Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Vajrayana Buddhist terminology

The Rangjung Yeshe Glossary of Vajrayana Buddhist terminology:

"Abhidharma (chos mngon pa). One of the three parts of the Tripitaka, the Words of the Buddha. Systematic teachings on metaphysics focusing on the training of discriminating knowledge by analyzing elements of experience and investigating the nature of existing things. The chief commentaries on

Abhidharma are the Abhidharma Kosha by Dignaga from the Hinayana perspective and the Abhidharma Samucchaya by Asanga from the Mahayana point of view.

Abhidharma Pitaka (chos mngon pa'i sde snod). The 'Collection of Abhidharma Teachings.' Teachings compiled from the sutras that analyze the nature of what is; one of the the collections of the Tripitaka. See under 'Tripitaka.'

Abhisambodhikaya (mngon par byang chub pa'i sku). The fifth of the five kayas of buddhahood, defined by Jamgon Kongtrul in his Treasury of Knowledge as 'manifold manifestation in accordance with the karma of those to be influenced, without departing from dharmakaya, that (appears) because the (other four kayas are) spontaneously complete within awareness wisdom.'
Acceptance of the nature of nonarising (skye ba med pa'i chos la bzod pa). An important realization gained on entry to the eighth bodhisattva stage. In this book a synonym for complete enlightenment.

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