Torah The five books of Moses, and by extension, all of Jewish tradition and teaching. The five books of Moses, and by extension, all of Jewish tradition and teaching.
tzuris (Yiddish) Troubles, pain. (Yiddish) Troubles, pain.
urim and thummim Lots used for divination by the high priest. Lots used for divination by the high priest.
yarmulke (Yiddish) Skullcap. (Yiddish) Skullcap.
yeshiva School for rabbinic study. School for rabbinic study.
yesod lit., foundation. One of the ten sefirot. lit., foundation. One of the ten sefirot.
yetzirah lit., formation. One of four kabbalistic worlds. See lit., formation. One of four kabbalistic worlds. See olamot olamot. Zohar Zohar The Book of Splendor, kabbalistic masterpiece from thirteenth century Spain. The Book of Splendor, kabbalistic masterpiece from thirteenth century Spain.
TIBETAN AND SANSKRIT.
ani lit., auntie. A Buddhist nun. lit., auntie. A Buddhist nun.
anicca Impermanence. Impermanence.
Avalokiteshvara The Bodhisattva of Compa.s.sion. Tibetan Buddhists consider the Dalai Lama to be a manifestation of Avalokiteshvara. The Bodhisattva of Compa.s.sion. Tibetan Buddhists consider the Dalai Lama to be a manifestation of Avalokiteshvara.
bhikku, bhikshu Monk. Monk.
bodhichitta Good heart, altruism. Good heart, altruism.
bodhisattva One who forswears the achievement of nirvana to aid others. "The Bodhisattva ideal is the aspiration to practise infinite compa.s.sion with infinite wisdom" (XIV Dalai Lama). One who forswears the achievement of nirvana to aid others. "The Bodhisattva ideal is the aspiration to practise infinite compa.s.sion with infinite wisdom" (XIV Dalai Lama).
Buddha lit., the awakened one. The historic Buddha, Gautama. Mahayana Buddhism contemplates many incarnations and manifestations of the Buddha. lit., the awakened one. The historic Buddha, Gautama. Mahayana Buddhism contemplates many incarnations and manifestations of the Buddha. chakra chakra lit., wheel. Energy center in the body. lit., wheel. Energy center in the body.
chuba Tibetan wool tunic. Tibetan wool tunic.
dakini lit.; "She who goes in the sky." In Tibetan Buddhist practice, a G.o.ddess, and, in the largest sense, a symbol of lit.; "She who goes in the sky." In Tibetan Buddhist practice, a G.o.ddess, and, in the largest sense, a symbol of shunyata shunyata.
Dalai Lama lit., Ocean Teacher. Honorific for the temporal and spiritual leader of Tibet. lit., Ocean Teacher. Honorific for the temporal and spiritual leader of Tibet.
deity yoga Form of meditation in which pract.i.tioner visualizes self as a deity. Form of meditation in which pract.i.tioner visualizes self as a deity. deva deva Deity. Deity.
dharma The teachings of the Buddha and more generally, Buddhist wisdom. The teachings of the Buddha and more generally, Buddhist wisdom. dukkha dukkha Usually translated, suffering. Discomfort, unsatisfactoriness. Usually translated, suffering. Discomfort, unsatisfactoriness. dzog chen dzog chen A Tibetan form of Chan Buddhism with methods of rapid enlightenment. A Tibetan form of Chan Buddhism with methods of rapid enlightenment.
gelukpa Tibetan Buddhist sect headed by the Dalai Lama. Tibetan Buddhist sect headed by the Dalai Lama.
geshe One who has completed advanced study in Tibetan Buddhist teachings. One who has completed advanced study in Tibetan Buddhist teachings. harijan harijan A member of the untouchable caste. A member of the untouchable caste.
jataka tales Stories of the Buddha"s lives in previous incarnations. Stories of the Buddha"s lives in previous incarnations. kagyu kagyu Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
Kalachakra Tantric teachings about the cycles of time. Tantric teachings about the cycles of time.
kar sevak Hindu fundamentalist. Hindu fundamentalist.
Kas.h.a.g The Tibetan cabinet in exile. The Tibetan cabinet in exile.
katak A white silk scarf used ceremonially. A white silk scarf used ceremonially.
kuten lit., physical basis. The medium of the Tibetan oracle. lit., physical basis. The medium of the Tibetan oracle.
lam rim Graduated path. Teachings leading to enlightenment. Graduated path. Teachings leading to enlightenment.
lama A Tibetan Buddhist sage. A Tibetan Buddhist sage.
lingkhor Holy walk. A circ.u.mambulation path for pilgrims. Holy walk. A circ.u.mambulation path for pilgrims.
Mahayana lit., greater vehicle. Buddhism which emphasizes that nirvana is not to be sought for individual alone. The Buddhism of Tibet is Mahayana. lit., greater vehicle. Buddhism which emphasizes that nirvana is not to be sought for individual alone. The Buddhism of Tibet is Mahayana. mala mala Meditation beads. Meditation beads.
mandala A sacred diagram, used in visualization and meditation. A sacred diagram, used in visualization and meditation. mantra mantra Verbal formula repeated as form of meditation, e.g., Om Mani Padme Hum. Verbal formula repeated as form of meditation, e.g., Om Mani Padme Hum.
mo-mo Delicious Tibetan pancake. Delicious Tibetan pancake.
nadi Energy channel in the body. Energy channel in the body.
nirvana Extinction of desire; freedom from rebirth. Extinction of desire; freedom from rebirth.
Om Mani Padme Hum A Sanskrit mantra. According to the Dalai Lama, "this is almost our national mantra." The meaning is, "The Jewel in the Lotus." Jewel = thought of enlightenment, Lotus = mind. A Sanskrit mantra. According to the Dalai Lama, "this is almost our national mantra." The meaning is, "The Jewel in the Lotus." Jewel = thought of enlightenment, Lotus = mind.
Potala The Dalai Lama"s winter palace in Lhasa. The Dalai Lama"s winter palace in Lhasa.
prayer wheel A device for mechanically producing a mantra. May take the form of a large cylinder in a temple, or a small handheld cylinder with a handle that is whirled. A device for mechanically producing a mantra. May take the form of a large cylinder in a temple, or a small handheld cylinder with a handle that is whirled.
rinpoche lit., precious one. Tibetan teacher or master. Often used for tulkus, or reincarnates. lit., precious one. Tibetan teacher or master. Often used for tulkus, or reincarnates.
roshi In Zen Buddhism, the head of a monastery. In Zen Buddhism, the head of a monastery.
sakya Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
samsara World of delusion, i.e., this world. World of delusion, i.e., this world.
sangha The community of Buddhist pract.i.tioners. The community of Buddhist pract.i.tioners.
shunyata Emptiness. Important doctrine in Tibetan Buddhism brought over from the teachings of Nagarjuna. Emptiness. Important doctrine in Tibetan Buddhism brought over from the teachings of Nagarjuna.
stupa A repository for relics. A repository for relics.
tantra, tantras 1. Collection of Hindu texts brought over to Tibet. 2. Practices a.s.sociated with tantrayana. 1. Collection of Hindu texts brought over to Tibet. 2. Practices a.s.sociated with tantrayana.
tantrayana Esoteric Tibetan Buddhism, advanced meditation teachings, including deity yoga, said to promise speedy enlightenment. Same as vajrayana. Esoteric Tibetan Buddhism, advanced meditation teachings, including deity yoga, said to promise speedy enlightenment. Same as vajrayana. tashe delek tashe delek Peace unto you. Tibetan greeting. Peace unto you. Tibetan greeting.
thangka Tibetan devotional painting on silk scroll. Tibetan devotional painting on silk scroll.
Thekchen Choeling lit., Island of Mahayana Teaching. Compound in Dharamsala including Dalai Lama"s residence, Tsuglakhang, and Inst.i.tute of Buddhist Dialectics. lit., Island of Mahayana Teaching. Compound in Dharamsala including Dalai Lama"s residence, Tsuglakhang, and Inst.i.tute of Buddhist Dialectics.
Theravada, Theravadan lit., way of the elders. Form of Buddhism practiced in Sri Lanka, Thailand. Emphasizes individual nirvana and focused more on the teachings of the historical Buddha. lit., way of the elders. Form of Buddhism practiced in Sri Lanka, Thailand. Emphasizes individual nirvana and focused more on the teachings of the historical Buddha.
tsampa Barley flour. Barley flour.
Tsuglakhang In Lhasa, now in Dharamsala, the Tibetan "central cathedral." In Lhasa, now in Dharamsala, the Tibetan "central cathedral." tulku tulku A reincarnate. A highly realized master has the ability to be reborn in whatever body will most help suffering sentient beings. A reincarnate. A highly realized master has the ability to be reborn in whatever body will most help suffering sentient beings.
Tum-mo lit., inner heat. Advanced tantric meditation practice involving control of autonomic processes of the body. lit., inner heat. Advanced tantric meditation practice involving control of autonomic processes of the body.
tujaychay Thank you. Thank you.
Vajradhatu lit., realm of the diamond. Chogyam Trungpa"s Tibetan Buddhist community in Boulder, later Halifax. lit., realm of the diamond. Chogyam Trungpa"s Tibetan Buddhist community in Boulder, later Halifax.
vajrayana Way of the Vajra, or diamond truth, in Tibetan Buddhism. The same as tantrayana. Way of the Vajra, or diamond truth, in Tibetan Buddhism. The same as tantrayana.
vihara A Buddhist monastery in the Theravadan tradition. A Buddhist monastery in the Theravadan tradition.
vipa.s.sana Insight meditation. Insight meditation.
yidam A deity visualized in deity yoga. A deity visualized in deity yoga.
About the Author.
RODGER KAMENETZ is the author of the National Jewish Book Awardwinning Stalking Elijah Stalking Elijah and and A History of Last Night"s Dream A History of Last Night"s Dream. He has written five books of poetry, including The Lowercase Jew The Lowercase Jew, and he has been called "the most formidable of the Jewish-American poets." His memoir, Terra Infirma Terra Infirma, has been described as "the most beautiful book ever written about a mother and son."
Kamenetz is professor in the department of English and in the department of philosophy and religious studies at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He is the founding director of the MFA program in Creative Writing, and also the founding director of the Jewish Studies Program. He holds a B.A. from Yale College and graduate degrees from Johns Hopkins and Stanford Universities.
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