ལས། | Glossary of Terms

The impact of past actions in the present and future. Also translated here as “past action.”

Generally meaning “work,” or “action,” it is an important concept in Buddhist philosophy as the cumulative force of previous actions, which determines present experience and will determine future existences. In this text, it is left untranslated when this specific conception of moral causation is implied.

Any volitional act, whether of body, speech, or mind. Karmic accumulation, positive or negative, will produce results in the future, unless it is purified.

Also rendered in this sūtra as “action.”

Intention or what follows an intention. Intention is mental karma; what follows an intention is verbal and bodily karma.

Meaning “action” in its most basic sense, karma is an important concept in Buddhist philosophy as the cumulative force of previous physcial, verbal, and mental acts, which determines present experience and will determine future existences.

Intention or what follows an intention. Intention is mental karma; what follows an intention is verbal and bodily karma.

See “action.”

Generally meaning “work,” “action,” or “duty,” karma is an important concept in Indian religious thought that refers to the universal law by which a being’s good or bad deeds determine the future modes of their existence.

Karmic accumulation, positive or negative, that will produce results in the future, unless it is purified. This term is also translated in other instances as “activity” or “rite.” In these latter cases the term refers to a ritual activity (such as pacifying, nourishing, etc.) or a rite meant to accomplish such activity.

See “karma.”

See “karma.”

Also rendered in this sūtra as “karma.”

A single term is used in Sanskrit and Tibetan to denote both an “action” as a conditioning factor and the “karma” that it conditions. In translation it may be necessary to use one term or the other to clarify the meaning, but the source term is no different.

Any volitional act, whether of body, speech, or mind.

Any act or deed done with body, speech, or mind. Also translated here as “the potential of their past actions.” 

Any volitional act, whether of body, speech, or mind. Also rendered here as “act,” “karma,” and “deed.”

See “action.”

A ritual activity (such as pacifying, nourishing, etc.). This term is also translated in other instances as “rite,” “karma,” “karman,” or “karmic accumulation.” In the latter three cases the term refers to karmic accumulation, positive or negative, that will produce results in the future, unless it is purified.

See “action.” Also used to translate other synonyms, like mdzad pa.

Past actions with their impact in the present and future. Also rendered here as “karma.”

The (invisible) potential of a past action is that action’s inherent capacity “to ripen” into a karmic result under certain circumstances. Also translated here as “action.”

A rite that is meant to accomplish an activity (such as pacifying, nourishing, etc.). This term is also translated in other instances as “activity,” “karma,” “karman,” or “karmic accumulation.” In the latter three cases the term refers to karmic accumulation, positive or negative, that will produce results in the future, unless it is purified.