aestheticism (2)
in this case, impractical devotion to the arts
akimbo (8)
with hands on hips
anemometer (32)
a device used to measure the speed of wind
apocalyptical (2)
relating to revelation or prophecy, especially that of universal destruction
appurtenances (3)
instruments
arroyo (22)
a deep gully cut by an intermittent stream; a dry gulch
asceticism (26)
leading an austerely simple life, especially abstaining from the normal pleasures of life or denying oneself material satisfaction
aspens (8)
trees with leaves that flutter readily in the wind
assiduously (10)
constantly; diligently
aviaries (21)
large enclosures where birds are kept
bard (13)
a poet
bemused (14)
confused
Benzedrine (2)
a type of amphetamine (an illegal stimulant)
bhikku (1)
a monk; a disciple of Buddha
Bodhisattva (2)
a Buddhist term for an enlightened being who, out of compassion, forgoes nirvana in order to save others
bourgeois (12)
a person of the middle class; a person whose political, economic, and social opinions are believed to be determined mainly by concern for property values and conventional respectability
bulgur (6)
a form of wheat that has been parboiled, cracked, and dried
burlap (24)
a coarse, plain-woven fabric
burro (18)
a small donkey, especially one used as a pack animal in the southwestern U.S.
butte (11)
an isolated hill or mountain rising abruptly above the surrounding land
cantinas (18)
saloons
cataract (8)
a furious rush of water
celibacy (5)
not partaking in sexual relations
cerulean (8)
deep blue
chalet (6)
a herdsman's hut in the Swiss Alps
civet (6)
a yellowish substance obtained from the animal of the same name that is used in perfume
conies (29)
rabbits
conifers (13)
needle-leaved trees or shrubs
crapulous (6)
given to excessiveness in eating or drinking
declivities (3)
downward slopes
desultory (12)
inconsistent; fitful
Dharma (1)
a Buddhist term referring to conformity to religious law, custom, duty, or one's own quality or character
Dharmakaya (5)
a Buddhist term meaning "Truth Body," out of which all phenomenon arise
Dhyana (21)
the seventh of the eight stages of yoga according to the Yoga Sutra: the practice of meditation and concentration to attain enlightenment
Diamond Sutra (1)
an important Buddhist scriptural text on the nature of reality, Enlightenment, and compassion
dissipation (29)
wasteful amusement
doleful (10)
evoking sadness
domicile (3)
one's home
eccentric (6)
peculiar; odd
ephemeral (1)
lasting a very short time; transitory
expounding (21)
explaining in detail
exulted (20)
rejoiced greatly
freneticism (28)
excitation; frenzied activity
Geiger counter (15)
an instrument that detects and measures the intensity of radiation, such as particles from radioactive material
gondola (1)
in this case, short for "gondola car"-an open railroad freight car with low sides, used for transporting bulk freight and manufactured goods
gouty (10)
causing gout-a disease characterized by painful inflammation of the joints
harangue (6)
a scolding; a long, intense verbal attack
hawker (18)
a street peddler
heath (13)
a tract of open and uncultivated land; wasteland overgrown with shrubs
hepcats (2)
performers or devotees of swing and jazz
hibachi (29)
a small Japanese-style charcoal brazier covered with a grill, usually used for outdoor cooking
highball (16)
slang for "at full speed"
hincty (5)
conceited or snobbish
hinoki (29)
a type of Japanese tree
hogans (29)
one-room Navajo structures made of earth-covered poles; later models were often built of logs, stones, and other materials
I.W.W. (2)
short for "Industrial Workers of the World"; a former international labor union and radical labor movement in the United States, dedicated to the overthrow of capitalism
importuned (28)
demanded persistently and urgently
inanities (6)
things that are silly and superficial
incommensurate (10)
disproportionate; inadequate
irking (21)
annoying
jalopy (24)
an old, decrepit, or unpretentious automobile
karma (5)
action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or in a reincarnation
koan (3)
a nonsensical or paradoxical question to a student for which an answer is demanded, the stress of meditation on the question often being illuminating
kulak (13)
a prosperous landed peasant in czarist Russia
laconic (8)
used here to mean "relatively quiet"
lecher (5)
a man given to excessive sexual indulgence
linguistic (6)
pertaining to language
lionized (29)
treated as a celebrity
loquaciousness (7)
talkativeness; tendency to babble
lucid (9)
clear; transparent
lush (15)
liquor
mandala (8)
according to Japhy, a Tibetan design that includes a circle (representing the void) and inner designs (the illusions of worldly things)
obviate (1)
to anticipate and prevent difficulties by effective measures
ornithology (6)
the study of birds
outré (6)
passing the bounds of what is usually considered proper; unconventional; bizarre
paisley (3)
a soft woolen fabric woven with a pattern of colorful and minutely detailed figures
peons (22)
menial workers
perturbation (5)
agitation; derangement
petulantly (21)
showing sudden, impatient irritation, especially over some trifling annoyance
peyote (2)
an intoxicating beverage distilled from a certain type of cactus
phantasmal (22)
unreal, illusory
pneumatic (6):
pertaining to air, gasses, or wind
pranja (27)
a Buddhist term for pure and unqualified knowledge
precipitous (11)
extremely or impassably steep
pretentious (4)
showily self-important
primus (3)
portable cooking stove
prognathic (33)
having protrusive jaws
proprietor (8)
the owner of a business establishment
quartzite (9)
a rock formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone
rakish (32)
jaunty; dashing
retinue (28)
the retainers or attendants accompanying a high-ranking person
rill (10)
a small brook; a rivulet
roils (32)
displeases or disturbs
rousted (10)
stirred
Samadhi (5)
the highest stage in meditation, in which a person experiences oneness with the universe
samsara (5)
the process of coming into existence as a mortal creature; the opposite of nirvana
satori (5)
sudden enlightenment
scarps (3)
continuous lines of cliffs
schism (16)
division or disunion, especially into mutually opposed parties
scree (3)
a steep mass of debris on the side of a mountain
sedentary (12)
accustomed to sit or rest a great deal or to take little exercise
sentient (3)
sensing; conscious
sere (21)
withered; dry
siding (1)
a short railroad track, opening onto a main track at one or both ends, on which one of two meeting trains is switched until the other has passed
slaking (6)
cooling, refreshing or satisfying
soughing (3)
murmuring or rustling
sugi (29)
tall evergreen of Japan and China
sundry (6)
various or diverse
supplicatory (15)
praying earnestly and humbly; entreating
surreptitious (27)
stealthy; secret
taciturn (22)
stern and silent in expression and manner
tarns (18)
small mountain lakes, especially ones formed by glaciers
tarpaulin (8)
a protective covering of canvas or other material waterproofed with tar, paint, or wax
teetotaler (6)
one who chooses to abstain from alcohol
ululating (5)
howling
unjaundiced (9)
devoid of distorted or prejudiced views
vassals (13)
people who hold land from a feudal lord and receive protection in return for homage and allegiance
viaducts (22)
a series arches used to carry a road or railroad over a wide valley or over other roads or railroads
viharas (5)
meeting places of Buddhist monks
voluble (16)
characterized by a ready and continuous flow of words; talkative
welter (26)
a confused mass; a jumble
yabyum (3)
as used here, an imitation of a Tibetan sexual rite
zazen (13)
meditation in a cross-legged posture
zendo (13)
the meditation room of a Zen monastery
