☸ Tibetan Buddhist Glossary

A gompa is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery or a place of meditation and spiritual practice. It serves as a community center for monks, nuns, and lay practitioners to study, meditate, and perform rituals. Gompas often house sacred artifacts, scriptures, and images of deities, and provide a peaceful environment for spiritual growth. Practitioners may visit gompas to receive teachings, participate in ceremonies, or engage in personal retreats.

In Tibetan Buddhism, a guru is a spiritual teacher who has achieved a high level of realization and is qualified to guide others on the path to enlightenment. The guru is considered a representative of the Buddha and is often revered as a symbol of wisdom, compassion, and spiritual authority. The relationship between the guru and student is considered sacred and is built on trust, devotion, and mutual respect. The guru provides guidance, teachings, and blessings to help the student progress on their spiritual journey.

Guru yoga is a practice in Tibetan Buddhism where the practitioner visualizes and connects with the wisdom and compassion of their spiritual teacher, or guru. This practice is meant to help the practitioner develop a strong sense of devotion, gratitude, and respect for their teacher, and to receive the teacher's blessings and guidance. Guru yoga is often performed as a way to cultivate a positive and receptive mind, and to deepen one's understanding of the Buddhist teachings. It is an essential part of Tibetan Buddhist practice, particularly in the Vajrayana tradition.