The World of Tibetan Buddhism: an Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice Pdf

FREE THE WORLD OF TIBETAN BUDDHISM: AN OVERVIEW OF ITS PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE PDF

Tibetan Buddhism, the teaching of the Buddha as practiced and taught in Tibet, is at last becoming known to the world. A turning point came in the late s, when the Communist Chinese takeover precipitated the migration of Tibetan teachers to India. Since then Tibetan Buddhist teachers have traveled further abroad and have established teaching centers that are now flourishing in Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe, The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice North and South America. For the first time in history, people from all over the world are able to learn directly from authentic sources about how Tibetan Buddhism was practiced in Tibet. The Tibetan migration has found a particularly receptive audience in the United States — which is, after all, a country of immigrants. Buddhism is now one of the fastest growing religions in the United States — not least because of the rise in popularity of its Tibetan tradition. The historical Buddha named Siddhartha at birth and commonly known as Shakyamuni Buddha lived in northern India approximately five centuries before Christ. He was a prince who renounced a privileged royal life in order to search for ultimate peace and the highest good. He realized the highest The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice of enlightenment at the age of thirty-five. Through arduous practices, concentrated meditation, and deep reflection he became a fully awakened being — a Buddha. He then taught the path of spiritual liberation to numerous disciples for over forty years until his passing at the age of eighty. Afterward the communities of monks and nuns that he founded dedicated themselves to preserving and upholding his teachings, thereby laying the foundations for what has become known as Buddhism. It is a The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice title given to all fully enlightened beings, rather than being the exclusive name of a single individual. There have been Buddhas in the past for example Kashyapa, Dipangkara, or Shakyamuni — the historical Buddhaand other Buddhas are expected in the future. Tibetan Buddhism teaches that we are all potential Buddhas, because we are essentially pure and luminous at the most basic level of existence. That purity, called Buddha-nature, is typically clouded over by a dense layer of ignorance and negativity, which dominates us and leads to suffering. The Tibetan Buddhist path encourages its practitioners to adopt the traits and characteristics of enlightened beings through the use of special meditational techniques, thereby realizing their innate Buddha-nature. Buddhism is a tolerant religion that places emphasis on practical methods for cultivating spiritual awareness and on the importance of finding the truth for oneself. It treasures loving-kindness, compassion, equanimity, clarity of mind, and wisdom. Its hope is to alleviate suffering and to create healing and transformation so that all beings may experience the highest peace nirvana. Followers of the Buddha entrust their spiritual growth and well-being to 1 the Buddha as The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice perfect teacher, 2 his teaching the Dharma as the holy path to awakening, and 3 the lamas, tulkus, and the ordained the Sangha. Early in the history of Buddhism numerous schools developed. The only early school that still exists today is Theravada Buddhism. Monasticism is the cornerstone of Theravada Buddhism. The Mahayana movement brought a new religious ideal to Buddhism, that of the bodhisattva, an individual who works for the enlightenment and well being of all, not just for him or herself. This form of Buddhism spread throughout China, Korea, and Japan. Several centuries later a third Buddhist tradition emerged in North India. Tibetan Buddhism upholds the teachings, meditation techniques, and ordination vows of the Theravada, and the The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice and cosmology of Mahayana. But it was in Tibet that many of the Vajrayana teachings were preserved, and most of the distinctive qualities of Tibetan Buddhism can be found in its Vajrayana heritage. The Vajrayana path largely follows the Mahayana philosophical teachings, but there are some variations in methodology. Whereas Mahayana seeks to destroy the poisons of craving, aggression, and The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice, Vajrayana places an emphasis on transmuting them directly into wisdom. This is based in the Tibetan Buddhist belief that the mundane world samsara is inseparable from enlightenment. Tibetan Buddhism is distinguished by its many methods and techniques of spiritual development and for its great acceleration of the spiritual journey. Theoretically, the path of the Mahayana practitioner takes three incalculable eons to reach full awakening; by contrast, the path of the Vajrayana practitioner can be as short as one lifetime. In order to accelerate the process of enlightenment, Vajrayana uses advanced yoga techniques in combination with elaborate meditations. The scriptures containing the esoteric teachings for yogic practices such as meditative visualizations are called tantras, and are part of a larger body of Buddhist sacred texts, based on the public teachings of the Buddha, called sutras. Tibetan Buddhist tradition places great emphasis on the importance of the lama the Tibetan equivalent of the Sanskrit term guru. All lamas complete a long course of study that prepares them for their future role as the bestowers of initiations and esoteric teachings. Formal and informal face-to-face oral transmissions of spiritual insight and wisdom typically occur between lama and student. The lama is the focus of passionate devotion for the aspirant, and is acknowledged to embody the Three Jewels the Buddha, his teachings, and the The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice as well as the qualities of the meditational deities. The most famous example of recognizing reincarnated lamas is the centuries-long tradition by which H. Buddhism has a long history in Tibet. It was another century before Buddhism began to flourish during the reign of three emperors: Tri Song Detsen fl. During that time great translation projects were undertaken so that Indian texts could be recorded in Tibetan, monasteries were built, and the royalty, nobility, and populace embraced Buddhism. The last Tibetan emperor reigned was anti-Buddhist. He suppressed the religion, was assassinated as a result, and by the early s the royal dynasty collapsed. Tibet had a dark age of nearly two centuries — from to the early s. During this time, there was no central government. Although Buddhism in Tibet survived during this period, there were no monasteries or great translation projects, partly because there were no great patrons to support them. Tibetan translators going to India and Indian sages coming to Tibet revived Buddhist teaching in Tibet between the late s and the s. By the early s, there were four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The Nyingma School adhered to the Vajrayana teachings from the earlier royal period. The schools formed due to individual teaching lineages and the relative emphasis each group placed on particular esoteric teachings. These schools, which continue to exist to this day, do agree on the essential teachings of Buddhism. Over the centuries, lamas played increasingly important roles in Tibet, not just as religious figures, but also as political leaders. It was also through Mongol patronage that the Dalai Lamas or their representatives have ruled Tibet since with one major interruption. They, too, are both religious and temporal leaders. The last half of the 20th century has brought unparalleled changes to Tibet. Tibetan exiles have settled mostly in India but also in other countries such as Nepal, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States. Since then, popular sentiment and political activism have increased in support of the restoration of Tibet. Embracing the values of compassion and wisdom, not all exiles view the loss of their homeland with anger and resentment. His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Dorje Chang, Founding Lama of the Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism in Seattle, said that the changes in Tibet are an example of the true nature of human existence: all is impermanent, and everything changes. Intro to Tibetan Buddhism. Life of the Buddha The historical Buddha named Siddhartha at birth and commonly known as Shakyamuni Buddha lived in northern India approximately five centuries before Christ. Buddhist Values Buddhism is a tolerant religion that places emphasis on practical methods for cultivating spiritual awareness and on the importance of finding the truth for oneself. The Development of Buddhism Early in the history of Buddhism numerous schools developed. The Distinctive Character of Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism upholds the teachings, meditation techniques, and ordination vows of the Theravada, and the philosophy and cosmology of Mahayana. The Importance of the Lama Tibetan Buddhist tradition places great emphasis on the importance of the lama the Tibetan equivalent of the Sanskrit term guru. Politics and Religion Over the centuries, lamas played increasingly important roles in Tibet, not just as religious figures, but also as political leaders. The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice | Dalai Lama

I must point out that I am personally opposed to the concept of universal reincarnation such as used in Buddhism and the new age religions. All that I was trying to gain through reading The World of This overview of Tibetan Buddhism is a rare and marvelous opportunity for Engish-language readers to learn more about the special viewpoints of the religion and the approach of spiritual leader, the With characteristic humility, His The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice the Dalai Lama begins this landmark survey of the entire Buddhist path by saying, "I think an overview of Tibetan Buddhism for the purpose of providing a comprehensive framework of the path may prove helpful The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice deepening your understanding and practice. As readers explore Tibetan Buddhism more fully than ever before, they will find in His Holiness a great friend and authority. The Divisions of Vehicles. The First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma. The Four Seals of Buddhism. Questions and Answers 14 7. Translators Notes. Glossary of Terms. He frequently describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. Born in northeastern Tibet inhe was as a toddler recognized as the incarnation of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama and brought to Tibet''s capital, Lhasa. InMao Zedong''s Communist forces made their first incursions into eastern Tibet, shortly after which the young Dalai Lama assumed the political leadership of his country. He passed his scholastic examinations with honors at the Great Prayer Festival in Lhasa inthe same year Chinese forces occupied the city, forcing His Holiness to escape to India. There he set up the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamsala, working to secure the welfare of the more thanTibetan exiles and prevent the destruction of Tibetan culture. In his capacity as a spiritual and political leader, he has traveled to more than sixty-two countries on six continents and met with presidents, popes, and leading scientists to foster dialogue and create a better world. In recognition of his tireless work for the nonviolent liberation of Tibet, the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Inhe relinquished political authority in his exile government and turned it over to democratically elected representatives. His Holiness frequently states that his life is guided by three major commitments: the promotion of basic human values or secular ethics in the interest of human happiness, the fostering of interreligious harmony, and securing the welfare of the Tibetan people, focusing on the survival of their identity, culture, and religion. As a superior scholar trained in the classical texts of the Nalanda tradition of Indian Buddhism, he is able to distill the central tenets of Buddhist philosophy in clear and inspiring language, his gift for pedagogy imbued with his infectious joy. Connecting scientists with Buddhist scholars, he helps unite contemplative and modern modes of investigation, bringing ancient tools and insights to bear on the acute problems facing the contemporary world. His efforts to foster dialogue among leaders of the world''s faiths envision a future where people of different beliefs can share the planet in harmony. Wisdom Publications is proud to be the premier publisher of the Dalai Lama''s more serious and in-depth works. Thupten Jinpa Langri was educated in the classical Tibetan monastic academia and received the highest academic degree of Geshe Lharam equivalent to a doctorate in divinity. Sincehe has been the principal translator to the Dalai Lama, accompanying him to the United States, Canada, and Europe. Jinpa has published scholarly articles on various aspects of Tibetan culture, Buddhism, and philosophy, and books such as Songs of Spiritual The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice Tibetan Poems of Awakening and Insight co-authored and Self, Reality and Reason in Tibetan Thought. He serves on the advisory board of numerous educational and cultural organizations in North America, Europe, and India. He is currently the president and the editor-in-chief of the Institute of Tibetan Classics, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to translating key Tibetan classics into contemporary languages. He also currently chairs the Mind and Life Institute. Richard Gere is an internationally renowned film actor, social activist, and philanthropist. Gere was the Co-Founder and Chairman of Tibet The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice and joined the Board of Directors of the International Campaign for Tibet to more effectively engage both national and international forums of influence. He founded the Gere Foundation in It is the mission of the Gere Foundation to alleviate suffering and advocate for the people of Tibet. Thupten Jinpa. Geshe Thupten JinpaThupten Jinpa. Dharma Materials: Books and DVDs

A similar version of this work was published in Introduction to Buddhist MeditationChapter Eight, ed. Sharah Shaw. Routledge Press, pp. T he advent of Buddhism in Tibet in the seventh and eighth centuries CE gave rise to one of the greatest Buddhist civilizations Asia has ever known. It came to be represented by four major schools, each emphasizing particular scriptures, meditative traditions and master-based lineages. All four schools hold equal claim to possessing complete training systems to enlightenment. For as long as space endures, and for as long as living beings remain, Until then may I too abide to dispel the misery of the world. In order to be of direct benefit to others, a Bodhisattva-aspirant abandons his delusional habits and strives to refashion himself through the cultivation of six perfections, namely: generosity, good conduct, acceptance, effort, meditation and wisdom, the supreme insight that realizes the dependent nature of all phenomena. Translated as Chenrezig in Tibetan, he is the Bodhisattva embodiment of the compassion of all Buddhas. His voice, encapsulated in the mantra Om mani padme hung Hail to the Jewel on the Lotusis known by every Tibetan who recites it in order to accumulate merit and spiritual strength. No credit is accorded to Darwin; from their offspring evolved the race of the Tibetan people. Tibetan Buddhist literature, in all its diversity, is often arranged in a scheme of three vehicles. Each vehicle Skt. Tantric traditions were at their peak in India from the eighth to the eleventh centuries CE, but its origins can be traced back much earlier, depending on how scholars wish The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice understand the term. This is accomplished through training in an elaborate system of interrelated ritual psycho-physical activities, visualizations, and recitations grouped together in what sometimes is called deity-yoga. Tantric training is also said to impart a wide range of supernatural abilities, or siddhisuch as clairvoyance and clairaudience, increased lifespan, power and wealth, and so forth. The didactic and symbolic potency of these songs celebrate the re-emergence of Buddhism, destined from the eleventh century to become again the dominant religion of Tibet. The fierce blood-drinking Deity with gaping mouth has nine heads, eighteen arms, and many miraculous powers. I, the Bon novice, am her disciple. Look at me! See how I demonstrate my miraculous power! The famous Di Se Mountain blanketed with snow symbolizes the pure, white Buddhist doctrine. I, the famous Milarepa, the old man who sleeps naked, am he who now transcends the dualistic realm! I have mastered both the minds and forms; unaided by worldly deities I can perform all miracles … This place belongs to Buddhists, to the followers of Milarepa. If you, Bon priests and heretics, will now practice the Dharma, you, too, will soon be able to benefit all; if not, you should depart and go elsewhere, because my powers of magic are greater far than yours. Watch closely The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice and see what I can do! Contemporary scholars have shown these designations to be as problematic as they are informative. If philosophically inclined, we could become enmeshed in long discussions concerning a number of subjects which have been of interest within many Buddhist traditions:. The first king of the Tibetan Dynasty, Nyatri Tsenpo c. However, it was not until the reign of the Tibetan emperor, Songtsen Gampo c. After its foundation in CE, Samye became a renowned seat of learning attracting many Buddhist masters and disciples from China, India and Central Asia. Here many languages were taught, Buddhist scriptures were translated into Tibetan from Chinese, Indian and Central Asian languages, and the Tibetans were gaining enough confidence in these new doctrines to compose their own Buddhist treatises. It is not surprising that the monastic ethos and philosophical views of these two schools prevailed in Tibet and inform, to this day, the practice and scholastic foundation of all Tibetan Buddhist schools. Such was the gratitude of the king that he became a disciple of the great master and gave him his queen Yeshe Tsogyal as a student and consort. There are a few stories of strife and reconciliation associated with the history of the grand monastery of Samye. Although it is not altogether clear, different support groups in the imperial court may have been responsible for the growing antagonism between the Chinese and Indian Buddhist factions leading to the famous Samye debate. They had advocated a type of Chan, a non-gradual and effortless path to enlightenment. These are mainly of Indian origin, with only a meagre section bearing witness to the wealth of Chinese doctrines available in Central Asia at the time. Chan lineages, however, were not altogether lost in Tibet. Many of the doctrines survive in the highest Buddhist teachings of the Nyingma School, known as the Great Perfection or Dzogchen. The Great Perfection is the mother who produces all Buddhas. It is the antidote of all activity that involves effort. Whichever path one follows and whatever method one adopts, without realisation of the Great Perfection, one cannot attain Enlightenment. Dzogchen lineages of the Nyingma are traced to Padmasambhava and other early masters active in Samye. These lineages continued to flourish and became systematized in the fourteenth century by Longchenpa —61the great Dzogchen exponent and scholar of the Nyingma School. Neither the imperial glory of Samye nor the political might of the empire lasted beyond the tenth century. This effectively ended the first large-scale transplantation of Buddhism in Tibet and saw the decline of a generous imperial patronage of Buddhist monasticism. The emergence of new Buddhist schools, with their own sets of the latest Tantras The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice from India in the eleventh century, was the cause of tension with the older Nyingma on issues related to scriptural authenticity, canonical legitimacy and patronage. These were said to have been previously buried as Treasures Tib. Visionary Buddhist teachings continue to be produced in this way and to contribute to a large array of ritual and meditative Buddhist literature that is, in its mode of propagation, uniquely Tibetan. The religious, cultural and political history of Tibet is bound up with the formation and development of its Buddhist schools, which are commonly divided into the old and new orders. Although the divisions between schools are meant to represent accurately a major internal diversity, there are no essential differences in doctrine between all the various schools. Their main differences consist in their traditional attachments to different lines of realized teachers, sacred texts and particular Buddhist divinities. This work is well known in Tibet as it set the pattern for many Lam-rim styled teachings graded paths to enlightenment that comprise a unique genre of Tibetan Buddhist literature. The teachings of the early Kadampa masters from Central Tibet were sober and down-to-earth, focusing on the practical aspects of Buddhist training and not on philosophical musings and scholastic refinement. New developments occurred in Southern Tibet when the householder, Marpa the Translator —99began studying Sanskrit with one of the most famous and productive translators of the eleventh century, Drogmi Lotsawa — Inspired by his teacher, he departed for Nepal and India to find the source of the Buddhist teachings. When he finally settled back in Tibet he became the founder of what is commonly known as the Kagyu school order of oral transmissions. He had many disciples, the most famous being the yogi Milarepa, who came to exemplify the trials and accomplishments of ascetics in Tibet. His teaching lineage continued with the line of the Karmapas, the highest religious representatives of all Kagyu orders. The quintessential instructions of the school, however, are preserved in the tradition of the Great Seal Skt. Tibetan poetry of this kind is often chanted on meditation courses, and is intended to arouse careful attention in the reciter:. When the secret of appearance is revealed, Everything arises in a tone of voidness, Undefined by the marks of identity, Like a sky that is nothing but image …. Whereas for the Kagyu orders, monastic leadership was passed down through teacher—disciple or incarnation lineages, for the Sakya school, succession of leadership through the family line, such as through nephews, became the norm. The Sakya, historically bound up with the Khon clan, had its roots in the Tibetan Empire. Although the monastery of Sakya grey-earth was founded in by Khon Konchog Gyalpo —we cannot properly speak of the Sakya order prior to the early twelfth century. The Sakya religious system developed from the doctrinal reforms of Sachen Kunga Nyingpo —the son of Konchog Gyalpo. He was spiritually inclined from a very young age. In his liberation-narrative Tib. If you are attached to this life you are not a religious person. If you are attached to the cycle of existence you do not have renunciation. If you are attached to your own goals you do not have the enlightened motivation. If grasping occurs you do not have the view. The Sakya School produced many distinguished Buddhist scholars, like Sakya Pandita — who also served as religious preceptor to the Mongol sovereign Godan Khan. Sakya scholarship greatly contributed to the development of scholastic subjects, like Madhyamaka philosophy, epistemology and logic, and is well represented in the nineteenth-century non-sectarian movement known as Ri-me. Its meditation instructions form the core curriculum in Sakya monasteries. Sakya teachings also produced poetic expression, based, as these passages indicate, on close experiential observation:. For deep meditation, you need firm resolve, rooted in the bone of your heart, renunciation, the core of mountain solitude. Give up the concerns of everyday life … In meditation, be free of all apprehension, In radiant experience, be free of all grasping, Find a haven, though the ground is lost. Tread beyond every word, every thought. Unlike the Sakya and Kagyu schools that held Indian masters at the source of their lineages, the last major Tibetan school, the Gelug the order of the virtuous was founded by the renowned scholar-yogi and monastic reformer Tsongkapa — Through the work of many gifted Gelug masters and the establishment of three prosperous monasteries in Lhasa — GandenDrepung and Sera — the Gelug school became, by the seventeenth century, the most politically assertive order of Buddhism in Tibet. From the seventeenth century onwards, the Dalai Lamas, through successive incarnations, held for the most part religious and political authority over Tibet. Tenzin Gyatso, the current and fourteenth Dalai Lama born and leader of the Gelug school, continues to promulgate Buddhism around the world through public teachings, lectures and books, while his exemplary efforts for the promotion of non-violence and humanitarian values has earned him The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice esteem and recognition. In addition to the Nyingma, Gelug, Kagyu and Sakya monastic orders there have been a number of The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice lineages formed around charismatic teachers, greatly enriching the religious life in Tibet. Her practices involve meditative rituals that usually take place in cemeteries and charnel grounds and which are at odds with the quiescence normally associated with Buddhist meditation practices. These traditions are shared by The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice schools, as is a variety of teachings and genres of texts. They are shared by all four Tibetan Buddhist schools, reflecting a synthesis of equally strong rational and devotional sides to Tibetan Buddhism. His antinomian behaviour, startling anecdotes and blatant mockery of conventional deceit The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice stifling monastic institutions won him the admiration, love and respect of many lay Tibetans. He is well remembered for introducing joy, humour and bewilderment to Buddhist narratives of liberation:. A brief overview of dominant trends in Tibetan Buddhism would not be complete without brief reference to the emergence of other minor orders like the Jonang and Bodong, which added fuel to occasional tensions arising between monastic schools. This was especially true with the foundation of the The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of Its Philosophy and Practice School, which claimed one of the sharpest religious thinkers of fourteenth-century Tibet and one of the most controversial Buddhist scholars the tradition has ever known. Architect of the zhen-tong Tib. Political and sectarian tensions leading to the persecution of the Jonang views during the reign of the fifth Dalai Lama, eventually inspired the formation of an ecumenical movement in Eastern Tibet known as Ri-me Tib. Jamgon Kongtrul —99 is credited with a number of literary works that contributed to this nineteenth-century cultural renaissance. His earliest manifesto of non-sectarian views is found in an encyclopaedic treatise, Encompassing all Knowledge Shes bya kun khyaba masterful work that competes in erudition with some other ninety volumes of writings, classified in four extant treasuries. There are different classification schemes for an opulent corpus of esoteric scriptures. The highest of them, Atiyogaencompasses the teachings of Dzogchenfurther divided into those meditation instructions belonging to the Mind-class SemdeSpace-class Longde and the class of Pith Instructions Menangde. Most of the ritual practices of these schools involve training in the Anuttarayogaor Highest Yoga Tantras which are further divided, according to content and view, into Mother, Father and Non-Dual Tantras.