Advaita. A nondualism sub-school of the Vedanta school of Hinduism.

Aghori. A member of a small group of ascetic Shaiva sadhus.

Ahimsa. Nonviolence or doing no harm, the first precept in Buddhism.

Arjuna. A heroic character of the epic Mahabharata, who was famous for his skill in archery.

Balushahi. A popular pastry of fried dough glazed with sugar syrup.

Bhikshu. An ordained Buddhist monk.

Bidi. An inexpensive, leaf-wrapped cigarette.

Bodhi. The “awakened” or enlightened state of a Buddha.

Bodhicitta. A state of mind intent on reaching enlightenment, motivated purely by altruistic compassion for others.

Bodhisattva. An individual confirmed on the path toward enlightenment who has not yet become a Buddha. The meaning evolved over time in different schools and in Mahayana Buddhism emphasized the aspiration to end suffering for all sentient beings.

Chapati. Flatbread of unleavened wheat.

Chuba. The basic garment worn in Tibetan cultures, consisting of an ankle-length woolen robe tied around the waist.

Dacoit. A bandit.

Dharma. A concept in Indian philosophy that has a broad range of meanings depending on context, including natural law, order, and duty. In Buddhism, it popularly signifies the Buddha’s teachings and the nature of reality that those teachings point to.

Diksha. A ceremony initiating a layperson into religious life.

Dhoti-kurta. Traditional men’s clothing, consisting of an unstitched cloth, wrapped around the waist and legs, and a loose, collarless overshirt.

Drikung Kagyu. A sub-lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Drona. A character in the Mahabharata who is a teacher of martial arts to the heroes of the epic.

Dussehra and Diwali. Major Hindu festivals observed as official holidays in India.

Gelug. One of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, popularly known as the Yellow Hat school. A member of the Gelug school is known as a Gelugpa.

Geshe. A higher learning degree in the Tibetan monastic educational system.

Ghat. A series of steps leading down to a river or wharf, used in some places for cremation.

Hanuman. A Hindu god and character in the epic Ramayana, portrayed as a monkey, who represents qualities of strength, self-mastery, and devotion to service.

Kalyanamitra. A spiritual friend, whether teacher or peer, who helps to create the conditions that enable one to mature spiritually.

Khata. A scarf, often made of white silk, that is presented on ceremonial occasions in Tibetan culture.

Khaja. A sweet pastry of deep-fried, layered dough, popular with children.

Kirtan. A musical performance or recitation expressing religious devotion.

Kukri. A distinctive curved knife used by the Ghurkas as both a tool and a weapon.

Kumkum. A red powder made from treated turmeric, used for tilaka and religious rituals.

Kurta. A loose, collarless overshirt.

Laddoo. A rich sweet shaped into a small ball.

Lathi. A heavy stick.

Madhyamaka. The Middle Way school of Buddhism popularized by Nagarjuna.

Mridangam. A double-sided drum held horizontally and struck with the fingers or palm of the hand.

Naga. A mythical serpent associated with water.

Nana, nani. Affectionate terms of address for maternal grandparents or other maternal relatives of the same generation.

Prasad. A religious offering of food that is typically consumed by the worshippers after the ritual offering.

Puja. A ritual or ceremony performed as an act of worship.

Rinpoche. “Precious one,” a Tibetan title of veneration.

Rimé. A movement in Tibetan Buddhism that was highlighted in the 19th century to counter sectarian tensions while honoring the variety of teachings of different schools.

Rishi. A sage or saint in Hindu tradition.

Sadhu. An ascetic.

Sahib. A title for a person of high rank that was often used in colonial India.

Sakya. One of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

Samsara. The cycle of death and rebirth, characterized by suffering.

Sannyasi. A renunciant or mendicant.

Sangha. The Buddhist monastic community. In some traditions it refers to all followers of the Buddha, monastic and lay, or to those who have reached a level of realization that gives confidence in the Dharma.

Shaivism. (adjective: Shaivite) One of the major sub-schools of Hinduism dedicated to Shiva.

Shamatha. A form of meditation known as “calm abiding.”

Shounin. (Japanese) An honorific title for a monk, priest, or holy person.

Stupa. A reliquary, in some instances referred to as a pagoda.

Sutra. One of a genre of canonical Buddhist texts reserved for the spoken words of the Buddha.

Swami. Literally “Lord,” an honorific title used in certain Hindu religious orders.

Tantric. A practitioner of various esoteric traditions.

Thangka. A traditional Tibetan painting on fabric of a religious, often devotional, image.

Theravada. One of the oldest of the extant schools of Buddhism, and now the dominant tradition in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka.

Thread ceremony. The Upanayana, an elaborate Hindu rite of passage in which a child is initiated into his religious community as an adult and begins his life as a student. It involves the bestowal of a sacred thread that will be worn for life.

Tiffin. A packed lunch or snack.

Tilaka. A mark made with paste or powder, usually on the forehead, with different forms and symbolism in different Hindu traditions.

Tulku. A person whose spiritual accomplishment enables them to deliberately reincarnate, choosing the circumstances of their rebirth in a way that furthers the practice and teaching of Dharma.

Vedanta. One of the six major schools of Hindu philosophy.

Vinaya. The canonical Buddhist texts dealing with the monastic code of conduct.

Zamindar. A title that originated in feudal India for the owner of a large tract of land.