Oct 11
I have talked about many schools of Tibetan Buddhism over the last 2 days. All of these schools have more in common with each other than not. The energy that binds Tibetan Buddhism together is called Avalokiteshvara (bodhisattva of compassion). It is strongly believed, among Tibetans, that it is possible for any person to attain [...] [...more]
Posted: under buddhism.
Tags: china, chinas, dalai lama, oppression, tenzin gyatso, tibet, tibetan
I have talked about many schools of Tibetan Buddhism over the last 2 days. All of these schools have more in common with each other than not. The energy that binds Tibetan Buddhism together is called Avalokiteshvara (bodhisattva of compassion). It is strongly believed, among Tibetans, that it is possible for any person to attain enlightenment.
Guru (lama) is a very important element in Tibetan Spirituality. Students need attentive guidance during many parts of their tantric practices. The Guru is, thus, able to pay very close attention to an individual and keep them on the right track to enlightenment.
The bodhisattva of compassion is regarded to have been reincarnated into 14 different bodies (to date). These incarnations are known as the Dalai Lama. Dalai Lama can be interpreted as Ocean of Wisdom.
Here is a list of the first 13 Dalai Lamas:
1. Gedun Drub (1391-1474)
2. Gedun Gyatso (1475-1542)
3. Sonam Gyatso (1543-1588)
4. Yonten Gyatso (1589-1616)
5. Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (1617-1682)
6. Tsany-yang Gyatso (1683-1706)
7. Kezang Gyatso (1708-1757)
8. Jampel Gyatso (1758-1804)
9. Luntok Gyatso (1806-1815)
10. Tshultrim Gyatso (1816-1837)
11. Khedrup Gyatso (1838-1856)
12. Trinley Gyatso (1856-1875)
13. Thubten Gyatso (1876-1933)
Tenzin Gyatso is the fourteenth in the lineage and here is his story:
Tenzin Gyatso was born on July 6, 1935. The government of Tibet sent out a party to search for the next incarnation of the Dalai Lama and soon found him among a family of poor farmers in the province of Amdo. Tenzin’s eldest brother, Thubten Jigme Norbu, had been his successor so it was a shock when Tenzin was found to be the next Dalai Lama. This was apparently a very abnormal situation.
Thubten Gyatso was found in a state of sitting and his head was mysteriously turned toward the area near Amdo. This was one of many clues that led the party to find Tenzin.
When the party finally found Tenzin they tested by handing him some possessions from the thirteenth Dalai Lama. As a result he cried, “It is mine!”
Tenzin was taken away from his poor family and began intensive training that would prepare him for what was to come. Eventually, he was reunited with his family and went through rigorous training and education.
At the young age of 15 Tenzin was made to be the leader of Tibet. Chinese were threatening to invade at this time and he tried hard to get help from both the United States and Great Britain. They refused to help. The Tibetans have been trying to hold back a full scale invasion from communist China for 9 years.
On March 17, 1958 the Nachung Oracle told Tenzen he must leave Tibet. In the winter of the following year General Chaing Chin-wu invited the Dalai Lama to come see a Chinese dance troupe. He said he must come unarmed and without bodyguards. The people of Lhasa were upset and tens of thousands surrounded the Tenzen’s palace. He was able to sneak out, disguised as a soldier, and be free of Tibet and assassination.
China has tortured and held captive Tibet since 1959. Nobody has come to their aid. People still do business with China. China says it’s an internal affair and Tibet has been an integral part of China for 700 years.
At the end of the uprising in Tibet more than 80,000 Tibetans were dead and China devastated the environment. They both deforested and overpopulated this tiny country.
March 10 is a national Tibetan holiday called Uprising Day.
Oct 10
This post is a continuation of Early Tibet And Buddhist Origins
There are six schools of Tibetan spirituality, historically. I will briefly cover each school, four of which are considered the principal schools.
1. The Bön Tradition
Between the eighth and eleventh centuries the Bön was mostly invisible; yet it is very much alive, today. Two noted supporters [...] [...more]
Posted: under buddhism.
Tags: buddhism, culture, dalai lama, spirituality, tibet, tibetan, traditions
This post is a continuation of Early Tibet And Buddhist Origins
There are six schools of Tibetan spirituality, historically. I will briefly cover each school, four of which are considered the principal schools.
1. The Bön Tradition
Between the eighth and eleventh centuries the Bön was mostly invisible; yet it is very much alive, today. Two noted supporters of the Bön Tradition are His Holiness and the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. The Bön tradition is an integral part of culture and history in Tibet.
India and Nepal were both influenced by this tradition. There are now monasteries in both of these countries.
2. The Nyingma Tradition (The Old Ones)
This is the oldest school of Tibetan Buddhism. It’s roots are traced all the way back to Padmasambhava. This form of Buddhism is a mixture of both Bön and Tantra Buddhism (Tantra Buddhists believe in magical forms and have multiple deities). The result is a wonderful and unique form of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Nyingma tradition shows us 9 paths to enlightenment. Six of which are based on the sutras, and the other 3 based on the tantras.
The practice of Dzogchen formulates the backbone of the Nyingma tradition. This practice presupposes the existence of the buddha-nature and aims at allowing it to manifest.
3. The Bound By Command School (The Kadam)
Atisha was a monk who started teaching in Tibet around 1040 B.C.E. His name, which means ‘peace’ came from a Tibetan King. His birth name was Chandragarbha. Atisha was born as royalty, to a family in Bengal.
Atisha was known as one of the living Buddhas in Tibet. He was able to choose specific practices that were beneficial to the individual student. His premise for doing this was that the teachings of the lama, the guru should be held above all else. Upon demonstrating the living nature of the teachings he could show the teacher how to practice.
The Bound by Command school did not last long among the Tibetan’s. It was too strict for their society. This school prohibited sexual relations, money handling, intoxicants and even travel.
4. The Sakya Tradition
Khön Könchok Gyelpo founded the Sakya tradition, meaning “Gray Earth”, in 1073. It was named after a monastery in central Tibet.
The Sakya tradition came to be through earlier teachings of the Nyingma tradition. As of today it is still preserved thanks to an unbroken succession of the heads of the Khön school. The Khön heritage is different in that it is passed from Uncle to Nephew rather than Father to Son.
Path and Fruit, or Lam-dre, teachings are designed to bring students to enlightenment within a single lifetime. Thus it is an intensive religion requiring much attention.
The Sakya tradition still continues and the current head is forty-first in the lineage, practicing in exile from Chinese invaded Tibet.
5. The Transmitted Command School
Naropa and Tilopa, two Indian masters, brought about the Transmitted Command School. Both of them were extremely advanced in yogic practices. Rather than putting emphasis on academics, this tradition, emphasized on mysticism.
Naropa showed Milarepa the ways of the Transmitted Command school and he took his knowledge back to Tibet, teaching as a layperson.
Milarepa is one of the most popular figures in Tibetan history. He was a black magician who was aspiring to revenge the mistreatment of his mother and sister. They were being mistreated by relatives, according to history. Eventually he turned to the light side and became an incredibly powerful Yogi and poet. He attained Nirvana after a grim and dark beginning as a black magician. This is a man to be idolized for obvious reasons.
The Transmitted Command school still exists today and holds true the principles of mysticism rather than academics.
6. The Virtuous School (The Gelug Tradition)
In the fifteenth century, Tsongkhapa, started the Virtuous school. He was very well educated in many schools of Buddhism. His practice was multifaceted: meditation, prostrations, scriptures, incantations, ethics, monastic study and more. The emphasis in the Gelug tradition is on monastic and academic study.
Tsongkhapas’ roots can be traced to the Bound By Command school and was influenced heavily by the teachings of Atisha. He died at the age of sixty but his legacy lives on.
Dalai Lamas, the spiritual and secular leaders of Tibet, come from the Virtuous school of Tibetan Buddhism. They receive training in many forms of Buddhism and are not the heads of the Virtuous school. The leader of the Virtuous school is the abbot of the Ganden monastery. The Ganden monastery was founded by Tsongkhapa in 1409.
Tomorrow I will finish with the Dalai Lamas and China’s oppression of Tibet. Hope you enjoyed it!
Oct 09
When thinking about Buddhism the tiny country of Tibet often comes to mind. I will give a brief history of this small nation; touching on some of it’s greatest and darkest times.
One of the earliest showings of Buddhism in Tibet was in the mid-seventh century. Songsten Gambo, one of the emperors of tibet, had wed [...] [...more]
Posted: under buddhism.
Tags: buddhism, buddhist, gambo, padmasambhava, songsten, tibet
When thinking about Buddhism the tiny country of Tibet often comes to mind. I will give a brief history of this small nation; touching on some of it’s greatest and darkest times.
One of the earliest showings of Buddhism in Tibet was in the mid-seventh century. Songsten Gambo, one of the emperors of tibet, had wed two wives who lived by the buddhist religion. Upon observing his wives he became very interested in this religion and sent two representatives out to learn more. Soon his team was translating Sanskrit texts into Tibetan, giving way to the written Tibetan language. Buddhism hadn’t found a strong grasp, as of yet.
In the eighth century a Buddhist monk by the name of Padmasambhava migrated into Tibet from India. The Tibetans considered him an example of a living Buddha. During this time the primary religion of Tibet was Bön. Bön was a ritualistic and supernatural type of religion and included many aspects such as a belief in the interdependence of animals and people, sorcery, rites, prophecies and sacrifice.
The Tibetans would not easily be swayed and probably wouldn’t have if not for a highly charismatic individual like Padmasambhava. With the help of his 25 disciples, Padmasambhava, brought much peace and harmony to a very militaristic country. He changed many of them spiritually, from the inside-out, and helped to save them from their once warring ways. This continued until the 9th century when Tibet ran into a dark age. Padmasambhava’s 25 disciples helped to keep Buddhism alive during these darkest of times. These wonderful seeds that Padmasambhava planted eventually bloomed and Buddhism was taken in, wholeheartedly, by the Tibetan culture.
To be continued tomorrow
