Lexicon EVEREST/CHOMOLUNGMA
Chomolungma is the Tibetan name for Mount Everest. Chomolungma's resident goddess is Miyo Lungsangma, the mother goddess of earth. According to a religious story, five daughters of father Lohla Tebu and mother Menthang had five daughters: Tashi Tseringma gives long life; Miyo Longsma gives food; Tekar Longsama gives good fortune; Chopen Dinsangma gives wealth and Thingi Shelsangma gives telepathic powers.

HIMAL
Himal means snow mountain. Himalaya is the land of the Snow Mountains and Tibet translates literally to "land of the snow."

SHERPA
Sherpas are an ethnic group indigenous to Tibet and found primarily on the southern slopes of the Himalayas though many Sherpas also reside in Nepal. Sherpas originally fled eastern Tibet to escape religious persecution from the Mongols. Sherpas are primarily Buddhist, however they do worship a pantheon of demons and demonesses often associated with mundane, everyday problems. Some Sherpas make their living as highly skilled porters, cooks, Base Camp managers and mountain guides. Sherpas are often better acclimatized to the extreme altitudes encountered in the Himalayas due to the fact that most were born, raised and live at very high altitudes. Indeed, the records for the fastest Everest ascent as well as the most numerous ascents made by one person are both held by Sherpas. Sherpa is also a surname used by many Tibetans to indicate their ethnic origin.

CHANG
Chang is home brewed rice and is more commonly known as barley beer. The skillfulness in which a family brews and distills this beer often corresponds to their social prestige in the community. Guests of a Sherpa household will often receive three quick cups of chang accompanied by shouts of "shay, shay!" or "drink, drink!"

NAMASTE
This common greeting literally means, "I salute the good in you."

TASHI DELEK
Tashi delek is a common greeting meaning hello, kale phe is goodbye and thoo jaychay is thank you.

LHOTSE
Lhotse (South Peak), where "Lho" means south. Lhotse is the fourth highest mountain in the world and rises to 8500m. Its summit is also the least frequently "bagged," with only about 40 successes.

NUPTSE
Nuptse (West Peak), where "Nup" means west. Nuptse is the 26th highest mountain in the world rising to 7879m. It is located south of Mt. Everest's South Col.

CHANGTSE
Changtse (North Peak), where "Chang" means north. Changtse rises to 7583m and is entirely located in Tibet.

SHAR
Shar means east.

CWM
Pronounced "koom," this is a Welsh term for a cirque or bowl. George Mallory named the high, glaciated southwest valley encircled by Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse, the Western Cwm during an unsuccessful 1920 expedition.

COL
Col or "La" in Tibetan is a high mountain pass. These passes are often strung with prayer flags to indicate good fortune for travelers and climbers.

PRAYER FLAGS
Prayer flags are square pieces of cloth with Buddhist prayers written upon them which are strung together and flutter in the wind. Buddhists believe that with each flutter of the flag, a prayer is sent into the heavens.

The flags are printed on a series of yellow, white, red, green and blue cloths which correspond to the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and ether), as well as the five senses and the five wisdoms. It is Buddhist belief that the flags preach the word of the Buddha, attract good luck, ward off disease, the evil eye, demons and bad spells. They are also hung to manifest one's gratitude for a wish fulfilled or an unexpected beneficial occurrence.

When strung up in high mountain passes, prayer flags represent the traveler giving thanks for protection against the elements. A typical prayer flag may read, "May the rain fall at the proper time, may the crops and livestock be bountiful. May there be freedom from illness, famine and war. May all beings be well and happy."

PRAYER WHEEL
A prayer wheel is a cylindrical metal alloy wheel that is rotated by devotees and practitioners of Buddhism in the same direction as the sun (as well as the direction in which one walks around a shrine or a Stupa). These wheels can either be hand-held or much larger and attached to temples or religious sanctuaries. The wheels themselves are filled with papers that contain prayers and mantras. By spinning a wheel and simultaneously reciting a mantra, additional prayer merit is gathered because of the ceaseless spinning of the sacred words representing the continuing teachings of the wheel of Dharma. These wheels are elaborately carved and decorated.

PUJA
A Puja is a Buddhist ceremony often performed by Sherpas before an attempt to climb Mt. Everest is made. It is an offering ceremony during which incense is burned, grains are thrown and mantras are repeated. The ritual is to show respect for the deities and to ask for their protection and safe passage for the mountaineers on their journey up the mountain. No Sherpa will set foot on the mountain without first conducting a puja, and while they believe that having a good puja does not guarantee success, a bad puja is universally considered a bad omen.

STUPA
A Stupa is a structure erected as a Buddhist shrine. The foundation is built on a square base (earth) surmounted by a dome (water) prolonged by a flight of stairs which leads, symbolically, to enlightenment as well as physically to an umbrella shaped structure at the top of the Stupa. Stupas now normally function as tombs of spiritual leaders and masters. In the past, they were erected on places connected by Buddha's historic passage on earth. Alone, or in temples, the faithful donate offerings to the Stupa, burn incense, and walk around it in a clockwise direction mimicking the direction of rising and setting sunlight. A Stupa always implies the presence of the Buddha.

GOMPA
Gompa is the name for a temple, or lamasery, which shelters many monks and lamas. It is also the name of the king, Song-tsen Gam-po, who first allowed Buddhism to permeate Tibetan culture. He commissioned the building of the Johkang as well as the Potala and is generally recognized as the human emanation of Avalokiteshvara or even a Bodhisattva.

MANI STONES
Mani stones are rocks and boulders carved with the syllables of the Tibetan Buddhist mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" which means "honor to the jewel in the lotus." These stones are placed next to holy shrines to augment their spirituality and importance. Before the Chinese influence, roads were lined with "mani walls," long piles of stones, covered with the mantra, slowly built up over time by wanderers, travelers and pilgrims.

BODHISATTVA
A Bodhisattva is a Buddhist who epitomized the path to enlightenment, but at the last minute turned from the Buddha to stay on earth and help others attain compassionate enlightenment. It is the Mahayana ideal to aspire to help others achieve this enlightenment, very unselfishly. Compassion became so central to Tibetan-style Buddhism that the archetype of compassion is the Avalokiteshvara, a personified form of compassion or enlightenment. By chanting a mantra in a series of repetitions, it becomes a means of concentrating the mind on compassion while its associations, as well as vibrations, evoke feeling in the heart. For Tibetan Buddhists, the Bodhisattva is said to consist of six essential qualities: generosity, ethics, tolerance, energy, meditation, and wisdom, which is the key to enlightenment.

AVALOKITESHVARA
Avalokiteshvara is compassion or enlightenment personified. The Dalai Lama can be considered a Bodhisattva and a human emanation of Avalokiteshvara. When this enlightened compassion, epitomized by the Avalokiteshvara is symbolized in sound it takes the form of the sacred mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" which means "honor to the jewel in the lotus flower." A Buddhist strives in their training to be as pure as Avalokiteshvara.

LAMA
For Tibetan Buddhists, a Lama is the translation of the Sanskrit "guru" or spiritual teacher who helps guide them on the right Dharma, or path to enlightenment. Lama is not used to describe every monk, rather it is reserved for the most accomplished, scholarly sages, who are authorized to perform rites, teach doctrine, and guide others to enlightenment. Lamaism is the organization of Lamas according to a traditional hierarchy. Two Lamas, the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama occupy the highest office. Theoretically, both Lamas had the same authority, but in actuality the Dalai Lama, who has a greater temporal jurisdiction, is much more powerful. One does not have to be a monk to be a Lama. A distinction may be drawn between Lamas with red hats and Lamas with yellow hats. Traditionally, a red hat symbolized the school of the ancients and the yellow hat symbolized the school of the moderns. The idea that there exists a perpetuated antagonism between these two schools is false. In fact, they complement each other, acknowledging each as servants of Dharma, the law of Buddha.

DALAI LAMA
The Dalai Lama is the temporal and spiritual leader of Tibet. He is also Tibet's main political and governmental figurehead. The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Guyutso is the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. It is the Tibetan Buddhist belief that when the Dalai Lama goes through one human cycle of life, birth, suffering, enlightenment and death, that he will be reincarnated in human form since he is a Bodhisattva. The Dalai Lama is chosen by a special and unique process. For example, the current Dalai Lama was chosen after a Reagent Rinpoche (widely respected Lama) made a holy pilgrimage to a lake which provided him with three visions: a monastery surrounded by gold and jade, a white road leading east and a small boy standing in a farm house courtyard. The Reagent, so powerfully struck by these visions, submitted a report to the National Assembly whereupon search parties consisting of monks were sent to Eastern Tibet.

In one village, Kumbum, a monastery was found similar to the one in the Rinpoche's dream. Simultaneously, the Panchen Lama (second to the Dalai Lama) declared the existence of a Dalai Lama candidate in that village. A few monks, using merchant/traveler disguises, entered the Panchen Lamas recommended house and found a 2½-year-old boy who jumped in one of the Lamas laps and began playing with a rosary that belonged to the 13th Dalai Lama, claiming that it was his. Then the boy identified the disguised monks as Lamas from Sera and did it all in a central Tibetan dialect. Profoundly astonished, the monks returned with a series of objects and crafted fakes owned by the 13th Dalai Lama. Spread out in front of the boy, the young leader chose all of the correct objects owned by the past Dalai Lama. Finally, a physical examination was given to find bodily marks that are characteristic and unique to all Dalai Lamas, big ears, long eyes, streaks on the legs, etc...The boy displayed similar traits and after being taken to Lhasa where many ceremonial rights were performed and vows taken he was pronounced the 14th Dalai Lama.

Exiled by China, the Dalai Lama resides in Dharmasala, India, were he is the leader of over 100,000 displaced Tibetan refugees. This is also were the exiled seat of Tibetan government resides. It is written in Tibetan scripture that even just being in the presence of the Dalai Lama brings good luck and fortune for a whole lifetime.

PANCHEN LAMA
Panchen Lama means "great scholar" in Tibetan. Second only to the Dalai Lama, the elder of the two is the traditional teacher of the other. Both function as spiritual leaders. During the reign of the fifth Dalai Lama, the principle of reincarnation was applied to the Panchen Lama.

RINPOCHE
Rinpoche is the designation for the spiritual head of the monastery. In the Tibetan language, the word Rinpoche can be translated into "precious one." The Rinpoche is often identified as a young boy (either through a dream sequence, visions, miracles or by a Lama) and then brought into the monastery and trained there for the rest of his life. Rinpoche are, in a sense, qualified spiritual guides, initiating Tibetans into the appropriate stages of meditation, as well as assigning the correct yadim or deity. Although it is rare, Rinpoches can be women.

POTALA
The Potala is the winter palace of the Dalai Lama, as well as the former seat of Tibetan government. It is located in the Tibetan Capitol City of Lhasa. Its huge white walls are accentuated by its location high up in the mountains. It is named after Mt. Potala in south India, one of the holiest mountains of the Hindu god Shiva or "pure land were Avalokiteshvara resides." Just like when entering a Stupa, pilgrims walk in a clockwise direction in the Potala. In the center is the Red Palace. This is where the Dalai Lama used to live and work. First constructed in 764, it has endured a ravaging fire and was rebuilt in 1645. It now contains many chapels, assembly halls and burial tombs of past Dalai Lamas.

JOHKANG
The Johkang is the Dalai Lama's temple, located in the center of old Lhasa. This is the most sacred temple in Tibet. Established in the 7th century by King Gampo, the name Johkang actually means, "shrine of Jowo" which was a statue of a deity the shrine is built around. The statue is believed to have been carved by the celestial artist Vishvakarman at the time of the Buddha. One hundred and one monks live amidst the elaborately carved temple. In the entranceway is a large assembly hall were one can view devotees lying in front of altars. Filled with chapels and stupas, the temples have names such as "The Chapel of the Eight Medicine Buddhas" and "The Chapel Where the Jowo was Hidden." There are also large tangkas (murals) depicting 108 stories of the Buddha's life located in the inner sanctuary halls.

BARKOR
Barkor is a major market, which envelops and surrounds the Johkang monastery in the city of Lhasa. Houses line the narrow cobblestone streets of this old quadrangular market place. A maze filled with dogs, cattle, humans and sheep, the Barkor or intermediate circuit marks not only the religious and mercantile focus of old Lhasa but also the beginning of the circumambulation of the Johkang Temple. In the Barkor can be found traces of the old, ancient Tibet.

SANGHA
A Sangha is a Buddhist spiritual community. A Sangha will sponsor a monk by donating food and money. It is also customary to donate a son to the monastery for education as a way of continuing the monastic order. Although the Chinese denounced this, restrictions have lightened.

TONKA
Tonka are famous Buddhist scroll paintings and mural drawings etched with elaborate colorful scenes which often depict deities. Tonkas adorn monastery walls and furnishings. Always commissioned and uniquely decorative, these images are usually interpreted as having to do with the many vehicles a faithful Buddhist must make use of to achieve enlightenment as well as the many obstacles, which guard the path of Nirvana. They often illustrate the meditative experience. Sometimes these paintings will be in the shape of a wheel or sphere held up by a demon indicating the infinite cycle of birth, death and rebirth, which occur, on the human path towards perfection; these paintings are called Mandalas.

PRAYER PROSTRATION
Prostrating oneself by lying on the floor in front of altars, getting up and moving in a clockwise direction only to repeat the whole process again is a form of offering. In performing the prostration, one gives up one's pride and arrogance and often combines these sins with confessions of things one has done to harm the altar in a purging type of demonstration, almost an absolution. Moving all the way around an altar, Buddha, Stupa or other sacred Buddhist site is performing a prayer prostration.

BUTTER LAMPS
Butter lamps are small cups filled with liquid yak butter and topped with a wick. They are often lit at night and during Buddhist ceremonies and festivals. They are meant to produce a light that helps symbolically dispel the darkness of ignorance. Offering incense, flowers and ringing bells are other ways in which the experience of sense pleasure is dedicated to enlightenment.

MAHAKALA
Mahakala is a Buddhist deity and is the most important protector of Tibetan Buddhism. He is black, six armed and is actually considered to be the agent of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of great compassion. Mahakala is frightening in appearance because his responsibility is to protect all beings from evil. In the Mahakala ceremony, the monks invite Mahakala to manifest himself in front of them, they make offerings to him and they praise him. This helps to evoke his virtuous qualities and they commission him to safeguard mother Gaia and all beings. The Mahakala is often the principal deity in masked dances. To Tibetans, the masks help ensure the presence of some protective deities who have the right to drive away evil.

LOTUS
The lotus flower is one of the eight auspicious symbols. The lotus is considered to be a symbol of purity, for although it has roots in the mud of ponds and lakes, it raises its flower above the surface of the water. The lotus does not grow in Tibet and so only stylized versions of the lotus flower exist in Tibetan art. Upon enlightenment, celestial beings flocked to the Buddha and showered him with Lotus flowers as well as the seven other auspicious gifts. The umbrella, sign of royal dignity and protection from evil, two golden fish insignia of the Indian masters of the universe, expressing spiritual liberation from the oceans of suffering. The treasure vase carries spiritual jewels and is the receptacle for the illustrious water, the nectar of the immortal. The white conch shell, which is holier if its spiral is wound to the right, proclaims the glory of the enlightened one and bears the name of victory. The endless knot is a token of love and eternity representing infinite life, as the great banner testifies to the power of Buddhist teaching and the victory of good law. Finally, the golden wheel, or the wheel of teaching (Dharma), represents the unity of all things.

KHATA
Khata, or Kata, are white silk or cotton scarves placed around the neck of another person as a formal gesture of greeting, meeting, welcoming and of a hopeful courteous exchange. Pilgrims and devotees will make offerings of Kata to the altars and mountaineers will often receive these upon beginning and ending an expedition into the Himalaya. It is not uncommon to receive many Kata. Giving and receiving of Kata follows a special code, when presenting one to the higher ranks of the lama hierarchy such as the Dalai Lama, the hands are clasped up by the forehead and the scarf is delivered. If the Kata is given back, it becomes even more symbolic and acts as a talisman for the one who received it. This person may then offer another scarf as an emblem of protection for the recipient.

KARMA
Karma, or life energy, often denoted as Chi in other Asian cultures, is a spiritual force generated by a person's action. This spiritual energy can be used for either constructive or destructive means and thus can be channeled into the path toward enlightenment. A person's karma may or may not determine how close to a Bodhisattva they can achieve.