Aro Dictionary

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Tantra
Used in two ways. ‘Tantra’ is a short form of ‘Tantrayana’, the Buddhist yana concerned with transformation. A ‘tantra’ is also a sacred text typically expressing teachings from Tantrayana.
Read more about: Tantra
Tantrayana
Tantra is the Buddhist yana whose path is the transformation of neurotically confused emotions into their enlightened equivalents. Compare Sutrayana—the path of discovering emptiness through renunciation—and Dzogchen—the path of remaining in rigpa by means of self-liberation.
Read more about: Tantrayana
Tantrika
One who practices Tantra. Particularly, one who holds the fourteen root vows.
térma
Spiritual treasures that were hidden by a Buddha such as Padmasambhava or Yeshé Tsogyel and subsequently revealed by a Tértön. (Térma is also transcribed as ter, gTér, terma, or gTérma.) The Aro gTér is a pure-vision térma discovered by Aro Lingma.
The Tibetan spelling is gTer ma.
Tértön
One who discovers térma or concealed spiritual treasures.
The Tibetan spelling is gTer sTon.
thangka
A Tibetan religious icon in the form of a scroll that is hung on the wall but can be rolled up when not in use. Thangkas are most often painted, but can also be created with textile arts such as embroidery or appliqué.
The Tibetan spelling is thang ka.
transformation
The path of Tantrayana is the transformation of the neurotic or confused forms of the elemental emotions into their enlightened equivalents.
Read more about: transformation
transmission
Transmission occurs when a student recognises the enlightened nature of a Lama. Through this inspirational experience it becomes possible to recognise one’s own enlightened nature.
trèk-chöd
The Dzogchen meditation method of finding the presence of awareness (rigpa) in the dimension of whatever arises. Trèk-chöd is a powerful method for the self-liberation of distorted emotional energy.
The Tibetan spelling is khregs chod.