Copy of `Shambhala - History glossary`

The wordlist doesn't exist anymore, or, the website doesn't exist anymore. On this page you can find a copy of the original information. The information may have been taken offline because it is outdated.

Shambhala - History glossary Category: History and Culture Date & country: 19/11/2010, UK Words: 12

tülku (Tibetan)
A teacher who is recognised as being an incarnation of a previous teacher.

thangka (Tibetan)
In the Tibetan tradition, a scroll painting executed upon cloth. Thangkas, which could be rolled up and easily transported, were highly suited to the nomadic lifestyle widespread in many parts of Tibet. (N.B. The "h" is silent.)

shamatha (Sanskrit)
Meditation practice of "resting in tranquility", often practised as sitting meditation resting the mind on the breath. (N.B. The second "h" is silent.)

rinpoche (Tibetan "precious")
Honorific term that is appended to the names of senior Tibetan teachers, especially tulkus. In the West it has also developed as a term of address..

Rime (Tibetan "unbiased")
A movement which orginated in nineteenth century Tibet and which was characterised by great teachers of the several principal Tibetan lineages sharing teachings. Many important contemporary teachers have connections to the Rime movement.

mahasiddha (Sanskrit)
A realised meditation master of the Vajrayana tradition, often manifesting unconventional behaviour.

mahamudra (Sanskrit "Great Seal")
Profound vajrayana teaching of the Kagyü lineage.

lineage holder
An important tecaher with authority to transmit a particular lineage.

lineage
Important principle in which particular bodies of teaching are handed down from teacher to student in unbroken succession.

Karmapa
The principal head of the Kagyü lineage, the first Karmapa was Tüsum Khyenpa, the chief student of Gampopa. Subsequently Karma Pakshi was recognised as the incarnation of the Tüsum Khyenpa, Rangjung Dorje the incarnation of Karma Pakshi and so on to the present Karmapa XVII.

Kagyü Lineage
A school of Vajrayana Buddhism which originated with the Indian mahasiddhas Tilopa and Naropa and which was later introduced to Tibet by the great translator Marpa Lotsawa during the 11th century CE and subsequently transmitted to Milarepa, Gampopa and the Karmapas.

buddha (Sanskrit "awake")
Although often used to specifically refer to the historical Buddha Shakyamuni who lived and taught in India and Nepal at about 500 BCE, buddha also refers to any being who has completely and finally awoken from illusion. Thus Buddha Shakyamuni is regarded as neither the first nor the last buddha. In fact, all beings are regarded as having the innate potential of attaining buddhahood.