Frequently Asked Questions

A BEGINNER'S GLOSSARY

Bodhichitta - Sanskrit word for 'mind of enlightenment'. This is a primary mind motivated by great compassion that spontaneously seeks enlightenment to benefit all living beings.

Bodhisattva - A person who has generated spontaneous bodhichitta, but who has not yet become a Buddha.

Buddha or an enlightened being - A person who has realized his or her full spiritual potential and possesses perfect wisdom, compassion and skill. There are countless Buddhas. Normally when we talk about "the Buddha" we are referring to Buddha Shakyamuni, who appeared in this world over two and a
half thousand years ago to reveal how to attain enlightenment.

Buddha nature - Generally, the potential that exists within all living beings to become a Buddha. Having taken a fortunate rebirth as a human, we have a tremendous opportunity to practice Dharma and to become a Buddha.

Buddhist - Any person who relies upon Buddha, Dharma and Sangha as their ultimate protection from suffering and problems.

Delusion - An unpeaceful, uncontrolled mind.

Dewikoti - A pure land inhabited by countless enlightened beings. It is one of the twenty-four special places in this world where the mandalas of Heruka and Vajrayogini still remain.

Dharma - The teachings of Buddha and the inner protection we gain from realizing these teachings ourselves.

Duldzin Dragpa - Another name for Dorje Shugdan, a manifestation of the wisdom Buddha Je Tsongkhapa and the principal Dharma Protector for the New Kadampa Tradition.

Dzalandhara - The name of a Pure Land, a world beyond suffering, inhabited by countless enlightened beings.

Gen - The title given to a senior ordained Teacher of Kadampa Buddhism who has taught as a Resident Teacher for at least four years.

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso - The Spiritual Director and founder of the New Kadampa Tradition.

Gompa - The meditation room.

Highest Yoga Tantra - There are four levels of Tantric practice, and this is the highest or most profound. It includes, for example, the Tantric practices of Vajrayogini, a female Buddha of wisdom.

Hinayana - The "Lesser Vehicle" of Buddhism, a system of teachings and practices for those whose goal is personal liberation from all forms of suffering. It is the committment of all Mahayana traditions to show sincere respect and appreciation for all Hinayana traditions. Both traditions were taught by Buddha and offer living beings a path away from suffering. There is no conflict between them.

Je Tsongkhapa (AD 1357-1419) - The original founder of our tradition. Geshe Kelsang's twenty books are based on Je Tsongkhapa's nineteen commentaries to Buddha's teachings. Often referred to in Tibet as "the second Buddha," he was an emanation of the Wisdom Buddha Manjushri, whose appearance in Tibet was prophesied by Buddha.

Kadam - The title given to a senior lay Teacher of Kadampa Buddhism who has taught as a Resident Teacher for at least four years.

Kadampa - A person who sincerely practices Lamrim, the cycle of 21 meditations (described in The New Meditation Handbook) and who integrates all of its teachings into their Lamrim practice and daily lives.

Karma - A Sanskrit term referring to actions and their effects. Through the force of intention, we perform actions with our body, speech, and mind and all of these actions produce effects. The effect of virtuous actions is happiness and the effect of negative actions is suffering.

Lamrim - A Tibetan term, literally meaning "Stages of the Path". Lamrim is a special arrangement of all of Buddha's teachings that is easy to understand and to put into practice. It reveals all of the stages of the path to enlightenment.

Mahakaruna - Great compassion ("maha" or "great"; "karuna" or "compassion").

Mahayana - The "Greater Vehicle" of Buddhism, a system of teachings and practices for those whose goal is enlightenment for the benefit of all.

Mala - Prayer beads.

Mantra - A Sanskrit word, literally meaning "mind protection". Reciting the mantra of a particular Buddha helps us gain his or her inner qualities.

Meditation - Meditation is a mind that concentrates on a virtuous object and is the main cause of mental peace. The practice of meditation is a method for acquainting our mind with virtue.

Merit - The good fortune created by virtuous actions. It is the potential power to increase our good qualities and produce happiness.

New Kadampa Tradition - The international union of Kadampa Buddhist Centers under the spiritual guidance of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

Prostration - A physical, verbal or mental action, performed out of humility, faith and respect.

Puja - A Sanskrit word, literally meaning "offering". Generally, a puja is a series of prayers and meditation practices that are usually related to a particular Buddha. The purpose of a puja is to receive that Buddha's blessings and to gradually take on all of their good qualities.

Refuge - Inner spiritual realizations that directly protect us from suffering and fill us with lasting joy and happiness.

Retreat - A time when we stop our usual daily activities and focus on a particular spiritual practice for a period of time. A retreat can be short or long and can last for hours, days, or years.

Sadhana - Loosely speaking, the booklet containing the words of a particular spiritual practice. Literally, this Sanskrit word means "method for receiving attainments".

Samsara - Also known as "cyclic existence". It can be understood in two ways: as uninterrupted rebirth without freedom or control, or as the aggregates of a being who has taken such a rebirth.

Sangha - The spiritual community of practitioners who sincerely rely upon Buddha's teachings and strive to put them into practice in their daily life.

Saraha - A famous Indian Buddhist scholar and saint.

Spiritual Guide - Any person who functions to guide us on an authentic spiritual path. Our spiritual guide can be lay or ordained, man or woman, and of any nationality, race, or place in society.

Three Jewels - Generally refering to Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Dharma is the set of spiritual teachings taught by Buddha to lead living beings out of suffering to perfect happiness. Buddha is the source of all of these teachings and Sangha is the spiritual community that strives to practice and realize them.

Virtuous Object - An object that functions to give rise to inner peace and happiness.