The following list of suggested English equivalents for mahamudra technical terms in Tibetan is arranged according to English alphabetical order. It has been compiled primarily from Mahamudra Eliminating the Darkness of Unawareness (Phyag-chen ma-rig mun-sel) by the Ninth Karmapa Wangchug Dorje (Kar-ma-pa dBang-phyug rdo-rje) and A Root Text for the Precious Gelug-Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra (dGa’-ldan bka’-brgyud rin-po-che’i phyag-chen rtsa-ba) by the First Panchen Lama (Pan-chen Blo-bzang chos-kyi rgyal-mtshan).
| Tibetan | English |
|---|---|
| ‘bol-le | soft |
| ‘bur-tshugs | intensely wide-open |
| ‘byams-pa | totally immerse |
| ‘dre-ba | to mix |
| ‘gyu-ba | stirring |
| ‘jog-pa, bzhag-pa, gzhag-pa | set the mind into …. |
| ‘jur-btab | tighten up |
| ‘phrang-lnga | five dangerous gorges (where you can be ambushed by enemies) |
| ‘phro-ba | to be emanating |
| ‘tsher | shiny |
| a-‘thas | solidifying |
| a-‘thas-kyis | in a solidifying manner |
| ban-bun | the gurgle-gurgle of “this” and “not that” |
| bar-chad | interference |
| bcos-med | uncontrived |
| bdag-nyid | identity-nature |
| bdag-med | unself-conscious (tenet systems: lack of an impossible “soul”) |
| bdo-ba | comprehensive |
| bka’-babs | transmission |
| bkrag | luster |
| blo | intellect, attitude |
| blo-‘das chen-po | the great state beyond the intellect |
| blo-gtad | trust |
| blos-byas | intellectually derived |
| bogs-‘don | enhancing one’s progress |
| brda | label |
| brdar-ba’i gser | rubbed gold |
| brod-pa | joy |
| bsam-mno | cogitating thoughts |
| byang-chub | purified state |
| bzo-med | non-manufactured |
| cer (cer-re) | piercing stare |
| cham-du | utterly |
| cham-‘gro | pass utterly into … |
| cham-gyis | tranquilly |
| cham-me | tranquil |
| chil-le-ba | pronounced (odor) |
| cho-‘phrul | magical emanations |
| chos-nyid | actual nature |
| chos-skad | Dharma jargon |
| ci-yang byar-med-pa | having nothing whatsoever to be done |
| cig-car-ba | those for whom it happens all at once |
| dag-pa gnyis-ldan | double purity |
| dal | leisured |
| dangs | see: dvangs |
| dbang-po rab-‘bring-tha | those with highest, middling and least capabilities |
| De-bzhin-nyid | the accordant nature (of reality) (Skt. tathata) |
| de-kho-na-nyid | the very nature of reality |
| de-nyid | real nature, fact of reality, reality, the real thing (Skt. tattvata) |
| dkar | lustrous |
| dkar-po chig-thub | singular sufficient white panacea |
| dmigs-gtad | focal support |
| dngos-‘dzin | grasping for truly existent functional phenomena |
| dngos-grub | actual attainments |
| don-gyi mtha’ | utmost point |
| dran-rtog | conceptual memory |
| dri-ma | stain |
| dred-po | closed-minded and smug |
| dung-dung | affectionately |
| dung-nge-ba | emotionally affectionate |
| dvangs | lucid, lucidity |
| gar thod-thod | whatever comes up |
| gdams-ngag | guideline instructions |
| gdams-pa | guidelines |
| gdangs | luster |
| gdod-lta | the view that is there from the start |
| gdod-nas | from the start |
| gegs | hindrance |
| glod | loosen, let go, release |
| gnas-lugs | abiding nature |
| gnas-pa | to settle (the mind) |
| gnyan-sa | frightening haunted places |
| gnyis-‘dzin | dualistic grasping |
| gnyug-ma | primordial state |
| gnyer-med | not anxiously caring |
| go-ba | intellectual understanding |
| go-‘phang | topmost achievement |
| go-yul | theoretical understanding |
| gol-sa gsum | three places for deviation |
| gsal-le | sparkling |
| gsha’-ma | genuine |
| gshis | character |
| gtan | immemorial |
| gtan-la ‘bab-pa | to ascertain |
| gtum | fierce |
| gu-tog-po | claustrophobic |
| gu-yangs-pa | expansively open |
| gud-na | separately, independently |
| g.ya | tarnish |
| gya-gyu | fluttering |
| g.yar-khral-du | dutifully |
| g.yeng-ba | mental wandering |
| gzhag | set (your mind) |
| gzhal-yas-khang | immeasurably magnificent palace |
| ha-re-ba | staring |
| hrig-ge-ba | vividly wide awake |
| hrim-gyis bsgrims | firm tightness |
| hur-phyung-pa | to re-energize |
| kad-de-ba | a whimsical thought |
| kha-sbyor bdun-ldan | united couple having seven features |
| khrig-ge | securely (settled) |
| khyad-du gsod-pa | to put down, to be dismissive of |
| krong-nge | straightly, uprightly (straight as an arrow) |
| kun-gzhi rnam-shes | specific awareness alaya, alayavijnana |
| kun-gzhi ye-shes | deep awareness alaya |
| lam-me | vividly clear |
| lam-rim-pa | those who progress through stages |
| las-dkar | lustrous impulse |
| las-nag | dark impulse |
| legs | goodness, good things |
| lhag-ge | distinctly |
| lhan-ne | serene (tranquil) |
| lhang-gis (lhang-nge) | distinctly (clearly understandable) |
| lhod-de | relaxed |
| lhod-kyis glod | relax and loosen up |
| lhug-pa | at ease |
| lhug-par ‘jog | set at ease |
| lhun chags-pa | dignified |
| lings-skyur | placed totally in someone or something |
| long-nge | low-keyed |
| lta-ba | to examine |
| lta-stangs | way of gazing |
| lteng-po | lethargic |
| lus-gnad | body posture |
| ma-bslad-pa | unadulterated |
| ma-nyams-pa | unimpaired |
| ma-rnyog-pa | unsullied |
| man-ngag | quintessence teachings |
| mdangs | brilliance, brilliant |
| me-re | limpid |
| mi-chos | polite affectations |
| mi-‘gyu dgu-‘gyu | stirring with all sorts (of conceptual thoughts) |
| mnyam-nyid | the equal nature |
| mos-gus | firm conviction (in your guru’s good qualities) and appreciation (of his kindness) |
| nan-tan byed-pa | to earnestly practice |
| na-ra-ra | steadily |
| ngang-gis | naturally (by their own force without effort) |
| ngang-gis gnas | naturally settle down |
| ngar-skyed | increase intensity, increase strength |
| ngo-bo | essential nature |
| ngo-‘phrod | to have met face to face |
| ngo-sprod | get to know face to face |
| ngo-ti | the actual matter, the actual topic |
| ngos-gzung | identifiable, recognizable |
| nyams | boon, boon experience |
| nyog-pa | muddy-minded |
| phri-li-li | vibrant (like a bell) |
| phul-tu byung-ba | superior |
| phun-tshogs | splendor |
| rang-babs | dropped down to the natural state |
| rang-byung | self-arising |
| rang-bzhin | intrinsic nature (dzog-chen: functional nature, Gelug: self-establishing nature) |
| rang-chas | an intrinsic part of oneself |
| rang-dag | automatically purifying itself away |
| rang-ga-ba | naturally simple |
| rang-gis | reflexively |
| rang-grol | automatically liberate themselves, automatically release themselves |
| rang-lugs | natural mode |
| rang-mdangs | reflexive brilliance |
| rang-ngo | natural face |
| rang-rdol | spring out spontaneously |
| rang-rig ye-shes | reflexive deep awareness |
| rang-sar grol | release itself automatically in its own place |
| rang-sar zhi | still automatically in its own place |
| rang-shugs-kyis | naturally |
| rang-snang | reflexive appearance |
| rang-so | naturally present all along |
| rang-yan-du | at its own leisure |
| rang-zhi | subsiding by their own accord |
| rbad-rbad bcod | cut off “wham-wham” |
| re-dogs | hopes or worries |
| re-mos | alternate |
| rengs-pa | dumbfounded |
| rgya-yan | carefree and loose |
| rgyu-ba | rambling |
| rig-pa | knowing (dzogchen: pure awareness) |
| rig-rig | knowing this and that |
| rje-btsun | ennobling impeccable |
| rjen-gyis | denuded, denuding |
| rjen-ne | stark |
| rjen-par | see: rjen-gyis |
| rmongs-pa | stupefied |
| rmug-pa | bewildered |
| rmugs-pa | foggy-mindedness |
| rnam-‘phrul | miraculous emanations |
| rnam-g.yeng | distractions |
| rnam-rtog | conceptual thoughts |
| rol-pa | play |
| rten-brten | supporting environment and what is supported in it |
| rting-sor | afterwards |
| rtogs-pa | stable realization |
| rtogs-grol dus-mnyam | simultaneous realization and liberation |
| rtsal | display |
| rtsing-po | coarse, wild |
| rtsol-med | unlabored |
| sa-le | vividly transparent |
| sal-le | see: sa-le |
| sems-nyid | mind-itself |
| sems-don | mind’s deepest point |
| sgrib | obscuration |
| shig-ge | comfortable |
| shigs-se | vividly discharging |
| shigs-shigs | see: shigs-se |
| shor-sa gzhi | four places for a loss (of voidness) |
| sil-gyis | shatteringly |
| sing-nge | crystal clear |
| skor-re | circling back |
| skyor bde-ba | fluidly flowing |
| snang-srid | whatever is possible that can appear |
| snum | glistening |
| spu-ris | fine details |
| so-ma | fresh and clean |
| spro-ba | to emanate |
| spros-bcas bya-ba | action with elaboration |
| spros-bral | parted from mental fabrication |
| spros-pa | mental fabrication |
| sre-ba | to merge |
| stong | voidness, bareness |
| stong-rkyang | just an absence |
| stong-skad | talk of voidness |
| stong-pa cang-med | a blank void |
| stong-nyid shor-ba gzhi | four losses of voidness |
| stong-sang | utter bareness |
| stong sang-nge | see: stong-sang |
| tha-mal ‘du-‘dzi | ordinary commotion |
| tha-mal-gyi shes-pa | normal awareness |
| thag-bcod | become decisive |
| thal-le-ba | plainly evident, with no covering or obstruction |
| thol-gyis | suddenly, all of a sudden |
| thom-me-ba | pitch (blackness) |
| ting-nge-ba | absorbed |
| tsham-tshum | blink |
| tur-tur-po | darting here and there |
| ya-yo | wavering to and fro |
| yang-dag-pa | perfectly so |
| yang-dag-pa’i don | totally perfect deepest truth |
| ye-re | pristine |
| yed-yed | trembling (fear) |
| yengs-pa | meandering |
| yer-gyis | rapidly afresh |
| yin-lugs | the way things are |
| yud-de | in the ever-present moment |
| yul-med | a state of not being an object (clung to as truly existent) |
| zab-be zob-be | slack |
| zab-zob | see: zab-be zob-be |
| zhal-gdams | guideline teachings |
| zhal-lung | personal instructions |
| zhen-pa | cling to conceptually |
| zi-bun | enraptured |