Short presentation of Buddhism in Tibet

History

Buddhism arrived in Tibet around the end of the 8th century CE when its king, Trisong Detsen, invited two Buddhist masters from India . Shantarakshita of Nalanda (in present-day Bihar, India) was the first to arrive, followed by Padmasambhava. Together, they translated several major Buddhist texts into Tibetan and built the first monastery in Tibet.

Buddhism in India had evolved considerably since the time of Gautama Buddha, assimilating Hindu practices of yoga and tantra . Tibetan Buddhism combined the original, or Mahayana , practices with yoga, tantra, shamanic rituals, and elements of an older Tibetan religion known as Bon.

See our collection of Tibetan Bracelets

Schools of Tibetan Buddhism

Of the five schools of Tibetan Buddhism , the Nyingma sect was the first, founded by Padmasambhava, followed by Kagyu (988-1069), led by the Karmapa Lama, and the Sakya school, founded in the 11th century. The Gelugpa sect, founded by Je Rinpoche (1357-1419), is led by the Dalai Lama. There is also the controversial New Kadampa, a Buddhist sect founded in the United Kingdom.

Philosophy

The goal of all Buddhist sects is to end human suffering by achieving self-enlightenment . Tibetan Buddhism goes further: all sentient beings are interconnected in their suffering. True liberation can therefore only be attained when individuals strive to alleviate the suffering of others as well.

Practices and rituals

Tibetan Tantra (Vajrayana) is an esoteric practice that clearly distinguishes it from other schools of Buddhism. Unlike other religions that encourage followers to suppress or deny their primal urges, Tantra acknowledges them and aims to harness their power. Through careful practice and skill, these basic impulses, such as desire or hatred, are cleansed of impurity and ultimately mastered. Tantric influence introduced new spiritual techniques ( mantras, mandalas ), yoga, secret initiation rites, rich symbolism , and a certain mystical element into Tibetan Buddhism.

Deities from other religions, bodhisattvas , and supernatural beings abound in Tibetan Buddhism, leading to the development of an artistic tradition. Indeed, Tibetan Buddhism places a strong emphasis on visual aids for meditation and deeper understanding.

Secular Tibetans practice a more outwardly focused form of worship, involving various rituals such as chanting mantras , prostration, pilgrimages, and participation in public speeches.

The ceremonies in the temples are a spectacular confluence of colors and sounds against the backdrop of strikingly designed temples.

Tibetan monks practice the art of the simple mandala, meditation, healing sessions, and they also make Tibetan handicrafts, garments, yak blankets, jewelry, bags…

Life and death

Awareness of the transient nature of life is one of the essential characteristics of Tibetan Buddhism. A true Buddhist should not fear death, nor desperately seek solace in base pleasures. On the contrary, death should be consciously acknowledged and accepted, allowing the Buddhist to arrive at a deeper appreciation of each moment of life.
The Tibetan Book of the Dead is a sacred text that contemplates the state of an individual between death and rebirth, which is said to last approximately 49 days.

The Lama

Lamas, or teachers, are high-ranking monks (or nuns). Lay Tibetans can also become lamas. Well-versed in sacred texts, a lama must also possess the necessary skills to perform rituals. Lamas are believed to be reincarnations of ancient masters. They lead a monastic life.

Once a little-known religion confined to its small nation, Tibetan Buddhism ironically gained worldwide recognition when it was forced into exile by the Chinese communists. The most recognizable face of Tibetan Buddhism today is the current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso , the fourteenth in his lineage, who lives in exile in India.

We highly recommend reading the magnificent book " Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism " written by the Dalai Lama, an excellent book on Tibetan Buddhism.

Similarly, we also recommend reading another book by the Dalai Lama entitled " How to Practice Buddhism ." In it, the Dalai Lama shares his own experience of Buddhist practice.