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| Explanations of some Buddhist terms. | |
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| Term | Definition | |
| Bardo | (skt.: antarabhava; tib.: bar do) Literally, interval between the two or intermediate state. Usually term bardo refers to the period between death and the next rebirth. | |
| Bell | (skt.: ghanta; tib.: dril bu) A tantric implement symbolizing wisdom which is held in the left hand (the female side), usually in conjunction with vajra, which symbolizes method (compassion or bliss), held in the right hand (the male side). | |
| Bhagavan | (skt.: bhagavan/bhagavat; tib.: chom den de) One of the ten honorable titles of a Buddha. Bhagavat means possessing fortune, venerable, or holy. In Buddhism, it is used as an epithet for a Buddha and is often translated as blessed one. | |
| Bhumi | (skt.: bhumi; tib.: sa) Literally ground. A stage of realization and activity of a Bodhisattva on the path to Buddhahood. Usually ten such levels are recognized. Chandrakirti says in the Bodhisattva-Avatara Shastra that the aspiration to climb the Bodhisattva Bhumis is reached by practicing the 6 Paramitas, which are then successively lead to perfection through the first six Bhumis. | |
| Bodhichitta | (skt.: bodhichitta; tib.: jang chub kyi sem) Usually translated as Wish for Enlightenment or Awakening Mind. Bodhichitta is defined as the wish to achieve Buddhahood for the benefit of others. Bodhichitta is the main mind and not a mental factor and it is an underlying motivation of practitioners of Mahayana Buddhism. Beings who have realized Bodhichitta are called Bodhisattvas. There are many types of divisions of Bodhichitta: 1. Divison corresponding to the two truths: - (kun dzob jang sem) Conventional Bodhichitta, which is wanting to become a Buddha to help all sentient beings. - (don dam jang sem) Ultimate Bodhichitta, which is direct perception of emptiness. 2. Division by its nature: - (mön sem) Aspiring Bodhichitta, which is the aspiration to achieve enlightenment to benefit all beings. - (jug sem) Engaged Bodhichitta, which is to follow Bodhisattva vows and Bodhisattva behavior to practice six perfections that will actually bring us to Enlightenment. 3. Divison by the way one thinks: - (gyel po ta bui sem kye) King-like Bodhichitta, where you want to become enlightened first and then lead others to Enlightenment. - (dzi bu ta bui sem kye) Shepherd-like Bodhichitta, where you stay behind and shepherd all other beings to Enlightenment before realizing it yourself. - (nyen pa ta bui sem kye) Ferryman-like Bodhichitta, where you want to achieve Enlightenment along with all other beings. (note: Shepherd like Bodhichitta and Ferryman like Bodhicitta are only a kind of description of willingness to help others first; actually no one would postpone their own Enlightenment, because realizing it is the highest way of helping others.) | |
| Bodhicitta | (skt.: bodhichitta; tib.: jang chub kyi sem) Usually translated as Wish for Enlightenment or Awakening Mind. Bodhichitta is defined as the wish to achieve Buddhahood for the benefit of others. Bodhichitta is the main mind and not a mental factor and it is an underlying motivation of practitioners of Mahayana Buddhism. Beings who have realized Bodhichitta are called Bodhisattvas. There are many types of divisions of Bodhichitta: 1. Divison corresponding to the two truths: - (kun dzob jang sem) Conventional Bodhichitta, which is wanting to become a Buddha to help all sentient beings. - (don dam jang sem) Ultimate Bodhichitta, which is direct perception of emptiness. 2. Division by its nature: - (mön sem) Aspiring Bodhichitta, which is the aspiration to achieve enlightenment to benefit all beings. - (jug sem) Engaged Bodhichitta, which is to follow Bodhisattva vows and Bodhisattva behavior to practice six perfections that will actually bring us to Enlightenment. 3. Divison by the way one thinks: - (gyel po ta bui sem kye) King-like Bodhichitta, where you want to become enlightened first and then lead others to Enlightenment. - (dzi bu ta bui sem kye) Shepherd-like Bodhichitta, where you stay behind and shepherd all other beings to Enlightenment before realizing it yourself. - (nyen pa ta bui sem kye) Ferryman-like Bodhichitta, where you want to achieve Enlightenment along with all other beings. (note: Shepherd like Bodhichitta and Ferryman like Bodhicitta are only a kind of description of willingness to help others first; actually no one would postpone their own Enlightenment, because realizing it is the highest way of helping others.) | |
| Bodhisattva | (skt.: bodhisattva; tib.: jang chub sem pa) Literally means being (sattva) of Enlightenment (bodhi). It refers to a Mahayana practitioner who has developed Bodhichitta, the aspiration to attain Enlightenment, in order to benefit all sentient beings. There are two types of Bodhisattvas: aspiring Bodhisattvas and realized Bodhisattvas. A practitioner becomes a realized Bodhisattva when he reaches the path of seeing i.e. the first bhumi. Driven by Bodhichitta and having realized Emptiness, a Bodhisattva devotes his entire life to reaching Enlightenment, for the sake of benefiting every single sentient being. | |
| Bön | (tib.: bön) The indigenous religion of Tibet. A form of nature-worship and shamanism, which through time merged with Buddhism to the extent that now His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama counts it as the fifth main school of Tibetan Buddhism. Some elements of the Bön religion can be traced also in the contemporary Buddhism, particularly in the Nyingma school. | |
| Brahma | (skt.: brahma; tib.: tshang pa) A chief god in the form realm. Sometimes called also Mahabrahma, the great heavenly king Brahma. A god said to live in the first and lowest of the four meditation heavens in the world of form above Mount Sumeru. Also one of the three major deities of Hinduism. He is said to be the first being to appear when new world is formed. | |
| Brahmin | (skt.: brahman/brahmin; tib.: dram ze) Member of the priestly caste, the highest of the four hindu castes. | |
| Buddha | (skt.: Buddha; tib.: sangye) The word Buddha usually refers to: 1. To the Shakyamuni Buddha. Before He attained Enlightenment He was called Prince Siddharta, but after He attained it He was called Shakyamuni Buddha. This happened about 2600 years ago. 2. The word Buddha can also refer to the State one obtains at the end of the spiritual Path described as Buddha-Dharma or Buddhism. | |
| Buddha bodies | There are four ways how to divide the bodies of a Buddha: - Two bodies: Dharmakaya, Rupakaya - Three bodies: Nirmanakaya, Sambhogakaya, Dharmakaya - Four bodies: Svabhavakaya, Jnanadharmakaya, Nirmanakaya, Sambhogakaya - Five bodies: Svabhavakaya, Jnanadharmakaya, Nirmanakaya, Sambhogakaya and according to different traditions the fifth body is Vajrakaya, Mahasukhakaya or Abhisambhodikaya. Dharmakaya (tib.: chu ku) Dharma body. The omniscient mind of a fully enlightened being, which, free of all coverings, remains meditatively absorbed in the direct perception of emptiness while simultaneously cognizing all phenomena. The basis for Dharmakaya is collection of wisdom. Dharmakaya can be divided in Jnanadharmakaya and Svabhavakaya. Rupakaya (tib.: suk ku) Form body. Refers to emanation bodies of a Buddha. The basis for Rupakaya is collection of merit. Rupakaya can be divided in Nirmanakaya and Sambhogakaya. Nirmanakaya (tib.: trul ku) Emanation body. There are three types of Nirmanakaya: 1. (tib. : zo ye tul ku) Nirmanakaya of artefacts, for example statues and ot her sacred artefacts that manifest and are venerated as religious obje cts. 2. (tib. : kye we tul ku) Nirmanakaya of birth, for example those highly evol ved beings who continue to reincarnate for the benefit of others, like His Holiness the Dalai Lama. 3. (tib. : chul ku tul ku) Absolute Nirmanakaya with all 112 physical signs l ike Lord Buddha Shakyamuni. Sambhogakaya (tib.: long ku) Enjoyment body. Body in form of a deity, subtle and pure body made of light, celestial body. Svabhavakaya (tib.: ngo wo nyi ku) Essence body. Refers to the essence of the other three bodies, which is emptiness. Jnanadharmakaya (tib.: yeshe chu ku) Wisdom body. Refers to omniscience of a Buddha. Vajrakaya (tib.: do rje ku) Vajra body. It is the immutable or unchanging nature of the other four Buddha bodies. Mahasukhakaya (tib.: de wa chen po ku) Body of great bliss. Refers to great blissful awareness of the omniscient mind of a Buddha. Abhisambhodikaya (tib.: ngon jang gi ku) Body of manifest Enlightenment. Abhisambodhikaya makes Buddha-bodies appear in various forms suitable for benefiting others. Note: according to different traditions and systems there are slightly different classifications and descriptions of Buddha bodies. | |
| Buddha nature | (skt.: tathagatagarbha; tib.: de shin shek pe nying po) The clear light nature of mind possessed by all sentient beings, which is the potential for all sentient beings to become enlightened by removing the two obscurations: the obscuration to liberation and the obscuration to omniscience. | |
| Buddhahood | (skt: bodhi; tib.: jang chub) Awakening; Buddhahood. The ultimate goal of Buddhist practice, attained when all limitations have been removed from the mind and all ones positive potential has been realized. It is a state characterized by unlimited compassion, skill, and wisdom (omniscience). There are three types of Enlightenment, though the first two are not real Enlightenment, but only Nirvana: 1. Hinayana Enlightenment (Nirvana) of the Listeneres 2. Hinayana Enlightnement (Nirvana) of the Self Made Buddhas 3. Mahayana Enlightenment, which is the highest | |
| Definition | ||
