Horsehead

[Lit. tissue or continuum, Tantrayana = Mantrayana = Vajrayana]: This term is a reference for the complexity compared with the guide of the Sutra teachings. The teachings of Tantra describe fast meditation methods used in the  Diamondway. They work with identification and are orientated towards the goal, the qualities of  enlightenment .The goal (Enlightenment) is used as way.

Liberatice

The "Thus-gone" one, an epithet for a Buddha.

The seed of Enlightenment, the potential for Buddhahood in every sentient being.

Collection of comments on Buddhas direct teachings (Kanjur) that have been translated into Tibetan. The comments have been written by Indian masters and have been collected by the great scholar Buton Rinchendrup (1290 - 1364) and other masters. Depending on the edition it consists of 225 or 254 volumes.

[lit. hidden treasure] Teachings hidden by Guru Rinpoche and Yeshe Tsogyal. They were discovered by Tertons. The greatest part of the Nyingma teachings are termas.

A discoverer of hidden texts which have been concealed by great teachers of the past in various ways, until the time when they could be understood and applied.

Tibetan for "scroll painting"; an ancient art form that primarily depicts sacred images, such as Buddha aspects, or accomplished teachers from history. Tibetans are historically nomadic, and found it easy to transport artwork in a scroll form. A thangka is a complicated, composite three-dimensional object consisting of: a picture panel which is painted or embroidered, a textile mounting; and one or more of the following: a silk cover, leather corners, wooden dowels at the top and bottom and metal or wooden decorative knobs on the bottom dowel. Traditionally, Thangkas are painted on fine cotton cloth or silk, and real ground gemstones and gold were used as the foundation of the pigments. The gemstones have currently been replaced with more contemporary mediums such as gouache, tempera and acrylic, but pure gold is still used in finer Thangkas. Thangkas are intended to serve as a record of, and guide for contemplative experience. For example, you might be instructed by your teacher to imagine yourself as a specific figure in a specific setting. You could use a thangka as a reference for the details of posture, attitude, colour, clothing. etc., of a figure located in a field, or in a palace, possibly surrounded by many other figures of meditation teachers, your family, etc.

[tib. Chag tong chen ton chen resig, sanskr. Sahasrabhuja-Avalokiteshvara] Buddha of compassion in joy state. Has 1000 arms and 11 heads. Is mainly used in Nyung neh fasten practise.

[1983 - ] The 17th Karmapa see Karmapas Homepage

[1798 - 1868] The fourteenth Karmapa, Thegchog Dorje, was born in the village of Danang in the Do Kham region in east Tibet. He was identified by Drukchen Kunzig Chokyi Nangwa, the holder of the thirteenth Karmapa's letter giving the details of his forthcoming reincarnation. Thegchog Dorje was ordained by Pema Nyinche Wangpo and Drukchen Kunzig Chokyi Nangwa, both of whom went on to give the Karmapa the complete Kagyu transmission. He later found himself in the unusual position of taking teachings from one of his close students - Jamgon Lodro Thaye - who had been fortunate enough to receive the rare Tercho teachings, which he now passed to his guru, the Karmapa. Thegchog Dorje taught widely in Tibet. He identified the tenth Situpa, Pema Kunzang, but it was Jamgon Lodro Thaye who became the next lineage holder.

Great Way

Small Way

"The Way of the Older Ones". Here the focus is on one's own liberation. It can be subdivided into the way of the "Listeners" [Skt. Shravakas] and "Solitary Realizers" [Skt. Pratyeka Buddhas].

16th Karmapa Meditation

Traditional education for Lamas in tibetan buddhism. It takes three years, three months and three days and is done in celebate groups. The places of retreat are positioned in isolation from the outside world. The retreat consists of Ngondro, outer, inner and secret Yidam practise and the six teachings of Naropa.

See: Refuge

See: Refuge

Teaching Buddhas on the experience and the liberation from  death,  intermediate state and rebirth. It was composed by  Guru Rinpoche the founder of Tibetan Buddhism.

One of the three main traditions of Buddhism beside Theravada and  Zen. It was founded around the year 750 from the Indian master  Guru Rinpoche. Until today it contains the only complete transmission of Buddhas teachings with focus on Diamondway.

[988 - 1069] Tilopa condensed the essence of the different teachings in four streams of teachings that were later collected into one set by his main student Naropa under the name of the "Six Teachings of Naropa". Tilopa lived in desert places und had a number of disciples. Among them Naropa became the next forefather of the Kagyu Lineage.

Looking for the very first cause for the origin of things one cannot find one. The reason is that the "very first" cause must have a former cause from which it originated. In thecycle of existence things come into existence since beginningless time.

[1948 - 1950] It was a reflection on the adverse karmic conditions of the time that the infant Thirteenth Shamar Rinpoche lived for little more than a year before passing away.

"Give and Take", a practise of the Great Way

Emptiness

[1416 - 1453] The birth of the sixth Karmapa, Tongwa Donden at Ngomto Shakyam near Karma Gon in East Tibet, was marked by many auspicious signs. One month later, carried by his mother as she went begging, he became highly excited when their path crossed that of Ngompa Chadral, a student of the fifth Karmapa. Ngompa Chadral asked the identity of the child, who smiled back and replied "I'm the Karmapa"; he cared for the baby for seven months, before taking him to Karma Gon, one of Karmapa's three main monasteries in Tibet. As young as he was, Tongwa Donden immediately began to teach. At three, he met Ratnabhadra, and received full Kagyu transmission. At six, he created several Tantric rituals. The third Shamarpa, Chopal Yeshe, came to Karma Gon during this period to crown the Karmapa, and to give him further teachings. He was nine when he was ordained by Khenchen Sonam Zangpo at the monastery of Wolkar Tashi Tang. Tongwa Donden's life was spent teaching, and building monasteries and shrines, throughout Tibet. Bengar Jampal Zangpo and the first Gyaltsap, Goshir Paljor Dondrup, were his two principal students and became his lineage holders. They would become the main teachers of the seventh Karmapa, Chodrag Gyamtso.

At the age of 16 Togpa Rinpoche was appointed 'Vajra Master' in Tsurphu by theRangjung Rigpe Dorje. Later, in exile, he held the office of secretary general of the Rumtek monastery. Rinpoche was regarded as very learned and is particularly knowledgeable about history. Topga Rinpoche taught Buddhist philosophy, Buddhist epistemology and Tibetan linguistics at the KIBI (Karmapa International Buddhist Institute) in New Delhi. He died on September 19th, 1997 in Dehli. Section Teachers.

Ritual offering cakes made of oat and butter and kneaded into doughs.

Gesture (mudra) in which  Buddha is pictured the most times: The stretched fingers of the right hand touch the ground in front of the legs. Symbolically Buddha calls the earth-goddess as witness that he laid the cause for his enlightenment over many lives, by accomplishing  compassion and  wisdom and performing the according actions. In this way Buddha shows with this gesture way and goal in  Buddhism.

[Tib. Phowa] In the Kagyu Lineage one of the Six Teachings of Naropa. See also Phowa Lineage

Transmission of the realisation of mind’s nature. A complete transmission in Diamondway-Buddhism consists of the empowerment (tib.: wang), a transmission by reading (tib.: lung) and an explanation of the meditation practise (tib.: thri).

[790 - 858] The Tibetan King Trisong Detsen invited the scholar Shantarakshita to Tibet, and with his help sought to establish the first Tibetan monastery. Shantarakshita was disturbed by ghosts and demons throughout the project and therefore advised the king to invite the Indian Master Guru Rinpoche to help. Trisong Detsen followed his advice. With the aid of Guru Rinpoche they were able to build Samye monastery. Trisong Detsen invited many Indian scholars to Tibet. Under his regime translators were educated and he undertook the translation of many important texts into Tibetan. King Trisong Detsen was a student of Guru Rinpoche. (Phowa Lineage)

Already as a child Senge Gyabpa showed signs of being special. At age 10 he realized the dream-character of all phenomena. He became famous for his deep compassion. When he was 18, his behavior was that of a "crazy Yogi" but at a age of 20 has was ordained as a novice. He reached highest realization through Guru Tschober and his (Phowa Lineage) teachings and practised for many years in secluded caves.

Long-life Goddess

Karmapas former monastery in Tibet. It is located at an altitude of 4.600 m, about two hours drive northwest of Lhasa. The 16th Karmapa had to leave Tsurphu due to the Chinese invasion of Tibet.

[Tib. Nirmanakaya] State of compassion. A being who is consciously reborn for the benefit of all beings manifesting with the power to open their abilities. May or may not remember former lives. The word means "Illusion-Body," a form which one has and uses, but is not dependent upon.

Great examples of Tulkus are the various Karmapas. One distinguishes between different types of Tulkus:

• Choki Tulku: for example the Buddha Shakyamuni
• Kyewa Tulku: different teachers and other people, who act in the best interest of all, for example the various Karmapas.
• Sowo Tulku: things that were created, for example texts or statues.
• Ngagtsog Tulku: things that manifest themselves due to the wishes of Buddhas, for example a bridge appearing over a river.

See also The three Kayas.

Inner Heat Meditation , one of the six teachings of Naropa.

[Skrt: Pratityasamutpada] To realize that staying in Samsara is not a desirable condition can be achieved in many ways. One is to contemplate on the way in which Samsara works. Once we have realized the true nature of Samsara, we should generate aspiration to attain Liberation from it.

1. Ignorance: We don't recognize the true nature of mind. We believe in a real existing 'Self'.
2. Formation: This ignorance leads to Disturbing Emotions, which results in actions. These distorted actions leave imprints on the stream of our consciousness (Karma). Under appropriate conditions these imprints will manifest and form our future existence.
3. Consciousness: The stream of consciousness carries the imprints and let them ripen.
4. Name and Form: Habits from former existences let as consider the 'Self' consisting of a body (form) and mental actions (name). (Skandhas).
5. Sources or Origins: They are part of 'form' and act as doors to get in contact with the outer world.
6. Contact: In this link the contact of consciousness with the object is established
7. Sensation: Contact with pleasant objects leads to pleasant sensations, contact with unpleasant objects leads to unpleasant sensations.
8. Attachment: Sensation leads to attachment (desire).
9. Craving: We try to get the objects we desire or try to avoid them. This leads to further imprints on consciousness.
10. Becoming: After death imprints on the consciousness lead to the next existence.
11. Birth: According to the imprints (Karma) we take birth
12. Aging and Death: After being born we are getting older and older and finally we die.

There are some ways in which this item can be explained. The order of the links differs slightly between the explanations. The described lifetimes in the twelve links differs, too. In the description above the links can be considered as one lifetime or as three lifetimes (Link 1 to 3, 4 to 9 and 10 to 12). Interdependent Origination