The Tantric Path of Indestructible Wakefulness

by Chogyam Trungpa

  c. Being crowned as a prince

  3. Action

  a. An uptight person losing their temper

  b. A garuda flying over the edge of a cliff

  c. A Brahman housewife who has finished her work

  Analogies for Maha Ati

  1. Flowing river

  2. The ocean

  3. Cloud dissolving in the sky

  4. Depths of the ocean

  5. Self-existing torch

  The Maha Ati Experience

  1. Nonexistence

  2. All-pervasiveness

  3. Self-existence

  4. Aloneness

  GLOSSARY

  This glossary includes terms in English, Tibetan (Tib.), Sanskrit (Skt.), Pali, Chinese (Chin.), and Japanese (Jpn.). Tibetan terms are spelled phonetically, followed by the transliteration in parentheses. Tibetan equivalents of Sanskrit words are first written phonetically, then transliterated.

  abhidharma (Skt.; Tib.: chö ngönpa; chos mngon pa). Superior or higher dharma; Buddhist psychology. The Buddhist teachings can be divided into three parts, called the “three baskets,” or Tripitaka: the sutras (general teachings of the Buddha), the vinaya (teachings on conduct), and the abhidharma (teachings on philosophy and psychology).

  abhisheka (Skt.: “sprinkling,” “anointing”; Tib.: wang; dbang; “power”). Empowerment; a ceremony in which a student is initiated into a particular vajrayana practice by a vajra master.

  abrahmacharya (Skt.). Nonchastity; engaging in sexual intercourse.

  achala (Skt.; Tib.: miyowa; mi gyo ba). Immovability, stability. In Japan, represented as Fudo, a wrathful deity described as powerful and immovable.

  acharya (Skt.; Tib.: loppön; slob dpon). A learned spiritual teacher.

  adhishthana (Skt.: “standing over” or “resting upon”; Tib.: chinlap; byin rlabs; “splendor wave”). Blessings. “Possessing adhishthana” is the second of the seven aspects of vajrayana. See also appendix 5, under Seven Aspects of Vajrayana (chapter 6).

  agni puja (Skt.; Tib.: jinsek; sbyin sreg). Fire-offering ritual.

  Akshobhya (Skt.; Tib.: Mikyöpa; mi bskyod pa). Buddha of the vajra family. In the secret language of tantra, a name for urine, one of the five ingredients that are transformed from poison into amrita. See also appendix 5, under Five Ingredients Used to Create Amrita (chapter 61).

  alaya (Skt.: “receptacle”; Tib.: künshi; kun gzhi; “ground of all”). The fundamental ground that gives rise to both samsara and nirvana, or the basic split; not to be confused with the alayavijnana.

  alayavijnana (Skt.; Tib.: künshi nampar shepa; kun gzhi rnam par shes pa). Alaya consciousness, also known as the storehouse consciousness. According to the yogachara description of mind, it is the eighth consciousness, which contains all karmic seeds. It is the root of dualistic consciousness, and hence of samsara.

  Amitabha (Skt.; Tib.: Öpag-me; ’od dpag med; “Limitless Light”). Buddha of the padma family; lord of the pure realm of Sukhavati.

  amrita (Skt.: “deathless”; Tib.: dütsi; bdud rtsi). Blessed liquor used in vajrayana meditation practices.

  anuttarayoga (Skt.; Tib.: naljor la-me; rnal ’byor bla med; “none higher yoga”). The highest of the four tantric yanas according to the Kagyü tradition and the New Translation school. See also mahamudra.

  anuyoga (Skt.; Tib.: jesu naljor; rjes su rnal ’byor). In the Nyingma nine-yana system, the second of the three higher tantric yanas.

  arak (Tib.: a rag). A type of alcoholic drink, stronger than beer.

  arhat (Skt.: “worthy one”; Tib.: drachompa; dgra bcom pa). A fully accomplished practitioner of the hinayana path who has achieved liberation from the sufferings of samsara. The Tibetan term drachompa means “one who has conquered the enemy” of conflicting emotions and of grasping at a self-entity.

  Atisha Dipankara (982–1054 CE). A Buddhist scholar at the great monastic university of Vikramashila. He is best known for his teachings on mind training and the cultivation of bodhichitta.

  atiyoga (Skt.). The highest of the nine yanas, also known as maha ati, dzokchen, or the great perfection. The experience of atiyoga goes beyond all concepts. It is the essence of transcendent insight, the unchanging state of nonmeditation in which there is awareness but no clinging.

  avadhuti (Skt.; Tib.: uma; dbu ma). Central energy channel that runs up the center of the body just in front of the spine.

  Avalokiteshvara (Skt.; Tib.: Chenrezik; spyan ras gzigs). The bodhisattva of compassion.

  ayatana (Skt.; Tib.: kye-che; skye mched; “arising and spreading”). Sense field. The twelve ayatanas include the six sense organs (with mind as number six) and their corresponding sense objects.

  bardo (Tib.: bar do). In-between or intermediate state. There are many different types of intermediate states, with the most common listing mentioning six bardos: the bardos of this life, dream, meditation, dying, isness, and becoming. More generally, bardo refers to the state between death and the next birth, which is said to last forty-nine days.

  basic goodness (Tib.: dö-ne sangwa; gdod nas bzang ba). Good from the very beginning, beyond any reference point of bad or good. In the Shambhala teachings, this refers to the intrinsic wholesomeness of one’s being. Trungpa Rinpoche also uses the phrase basic goodness to refer to künshi ngangluk kyi gewa, the natural virtue of alaya, as well as to Samantabhadra, or Küntu Sangpo, which means “completely good.”

  betsöl mepar ladawa (Tib.: ’bad rtsol med par la zla ba). To step over without effort; the first category of sem-de.

  bhala (Dakini language). Meat; one of the five ingredients that are transformed from poison into amrita. See also appendix 5, under Five Ingredients Used to Create Amrita (chapter 61).

  bhikshu (Skt.; Tib.: gelong; dge slong). Fully ordained monk.

  bhumi (Skt.; Tib.: sa; sa). Stage, level. The progressive stages of the path of the bodhisattva that lead to enlightenment. See also volume 2 of the Profound Treasury, part 8: “The Bodhisattva’s Journey.”

  bija (Skt.). Seed syllable; a Sanskrit syllable used in visualization practice. Also the term for karmic seed.

  bindu (Skt.; Tib.: thig-le; thig le). Dot, particle; the life force.

  bodhi (Skt.; Tib.: changchup; byang chub). Awakened state; full illumination or enlightenment.

  bodhi tree. The sacred fig tree (Ficus religiosa) located in Bodhgaya under which Gautama Buddha practiced at the time he attained enlightenment.

  bodhichitta (Skt.; Tib.: changchup kyi sem; byang chub kyi sems). Enlightened heart or mind. Ultimate, or absolute, bodhichitta is the union of emptiness and compassion, the essential nature of awakened mind. Relative bodhichitta is the tenderness arising from a glimpse of ultimate bodhichitta, which inspires the practitioner to train in working for the benefit of others.

  Bodhidharma (Skt.; fifth to sixth century CE). One of the leading patriarchs of the Zen Buddhist tradition.

  bodhisattva (Skt.: “awake being”; Tib.: changchup sempa; byang chub sems dpa’). One who has made a commitment to the mahayana path of practicing compassion and the six paramitas. See also paramita.

  bodhisattva vow. The vow to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, marking one’s formal entry onto the mahayana path of wisdom and compassion, and one’s intention to practice the bodhisattva discipline of the six paramitas.

  bodhisattvayana (Skt.). The vehicle of the bodhisattva; another term for mahayana.

  Brahma (Skt.). The first god of the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Brahma is god in the aspect of creator of the universe.

  brahmacharya (Skt.). Celibacy.

  brahmaloka (Skt.). God realm; one of the six realms of samsaric existence. The dwelling place of Brahma, the chief god of the lower levels of the form realm.

  Brahman (Skt.). A Hindu of the highest, or priestly, caste.

  Brahmanical. Referring to the Brahman caste.

  brahmarandhra (Skt.; Tib.: tsangbuk; tsangs bug). Aperture of Brahma; an opening at the crown of the head at the top
of the avadhuti. See also avadhuti.

  Buddha / buddha (Skt.; Tib.: sang-gye; sangs rgyas). Awakened one. The “Buddha” refers in particular to Shakyamuni Buddha, whereas “buddha” may refer to any enlightened being or to the principle of enlightenment itself. The Buddha is also the first of the three jewels. In the mandala of the five buddha-families, the buddha family is associated with the center of the mandala, the buddha Vairochana, the klesha of ignorance, and the wisdom of all-encompassing space. See also appendix 5, under The Five Buddha-Families (chapter 26).

  buddha-families (Tib.: sang-gye kyi rik; sangs rgyas kyi rigs). The mandala of the five buddhas, who embody the five wisdoms. Because all phenomena are said to possess one of these five as a predominant characteristic, they are called families: vajra, ratna, padma, karma, and buddha. Each is associated with a particular buddha, a type of wisdom, a skandha, a klesha, a direction, and a color. See also appendix 5, under The Five Buddha-Families (chapter 26).

  buddha nature. See tathagatagarbha.

  chaggya chenpo (Tib.: phyag rgya chen po). See mahamudra.

  chaggya kü tamtsik (Tib.: phyag rgya sku’i dam tshig). Samaya of vajra body; an understanding that all phenomena are part of the sacred world.

  chakra (Skt.; Tib.: khorlo; ’khor lo; “wheel”). A primary energy center in the body, located along the avadhuti, or central channel. There are different enumerations of the chakras, but generally five are named: at the head, throat, heart, navel, and secret place.

  chakravartin (Skt.: “one who turns the wheel”). A universal monarch; in ancient Buddhist and Vedic literature, a king who rules the entire world by his wisdom and virtue.

  Ch’an (Chin.; Skt.: dhyana; Jpn.: Zen). A school of mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes meditation and experiential wisdom.

  chang (Tib.: chang). Tibetan beer made from barley.

  changchup kyi sem (Tib.: byang chub kyi sems). See bodhichitta.

  changsem kyi kyilkhor (Tib.: byang sems kyi dkyil ’khor). Mandala of bodhichitta, the essence of enlightenment; one of eight types of mandala in mahayoga tantra. See also appendix 5, under The Eight Mandalas of Mahayoga (chapter 60).

  charnel ground (Skt.: shmashana; Tib.: tür-trö; dur ’khrod). An open field filled with corpses and beasts of prey. The charnel ground is an important symbol of the ground from which all phenomena are born and die, which is the basis of both samsara and nirvana.

  cha-we gyü (Tib.: bya ba’i rgyud). See kriyayoga.

  Chekawa Yeshe Dorje (Tib.: ’chad ka ba ye shes rdo rje; 1101–1175 CE). Famous Kadampa master; author of the root text of The Seven Points of Mind Training, one of the principal texts of lojong.

  Chemchok (Tib.: che mchog; Skt.: Mahottara). Great Supreme One. The fourth of the eight logos, connected with the center of the mandala and with transforming poison into amrita. See also appendix 5, under The Eight Logos / Druppa Kagye (chapter 61).

  chigdrup (Tib.: gcig sgrub). See sota nopika.

  chiggyü (Tib.: gcig brgyud). One-to-one transmission; the ear-whispered or hearing lineage.

  chingyi lappa (Tib.: byin gyis brlabs pa). Blessed; “being engulfed in an atmosphere of intense devotion.”

  chinlap (Tib.: byin rlabs). See adhishthana.

  chiwa mitakpa (Tib.: ’chi ba mi rtag pa). Death and impermanence; the second of the four reminders. See also appendix 5, under The Four Reminders (chapter 30).

  chö (Tib.: gcod). Cut off; cut through. An advanced vajrayana practice involving a contemplation on death and illness, performed in charnel grounds and haunted places, which invites negative forces to consume the practitioner in order to completely cut through any residual ego-attachment and fixation.

  chogdzin truptha ledepa (Tib.: phyogs ’dzin grub mtha’ las ’das pa). Transcending attachment to biased philosophical beliefs; the fifth category of sem-de.

  chögyü (Tib.: spyod rgyud). See upayoga.

  chok (Tib.: mchog). Supreme.

  choktu kyurpa (Tib.: mchog tu gyur pa). Holy; the supreme of the supreme.

  chöku (Tib.: chos sku). See dharmakaya.

  chökyi dak (Tib.: chos kyi bdag). Ego of dharmas, or phenomena; the second half of twofold ego, the first half being ego of self.

  chökyi gyaltsen lekpar dzuk (Tib.: chos kyi rgyal mtshan legs par ’dzugs). “Firmly plant the victorious banner of dharma”; a line from the Manjushri-nama-sangiti (Chanting the Names of Manjushri, VIII: 28).

  Chökyi Nyin-je (Tib.: chos kyi nyin byed; 1879–1939 CE). The tenth Trungpa tülku.

  chökyi ying (Tib.: chos kyi dbyings). See dharmadhatu.

  chökyong (Tib.: chos skyong). See dharmapala.

  chönyi ngönsum (Tib.: chos nyid mngon sum). Seeing dharmata as real; the first of the four visions, or stages, of maha ati practice.

  chönyi sesa (Tib.: chos nyid zad sa). Dharmata used up. The exhaustion of dharmata; the last of the four visions, or stages, of maha ati practice.

  chötö (Tib.: mchod stod). Offering and praise to the worldly deities. The seventh of the eight logos, connected with subjugating national ego. See also appendix 5, under The Eight Logos / Druppa Kagye (chapter 61).

  chuba (Tib.: phyu pa). A long coat made of wool.

  coemergent wisdom (Skt.: sahaja-jnana; Tib.: lhenchik kye-pe yeshe; lhan cig skyes pa’i ye shes; “wisdom born together”). The simultaneous arising of samsara and nirvana, which naturally gives rise to wisdom.

  compassion (Skt.: karuna; Tib.: nying-je; snying rje; “noble heart”). A key principle of mahayana Buddhism, describing the motivation and activity of a bodhisattva. As a further development of maitri, compassion arises from empathizing with the suffering of sentient beings.

  confirmation (Tib.: ug jinpa; dbugs ’byin pa; “breathing the breath”). Relief at being recognized and confirmed as who you really are, the fourth of the seven aspects of vajrayana. See also appendix 5, under Seven Aspects of Vajrayana (chapter 6).

  dakini (Skt.; Tib.: khandroma; mkha’ ’gro ma). One who walks in the sky. A wrathful or semiwrathful female deity, signifying compassion, emptiness, and prajna. Dakinis are tricky and playful, representing the basic space of fertility out of which the play of samsara and nirvana arises.

  damaru (Skt.). Ritual hand drum used in vajrayana practice.

  Dawa Sangpo (Tib.: zla ba bzang po; Skt.: Suchandra). In Indian and Tibetan legend, the king who requested teachings from the Buddha that would allow him to practice dharma without renouncing his worldly responsibilities. In response, the Buddha gave him the first Kalachakra Tantra abhisheka.

  deva (Skt.; Tib.: lha; lha). Deity, god.

  devata (Skt.). Divinity.

  devi (Skt.; Tib.: lhamo; lhamo). Female deity; goddess.

  dewa chenpo yi yeshe (Tib.: bde ba chen po yi ye shes). Wisdom of mahasukha, or great bliss. See mahasukha.

  dharana (Skt.). Binding together.

  dharanayana (Skt.). The vehicle that binds together the body, speech, and mind of the practitioner; another term for vajrayana.

  dharma (Skt.; Pali: dhamma; Tib.: chö; chos). Truth, law, phenomenon. In particular, the buddhadharma, or teachings of the Buddha. The second of the three jewels. The plural, dharmas, simply refers to phenomena.

  dharmachakra (Skt.; Tib.: chökyi khorlo; chos kyi ’khor lo). Wheel of dharma. The phrase “turning the wheel of dharma” refers to teaching dharma.

  dharmadhatu (Skt.; Tib. chökyi ying; chos kyi dbyings). All-encompassing space; the unconditional totality, unoriginated and unchanging, in which all phenomena arise, dwell, and cease.

  dharmakaya (Skt.; Tib.: chöku; chos sku). Dharma body. The mind of the Buddha, or enlightenment itself; unoriginated, primordial mind, devoid of concept. One of the three kayas. See also trikaya.

  dharmapala (Skt.; Tib.: chökyong; chos skyong). Protector of the dharma. A type of deity whose function is to protect the teachings of the Buddha and its practitioners.

  dharmata (Skt.; Tib.: chönyi; chos nyid). Dharma-ness, isness; the essence of reality.

  dhatu (Skt.; Tib.: k
ham; khams). Space, expanse; element, nature; region, realm. The dhatus also refer to the eighteen dhatus or sense faculties that are comprised of the six sense organs; the six sense objects of the sense organs; and the six corresponding sense consciousnesses.

  Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (Tib.: dil mgo mkhyen brtse; 1910–1991 CE). A highly revered Nyingma meditation master beloved in all schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Khyentse Rinpoche was a close friend and mentor of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. At Trungpa Rinpoche’s request, Khyentse Rinpoche came to the West several times to give teachings.

  doha (Skt.). A song expressing spiritual realization.

  döma (Tib.: gdod ma). Primordial; one of the three qualities of the Great East. See also appendix 5, under The Three Qualities of the Great East (chapter 1).

  dö-me ying (Tib.: gdod ma’i dbyings). Primordial space.

  dompa (Tib.: sdom pa; Skt.: samvara). Vow, precept; binding together.

  dön (Tib.: gdon). A sudden attack of neurosis, an emotional upheaval, or klesha, that seems to come from outside oneself. See also klesha.

  dorje (Tib.: rdo rje). See vajra.

  dorje chang (Tib.: rdo rje ’chang). Vajra holder; one who holds the vajra. See also Vajra dhara.

  dorje kham (Tib.: rdo rje khams). Indestructible being; vajra nature.

  dorje loppön (Tib.: rdo rje slob dpon; Skt.: vajracharya). Vajra master.

  dorje lugu gyü (Tib.: rdo rje lu gu rgyud). Vajra chains; visions that appear in the practice of thögal.

  Dorje Phurba (Tib.: rdo rje phur ba). See Vajrakilaya.

  dorje thekpa (Tib.: rdo rje theg pa; Skt.: vajrayana). Indestructible vehicle. See also vajrayana.

  dorje thukkyi tamtsik (Tib.: rdo rje thugs kyi dam tshig). Samaya of vajra mind.

  dorje ying (Tib.: rdo rje dbyings; Skt.: vajradhatu). Indestructible space; the basic space that accommodates all phenomena of samsara and nirvana.