This glossary contains an alphabetical list of Buddhist terms that you may find on this website. Many of the terms now include phoneticized Sanskrit (Skt) as well as two forms of Tibetan—the phonetic version (Tib), which is a guide to pronunciation, and transliteration using the Wylie method (Wyl). Search for the term you want by entering it in the search box or browse through the listing by clicking on the letters below. Please see our Content Disclaimer regarding English terms in LYWA publications that may be outdated and should be considered in context.

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dakini (Skt)

kha dro ma (Tib); mkha’ ’gro ma (Wyl)

Literally, “space goer.” In general, this refers to female energy that travels through space and conveys messages. Within Buddhist tantra the dakini is “she who travels through wisdom space,” the space of emptiness in which all phenomena manifest. It can also refer to a female practitioner who has attained realizations or a goddess who accompanies male deities. In Hinduism, it refers to a goddess still in cyclic existence but with a pure quality. See also daka.