yan lag bdun. A form of prayer comprising seven parts:
prostration, offering, confession, rejoicing, requesting the teachers to turn
the wheel of Dharma, requesting them not to pass into nirvana, and
dedication of merit.
SEVEN BRANCHES,
’phags pa’i nor bdun. Faith, discipline, generosity, learning, a sense of decency, a sense of shame, and wisdom. SEVEN NOBLE RICHES,
VAIROCHANA, rnam snang chos bdun. The seven points of the ideal meditation posture: legs crossed in the diamond (vajra) posture, back straight, hands in the gesture of meditation, eyes gazing along the nose, chin slightly tucked in, shoulders well apart “like a vulture’s wings,” and the tip of the tongue touching the palate. SEVEN-POINT POSTURE OF
SHAKYAMUNI, sha kya thub pa, “Capable One of the Shakyas.” The seventh of the thousand Buddhas in this Fortunate Kalpa. The Buddha of our time, who lived around the 5th century B.C. kha na ma tho ba, lit. “that which cannot be mentioned” or “cannot be praised.” This term covers every kind of action that results in suffering and not only the most serious kinds of wrongdoing. Shameful actions are divided into those that are naturally negative and those that are negative in that they involve breaches of vows. SHAMEFUL DEEDS,
SHANTIDEVA, zhi ba lha, “Peaceful God.” The great 7th century Indian poet and mahasiddha (great accomplished being), author of the famous poem on the practice of bodhichitta, The Way of the Bodhisattva (Bodhicharyavatara). SHATHA, g.yo ldan, “Land of Deceit.” The subcontinent situated to the north of the western continent, Aparagodaniya. SHIKHIN, gtsug tor can, “He Who Bears the Crown Protuberance.” The second of the thousand Buddhas in this Fortunate Kalpa. SHRI SINGHA (Skt.), “Glorious Lion.” An important master in the lineage of the Great Perfection; teacher of Jñanasutra, Vimalamitra, and Guru Rinpoche. ’dod khams kyi lha, Skt. kamalokadeva. Four Great Kings, Heaven of the Thirty-Three, Heaven Free of Conflict (Yama), the Joyous Realm (Tushita), Enjoying Magical Creations, and Mastery over Others’ Creations. SIX CLASSES OF GODS OF THE WORLD OF DESIRE,
mngon par shes pa drug. (1) The knowledge and ability to perform wonders appropriate to the needs of beings, such as the miraculous multiplication of objects; (2) the clairvoyance of the divine eye (the knowledge of births and deaths of all beings); (3) the clairaudience of the divine ear (the ability to hear all sounds throughout the three-thousand-fold universe); (4) the knowledge of one’s own and others’ past lives; (5) the knowledge of the minds of others; (6) the SIX KINDS OF PRETERNATURAL KNOWLEDGE,