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Glossary: Monastic Titles & Terms

Glossary: Monastic Titles & Terms | Glossary: Titles & Honorifics | Monastery, Residence & Retreat Terminology Glossary | Glossary Main Page

Tibetan Buddhist Titles and Ranks: (bod lugs nang pa sangs rgyas pa'i go gnas kyi ming dang rim pa)

Monastic Terms (from the Vinaya & Tibetan Usage)

- Abbess, Khenmo, Upadhyayani (mkhan mo):

- Abbot, Khenpo, Upadhyaya (Khenpo - head of the monks) (mkhan po):

- Chant Master, Umsey (dbu mdzad):

- Child Monk (grwa phrug):

- Congregation of Monks (grwa tshogs):

- Disciplinarian, Geku, Upadhiwarika (dge bskos):

- Disciplinarian, Chos khrims pa (dge bskos):

- Flute Player, Gyalingpa (rgya gling pa):

- Gelobma, Shikshamana, (dge slob ma): ordination for females between dge tshul ma and gelong ma.

- Great Abbot, Khenchen (great abbot) (mkhan chen) Maha Upadhyaya:

- Great Monk, Gelong Chenmo, (dge slong chen mo):

- Great Monk or Nun, Banchen (ban chen):

- Head Cook, Solpon (gsol dpon):

- Junior Abbot, Khenchung (junior abbot) (mkhan chung):

- Master and Disciple (dpon slob):

- Monk, Drapa (draw pa) (sku gzhogs):

- Monk, Gelong [fully ordained monk] (dge slong):

- Monastic, Rabtujungwa, Pravrajita, (ordained monk or nun) (rab tu byung ba):

- Monk, Tsunpa, Bande (btsun pa) (monk):

- Nun/Aunt, Ani/tsunma (a ni, btsun ma):

- Novitiate Nun, Getsulma (Shramanerika, dge tshul ma):

- Novitiate Monk, Getsul (Shramanera, dge tshul): novice monk

- Nun, Gelongma (Bhikshuni, dge slong ma: fully ordained nun

- Official Abbot, Chikyab Khenpo (spyi khyab mkhan po):

- Old Monk, Bangan (ban rgan):

- Scholar Abbots, Khenrab (mkhan rabs):

- Senior or Retired Teacher (bla zur):

- Senior Monk, Lagan (bla rgan):

- Senior/elderly Monk (grwa rgan):

- Shrine Master, Konyen (dkon gnyer):

- Teacher, Gegan (teacher) (Guru) (dge rgan):

- Throne Holder Abbots, Trirab/danrab (khri rabs/gdan rabs):

- Treasurer/general secretary, Chagdzo (phyag mdzod):

- Young Monk, Banchung (ban chung):


Jeff Watt & Karma Gellek 8-2012