] Special abilities or powers.

SIX SCHOOLS OF CHINESE PHILOSOPHY: (The following treatment is extracted from Fung Yu-lan’s “A Short History of Chinese Philosophy” [Free Press, 1948, 1966])

1. Yin-Yang Chia: The Ying-Yang School (the Cosmologists) where the theory of
these fundamental opposites was developed. The theory of yin and yang was
eventually accepted into all Chinese philosophy and ceased to exist as a school.
2. Ming Chia: School of Names (the debaters or sophists). Consisting of various
thinkers and writers who concerned themselves with matters of logic, language,
and meaning.
3. Mo Chia: School of Mo Tzu (479-381 BC). Based on criticism of Confucianism.
4. Fa Chia: Legalist School.
5. Tao-Te Chia: Taoism.
6. Ju Chia: Confucianism.

SIX SCHOOLS OF INDIAN PHILOSPHY: The six doctrines of orthodox Indian philosophy accepting the authority of the Vedas and therefore considered part of Hinduism.

1. Mimamsa: the School of Interpretation, largely focused on the “action part” or
first half of the Vedas.
2. Vedanta: the School of Knowledge, largely focused on the second half of the
Vedas.
3. Sankhya: the School of Theoretical Knowledge.
4. Yoga: the School of the Discipline of Achieving Liberation.
5. Nyaya: the School of Logic.
6. Vaishesika: the School of Pluralistic Metaphysics.

“ SIX” SCHOOLS OF JAPAN: The “six” schools of Japan are the speculative, doctrinal, and disciplinary schools of Buddhism that existed when the capital of Japan was first at Nara (8th century). They represent a mix of Chinese and Indian schools and metaphysical speculation. More in “The Princeton Companion to Classical Japanese Literature” 1985.

1) Kusha from the Indian Hinayana tradition (Sarvastivadin school).
2) Jujitsu stating that dharma[s] do not really exist.
3) Sanron from the Indian Mahayana tradition (Madhyamika school).
4) Hosso from the Indian Yogacara (Vijnanavadin) school. Consciousness is the only reality.
5) Ritsu relates directly to the monastic disciplines (the vinaya).
6) Kegon from the Chinese school Hua-yen.
7) Tendai from the Chinese school T’ien T’ai.
8) Shingon the Vajrayana or esoteric school.
9) Zen from the Chinese school Ch’an.
10) Jodo pure land sect devoted to Amida.
11) Jodo Shin “true” pure land sect.
12) Hokke lotus sect. Most famous for the mantra “nam myoho-renge-kyo.”

skandha: [Sanskrit] A transient group that compose one’s sense of I; form, feeling, perception, impulse, and consciousness.

swadhisthana: [Sanskrit] (also svadhisthana) Sacral (chakra). “Secret” chakra.

sukha: [Pali] Bliss. Experience of “sweetness.”

sunnata: (also sunyata) Emptiness.

sushumna: The central channel which is located near the spine (nonphysical).

sutra[s]: [Sanskrit] Rules, guidelines of life. Teachings that are supposed to have originated with the Buddha Shakyamuni and are based on renunciation. Literally “thread.” So these scriptures are outlines to expand upon.

sutta: [Pali] sutra.

T
takuhatsu: [Japanese] Ritual begging practiced by monks in Japan.

tamasic: One of the three “gunas.” Characterized by slothfulness and lethargy.

tantra[s]: [Sanskrit] Transformational teachings of the Buddhas referencing human energies, usually making use of both sound and light.

tan pan kan: [Japanese] Narrow minded person (literally a person carrying a board).

Tapihritsa: One of the two principal masters in the Dzogchen lineage of the Zhan Zhung Nyan Gyud.

tathagata: [Sanskrit] “thus come” or “thus gone” ( a title for the Buddha).

tattva: [Sanskrit] Principle. One of the laws of the universe.

terton: [Tibetan] Treasure hunter. One who uncovers spiritual treasures.

Theravada: [Pali] “the Way of the Elders.” Forest Buddhism.

thod rgal: [Tibetan] (also “turge” and “todal”) One of the two primary practices of rDzogs chen which deals with complete integration.

Three gunas: “Rajasic,” “Sattvic,” and “Tamasic.”

tigle: [Tibetan] (also bindu in Sanskrit) Drop, or seminal point. Luminous sphere.

trekchod: [Tibetan] (also seen as “khregs chod”) One of the two primary practices of rDzogs chen which is in essence to always remain in a state of awareness.

tsa: [Tibetan] (also rtsa) see nadi.

tsa lung: [Tibetan] (rtsa rlung) Yogic practices from tantric traditions that use vital energies and channels.

tummo: [Tibetan] (gtum mo) Yoga which activates the prana in the third chakra.

turiya: Integrated contemplation. The fourth state of consciousness, beyond the conceptual mind.

U
Upanisad: Scriptures that are part of the Vedas.

V
vedana: [Pali] Feeling.

Vedanta: A complete path, one of six classical systems of Indian philosophy.

Vedas: The revealed knowledge which constitute the basic scriptures of the Hindus.

vidya: [Sanskrit] View. Spiritual knowledge. Refer to “rigpa.”

vikalpa: [Sanskrit] Concept.

vipassana: Insight. Seeing clearly the lack of an inherent independent essence. Most often associated with breath practices.

viraga: [Pali] The dissolving of attachment. (see “viragya”).

viragya: [Sanskrit] Literally “apart from passion.” Detachment.

vishuddhi: [Sanskrit] Throat (chakra).

vrtti: [Sanskrit] Thought. Fluctuation of the mind.

W
witnessing: Observing with dispassion.

Y
yang: [Chinese] The masculine aspect of the universe.

yidam: [Tibetan] (yi dam) A deity embodying one of four aspects of the enlightened mind; peaceful, increasing, powerful, and wrathful.

yin: [Chinese] The feminine aspect of the universe.

yoga: [Sanskrit] Disciplines that prepare body, energy, and mind for “enlightenment.” Mistakenly translated as “yoke” for hundreds of years, actually means concentration.

yogin: [Sanskrit] A male practitioner of yoga.

yogini: [Sanskrit] A female practitioner of yoga.

Z
zabuton: [Japanese] A thick mat placed under the zafu.

zafu: [Japanese] A small pillow used during zazen.

zazen: [Japanese] A Buddhist style of sitting meditation.

zen: [Japanese] A school of Buddhism whose main emphasis is “zazen.” Calm state.

Zhang Zhung: A country to the west of Tibet with esoteric teachings and a language and culture that we have only fragments of today.

Zhang Zhung Nyan Gyud: A cycle of very important teachings on Dzogchen, preserved in the Bon tradition.

zendo: [Japanese] see “ashram.”

zenji: [Japanese] Zen master. An honorific used only for great teachers.

zhine: [Tibetan] (zhi gnas) (“shamatha” in Sanskrit) Calm abiding.