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Absolute Reality (Tib. don.dam. [don dam]) A term used to descnbe the enlightened awareness that is beyond duality and the confusion of the . four veils of obscuration. See RELATIVE REALITY, OBSCURATION Alaya-Vijnina (Skt., Tib. kun.gzhi.rnam.par.shes.pa. [kun zhi nam par she pa]) Often abbreviated as alaya. It is also used in the Yogtiaira Abhidharma, as attributed to Asali.ga (fifth century, A.D.), to describe the fundamental nature of mind, and is considered to be the eighth consciousness, having two qualities. One is considered to be pure and undefiled in that the buddha nature is incorruptible, and, in this sense, it is often translated as primordial consciousness. The other is considered to be impure, in that the reaping of either positive or negative karmic actions is indicative of the delusion concerning the true nature of being, and, in this sense, the term is often translated as storehouse consciousness. See EIGHT CONSCIOUSNESSES Amitabha Buddha (Skt., Tib. 'od.dpag.med. [0 pag me]) Literally "boundless light;" the buddha of the western direction, whose elemental association is fire, whose wisdom is discrimination, and whose practice is said to be an antidote of greed. Also, the saqtbhogakiya buddha of the lotus family. See BUDDHA FAMILIES, DEWACHEN Anuttarayogatantra (Skt., Tib. mal. 'byor.bla.na.med.pa'i.rgyud. [nal jor Ia na mey pay gyii]) The highest of the four levels of tantric yoga. See FOUR LEVELS OF TANTRIC YOGA, FIVE PATHS, MAHAMUDRA, DZOGRIM Arhat (Skt., Tib. dgra.bcom.pa. [dra com pa]) Literally "one who has slain the foe," referring to the hinayana ideal of overcoming emotional complexities and intellectual discursiveness. An arhat is said to have reached a state in which there is a cessation of suffering. Auspicious Coincidence (Tib. rten. 'brei. [ten drel], Skt. pratitya samutptida) Refers to a coming together of factors to give the characteristics of any given occurrence or situation. In the viewpoint of the vajrayana, each moment has the potential for transcendence, no matter what the circumstances, and is therefore considered auspicious. .Ayatana (Skt., Tib. skye.mched. [kyem che]) The field of sense perception for each of the six sense faculties and their sensory objects, totalling twelve in all. Bardo (Tib. bar.do. [bar do]) Literally "between two," referring to the characteristics of the illusory appearance of change experienced by sentient beings within the six realms of sa!psara. Traditionally, it is thought that six bardos sustain the processes of birth, death, and rebirth. First, our current life of ordinary waking consciousness is