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Dictionary of Key Spiritual Terms


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Wylie | Tibetan

fault

See also accuse, blasphemy, curse, slander, sin
  1. skyon/ 

    Biblical: a fault, defect, or sin. The Christian sense of the term implies lack of conformity to God's law and consequent guilt, a sense not found in Bsm. de nang skyon gzigs pas/  seeing faults in them (Heb. 8:8), bla chen dag gis khong la nyes skyon mang po bkal/  the chief priests accused him of many things [lit. crimes and faults] (Mk. 15:3).

    Buddhist: In Bsm. faults are usually seen as stains or removable imperfections rather than as moral transgressions or sins. All lay Bsts. are believed to have four faults: birth in cyclic existence, seeking salvation for private peace, obstructions to meditative practice, and obstructions to omniscience (KTM). 1) In a general sense, skyon/  is a term for defect or flaw: skyon can/  damaged, skyon gnod/  sabotage, skyon cha/  fault, kha dog gi sgo nas skyon yod med/  to see by means of its color whether there is a defect in refined gold (TRC 184), spyi tshogs rnying pa'i lam srol skyon cha/  the faulty customs of the old society (RRT 283 n. 25). 2) In a Bst. sense skyon/  is often used of errors in meditative technique: skyon du bltas te/  seeing as a fault [in technique of meditation] (TRC 201), or of something that is simply objectionable and therefore faulty ngan song gi sdug bsngal la skyon du mthong nas/  seeing as objectionable the suffering of those gone to evil destinies (TRC 217); 3) skyon/  may also be used of non-virtuous acts or moral errors: ngoms pa med pa'i skyon/  the fault of dissatisfaction (TRC 260), sangs rgyas kyi chos nas gsungs pa'i skyon dang yon tan/  the faults and the good qualities which are taught in the doctrine of the Buddha (TRC 167), sems bzang gting nas dkar kyang skyon du rtsi/  if your mind is truly good and pure, they will judge it a defect (HTE 176).

    Proverbs: 1) rang skyon mi mthong mi skyon ston le 'dra/  I don't see my own faults, yet I point out those of others (KPU 35), skyes mchog rang gi skyon la lta/,,skye bo ngan pa gzhan skyon tshol/  the noble look upon their own faults, the wicked seek the faults of others (CTL 220, n. 23); 2) skyon spong dge bsgrub/  abandon faults and cultivate virtues (TQP 32).

  2. nyes pa/ 

    Biblical: evil, sin, offense, transgression: nged kyis gzhan nyes sel ba ltar/  as we have forgiven others' sins (Mt. 6:12), skyon med dang nyes med/  without fault or defect (Phil. 2:15).

    Buddhist: 1) moral responsibility or blame: sman pas ma nyes sman gyis ma nyes te/,,nad pa de nyid kyis ni nyes pa yin/  it is not the fault of the physician or the medicine, but of the sick man himself (TRC 77); 2) a character defect or a moral fault: nyes pa mi smra rgyal sras lag len yin/  not to mention faults is the practice of the sons of the Buddha (GSL 26); 3) a defect or mistake in technique: nyes pa lnga/  the five meditative faults: le lo/  laziness, gdams ngag brjed pa/  forgetting instructions, bying rgod/  dullness and agitation, mngon 'du mi byed pa/  non-application of antidotes, mngon par 'du byed pa/  over-application of antidotes (TRI 95); 4) violation of a vow: nyes byas bzhi bcu zhe drug the forty six faults (transgressions of boddhisattva vows (TRI 95); 5) a crime or sin: srog bcad pa'i nyes pa/  the sin of killing (DPD), log g.yem byas na de bas nyes pa che/  to commit adultery is a great sin (DPD), chang de nyes pa kun kyi rtsa ba yin/  [drinking] beer is the root of all evil (DPD); 6) evil in general: legs pas nyes pa pham par gyis/  overcome evil with goodness (DMP 114).

    Cognates: nyes chad/  punishment, nyes pa can/  or nyes can/  criminal (AMD), nyes bya/  monetary fine, penalty.

  3. ltung ba/ 

    [lit. fall]

    Biblical: a moral fall or fault: nyams sad nang mi ltung ba'i phyir/  so that you will not fall into temptation (Mt. 26:41), ltung ba rnams la drag po ste/  sternness to those who fell (Rom. 11:22), sha za ba dang chang 'thung ba sogs khyed kyi spun ltung ba'i rgyu spong ba legs/  it is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall (Rom. 14:21), bud med de bslus par gyur te sdig pa'i nang ltung ba yin/  it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner (1 Tim. 2:14).

    Buddhist: ltung ba/  is a violation of religious, and especially monastic rules or vows, of which there are five classes: ltung ba lnga/  and four causes: ltung ba 'byung ba'i sgo bzhi/  (CNG 39). When a ltung ba/  occurs, it must be confessed ltung bshags/  (TRI 112); see confess.