The Teaching on the Great Compassion of the Tathāgata
Glossary

Sixth god realm of form, meaning “luminosity,” it is the highest of the three heavens that make up the second dhyāna heaven in the form realm.

The four abodes of Brahmā are loving kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, also known as the four “immeasurables.” The term is also rendered in this translation as “Brahmā abodes.”

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

In a general sense, samādhi can describe a number of different meditative states. In the Mahāyāna literature, in particular in the Prajñāpāramitā sūtras, we find extensive lists of different samādhis, numbering over one hundred.

In a more restricted sense, and when understood as a mental state, samādhi is defined as the one-pointedness of the mind (cittaikāgratā), the ability to remain on the same object over long periods of time. The Drajor Bamponyipa (sgra sbyor bam po gnyis pa) commentary on the Mahāvyutpatti explains the term samādhi as referring to the instrument through which mind and mental states “get collected,” i.e., it is by the force of samādhi that the continuum of mind and mental states becomes collected on a single point of reference without getting distracted.

Shorthand for anutpattika­dharma­kṣānti, “acceptance of the nonorigination of phenomena,” its realization being one of the qualities acquired by bodhisattvas. Dharmakṣanti can also refer to a way one becomes “receptive” to key points of the Dharma.

The name of an absorption.

A buddhafield at the zenith, where the Tathāgata Sovereign of Supreme Reverberating Sound resides.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

The essentially pure nature of mind is obscured and afflicted by various psychological defilements, which destroy the mind’s peace and composure and lead to unwholesome deeds of body, speech, and mind, acting as causes for continued existence in saṃsāra. Included among them are the primary afflictions of desire (rāga), anger (dveṣa), and ignorance (avidyā). It is said that there are eighty-four thousand of these negative mental qualities, for which the eighty-four thousand categories of the Buddha’s teachings serve as the antidote.

Kleśa is also commonly translated as “negative emotions,” “disturbing emotions,” and so on. The Pāli kilesa, Middle Indic kileśa, and Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit kleśa all primarily mean “stain” or “defilement.” The translation “affliction” is a secondary development that derives from the more general (non-Buddhist) classical understanding of √kliś (“to harm,“ “to afflict”). Both meanings are noted by Buddhist commentators.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

The basic components out of which the world and the personal self are formed, usually listed as a set of five.

Seventeenth god realm of form, meaning “highest,” it is the highest of the five heavens that make up the “pure abodes” in the form realm.

A bodhisattva mahāsattva present in the Buddha’s assembly.

Tenth god realm of form, meaning “cloudless,” it is the lowest of the three realms in the fourth dhyāna heaven in the form realm.

A bodhisattva mahāsattva present in the Buddha’s assembly. His name means, “Magical Voice like a Victory Banner of Infinite Eloquence.”

A bodhisattva mahāsattva present in the Buddha’s assembly. His name means, “Abundant with the Support of the Immeasurable Accumulations of Merit and Wisdom.”

The world realm of the Tathāgata Glory of Precious Blue Lotus.

A buddhafield at the nadir where the Tathāgata Glory of the Precious Red Lotus resides.

Four contemplations on the body, sensation, mind, and phenomena.

Ninth of the twelve links of dependent arising. For the four appropriations, see 2.­225.

Fifth god realm of form, meaning “Immeasurable Light,” it is the second of the three heavens that make up the second dhyāna heaven in the form realm.

Eighth god realm of form, meaning “Limitless Virtue,” it is the second of the three heavens that make up the third dhyāna heaven in the form realm.

One who has achieved the fourth and final level of attainment on the śrāvaka path and who has attained liberation with the cessation of all afflictive emotions.

The name of an absorption.

The name of an absorption.

Twelfth god realm of the form realms, meaning “Beings without Concepts,” it is the third of the three heavens that make up the fourth dhyāna heaven in the form realm. Also called Bṛhatphala.

Powerful beings who live around Mount Meru and are usually classified as belonging to the higher realms. They are characterized as jealous and ambitious, forever in conflict with the gods.

Fourteenth god realm of form, meaning “Without Hardship,” it is the second of the five “pure abodes” in the form realm.

Thirteenth god realm of form, it is the first of the five heavens that make up the “pure abodes” in the form realm.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

Yeshé Dé (late eighth to early ninth century) was the most prolific translator of sūtras into Tibetan. Altogether he is credited with the translation of more than one hundred sixty sūtra translations and more than one hundred additional translations, mostly on tantric topics. In spite of Yeshé Dé’s great importance for the propagation of Buddhism in Tibet during the imperial era, only a few biographical details about this figure are known. Later sources describe him as a student of the Indian teacher Padmasambhava, and he is also credited with teaching both sūtra and tantra widely to students of his own. He was also known as Nanam Yeshé Dé, from the Nanam (sna nam) clan.

Four qualities that eliminate negative factors: zeal, vigor, attention (Tib. sems pa, Skt. citta), and investigation (Tib. dpyod pa, Skt. mīmāṃsā).

The tenth of the twelve links of dependent arising.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

In Buddhist literature, an epithet applied to buddhas, most often to Śākyamuni. The Sanskrit term generally means “possessing fortune,” but in specifically Buddhist contexts it implies that a buddha is in possession of six auspicious qualities (bhaga) associated with complete awakening. The Tibetan term‍—where bcom is said to refer to “subduing” the four māras, ldan to “possessing” the great qualities of buddhahood, and ’das to “going beyond” saṃsāra and nirvāṇa‍—possibly reflects the commentarial tradition where the Sanskrit bhagavat is interpreted, in addition, as “one who destroys the four māras.” This is achieved either by reading bhagavat as bhagnavat (“one who broke”), or by tracing the word bhaga to the root √bhañj (“to break”).

The name of a dhāraṇī.

Also translated here as “thought of awakening.”

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

A high-ranking deity presiding over a divine world; he is also considered to be the lord of the Sahā world (our universe). Though not considered a creator god in Buddhism, Brahmā occupies an important place as one of two gods (the other being Indra/Śakra) said to have first exhorted the Buddha Śākyamuni to teach the Dharma. The particular heavens found in the form realm over which Brahmā rules are often some of the most sought-after realms of higher rebirth in Buddhist literature. Since there are many universes or world systems, there are also multiple Brahmās presiding over them. His most frequent epithets are “Lord of the Sahā World” (Sahāṃpati) and Great Brahmā (Mahābrahmā).

See “abodes of Brahmā.”

The heaven of Brahmā, usually located just above the desire realm as one of the first levels of the form realm and equated with the state that one achieves in the first concentration (dhyāna). Its extent varies depending on the source.

First god realm of form, meaning “Stratum of Brahmā,” it is the lowest of the three heavens that make up the first dhyāna heaven in the form realm.

Second god realm of form, meaning “Assembly of Brahmā,” it is the second of the three heavens that make up the first dhyāna heaven in the form realm. Also called Brahma­purohita.

Second god realm of form, meaning “high priests of Brahmā,” it is the second of the three heavens that make up the first dhyāna heaven in the form realm. Also called Brahma­pariṣadya.

Twelfth god realm of the form realms, meaning “Great Fruition,” it is the third of the three heavens that make up the fourth dhyāna heaven in the form realm. Also called Asaṃjñisattva.

A buddhafield in the southern direction of the Tathāgata Countless Qualities Precious Courage.

The name of an absorption.

This term can refer to the general qualities of a buddha or to specific sets such as the ten strengths, the four fearlessnesses, the four discernments, and the eighteen unique buddha qualities; or even more specifically to another set of eighteen: the ten strengths; the four fearlessnesses; mindfulness of body, speech, and mind; and great compassion.

An ancient title, derived from the verb man (“to contemplate”), given to those who have attained the realization of a truth through their own contemplation and not by divine revelation. Also rendered here as “sage.”

Used here as an epithet of the buddhas and of the Buddha Śākyamuni in particular.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

Four gods who live on the lower slopes (fourth level) of Mount Meru in the eponymous Heaven of the Four Great Kings (Cāturmahā­rājika, rgyal chen bzhi’i ris) and guard the four cardinal directions. Each is the leader of a nonhuman class of beings living in his realm. They are Dhṛtarāṣṭra, ruling the gandharvas in the east; Virūḍhaka, ruling over the kumbhāṇḍas in the south; Virūpākṣa, ruling the nāgas in the west; and Vaiśravaṇa (also known as Kubera) ruling the yakṣas in the north. Also referred to as Guardians of the World or World Protectors (lokapāla, ’jig rten skyong ba).

The lowest of the six god realms of the desire realm. See “Catur­mahā­rāja.”

One of the abodes of Brahmā, the other being: loving kindness or love, equanimity, and joy.

The name of an absorption.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

Dhyāna is defined as one-pointed abiding in an undistracted state of mind, free from afflicted mental states. Four states of dhyāna are identified as being conducive to birth within the form realm. In the context of the Mahāyāna, it is the fifth of the six perfections. It is commonly translated as “concentration,” “meditative concentration,” and so on.

The name of an absorption.

A tathāgata in the southeastern buddhafield Sorrowless.

Also translated here as “empowerment.”

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

Literally, “to flow” or “to ooze.” Mental defilements or contaminations that “flow out” toward the objects of cyclic existence, binding us to them. Vasubandhu offers two alternative explanations of this term: “They cause beings to remain (āsayanti) within saṃsāra” and “They flow from the Summit of Existence down to the Avīci hell, out of the six wounds that are the sense fields” (Abhidharma­kośa­bhāṣya 5.40; Pradhan 1967, p. 308). The Summit of Existence (bhavāgra, srid pa’i rtse mo) is the highest point within saṃsāra, while the hell called Avīci (mnar med) is the lowest; the six sense fields (āyatana, skye mched) here refer to the five sense faculties plus the mind, i.e., the six internal sense fields.

In this text:

Also translated here as “defilement.” For the four contaminants, see 2.­225.

The four correct exertions are (1) abandoning existing negative mental states, (2) abandoning the production of such states, (3) giving rise to virtuous states of mind that are not yet produced, (4) and letting those states continue.

(1) A tathāgata in the buddhafield in the northern direction called Fully Adorned with Jewels. (2) A tathāgata in the buddhafield in the southern direction called Buddha Courage.

Also translated here as “eloquence.”

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

One of the thirty-two signs, or major marks, of a great being. In its simplest form it is a pointed shape of the head like a turban (the Sanskrit term, uṣṇīṣa, in fact means “turban”), or more elaborately a dome-shaped extension. The extension is described as having various extraordinary attributes such as emitting and absorbing rays of light or reaching an immense height.

The forest, located outside of Vārāṇasī, where the Buddha first taught the Dharma.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

Literally, “to flow” or “to ooze.” Mental defilements or contaminations that “flow out” toward the objects of cyclic existence, binding us to them. Vasubandhu offers two alternative explanations of this term: “They cause beings to remain (āsayanti) within saṃsāra” and “They flow from the Summit of Existence down to the Avīci hell, out of the six wounds that are the sense fields” (Abhidharma­kośa­bhāṣya 5.40; Pradhan 1967, p. 308). The Summit of Existence (bhavāgra, srid pa’i rtse mo) is the highest point within saṃsāra, while the hell called Avīci (mnar med) is the lowest; the six sense fields (āyatana, skye mched) here refer to the five sense faculties plus the mind, i.e., the six internal sense fields.

In this text:

Also translated here as “contamination.”

This term is also translated as ‘renunciation’ and denotes the practitioner’s mind turning away from the bonds of saṃsāra and towards liberation.

The relative nature of phenomena, which arises in dependence on causes and conditions. Together with the four noble truths, this was the first teaching given by the Buddha. See “twelve links of dependent arising.”

One of the three realms of saṃsāra, characterized by the prevalence of sense desire.

See “gods.”

An incantation, spell, or mnemonic formula that distills essential points of the Dharma and is used by practitioners to attain mundane and supramundane goals. It also has the sense of “retention,” referring to the special capacity of practitioners to memorize and recall detailed teachings. Also translated here as “retention.”

The name of a Bodhisattva. The principal interlocutor of The Teaching on the Great Compassion of the Tathāgata, where he also gives a discourse of his own.

An early term used to denote the Buddha’s teaching. “Dharma” refers to the sūtras and “Vinaya” to the rules of discipline.

The name of a bodhisattva. One of the more prominent interlocutors in The Teaching on the Great Compassion of the Tathāgata, he is instrumental in instigating the Buddha’s discourse.

Also translated here as “vigor.”

See “four types of discriminating knowledge.”

The name of a tathāgata absorption.

The name of a light.

A bodhisattva mahāsattva present in the Buddha’s assembly.

These consist of the opposites of the eight branches of the eightfold path: wrong view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and absorption.

The first three liberations occur within the form realm: (1) liberation of the embodied looking at form (gzugs can gzugs la blta ba’i rnam thar), (2) liberation of the formless looking at a form (gzugs med gzugs la blta ba’i rnam thar), and (3) liberation through beautiful form (sdug pa’i rnam par thar pa); and the latter five occur within the formless realm: (4) liberation of infinite space (nam mkha’ mtha’ yas kyi rnam thar), (5) liberation of infinite consciousness (rnam shes mtha’ yas kyi rnam thar), (6) liberation of nothingness (ci yang med pa’i rnam thar), (7) liberation of the peak of existence (srid rtsi’i rnam thar), and (8) liberation of cessation (’gog pa’i rnam thar).

The path leading to the attainment of an arhat, consisting of correct view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and absorption.

A person who is eight steps away in the arc of their development from becoming an arhat (Tib. dgra bcom pa). Specifically, this term refers to one who is on the cusp of becoming a stream-enterer (Skt. śrotāpanna; Tib. rgyun du zhugs pa), and is the first and lowest stage in a list of eight stages or classes of a noble person (Skt. āryapudgala). The person at this lowest stage in the sequence is still on the path of seeing (Skt. darśanamārga; Tib. mthong lam), and then enters the path of cultivation (Skt. bhāvanāmārga; Tib. sgoms lam) upon attaining the next stage, that of a stream-enterer (stage 7). From there they progress through the remaining stages of the śrāvaka path, becoming in turn a once-returner (stages six and five), a non-returner (stages four and three), and an arhat (stages two and one). This same “eighth stage” also appears in set of ten stages (Skt. daśabhūmi; Tib. sa bcu) found in Mahāyāna sources, where it is the third step out of the ten. Not to be confused with the ten stages of the bodhisattva’s path, these ten stages mark the progress of one who sequentially follows the paths of a śrāvaka, pratyekabuddha, and then bodhisattva on their way to complete buddhahood. In this set of ten stages a person “on the eighth stage” is similarly one who is on the cusp of becoming a stream-enterer.

One way of describing experience and the world in terms of eighteen elements (eye and form, ear and sound, nose and odor, tongue and taste, body and tactile sensation, mind and mental objects, to which the six consciousnesses are added).

Also refers to the “four elements.”

Also translated here as “courage.”

Also translated here as “consecration.”

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

Emptiness denotes the ultimate nature of reality, the total absence of inherent existence and self-identity with respect to all phenomena. According to this view, all things and events are devoid of any independent, intrinsic reality that constitutes their essence. Nothing can be said to exist independent of the complex network of factors that gives rise to its origination, nor are phenomena independent of the cognitive processes and mental constructs that make up the conventional framework within which their identity and existence are posited. When all levels of conceptualization dissolve and when all forms of dichotomizing tendencies are quelled through deliberate meditative deconstruction of conceptual elaborations, the ultimate nature of reality will finally become manifest. It is the first of the three gateways to liberation.

A buddhafield in the eastern direction where the Tathāgata Immaculate Pure Precious Light, Sovereign of the Uninterrupted Luminous Display of Dharma Endowed with the Factors of Awakening resides.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

The name for our particular world system, the universe of a thousand million worlds, or trichiliocosm, in which our four-continent world is located. Although it is sometimes said that it can refer only to our own four-continent world around Mount Meru, the sūtras largely seem to equate it with this trichiliocosm, and this is confirmed by scholars like Jamgön Kongtrul (see The Treasury of Knowledge, Book One). Each trichiliocosm is ruled by a god Brahmā; thus, in this context, he bears the title of Sahāṃpati, Lord of Sahā. Our world system of Sahā, or Sahālokadhātu, is also described as being the buddhafield of the Buddha Śākyamuni. He teaches the Dharma here to beings who adhere to inferior ways and perceive this universe as an impure buddhafield contaminated with the five degenerations (pañcakaṣāya, snyigs ma lnga): the degeneration of time, sentient beings, place, lifespan, and mental afflictions (see The Teaching of Vimalakīrti, Toh 176). It is also mentioned as the field of activity of all the thousand buddhas of this Fortunate Eon (see The White Lotus of Compassion, Toh 112).

The name Sahā possibly derives from the Sanskrit √sah, “to bear, endure, or withstand.” It is often interpreted as alluding to the inhabitants of this world having to endure suffering. The Tibetan translation, mi mjed, follows along the same lines. It literally means “not unbearable,” in the sense that beings here are able to bear the suffering they experience.

The name of a dhāraṇī.

The name of a dhāraṇī.

One of the factors of awakening and one of the abodes of Brahmā, the other being: loving kindness or love, joy, and compassion.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

This term denotes the ontological status of phenomena, according to which they are said to possess existence in their own right‍—inherently, in and of themselves, objectively, and independent of any other phenomena such as our conception and labelling. The absence of such an ontological reality is defined as the true nature of reality, emptiness.

The three lower realms of animals, pretas, and hell beings. Also translated as “sad destinies” and “miserable destinies.”

The seven factors of awakening are listed in The Teaching on the Great Compassion of the Tathāgata as correct mindfulness, correct investigation of phenomena, correct vigor, correct joy, correct serenity, correct meditative absorption, and correct equanimity.

Most commonly refers to the cognitive faculties: the five senses plus the mental faculty. Also used here to refer to various faculties in a more general sense. See also the “five spiritual faculties.”

One of the factors of awakening. It is also included in the lists of the five spiritual faculties, the five strengths, and the seven riches.

The name of a light.

See “four types of fearlessness.”

One of the five aggregates and the seventh of the twelve links of dependent arising.

Five impediments to meditation: sense desire (’dod pa la ’dun pa, kāmacchanda), ill will (gnod sems, vyāpāda), drowsiness and torpor (rmugs pa dang gnyid, styānamiddha), agitation and guilt (rgod pa dang ’gyod pa, auddhatya­kaukṛtya), and doubt (the tshom, vicikitsā).

Faith, vigor, mindfulness, absorption, and insight.

A shorter form of the six classes of beings, these are (1) hell beings, (2) pretas, (3) animals, (4) human beings, and (5) gods. The fifth category is divided into gods and asuras when six realms are enumerated.

Faith, vigor, mindfulness, absorption, and insight. Although the same as the five spiritual faculties, they are stronger in terms of not being shaken by adverse conditions.

One of the three realms of saṃsāra, characterized by subtle materiality and the lack of coarse desire as in the desire realm.

As one of the five aggregates and the second of the twelve links of dependent arising, these are complex propensities that bring about actions. This term may also refer to composite objects or conditioned things in the generic sense.

One of the three realms of saṃsāra, characterized by having only subtle mental form.

The four levels of concentration related to the form realm.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

According to traditional Buddhist cosmology, our universe consists of a central mountain, known as Mount Meru or Sumeru, surrounded by four island continents (dvīpa), one in each of the four cardinal directions. The Abhidharmakośa explains that each of these island continents has a specific shape and is flanked by two smaller subcontinents of similar shape. To the south of Mount Meru is Jambudvīpa, corresponding either to the Indian subcontinent itself or to the known world. It is triangular in shape, and at its center is the place where the buddhas attain awakening. The humans who inhabit Jambudvīpa have a lifespan of one hundred years. To the east is Videha, a semicircular continent inhabited by humans who have a lifespan of two hundred fifty years and are twice as tall as the humans who inhabit Jambudvīpa. To the north is Uttarakuru, a square continent whose inhabitants have a lifespan of a thousand years. To the west is Godānīya, circular in shape, where the lifespan is five hundred years.

Earth, water, fire, and wind. Also called “four great elements.”

Earth, water, fire, and wind. Also called “four elements.”

The deities ruled over by Māra are also symbolic of the defects within a person that prevent awakening. These four personifications are (1) devaputra­māra (lha’i bu’i bdud), the divine māra, which is the distraction of pleasures, (2) mṛtyumāra (’chi bdag gi bdud), the māra of the Lord of Death, (3) skandhamāra (phung po’i bdud), the māra of the aggregates, which is the body, and (4) kleśamāra (nyon mongs pa’i bdud), the māra of the afflictive emotions.

The Buddha’s first teaching, which explains suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the path to the cessation of suffering.

Knowledge of phenomena, meaning, etymologies, and eloquence.

Fearlessness in declaring that one has (1) awakened, (2) ceased all illusions, (3) taught the obstacles to awakening, and (4) shown the way to liberation.

The name of an absorption.

The name of a world realm.

A buddhafield in the northwestern direction of the Tathāgata Sovereign Light Display.

A buddhafield in the northern direction of the Tathāgata Countless Qualities Precious Courage.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

A class of generally benevolent nonhuman beings who inhabit the skies, sometimes said to inhabit fantastic cities in the clouds, and more specifically to dwell on the eastern slopes of Mount Meru, where they are ruled by the Great King Dhṛtarāṣṭra. They are most renowned as celestial musicians who serve the gods. In the Abhidharma, the term is also used to refer to the mental body assumed by sentient beings during the intermediate state between death and rebirth. Gandharvas are said to live on fragrances (gandha) in the desire realm, hence the Tibetan translation dri za, meaning “scent eater.”

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

The Gaṅgā, or Ganges in English, is considered to be the most sacred river of India, particularly within the Hindu tradition. It starts in the Himalayas, flows through the northern plains of India, bathing the holy city of Vārāṇasī, and meets the sea at the Bay of Bengal, in Bangladesh. In the sūtras, however, this river is mostly mentioned not for its sacredness but for its abundant sands‍—noticeable still today on its many sandy banks and at its delta‍—which serve as a common metaphor for infinitely large numbers.

According to Buddhist cosmology, as explained in the Abhidharmakośa, it is one of the four rivers that flow from Lake Anavatapta and cross the southern continent of Jambudvīpa‍—the known human world or more specifically the Indian subcontinent.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

In Indian mythology, the garuḍa is an eagle-like bird that is regarded as the king of all birds, normally depicted with a sharp, owl-like beak, often holding a snake, and with large and powerful wings. They are traditionally enemies of the nāgas. In the Vedas, they are said to have brought nectar from the heavens to earth. Garuḍa can also be used as a proper name for a king of such creatures.

A tathāgata in the southwestern buddhafield Virtuous Eye.

A bodhisattva of the past world Stainless who received a dhāraṇī from the Tathāgata Stainless Illumination. A past incarnation of the bodhisattva Dhāraṇīśvara­rāja.

A tathāgata of the past world Virtuous Occurrence.

The name of a tathāgata in the world realm Appearance of the Sovereign of Water.

The tathāgata of the buddhafield, located at the nadir, called Appearing as Illumination.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

In the most general sense the devas‍—the term is cognate with the English divine‍—are a class of celestial beings who frequently appear in Buddhist texts, often at the head of the assemblies of nonhuman beings who attend and celebrate the teachings of the Buddha Śākyamuni and other buddhas and bodhisattvas. In Buddhist cosmology the devas occupy the highest of the five or six “destinies” (gati) of saṃsāra among which beings take rebirth. The devas reside in the devalokas, “heavens” that traditionally number between twenty-six and twenty-eight and are divided between the desire realm (kāmadhātu), form realm (rūpadhātu), and formless realm (ārūpyadhātu). A being attains rebirth among the devas either through meritorious deeds (in the desire realm) or the attainment of subtle meditative states (in the form and formless realms). While rebirth among the devas is considered favorable, it is ultimately a transitory state from which beings will fall when the conditions that lead to rebirth there are exhausted. Thus, rebirth in the god realms is regarded as a diversion from the spiritual path.

The name of our present eon.

A class of devas that, like the yakṣas, are ruled over by Kubera, but are also said to be his most trusted helpers. It is said that they protect his hidden treasures and live in mountain caves.

Special abilities or modes of cognition that arise from meditative realization. They are traditionally listed as five: divine sight, divine hearing, the ability to know past and future lives, the ability to know the minds of others, and the ability to produce miracles.

A buddhafield in the western direction of the Tathāgata Illuminator.

The name of an eon.

(1) Name of tathāgata in the western buddhafield Illuminated. (2) A bodhisattva in the southeastern buddhafield Sorrowless.

The tathāgata of the northeastern buddhafield Pure Immaculate Dwelling.

A bodhisattva in the northeastern buddhafield Pure Immaculate Dwelling.

A tathāgata in the eastern buddhafield Endowed with the Vast Display of the Precious Merits of Endless Qualities.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

The four meditations on love (maitrī), compassion (karuṇā), joy (muditā), and equanimity (upekṣā), as well as the states of mind and qualities of being that result from their cultivation. They are also called the four abodes of Brahmā (caturbrahmavihāra).

In the Abhidharmakośa, Vasubandhu explains that they are called apramāṇa‍—meaning “infinite” or “limitless”‍—because they take limitless sentient beings as their object, and they generate limitless merit and results. Love is described as the wish that beings be happy, and it acts as an antidote to malice (vyāpāda). Compassion is described as the wish for beings to be free of suffering, and acts as an antidote to harmfulness (vihiṃsā). Joy refers to rejoicing in the happiness beings already have, and it acts as an antidote to dislike or aversion (arati) toward others’ success. Equanimity is considering all beings impartially, without distinctions, and it is the antidote to attachment to both pleasure and malice (kāmarāgavyāpāda).

The name of an absorption.

King of the gods of Trāyastriṃśa, usually referred to by the name “Śakra.”

The name of a dhāraṇī.

Also translated as “understanding.”

One of the factors of awakening.

A divine river.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

The name of the southern continent in Buddhist cosmology, which can signify either the known human world, or more specifically the Indian subcontinent, literally “the jambu island/continent.” Jambu is the name used for a range of plum-like fruits from trees belonging to the genus Szygium, particularly Szygium jambos and Szygium cumini, and it has commonly been rendered “rose apple,” although “black plum” may be a less misleading term. Among various explanations given for the continent being so named, one (in the Abhidharmakośa) is that a jambu tree grows in its northern mountains beside Lake Anavatapta, mythically considered the source of the four great rivers of India, and that the continent is therefore named from the tree or the fruit. Jambudvīpa has the Vajrāsana at its center and is the only continent upon which buddhas attain awakening.

The name of a dhāraṇī.

The name of a pavilion emanated by the Buddha.

A mythical two-headed bird that is said to live in the snowy mountains. It is described in Buddhist texts as having a melodious song and is depicted in Buddhist art as resembling a pheasant.

One of the factors of awakening.

In Buddhist literature refers to a mythical bird with the head of a human and the body of a bird. The kalaviṅka’s call is said to be far more beautiful than that of all other birds, and so compelling that it can be heard even before the bird has hatched. The call of the kalaviṅka is thus used as an analogy to describe the voice of the Buddha.

Name of a former buddha usually counted as the second of the first four buddhas of the present Good Eon, the other three being Krakucchanda, Kāśyapa, and Śākyamuni.

Name of a former buddha usually counted as the third of the first four buddhas of the present Good Eon, the other three being Krakucchanda, Kanakamuni, and Śākyamuni.

An arhat and disciple the Buddha Śākyamuni. He is counted among the five wandering mendicants (parivrājaka) who initially ridiculed the Buddha’s austerities but later, after the Buddha’s awakening, became one of his first disciples and received his first discourse at Deer Park.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

A class of nonhuman beings that resemble humans to the degree that their very name‍—which means “is that human?”‍—suggests some confusion as to their divine status. Kinnaras are mythological beings found in both Buddhist and Brahmanical literature, where they are portrayed as creatures half human, half animal. They are often depicted as highly skilled celestial musicians.

Name of a former buddha usually counted as the first of the first four buddhas of the present Good Eon, the other three being Kanakamuni, Kāśyapa, and Śākyamuni.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

In its most general sense, this term refers to the state of freedom from suffering and cyclic existence, or saṃsāra, that is the goal of the Buddhist path. More specifically, the term may refer to a category of advanced meditative attainment such as those of the “eight liberations.”

The name of an absorption.

A bodhisattva in the northwestern buddhafield Free of Darkness.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

This term has three meanings: (1) the ultimate nature, (2) the experience of the ultimate nature, and (3) the quiescent state of a worthy one (arhat) to be avoided by bodhisattvas.

The name of a dhāraṇī.

The name of a seat.

Lit. “topsy-turvy”; in a mixed order. Also translated here as “nonsequential” and “perverted.”

The name of a dhāraṇī.

The name of an absorption.

Also rendered as love. One of the abodes of Brahmā, the other being: joy, equanimity, and compassion.

A being in the Buddha’s assembly.

Third god realm of form, meaning “Great Brahmā,” it is the highest of the three realms of the first dhyāna heaven in the form realms.

One of the Buddha’s principal disciples, he became the Buddha’s successor on his passing.

Synonym of “parinirvāṇa.”

One of the form realms.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

Literally “great serpents,” mahoragas are supernatural beings depicted as large, subterranean beings with human torsos and heads and the lower bodies of serpents. Their movements are said to cause earthquakes, and they make up a class of subterranean geomantic spirits whose movement through the seasons and months of the year is deemed significant for construction projects.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

The bodhisattva Maitreya is an important figure in many Buddhist traditions, where he is unanimously regarded as the buddha of the future era. He is said to currently reside in the heaven of Tuṣita, as Śākyamuni’s regent, where he awaits the proper time to take his final rebirth and become the fifth buddha in the Fortunate Eon, reestablishing the Dharma in this world after the teachings of the current buddha have disappeared. Within the Mahāyāna sūtras, Maitreya is elevated to the same status as other central bodhisattvas such as Mañjuśrī and Avalokiteśvara, and his name appears frequently in sūtras, either as the Buddha’s interlocutor or as a teacher of the Dharma. Maitreya literally means “Loving One.” He is also known as Ajita, meaning “Invincible.”

For more information on Maitreya, see, for example, the introduction to Maitreya’s Setting Out (Toh 198).

Listed as thirty-two marks on the body of a buddha.

(1) The demon who assailed Śākyamuni prior to his awakening. (2) The deities ruled over by Māra who do not wish any beings to escape from saṃsāra. (3) Any demonic force, the personification of conceptual and emotional obstacles. They are also symbolic of the defects within a person that prevent awakening. See also “four māras.”

A bodhisattva.

Lit. “Son of Māra.”

The means of attracting disciples: generosity, pleasant speech, beneficial conduct, and conduct that accords with the wishes of disciples.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

A state of deep concentration in which the mind is absorbed in its object to such a degree that conceptual thought is suspended. It is sometimes interpreted as settling (āhita) the mind in equanimity (sama).

A bodhisattva in the southwestern buddhafield Virtuous Eye.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

This is the faculty that enables the mind to maintain its attention on a referent object, counteracting the arising of forgetfulness, which is a great obstacle to meditative stability. The root smṛ may mean “to recollect” but also simply “to think of.” Broadly speaking, smṛti, commonly translated as “mindfulness,” means to bring something to mind, not necessarily something experienced in a distant past but also something that is experienced in the present, such as the position of one’s body or the breath.

Together with alertness (samprajāna, shes bzhin), it is one of the two indispensable factors for the development of calm abiding (śamatha, zhi gnas).

Listed as eighty minor signs on the body of a buddha.

See “bases of miraculous power.”

See “evil destinies.”

These are listed as nine: thinking that one’s enemy has harmed, is harming, or will harm oneself; thinking that one’s enemy has harmed, is harming, or will harm one’s friend; and thinking that someone has helped, is helping, or will help one’s enemy.

Morally virtuous or disciplined conduct and the abandonment of morally undisciplined conduct of body, speech, and mind. One of the six perfections of the bodhisattva. Also often rendered as “ethics,” “discipline,” and so on.

The name of an eon in the past.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

According to ancient Buddhist cosmology, this is the great mountain forming the axis of the universe. At its summit is Sudarśana, home of Śakra and his thirty-two gods, and on its flanks live the asuras. The mount has four sides facing the cardinal directions, each of which is made of a different precious stone. Surrounding it are several mountain ranges and the great ocean where the four principal island continents lie: in the south, Jambudvīpa (our world); in the west, Godānīya; in the north, Uttarakuru; and in the east, Pūrvavideha. Above it are the abodes of the desire realm gods. It is variously referred to as Meru, Mount Meru, Sumeru, and Mount Sumeru.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

A class of nonhuman beings who live in subterranean aquatic environments, where they guard wealth and sometimes also teachings. Nāgas are associated with serpents and have a snakelike appearance. In Buddhist art and in written accounts, they are regularly portrayed as half human and half snake, and they are also said to have the ability to change into human form. Some nāgas are Dharma protectors, but they can also bring retribution if they are disturbed. They may likewise fight one another, wage war, and destroy the lands of others by causing lightning, hail, and flooding.

The second highest of the six god realms of the desire realm, meaning “Enjoying Emanations.” Its inhabitants magically create the objects of their own enjoyment.

The ultimate cessation of suffering.

Religious or philosophical orders that were contemporary with the early Buddhist order, including Jains, Jaṭilas, Ājīvikas, and Cārvākas.

One who has achieved the third of the four levels of attainment on the śrāvaka path and who will no longer be reborn in saṃsāra.

Lit. “topsy-turvy”; in a mixed order. Also translated here as “loosely organized” and “perverted.” See n.­29.

The name of an absorption and the name of a dhāraṇī.

A bodhisattva in the northern buddhafield Fully Adorned with Jewels.

One who has achieved the second of the four levels of attainment on the śrāvaka path and who will attain liberation after only one more birth.

A bodhisattva in the buddhafield at the nadir called Appearing as Illumination.

The name of a demon said to reside in Para­nirmitavaśavartin.

The highest of the six god realms of the desire realm.

The final stage of passing into nirvāṇa, which occurs when an arhat or a buddha passes away.

Fourth god realm of form, meaning “Lesser Light,” it is the lowest of the three heavens that make up the second dhyāna heaven in the form realm.

Seventh god realm of form, meaning “Lesser Virtue,” it is the lowest of the three heavens that make up the third dhyāna heaven in the form realm.

The highest possible state in saṃsāra, it refers to the highest sphere of the formless realm, the Sphere of neither Perception nor Nonperception.

See “personalistic view.”

View that posits true reality in a person by taking one or more of the five aggregates to consist in a single, lasting, and autonomously existing entity (self). Also known as the view of the transitory collection.

Also translated here as “nonsequential” and “loosely organized.”

Also translated as “righteousness” and “Dharma” (see entry for “Dharma and Vinaya”).

This term refers to the vowels and consonants that make up written or spoken language.

Also translated here as “syllable.”

Also translated here as “afflictive emotion.”

“Heap of Insight.” A bodhisattva present in the Buddha’s assembly.

A bodhisattva mahāsattva present in the Buddha’s assembly. His name means, “Eloquence in Language Ascertained through Insight.”

King of the gods of Tuṣita.

The name of a god.

A bodhisattva in the Buddha’s assembly.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

Literally, “buddha for oneself” or “solitary realizer.” Someone who, in his or her last life, attains awakening entirely through their own contemplation, without relying on a teacher. Unlike the awakening of a fully realized buddha (samyaksambuddha), the accomplishment of a pratyeka­buddha is not regarded as final or ultimate. They attain realization of the nature of dependent origination, the selflessness of the person, and a partial realization of the selflessness of phenomena, by observing the suchness of all that arises through interdependence. This is the result of progress in previous lives but, unlike a buddha, they do not have the necessary merit, compassion or motivation to teach others. They are named as “rhinoceros-like” (khaḍgaviṣāṇakalpa) for their preference for staying in solitude or as “congregators” (vargacārin) when their preference is to stay among peers.

A class of beings who, in the Buddhist tradition, are particularly known to suffer from hunger and thirst and the inability to acquire sustenance.

Also translated as “faculty.”

Eleventh god realm of the form realm, meaning “Increasing Merit,” it is the second of the three heavens that make up the fourth dhyāna heaven in the form realm.

The name given to the five highest levels of existence within the form realm.

A buddhafield in the northeastern direction, where the Tathāgata Immaculate Center of the Sky resides.

The name of a dhāraṇī.

Name of a bodhisattva in the eastern buddhafield Endowed with the Vast Display of the Precious Merits of Endless Qualities.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

The ancient capital of Magadha prior to its relocation to Pāṭaliputra during the Mauryan dynasty, Rājagṛha is one of the most important locations in Buddhist history. The literature tells us that the Buddha and his saṅgha spent a considerable amount of time in residence in and around Rājagṛha‍—in nearby places, such as the Vulture Peak Mountain (Gṛdhrakūṭaparvata), a major site of the Mahāyāna sūtras, and the Bamboo Grove (Veṇuvana)‍—enjoying the patronage of King Bimbisāra and then of his son King Ajātaśatru. Rājagṛha is also remembered as the location where the first Buddhist monastic council was held after the Buddha Śākyamuni passed into parinirvāṇa. Now known as Rajgir and located in the modern Indian state of Bihar.

A bodhisattva in the southern buddhafield Buddha Courage.

See “Brahmā realm.”

A synonym for emptiness, the ultimate reality, or the ultimate nature of things. This term is interpreted variously due to the many different meanings of dharma as element, phenomena, reality, truth, and/or the teaching.

Also translated as “dhāraṇī.”

Also translated as “phenomena” and “Dharma” (see entry for “Dharma and Vinaya”).

The site near Vārāṇasī where the Buddha first turned the wheel of Dharma.

See “evil destinies.”

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

An ancient Indian spiritual title, often translated as “sage” or “seer.” The title is particularly used for divinely inspired individuals credited with creating the foundations of Indian culture. The term is also applied to Śākyamuni and other realized Buddhist figures.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

The lord of the gods in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three (trāyastriṃśa). Alternatively known as Indra, the deity that is called “lord of the gods” dwells on the summit of Mount Sumeru and wields the thunderbolt. The Tibetan translation brgya byin (meaning “one hundred sacrifices”) is based on an etymology that śakra is an abbreviation of śata-kratu, one who has performed a hundred sacrifices. Each world with a central Sumeru has a Śakra. Also known by other names such as Kauśika, Devendra, and Śacipati.

An epithet for the historical Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama: he was a muni (“capable one”) from the Śākya clan. Usually counted as the fourth of the first four buddhas of the present Good Eon, the other three being Krakucchanda, Kanakamuni, and Kāśyapa.

A tathāgata in the past eon Most Fragrant, of the world realm Fragrant.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

Though often specifically reserved for the monastic community, this term can be applied to any of the four Buddhist communities‍—monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen‍—as well as to identify the different groups of practitioners, like the community of bodhisattvas or the community of śrāvakas. It is also the third of the Three Jewels (triratna) of Buddhism: the Buddha, the Teaching, and the Community.

A bodhisattva mahāsattva present in the Buddha’s assembly. His name means “Revealing the Ornamental Displays of All Buddhafields.”

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

A seal, in both the literal and metaphoric sense. Mudrā is also the name given to an array of symbolic hand gestures, which range from the gesture of touching the earth displayed by the Buddha upon attaining awakening to the numerous gestures used in tantric rituals to symbolize offerings, consecrations, etc. Iconographically, mudrās are used as a way of communicating an action performed by the deity or a specific aspect a deity or buddha is displaying, in which case the same figure can be depicted using different hand gestures to signify that they are either meditating, teaching, granting freedom from fear, etc. In Tantric texts, the term is also used to designate the female spiritual consort in her various aspects.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

The place where the Buddha Śākyamuni achieved awakening and where every buddha will manifest the attainment of buddhahood. In our world this is understood to be located under the Bodhi tree, the Vajrāsana, in present-day Bodhgaya, India. It can also refer to the state of awakening itself.

One way of describing experience and the world in terms of twelve (or six sets of) sense fields: eye and form, ear and sound, nose and odor, tongue and taste, body and touch, and mind and mental objects.

Also translated as “well-organized.”

One of the factors of awakening.

The list of seven precious materials varies. Sometimes they are gold, silver, turquoise, coral, pearl, emerald, and sapphire; or they may be ruby, sapphire, beryl, emerald, diamond, pearls, and coral.

The seven riches of noble beings: faith, morality, generosity, learning, modesty, humility, and insight.

One of the three gates of liberation.

An Indian paṇḍita resident in Tibet during the late 8th and early 9th centuries.

Lit. “Lion Crest.” The bodhisattva present in the Buddha’s assembly who requests a discourse from Dhāraṇīśvara­rāja.

The objects of the six senses include those of the five physical senses (visual forms, sounds, smells, tastes, and tactile sensations) plus the object of the mental faculty, mental phenomena (dharmas).

Six things to keep in mind: the Buddha, the Dharma, the Saṅgha, generosity, morality, and the gods. See 2.­38

A bodhisattva of the past world Virtuous Occurrence who answers the questions of the Tathāgata Glorious Secret. A past incarnation of the bodhisattva Prajñākūṭa.

A buddhafield in the southeastern direction of the Tathāgata Conqueror of All Sorrow.

A tathāgata in the northwestern buddhafield Free of Darkness.

A bodhisattva in the western buddhafield Illuminated.

A tathāgata of the buddhafield, at the zenith, called Adorned by Ornaments.

A bodhisattva.

A bodhisattva in the buddhafield, at the zenith, called Adorned by Ornaments.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

An important form of Buddhist meditation focusing on developing insight into the nature of phenomena. Often presented as part of a pair of meditation techniques, the other being śamatha, “calm abiding”.

Fourth of the four formless realms, also the name of the fourth of the four concentrations (dhyāna).

Those disciples of the Buddha who aspire to attain the state of an arhat by seeking self-liberation. The term is usually defined as “one who hears the Dharma from the Buddha and makes it heard by others.”

(1) A past world where the Tathāgata Stainless Illumination recited a dhāraṇī to the bodhisattva Glorious Light. (2) The name of an eon in the past.

A tathāgata of the past world Stainless who recited a dhāraṇī for the bodhisattva Glorious Light.

A person who has entered the “stream” of practice that leads to nirvāṇa. The first of the four attainments of the śrāvaka path.

See “five strengths” and “ten strengths.”

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

The Tibetan translates both stūpa and caitya with the same word, mchod rten, meaning “basis” or “recipient” of “offerings” or “veneration.” Pali: cetiya.

A caitya, although often synonymous with stūpa, can also refer to any site, sanctuary or shrine that is made for veneration, and may or may not contain relics.

A stūpa, literally “heap” or “mound,” is a mounded or circular structure usually containing relics of the Buddha or the masters of the past. It is considered to be a sacred object representing the awakened mind of a buddha, but the symbolism of the stūpa is complex, and its design varies throughout the Buddhist world. Stūpas continue to be erected today as objects of veneration and merit making.

A bodhisattva mahāsattva present in the Buddha’s assembly. His name means, “Brilliant Light Rays of the Collection of Fine Gold.”

Ninth god realm of form, meaning “Most Extensive Virtue,” it is the highest of the three heavens that make up the third dhyāna heaven in the form realm.

Also translated here as “thusness.”

Sixteenth god realm of form, meaning “Great Vision,” it is the fourth of the five heavens that make up the “pure abodes.”

Fifteenth god realm of form, meaning “Sublime Vision,” it is the third of the five “pure abodes” in the form realm.

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

One of the standard epithets of the buddhas. A recurrent explanation offers three different meanings for su- that are meant to show the special qualities of “accomplishment of one’s own purpose” (svārthasampad) for a complete buddha. Thus, the Sugata is “well” gone, as in the expression su-rūpa (“having a good form”); he is gone “in a way that he shall not come back,” as in the expression su-naṣṭa-jvara (“a fever that has utterly gone”); and he has gone “without any remainder” as in the expression su-pūrṇa-ghaṭa (“a pot that is completely full”). According to Buddhaghoṣa, the term means that the way the Buddha went (Skt. gata) is good (Skt. su) and where he went (Skt. gata) is good (Skt. su).

King of the gods of Nirmāṇarati.

A buddha in a past eon called Most Fragrant, in the world realm Fragrant. Formerly the god Trainable by Me.