A short glossary of terms that either appear frequently on this site or
are particularly relevant to the spiritual traditions on which we base our
designs.
Air (Yam): The element Air or Wind. Wind creates
movement and is connected to circulation in Tibetan Medicine. Typically blue
in color, it's associated with the heart chakra.
Asatoma Sadgamaya: A Hindu prayer for awareness and
spiritual awakening from the Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad. Translation: Lead us
from unreal to real. Lead us from darkness to the light. Lead us from the
fear of death, to the knowledge of immortality.
Astanga Yoga: A form of yoga described by
Patanjali in his classic '
Yoga-Sutra.' Literally meaning
'eight-limbed,' it refers to the eight aspects of yoga practice:
yama,
niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dhyana, dharana, and
samadhi.
Bodhichitta: 'The awakened mind'. The intention
to attain buddhahood in order to benefit all sentient beings; the altruistic
motivation that is the foundation Mahayana Buddhism.
Bodhisattva: The spiritual hero who vows to
postpone his own liberation until every single sentient being is freed from
samsara.
Buddha Nature: The enlightened nature that all
sentient beings share, that is obscured by ignorance in most beings and that
can be revealed through the practice of meditation.
Chakras: 'Wheels' of energy located along the
central column of the body. The number of them differs according to the
tradition, but normally there are seven in the Hindu tradition and five in
the Buddhist tradition. When the chakras are unblocked the energy can flow
freely within the central channel.
Dedication of Merit: After completing any
practice or beneficial action, a Mahayana Buddhist will dedicate the merit
of that action to the enlightenment of all beings by repeating this prayer
with the motivation of bodhichitta.
Double Dorje (Vajra): Ritual implement,
symbolizing indestructibility, used in Vajrayana Buddhism.
Five Elements: Space, Air or wind, Water, Fire,
and Earth.
Four Immeasurables: Unlimited love, compassion,
joy, and equanimity. The Buddhist prayer associated with them is; 'May all
beings enjoy happiness and the causes of happiness; be free from suffering
and the causes of suffering; may they never be separated from the great
happiness devoid of suffering; and may they dwell in the great equanimity
that is free from passion, aggression, and prejudice.
Ganesh: One of the best-known deities in Hinduism,
easily recognized by his elephant head. He is revered as the remover of
obstacles, a patron of arts and sciences, and the god of intellect and
wisdom.
Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava): Indian sage
responsible for establishing Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet in the 9th century.
Kalachakra: 'The Wheel of Time.' The 14th Dalai
Lama conducts initiations of this important Buddhist practice all over the
world.
Lotus: The lotus flower is prominent in both Buddhism
and Hinduism. It represents purity and transformation as its white flowers
grow from the mud. It is also symbolic of non-attachment since drops of
water easily slide off its petals.
Mandala: A symbolic representation of the
universe with the deity at the center used in visualization practices in
both Hinduism and Buddhism.
Mantra: A sacred sound or chant representing the
speech of a particular deity or energy and repeated as an object of
meditation by both Hindu and Buddhist practitioners.
Nirvana: The state in which one is liberated from
the suffering of
samsara in the Buddhist path and has attained
complete awakening.
Om: Om (Aum) is the most prominent syllable in
Hinduism, as well as in Buddhism and other traditions. Briefly, it is said
to be the goal, the means, and the highest support of spiritual practice.
Om Namah Shivaya: popular Hindu Mantra is to aid
spiritual awakening and recognize one's own inner clarity.
Samaya: A term used in both Hinduism and
Vajrayana Buddhism to refer to the vows that the spiritual aspirant must
make to the teacher, to the practice, and to one's own practice.
Samsara: The cycle of existence of birth, death,
and rebirth which arises out of ignorance and of which suffering is the
predominant experience.
Space (A) The element Space provides an open place to allow
things to grow, develop, and mature. It is involved in movement, pores, the
ears, and sound in Tibetan Medicine.
Sri Yantra A Yantra is a Hindu tantric design representing
the body of a particular deity and said to contain the energy of that deity.
They are used as visual tools for meditation. The Sri Yantra used in our
designs is the symbol of the Goddess and is called the mother of all yantras
because all others derive from it. Each of the circuits of the Sri Yantra,
from the outer plane to the bindu (the center), corresponds with one of the
stages of the spiritual journey.
Taking Refuge: A traditional prayer which a
Buddhist says, vowing to take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma (the
teachings) and the Sangha (the community of practitioners.)
Vajra Guru Mantra This Tibetan Buddhist Mantra is to
connect one with the enlightened mind of Padmasambhava and will dispel
obstacles. Transliteration: Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Pema Siddhi Hum.
Water (Kham) The element Water creates moisture in all its
forms and is connected with the color white and the sacral chakra.
Wheel of Dharma: Dharma means 'truth' or 'law'
and refers to the Buddhist teachings. The wheel is a symbol which represents
the teachings that the Buddha was said to 'turn' at different times
according to beings different capacities.
Yoga: 'Union', referring to the spiritual or
mystical practice developed in India leading to union with the divine or
true self.