Kritik am Buch „The Shadow Of The Dalai Lama ... - Neues von Shi De

purifying the mind.
mahasiddha – “great perfect being” – “great sorcerer” – a highly perfected and accomplished mystic; one of a
legendary class of demigods or superhuman Tantric practitioners who propagated Tantra throughout South Asia
and Tibet.
mani - a jewel, gem, precious stone; especially a pearl bead or other globular ornament.
maithuna – “Pairing, coupling” – sexual intercourse as a means of liberation, gnosis and transcendence of the
human condition; the fifth and ultimate Tantric “sacrament”; an iconic representation of a pair engaging in
sexual intercourse. See also yab-yum.
mandala – “circle” – an idealized circular model of the cosmos, with the source of cosmic or temporal power
located at the centre, and deities or beings representing lesser powers or energies radiating outward toward the
periphery, the limits of the system. In Tantric practice, Mandalas are often employed as visual meditation
support.
mantra – “mental device, instrument oft thought” – an acoustic formula whose sound shape embodies the
energy-level of a deity; a spell, incantation or charm employed in Tantric ritual or sorcery. Chants, magical
formulae.
maya – “That which is measured out; cosmic illusion”
Meru - the central mountain of every universe.
mudra – “seal” – a symbolic gesture of the body with ritual meanings. In Buddhist Tantra mudra is on of the
terms used for a male practitioner’s female consort.
nadi – one of an elaborate network of 72.000 subtle ducts of the yogic body through which breath and energy
are channelled.
nirmanakaya – “form body” – the first of the three bodies of the Buddha, the physical form in which the
historical Buddha appeared to the world.
nirvana – “extinction” – the soteriological goal of Buddhism; the final cessation of rebirth into suffering
existence.
pingala – mapping of the yogic body, the major subtle channel identified with the un that runs the length of the
spinal column, to the right of the medial channel. See also nadi.
pitha – “bench, footstool” – a pilgrimage site and power place identified with a goddess and her male consort.
prajna – “wisdom” – insight into the true nature in reality; a Tantric practitioner‘s female consort . The prajna
becomes deified as a Buddhist goddess with a bipolar relationship to the male upaya (“skill”) represented by a
god, a buddha or a bodhisattva.
prajna-paramita – “perfection of wisdom” – the female embodiment of wisdom. Prajna-paramita becomes
deified as a Buddhist goddess, also considered to be the “mother of all buddhas”.
prana – “breath” – the breath of life; one of the multiple breaths or energies that, flowing through the nadis,
vitalizes and is the active element in the transformation of the yogic body.
pratyekabuddha – a Buddha who loves a solitary existence and realizes nirvana for himself alone.
puja –“honouring, veneration”; the body of practices that comprise the worship of a deity.
rainbow body (Tibet. ja’lus) – supernatural body attained through Tantric techniques by means of which the
practitioner is able to disappear into another dimension.
rasa – “juice, flavor’ – an essential fluid of yogic, alchemical or Tantric practice. The semen feminile.
sadhaka – a Tantric practitioner
sadhana – Tantric practice
shakti – “energy” – the energy of a deity personified as his female consort
samadhi – total yogic integration; ecstatic consciousness
samatha – “tranquil abiding, quiescence” – a Buddhist form of meditation.
samaya – “coming together” – conventional rule or practice; sacrament.
sambhogakaya – “body of shared enjoyment” – the second of the Buddha’s three bodies, in which he preaches
to the assembled bodhisattvas.
samsara – “flowing together” – the cycle of transmigration; suffering existence, phenomenal reality.
sangha – “assembly” – Buddhist society, comprised of monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen
siddha – “perfected being”- a Tantric practitioner who has realized embodied liberation. The siddhas also form