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Mahāyāna

One of the three schools of Buddhism that emphasizes not just practicing for one's own benefit but seeking the liberation of all sentient beings.

Perfection of Wisdom Sūtras

Collections of sutras/scriptures that define the philosophical principles of Mahayana, especially the notion of emptiness (sunyata).

Heart Sūtra

One of the perfection of wisdom sutras, very short and used for apotropaic (protection) rituals; defines emptiness.

Diamond Sūtra

Another perfection of wisdom sutra that is a little longer than the Heart Sūtra; focuses on the practice of wisdom and how to embody it.

Śūnya/śūnyatā

Emptiness; all phenomena are empty of eternal, essential, unchanging 'self' because they are impermanent, interdependent, and lacking essentiality.

Nāgārjuna

Great philosopher and founder of Madhyamaka who used Buddhist logic to show how all dualities are actually in union.

Madhyamaka

Nagarjuna's philosophical system that emphasizes the interdependence and emptiness of all phenomena, even one's own mind.

Asanga & Vasubandhu

Important figures in the development of Yogacara

Yogacara

A philosophical system within Mahayana that emphasizes the power of mind and the idea that all phenomena are projections of the mind.

Map is not the territory

An idea that Buddhist teachings are tools to help one attain Buddhahood, but should not be mistaken for the goal itself.

Phantom City Parable

A parable illustrating the importance of continuing onward towards full enlightenment, using the metaphor of an illusionary city.

ālayavijñāna

Storehouse/warehouse consciousness; a foundational level of mind proposed by Yogacara that stores karmic seeds conditioning future perceptions.

Dharmadhātu

Meaning 'realm/root of phenomena/truth', refers to the underlying expanse of reality within Mahayana Buddhism.

Indrajāla

Meaning 'Net of Indra', a metaphor for the interconnectedness of all phenomena, as illustrated in the Avatamsaka Sutra.

Council at Rājagṛha

A council where many accusations were made against Ananda, including that he should have asked the Buddha to live longer.

Ananda

Buddha's close disciple who faced accusations during the Council at Rājagṛha regarding his actions.

Divisional issues

Factional splits and issues that were exposed during the reaffirmations of the unity of the community and the canonicity of the teachings.

Mahāyāna origin myth

A narrative that suggests Mahāyāna emerged from the Mahasamghikas as a single movement with a definable starting point.

Mahākaśyapa

One of the Buddha's disciples, regarded as the first Zen patriarch.

Nirmanakaya

The manifest or emanation body of the Buddha that appears on Earth.

Samobhogakaya

The glorified body of the Buddha, an ethereal body residing in heavens and pure realms.

Dharmakaya

The ultimate transcendent state of the Buddha, immaterial and interconnected with the enlightened minds of all other Buddhas.

Buddha's Life as Mere Display

The idea that the Buddha's life events are didactic symbols meant to serve as teachings.

Pure Land

Heavenly realms overseen by cosmic Buddhas where enlightenment is easy to attain.

Amitabha

The cosmic Buddha of the western direction, head of the Padma family, associated with the Pureland called Sukhavati.

Akṣobhya

The cosmic Buddha of the eastern direction, head of the Vajra family, residing in the pureland called Abhirati.

Bodhisattvas

Practitioners who vow to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Mae Nak

A female ghost in Thai folklore who died in childbirth and returned as a vengeful spirit.

Nattawud Daoruang

A novice monk who experienced both the good and bad aspects of monastic life.

Acharn Mun

The founding figure of the Thai forest tradition, known for his meditative powers.

Upagupta and The Binding of Māra

A story where Upagupta counters Mara's temptation by placing garlands made from corpses on him.

Rokkakudō

A hexagonal temple to Kannon, connected to the story of Prince Shotoku.

Prince Shōtoku

The founder of the Rokkakudo temple after a miraculous event involving a Kannon statue.

Kannon

The Japanese name for Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva of compassion.

Kyoto

The former imperial capital of Japan, rich in Buddhist monasteries and cultural heritage.

Ikebana

The Japanese art of flower arrangement, said to originate from Rokkakudo temple.

Shinran

The founder of the Jodo Shunshu sect of Japanese Pureland Buddhism.

Jōdo Shinshū

A Japanese sect of Pureland Buddhism emphasizing rebirth in Sukhavati by the grace of Amitabha.

Shinnyo-dō

A Buddhist temple in Kyoto associated with Tendai sect, mixing Pureland and Tantric Buddhism.

Shinnyo-dō's New Year Rite

A ritual involving ringing a bell 108 times to symbolize purification and the new year.

Dakini-ten

A goddess with tantric undertones associated with foxes; earlier prebuddhist trickster; important notion like goth fairy or witch like female power figures; can be dangerous or benevolent; has powers; fully embodied enlightenment.

Buddha's parinirvāṇa

Death of the Buddha, laying on his RIGHT side.

Vegetable parinirvāṇa

Artwork depicting the dying Buddha as a radish; metaphor that all life including plants have Buddha nature.

The Killing Stone

Statue associated with Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha/Jizo statue within a subsidiary shrine in Japan.

Songtsen Gampo & his 2 wives

First ruler to try to establish Buddhism in Tibet; had 2 wives: Princess Wangchen from China and Princess Bhrikuti from Nepal.

Dalai Lamas

Reincarnated lamas within the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism and also the theocratic rulers of Tibet from 17-20th centuries.

Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso

The current Dalai Lama who fled Tibet in the 1950s and now resides in exile in north India.

Tangtong Gyalpo

A great Tibetan Buddhist 'crazy yogi' or 'mad saint' associated with magical powders and building bridges.

Dorje Pagmo

Tibetan translation of Vajravarahi, the preeminent tantric goddess and wrathful symbol of sacred femininity.

Jokhang

The temple in Lhasa that houses the Jowo image of the Buddha, said to pin down the heart of the demoness of Tibet.

Potala

The Dalai Lama's palace, named after the mountain upon which Avalokitesvara is said to dwell.

Samding

A Tibetan temple/monastery that is the seat of a line of female reincarnate lamas/gurus regarded as human incarnations of Vajravarahi.

Lhasa

The capital city of Tibet, where the Jokhang and Potala palace reside.

Jowo Image

One of the most holy Buddha icons in Tibet, brought by Empress Wangchen.

The Great Prayer Festival

A prayer festival (Monlam Chenmo) established in Lhasa at Jokhang temple to commemorate the Buddha's miracles at Sravasti.

Tülku

Formally recognized reincarnations of previous figures or emanations of specific bodhisattvas/deities.

Vajravārāhi

Name means 'Vajra Sow'; major representation of sacred feminine in tantric Buddhism.

The Golden Urn

Device introduced by Qing dynasty for identifying certain high reincarnate lamas within the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Gélukpa

The youngest of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, founded by Tsongkhapa in the 14/15th century.