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Dictionary of Key Spiritual Terms


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Wylie | Tibetan

power

See also almighty, blessing
  1. dbang / 

    [hon. mnga'/ ]

    Biblical: 1) spiritual power or authority: dbang dang mthu yis 'gong po la bka' gnang /  with authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits (Lk. 4:36), dmyal bar dbyug pa'i dbang /  power to throw you into hell (Lk. 12:5), bdud kyi dbang /  the power of Satan (Acts 26:18), khyod kyi nang na nga'i dbang ston pa/  that I might display my power in you (Rom. 9:17), ltas ston pa'i dbang /  miraculous powers (1 Cor. 12:10), sdig pa'i dbang ni bka' khrims yin/  the power of sin is the law (1 Cor. 15:56), dbang dang srid/  powers and authorities (Col. 2:15); 2) legal power or authority: spyi khyab kyi khrims dang dbang /  the power and authority of the governor (Lk. 20:20), sgrol ba'i dbang dang rgyang shing la rkyong ba'i dbang /  power to free you or to crucify you (Jn. 19:10).

    Buddhist: In an ultimate sense, power refers to the ability of the Buddhas to free all beings from suffering (JPG 200). Specific instances include: 1) tantric initiation or empowerment (TRI 189): rang sems gla mar shes na dbang bzhi rdzogs/  if you recognize your own mind as the teacher, all four empowerments are complete (HTE 184); 2) miraculous or supernatural power: dbang bcu/  the ten miraculous powers of a Buddha, including control of length of life, miracles, circumstances of rebirth, etc. (TRI 189); 3) faculty, sense, cognitive power: dbang shes dang yid shes/  sense consciousness and mental consciousness (TRC 166), dbang po lnga/  the five physical senses: sight, hearing, etc. (TRI 190); 4) ability: dbang po lnga/  the ability given by faith, effort, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom (the so-called dbang po lnga/ ) to propel one towards enlightenment (KBT 55), snying rje'i dbang gis/  by the power of great compassion (TRC 341), gtam brjod 'dod dbang /  freedom of speech (RRT 282 n. 23).

    Cognates: 1) srid dbang /  political power (SBC-1 62); 2) kun dbang /  all powerful dkon dbang ldan pa'i dkon mchog the Lord God Almighty (2 Sam. 5:10 NTV); 3) rang dbang /  independent (TRC 95); 4) dbang thang /  political power rgyal po la sogs pa'i dbang thang /  the power of a king (TRC 227); 5) dbang du byas nas/  from the point of view of (TRC 242); 6) dbang med/  powerless, beyond one's control (TRC 245); 7) dbang du song ba/  to fall under the power of: rang gces 'dzin gyi dbang du ma song ba/  [lit. not to go under the power of self cherishing] unselfishness (DLP 18); 8) dbang cha/  rights, powers bod gzhung dga' ldan pho brang gyi chab srid dbang cha tshang ma/  all the powers of the former Tibetan government (DPD 24).

  2. mnga' thang / 

    Biblical: might, dominion, power, authority; especially in a political sense: rgyal po'i khri'am srid yin rung /,,/dbang dang mnga' thang yod do cog whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities (Col. 1:16), mnga' thang dang dbang dang stobs/  dominion, authority, and power (1 Cor. 15:24), dbang dang /,,srid dang mnga' thang dang /,,rgyal srid/  rule, authority, power, and dominion (Eph. 1:21), pho nya dang /,,dbang dang /,,mnga' thang rnams la mnga' mdzad do/  angels, authorities and powers in submission to him (1 Pet. 3:22), mnga' thang dang mthu stobs/  power and strength (Rev. 7:12).

    Proverbs: rgyal po chen po yul gyi rgyan cha red/,,khrims dang mthun na rgyal gzhis mnga' thang ldan/  a great king is the country's ornament; if he [rules] in accord with the law, his realm will be glorious and powerful (KPU 10).

  3. mthu stobs/ 

    [lit. power + strength]

    Biblical: supernatural power or ability: nga las mthu stobs che/  one who is more powerful than I (Mt. 3:11), shes rab dang mthu stobs/  wisdom and miraculous powers (Mt. 13:54), dkon mchog gi mthu stobs/  the power of God (Mt. 22:29), nyid kyi nang nas mthu stobs shig thon pa mkhyen nas/  realized that power had gone out from him (Mk. 5:30), khong gi mthu stobs thog med dang ngo bo mi snang ba/  [God's eternal power and divine nature (Rom. 1:20), ma shi ka'i mthu stobs/  Christ's power (2 Cor. 12:9).

    Buddhist: 1) used of the power of the gods to change into other forms (AMD); 2) used of the secular might or power of kings, heroes, etc. (AMD).

  4. nus pa/ 

    Biblical: power, ability: sdig pa rwa can la yod pa'i nus pa lta bu/  power like that of scorpions (Rev. 9:3).

    Buddhist: ability, capacity: 'jigs pa las skyob pa'i nus pa/  the capacity to save from fear (TRC 73), za mi nus pa/  unable to eat (TRC 229), sdig pa shin tu stobs chen mang po 'joms nus pa/  the ability to overcome powerful evils (TRC 319), legs nyes 'byed pa'i blo yi nus pa/  the ability to decide between good and evil (DLP 23).

  5. shugs/ 

    Biblical: physical strength, power, ability: zla ba lnga'i bar du zug gzer byung ba'i shugs/  power to torment people for five months (Rev. 9:10).

    Cognates: 1) shugs chen po/  intense, strong: slob gnyer shugs chen po byed ma thub pa/  unable to do intense studying (TRC 4), dran pa shugs chen po/  a strong power of attentiveness (TRC 200), chags zhen shugs che/  passionate attachment (DLP 13); 2) shugs snon/  to strengthen, reinforce, or give emphasis to: 'phrul bzo rig gnas kyi thog tu shugs snon che drags pa yin na/  if we give too much emphasis to science and technology (DLP 2); 3) shugs rkyen/  influence (SBC-1, 61); 4) rdul phran gyi stobs shugs/  nuclear power rdul phran gyi stobs shugs ldan pa'i dbu khrid tsho/  the leaders of the nuclear powers (DLP 7); 5) glog shugs/  electric power: bzo las glog shugs thing /  industrial electric power department.