ཆོས་ཀྱི་དབྱིངས། | Glossary of Terms

Interpreted variously‍—given the many connotations of both dharma and dhātu‍‍—as the realm, element, or nature, of phenomena, reality, or truth, but generally taken to denote the entirety of phenomena and particularly their nature as a synonym of other terms designating the ultimate. In Tibetan, instances of the Sanskrit dharmadhātu with this range of meanings (rendered chos kyi dbyings) are distinguished from instances of the same Sanskrit term with its rather different meaning related to mental perception in the context of the twelve sense sources and eighteen elements (rendered chos kyi khams).

Defined in the commentary as the ultimate nature of phenomena, or as the supreme amongst phenomena. Also defined as the essence of the Dharma. Dhātu can be used to mean an essential element or a realm, and so dharmadhātu is also used to mean “the realm of phenomena,” meaning all phenomena. Also translated here as “essence of phenomena.”

The “sphere of dharmas,” a synonym for the nature of phenomena.

A synonym for emptiness or the ultimate nature of things (see i.4). This term is interpreted variously‍—given the many connotations of dharma / chos‍—as the sphere, element, or nature, of phenomena, reality, or truth. In this text it is used with this general, Mahāyāna sense, not to be confused with its rather different meaning in the Abhidharma as one of the twelve sense sources (āyatana) and eighteen elements (dhātu) related to mental perception.

The “sphere of dharmas,” a synonym for the nature of things. Also translated here as “realm of Dharma.”

The element, or nature, of ultimate reality.

A synonym for the nature of things.

A synonym for ultimate truth, the nature of phenomena.

The “sphere of dharmas,” a synonym for the nature of things.

The “sphere of dharmas,” a synonym for the nature of things.

The “sphere of dharmas,” a synonym for the nature of things.

A synonym for emptiness, the ultimate reality, or the ultimate nature of things. This term is interpreted variously due to the many different meanings of dharma as element, phenomena, reality, truth, and/or the teaching.

The “sphere of dharmas,” a synonym for the nature of things.

A synonym for ultimate truth, the nature of phenomena.

A synonym for emptiness or the ultimate nature of things. This term is interpreted variously‍—given the many connotations of dharma/chos‍—as the sphere, element, or nature of phenomena, reality, or truth.

The “sphere of dharmas,” a synonym for the nature of things.

The “sphere of dharmas,” a synonym for the nature of things.

The element, or nature, of ultimate reality.

A synonym for ultimate truth, the nature of phenomena.

The field or nature of ultimate reality.

A synonym for the nature of things.

A synonym for emptiness or the ultimate nature of reality (dharmatā). This term is interpreted variously‍—given the many connotations of dharma/chos‍—as the sphere, element, or nature of phenomena, reality, or truth. In this text it is used with this general, Mahāyāna sense, not to be confused with its rather different meaning in the Abhidharma as one of the twelve sense fields (Skt. āyatana) and eighteen elements (Skt. dhātu), and comprising all objects of mental perception.

The nature of phenomena; the dimension or space (dhātu) in which phenomena (dharma) appear.

“The sphere of dharmas,” “the base of dharmas,” “the ore of dharmas”‍—a synonym for the nature of things.

The nature of phenomena, a term for ultimate truth.

This term is interpreted variously‍—given the many connotations of both dharma and dhātu‍—as the sphere, element, or nature, of phenomena, reality, or truth. In this text it is used with this general, Mahāyāna sense, not to be confused with its rather different meaning in the Abhidharma as one of the twelve sense sources (āyatana) and eighteen elements (dhātu) related to mental perception.

In combination with pratītya­samutpāda (in this text rten cing ’brel bar ’byung ba chos kyi dbyings), the term dharmadhātu can refer to a type of Buddhist relic which is said to embody the essence of the Buddhist doctrine.

The “sphere of phenomena,” a totality of things as they really are.

See “sphere of phenomena.”

A synonym for emptiness or the ultimate nature of reality (dharmatā). This term is interpreted variously‍—given the many connotations of dharma/chos‍‍—as the sphere, element, or nature of phenomena, reality, or truth.

A synonym for emptiness or the ultimate nature of reality (dharmatā). This term is interpreted variously‍—given the many connotations of dharma/chos‍‍—as the sphere, element, or nature of phenomena, reality, or truth

See “Dharma realm.”

A technical term used to express ultimate reality. It is interpreted variously‍—given the many connotations of dharma/chos‍—as the sphere, element, or nature of phenomena, reality, or truth.

The condition of phenomena as they truly are, undistorted by conceptual thinking.

The fundamental space that is the characteristic of all phenomena.

Varyingly, “the sphere of dharmas,” “the base of dharmas,” “the realm of dharmas”‍—a synonym for the nature of phenomena.

Synonymous with the very limit of reality, it refers to the ultimate reality that is the absence of an intrinsic nature.

See “dharmadhātu.”

Things as they truly are, with nothing imputed to them through dualistic thinking. The term is rendered elsewhere in this translation as “dharmadhātu.”

See “dharmadhātu.”

See “realm of phenomena.”

Defined as the ultimate nature of phenomena, and also as the essence of the Dharma. Literally “the element of phenomena, or the Dharma.” This term is also used to mean “the realm of phenomena,” meaning all phenomena.

Defined in the commentary as the ultimate nature of phenomena, or the supreme among phenomena. Also defined as the essence of the Dharma. Literally “the element of phenomena, or the Dharma.” This term is also used to mean “the realm of phenomena,” meaning all phenomena.

The element, or nature, of ultimate reality.

A synonym for emptiness, the ultimate reality, or the ultimate nature of things. This term is interpreted variously due to the many different meanings of dharma (chos) as element, phenomena, reality, truth, and/or the teaching.

The realm of the ultimate reality of the emptiness of all phenomena.

A synonym for emptiness or the ultimate nature of reality. The term is interpreted variously and can be translated according to context as “Dharma realm,” “Dharma element,” “the realm of phenomena,” or “the element of phenomena.”

Dharma-dhātu is a synonym for emptiness or the ultimate nature of phenomena (dharmatā). This term is interpreted variously‍—given the many connotations of dharma/chos‍—as the sphere, element, or nature of phenomena, suchness, or truth. In this text it is used with this general, Mahāyāna sense, not to be confused with dharma constituent (Tib. chos kyi khams), also called in Sanskrit dharma­dhātu, which is one of the eighteen constituents. See also “dharma constituent.”

Dharma-dhātu is a synonym for emptiness or the ultimate nature of phenomena (dharmatā). This term is interpreted variously‍—given the many connotations of dharma/chos‍—as the sphere, element, or nature of phenomena, suchness, or truth. In this text it is used with this general, Mahāyāna sense, not to be confused with dharma constituent (Tib. chos kyi khams), also called in Sanskrit dharma­dhātu, which is one of the eighteen constituents. See also “dharma constituent.”

The expanse of phenomena, the sphere of ultimate reality.

A synonym for the nature of things, ultimate reality.

Varyingly, “the sphere of phenomena,” “the base of phenomena,” “the ore of phenomena”‍—a synonym for the nature of things.

The nonconceptual, boundless field (dhātu) in which all phenomena (dharma) appear. A term for ultimate reality.

A synonym for emptiness or the ultimate nature of things. This term is interpreted variously‍—given the many connotations of the Sanskrit dharma, Tibetan chos‍—as the sphere, element, or nature of phenomena, reality, or truth.

The “sphere of dharmas,” a synonym for the nature of things. Also translated here as “realm of phenomena.”

This compound is actually metaphorical in sense, with (at least) two interpretations possible because of ambiguities in the word dhātu. Dhātu as in the expression kāmadhātu (desire-realm), may mean “realm”; or it may mean “element,” as in the eighteen elements (see entry), where it is explained as analogous to a mineral such as copper. Thus the realm of the Dharma is the dharmakāyā, the pure source and sphere of the Dharma. And the element of the Dharma is like a mine from which the verbal Dharma, the buddha-qualities, and the wisdoms of the arhats and bodhisattvas are culled. This is metaphorical, as Vimalakīrti would remind us, because the Dharma, the ultimate, is ultimately not a particular place; it is immanent in all places, being the actuality and ultimate condition of all things and being relatively no one thing except, like voidness, the supremely beneficent of concepts.