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 Please see our Content Disclaimer regarding English terms in LYWA publications that may be outdated and should be considered in context.

Glossary

All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y Z

five great mantras

The five great mantras are: the mantra of Kunrig, the mantra of Buddha Mitukpa, the Stainless Pinnacle, the Wish-Granting Wheel mantra, and the mantras of Namgyälma. These and the ten great mantras are incredibly beneficial when a being is dying or dead. See also ten great mantras.

four powerful Dharmakaya Relic mantras

Four mantras placed in holy objects such as stupas. Simply circumambulating an object containing these mantras purifies the karma to be reborn in the hot hells. They are: the most precious heart mantra of stainless beam, the most precious mantra of secret relic, the most precious mantra of ornament of enlightenment and the very precious root mantra of stainless pinnacle.

mantra (Skt)

ngag (Tib); sngags (Wyl)

Literally, mind protection. Mantras are Sanskrit syllables usually recited in conjunction with the practice of a particular meditational deity and embody the qualities of that deity.

mantra rosary

A mantra visualized as a rosary, its syllables representing beads; usually circular, as in the syllables of the one hundred syllable mantra standing around the edge of the moon disc.

Secret Mantra

sang ngag (Tib); gsang sngags (Wyl)

Another name for Vajrayana, so called because it should not be revealed to those not ready.

ten great mantras

With the five great mantras, these are especially beneficial at the time of death. They are: 1) Chenrezig long and short mantra; 2) Namgyälma long and short mantra; 3) Milarepa’s mantra; 4) the mantra of Kunrig; 5) Medicine Buddha mantra (short); 6) Zung of the Exalted Completely Pure Stainless Light; 7) Stainless Pinnacle mantra; 8) Lotus Pinnacle of Amoghapasha; 9) Buddha Mitukpa mantra; 10) the mantras of Buddha Maitreya’s promise.