One of the three baskets (tripitaka) of the Buddhist canon, the others being the Vinaya and the Sutra; the systematized philosophical and psychological analysis of existence that is the basis of the Buddhist systems of tenets and mind training.

Personal ego. The mental faculty of individuation; sense of duality and separateness from others. Ahamkara is characterized by the sense of I-ness (abhimana), sense of mine-ness, identifying with the body (madiyam), planning for one's own happiness (mamasukha), brooding over sorrow (mamaduhkha), and possessiveness (mama idam).

Sanskrit term for "elixir of immortality," it sometimes refers to the female ejaculant that flows from the urethra of some women at orgasm. Some believe this to be mystical, and to be nothing more than urine mixed with naturally generated vaginal lubricant.

This term refers to the higher tantras of the Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug schools. Practiced as the Mahayoga in the Nyingma school. The highest of the four levels of Vajrayana teachings. The three lower tantra classifications are Kriya, Carya and Yoga (the three Outer Tantras of the Nyingma school.) There are three divisions: Pitriyoga or Father (Method) tantra, Matriyoga or Mother (Wisdom) tantra, Advityayoga or non-dual tantra.

Oral sex. Also known as the Vajroli mudra, the uniting of mouth and genitals.

Avalokitesvara is the embodiment of the compassion of all the Buddhas and is regarded by the Tibetan people as the progenitor of the race and guardian of the country. He is one of the two chief Bodhisattva emanations of Amitabha. As a sambhogakaya emanation of the Lotus (Padma) Family, he is one of the Three Protectors of the Tantra; the other two being Manjusri and Vajrapani. Through his sharing of mankind’s misery, he positions himself to help those in distress and is considered a savior. In his four-armed form, he sits in the lotus posture, with hands clasped in prayer over his heart; his other right hand holds a crystal mala upon which he counts mantras, and his other left hand holds an open lotus flower that radiates blessings to all beings. He rescues all beings by hearing their suffering and cries for help.

A text based on oral teachings by Padmasambhava and recorded in written form circa 760. By way of misrepresentation of the text by Evans-Wentz (1878-1957), the Western reader has come to know this text as "The Tibetan Book of the Dead," a translation that has misguided many readers. A much better translation by Trungpa and Fremantle is entitled "Liberation by Hearing During One's Existence in the Bardo." The text is read aloud (i.e. "liberation by hearing") to someone in bardo, sometimes as pure instruction for meditation and, at the time of death, to guide the mind through the labyrinth of adventures ahead.

Sexual enjoyment. Enjoyment of the senses.