The 17th Karmapa of the North |
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Glossary
- Bodhisattva
- A Buddhist saint who has taken a vow to lead all sentient beings to the ultimate goal of enlightenment. They have generated the altruistic mind of bodhicitta and are on the path to full enlightenment.
- Dharma
- The teachings of the Buddha. It also refers to enlightened states of wisdom and Truth.
- Doctrine holder
- They are the principal receivers and holders of the transmission of a Terma. They help a Terton in the process of discovery and transmission of the Terma.
- Dzogchen
- Literally the Great Perfection. The primordial state of natural, non-dual contemplation.
- Guru Rinpoche
- Literally the Precious Master. He was one of the greatest Buddhist adepts from India who established Buddhism in Tibet in the ninth century.Together with his consort Yeshey Tsogyal, they concealed numerous texts, relics and transmissions of teachings in Tibet. These are known as Termas. He is the founder of the Nyingma school of Buddhism, which is the oldest school.
- Kali Yuga
- The degenerate age that we are now living in.
- H.H. Karmapa
- Supreme head of the Karma Kagyu lineage. He is now in his 17th. incarnation.
- Karmapa controversy
- Confusion on the true identity of the 17th. Karmapa within the Kagyu lineage. Two senior disciples of the 16th. Karmapa have identified two different boys as the reincarnation of the 16th. Karmapa. Tai Situ Rinpoche has identified Urgyen Trinley Dorje from Tibet whereas Sharma Rinpoche has identified Thaye Dorje from India. As a result there now appears to be two 17th. Karmapas which has generated confusion amongst disciples.
- Khamtrul Rinpoche
- A Terton and highly respected Rinpoche in the Nyingma tradition. He is a close disciple of H.H. Dalai Lama and resides in Dharmsala, India.
- Mind-mandate
- The mind transmission from the mind of Guru Rinpoche to the mind of the realized disciple. It is an actual transmission of realization which results in the minds of master and disciple becoming inseperable.
- H.H. Penor Rinpoche
- The eleventh throne holder of the Palyul lineage and the supreme head of the Nyingma tradition.
- H.H. Sakya Trinzin
- Head of the Sakya tradition and is the Doctrine-holder of this Terma.
- Terma
- Hidden Treasure. They are texts and sacred objects that were hidden at geomantic power points on the landscape and entrusted to treasure-protectors for safe-keeping, with the prediction that they would be discovered at some future time by a Terton, for the benefit of sentient beings.
- Terton
- Literally treasure-finder. They have been entrusted by Guru Rinpoche to reveal a hidden teaching. It is believed that the students of Guru Rinpoche have continued to eminate in the forms of Tertons in successive centuries to reveal these treasures.
- Triple Gem
- Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. The refuge of teacher, teachings and spiritual community respectively.
- Tulku Thondup Rinpoche
- Of the Nyingma tradition. Author of several books on teachings of the Nyingma tradition, including "Hidden teachings of Tibet" (on Terma).
- U and Tsang
- Central Tibet. This area was the political centre of Tibet, with power being in the hands of the Dalai Lamas. It is also the area where H.H. 17th. Karmapa had his seat at Tsurphu monastery.
- Vajraduta
- Cosort of a Terton who helps him to discover the Terma teachings.
