Tibetan Terms
The Tibetan terms selected for this webpage include those that Rinpoche regularly used in past talks. In addition to a literal translation, some terms will also include talk excerpts and/or resources for those who wish to explore a term in greater depth. If you have any suggestions for terms, suggested resources related to posted terms, or would like to help with transcribing and editing for this project please contact us.
All of the recordings and transcripts included on this webpage are available for download. Please go to the Help Page for directions on how to do this.
December 2008
tsok - the word "feast" in Tibetan is tsok which literally means 'gathering of many things,' a gathering of deities, people, merit and wisdom, food and drink, etc. In addition there are three kinds of gatherings (tsok). There is the 'loyal gathering of human beings,' loyal means having pure samaya. The 'meritorious gathering of abundance' which are all kinds of food and drink but nothing poisonous. Then there is the 'resplendent or majestic gathering of deities.' As well, you have the gathering of merit.
This term is used by Rinpoche in the The Benefits of Tsok Practice transcript that is available for download on the Staying in Step with the Lineagewebpage.
Visit the Practice Resources webpage to learn more monthly MSB group tsok practice.
Visit the Rigpa Shedra Wiki to learn more about the term tsok.
November 2008
nying-ru - "a piece of bone in the heart," meaning a strong perseverance, determination, and courage in the face of challenges, whether internal or external.
This term is used by Rinpoche in the Drive It Home Like a Nail talk that is available for download on the Staying in Step with the Lineage webpage.
October 2008
shinjang - well worked
DOWNLOAD a transcript on this term.
September 2008
chinlap (adhishtana in Sanskrit) - blessing
Visit the Rigpa Shedra Wiki to learn more about chinlap.
"Some people mistake the experience of adhistana as some kind of suffering. It means a positive change (or movement) in one's mental continuum. When this happens, eruptions will often come up. People will have intense realizations of their pain or entrapment in samsara or in their situation. They may see the way they are, how they have been, how they are unable to move forward and how they feel helpless. All of those emotions are brought up by blessings. Some people may shake, cry, or have intense physical experiences. I'm not encouraging people to shake. It's important to not mistake adhishtana as an ordinary suffering. "
- Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche - Feb. 9, 2001
August 2008
duksak - accumulating/collecting suffering
DOWNLOAD a 7 min. talk excerpt on this term given by Rinpoche at the 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva Essential Buddhist Studies program at Pema Osel in 2007.
July 2008
dralha - 'Dra' means 'enemy' and 'lha' means 'the one who conquers the enemy'. The divine being who conquers the enemy.
DOWNLOAD the "Losar of the New Millennium: Dralha, Lungta, Wangtang, Ziji" transcript from the Crucial Point.
Visit the Rigpa Shedra Wiki to learn more about dralha.
June 2008
Rangtong and Shentong Madhyamaka - "Within the system of Madhyamaka, 'Rangtong Madhyamaka' and 'Shentong Madhyamaka' are distinguished. Literally, Rangtong means 'self empty' and Shentong 'empty of other.' In the view of the Rangtong Madhyamaka, 'the expanse by nature completely pure' refers to the fact that all phenomena are by nature not truly existent. It is equivalent to emptiness in the sense of of complete freedom from conceptual elaboration [which Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche refers to as trötral in the audio excerpt below]. In the view of Shentong Madhyamaka it is the nature of mind, being the inseparable union of spaciousness and awareness." (The above is taken from "Part Three: Explanations by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche" of the text Buddha Nature: The Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra with Commentary).
May 2008
lenchak - karmic debt
DOWNLOAD the "Finding Freedom from Lenchak" transcript from the Crucial Point. This talk includes a commentary on the Riwo Sangcho practice.
DOWNLOAD the "Jellyfish in the Ocean of Samsara " transcript from theCrucial Point. This talk was given at the Riwo Sangcho retreat at Pema Osel, August 2006.
Purchase and listen to the Lenchak CD.
April 2008
zhenpa - conception, attachment, clinging, hanging on to, conception which adheres to such an imputation, obsessive habituation, addiction, take as concrete reality
"Dualistic perception is based upon zhenpa - holding things to be intrinsic, real, divided. This way of perceiving doesn't reflect the nature of phenomena. Buddha's jnana of seeing the manyness of phenomena is seeing things clearly, without zhenpa, without unconsciously taking everything as real and intrinsic. Not seeing things as empty by nature is the strongest ignorance. It covers the nature, and makes it impossible for one to see appearance as illusory. Every instant of consciousness, we're caught in ignorance, caught in solidity, totally lost in the concept of appearance being real. Therefore the subjective and objective worlds are completely divided. Realization of emptiness is the only thing that can clean this up "
- Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche - 2001 Shedra Program
DOWNLOAD an edited transcript on the topic of zhenpa from the Shambala Sun.
DOWNLOAD Personal Link #52 to listen to a talk specifically on this term.
Purchase and listen to the Exposing Shenpa CD.