Glossary
Short explanations of the Tibetan, Sanskrit and Ganden lineage terms used on this site, including the names of the masters. They do not replace the teachings; they are a first orientation.
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404 doenças
Traditional classification of Tibetan medicine that groups all illnesses into 404 kinds. On the site, it shows that the Tara mandalas counter every root of illness.
Other spellings: 404 raízes de doenças
A
Alto yoga tantra
The highest of the four classes of tantra, which includes the generation and completion stages. Some of the centre's practices, such as Kangso, are reserved for those who have completed their highest yoga tantra classes.
Other spellings: Yoga tantra superior, Anuttarayoga tantra
B
Bodhichitta
བྱང་ཆུབ་ཀྱི་སེམས་changchub sem
The mind that aspires to full enlightenment in order to benefit all sentient beings. It is the heart of the Mahayana path.
Other spellings: Bodicita, Bodhicitta, Mente da iluminação
Bodhisattva
One who has generated bodhichitta and strives for enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. The bodhisattva vow is the formal commitment to follow this path.
Other spellings: Bodisatva, Voto de bodhisattva
Buda
"The Awakened One": a being who has removed every fault and perfected every quality, attaining full enlightenment. In the plural, it refers to all enlightened beings.
Other spellings: Buddha, Budas
D
Dadju
Group of the centre's practitioners who conduct the Jangwa Puja.
Other spellings: classe de dadju
Dedicação
Offering the virtue of a practice to a purpose or to someone, such as a person's health, the liberation of someone who has died or the good of all beings. At the centre, the names sent in are dedicated in the daily prayers and festivals.
Other spellings: dedicação de nomes
Dharma
ཆོས་chö
The Buddha's teachings and the realisations they bring about; the path that leads to freedom from suffering and to enlightenment.
Other spellings: Darma
E
Estágios de geração e de conclusão
The two phases of highest yoga tantra practice. In the generation stage the practitioner trains in visualising themselves as the deity; in the completion stage they work directly with the subtle mind to attain enlightenment.
Other spellings: Estágio de geração, Estágio de conclusão, Estágio de completude
I
Iluminação
The state of a Buddha: a mind completely free of all obscurations and endowed with perfect wisdom and compassion. It is the goal of the Mahayana path.
Other spellings: Plena iluminação, Budeidade
Impermanência
The fact that all composite things change from moment to moment and eventually come to an end. Reflecting on it is one of the foundations of the Lamrim.
K
Karma
The law of cause and effect of actions: virtuous actions bring happiness and non-virtuous actions bring suffering, in this life or in future lives.
Other spellings: Carma, ações cármicas
Kriya tantra
The first of the four classes of tantra, emphasising ritual, purification and outer conduct.
Other spellings: Tantra de ação
L
Libertação
Final freedom from the cycle of rebirth marked by suffering (samsara), attained by removing the mental afflictions and their causes.
Other spellings: Nirvana
M
Mahayana
"Great Vehicle": the Buddhist path motivated by bodhichitta, which seeks full enlightenment in order to free all beings. It is the basis of training at the centre.
Other spellings: Maaiana, Grande Veículo
N
Nagas
ཀླུ་Beings connected with water, earth and the natural environment, called "lords of the environment" on the site. Cultivating a good relationship with them is part of the Environment and Pacification project.
Other spellings: Naga
Nome de refúgio
Name given by the teacher to someone who takes refuge in the Three Jewels. At the centre, it can be added in My Account and is used in emails.
Other spellings: Refuge name
O
Oito dharmas mundanos
Four pairs of concerns that bind the mind to worldly life: gain and loss, pleasure and pain, praise and blame, fame and disrepute.
Other spellings: Oito preocupações mundanas
Oito medos
Eight dangers from which Tara protects, according to tradition. They have an outer meaning (physical threats) and an inner one (disturbing emotions such as pride, anger, attachment and doubt).
Other spellings: Oito perigos
Oráculo
Traditional consultation carried out at monasteries on request, to guide decisions or to indicate suitable personal pujas.
Other spellings: consulta ao oráculo
P
Paz, prosperidade e poder
Three of the enlightened activities to which rituals such as fire pujas and le-shin are dedicated: pacifying obstacles and illness, increasing favourable conditions and empowering virtuous activities.
Other spellings: atividades iluminadas
Protetor do Dharma
An enlightened or oath-bound being committed to protecting the teachings and practitioners, removing obstacles and creating favourable conditions for practice.
Other spellings: Protetores, Dharmapala
Q
Quatro classes do tantra
The traditional division of the tantric teachings into kriya (action), charya (performance), yoga and highest yoga tantra, in increasing order of depth.
R
Refúgio
Relying on the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha as guides on the spiritual path. Formally taking refuge before a teacher marks one's entry into the Buddhist path.
Other spellings: tomar refúgio, data do refúgio
Roda do Dharma
Traditional image for the act of teaching the Dharma. "Turning the wheel of Dharma" means giving teachings.
Other spellings: girar a roda do Dharma
S
Sangha
དགེ་འདུན་gendün
The spiritual community. Broadly, the practitioners who follow the Dharma together; strictly, the monastic community and realised beings.
Other spellings: Sanga
Seis Reinos
The six kinds of rebirth in cyclic existence: gods, demigods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts and hell beings.
Other spellings: Seis reinos de existência
Seres sencientes
Every being with a mind that has not yet attained enlightenment, in any form of life. Benefiting all of them is the motivation of the Mahayana.
Other spellings: todos os seres
Sutra
The Buddha's discourses, and the body of teachings and practices of the common path that form the basis for tantra.
Other spellings: Sutras
T
Tantra
The teachings and methods of the Vajrayana, practised on the basis of renunciation, bodhichitta and wisdom, and received through initiation from a qualified teacher.
Other spellings: Tantras
Tathagata
"The One Thus Gone": one of the Buddha's titles, meaning one who has reached ultimate reality. On the site, it refers to Buddha Shakyamuni.
Other spellings: Tathagata Supremo
Terra Pura
A realm manifested by a Buddha, where conditions are entirely favourable to practising the Dharma and attaining enlightenment.
Other spellings: Terras Puras, Campo de Buda
Theravada
"Teaching of the Elders": the Buddhist tradition prevalent in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, based on the Pali canon.
Other spellings: Teravada
Transmigrante
The consciousness of a person who has died, moving on from one life to the next. In the Jangwa Puja, the names of the departed are dedicated so that they may find a good rebirth.
Other spellings: ente falecido
Três Joias
The Buddha (the teacher), the Dharma (the teachings) and the Sangha (the spiritual community): the three objects of refuge in Buddhism.
Other spellings: Três Joias Preciosas
V
Vajrayana
"Diamond Vehicle": the part of the Mahayana that includes the methods of tantra, practised with initiation and the guidance of a qualified teacher.
Other spellings: Veículo do Diamante, Mantrayana, Tantrayana
Virtude
A positive action, word or thought that creates causes for happiness and progress on the path. Offerings, practice and service to the centre accumulate virtue.
Other spellings: karma virtuoso