WJEC A level R.S. Unit 3D Knowledge Organiser: Theme 4A Beliefs and practices of Tibetan Buddhist traditions

Key concepts

• Some traditions state that Buddhism came to in 641 • The is a object which means ‘thunderbolt’ and • The six syllables can be interpreted in a wide variety of ways but the with the gift of a Buddha rupa the Jowo Rinpoche following ‘diamond’. refers to the powerful and indestructible meaning is not as important as the that continual recitation can help the marriage of the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo. nature of the enlightened mind. Using this in is part of the practitioner in a spiritual way to achieve enlightenment or to transform • The indigenous in Tibet at that time was Bon and its complex visualisation of yidams/bodhisattvas during which the the body, speech and mind into body, speech and mind of a Buddha. practitioner becomes one with the yidams/bodhisattvas being followers are Bonpos. Three stages of Bon are identified: Old • are cosmic diagrams usually realised in a two-dimensional way visualised. Bon (shamanistic religion of and rituals), Yungdrung – best known are the ceremonies presided over by the during Bon (founded many thousands of years ago by Shenrab • Mudras generally refer to the intricate gestures made by the hands which Kalachakra mandalas are made with coloured grains of sand. Miwoche) and New Bon (founded in the 8th century CE by during visualisation, actualisation and empowerment – the mudras Padmasambhava who had particular power over and have symbolic meaning reflecting the yidams/bodhisattvas being • Mandalas vary but are often circular showing in symbolic form an outer spirits). visualised and the particular strengths the practitioner wishes to and inner along with the sacred palace and the associated acquire. Buddhas, bodhisattvas and protectors. The practitioner meditates on the • Ongoing debate as to how whether it is possible to separate and may visualise themselves within the palace as a Buddha or • Elaborate mudras accompany the use of the Vajra and the tribu in pre-Buddhist Bon from or whether the two bodhisattva. have ever been entirely separate. . • Most sand mandalas are swept away at the end of the ceremony to • Mantras are tools for thinking and usually involve continued • Tibetan Buddhism is also known as Vajrayana Buddhism and symbolize annica and poured into rivers to spread the blessing of the recitation of a short sacred text such as the Mani Mantra of is based on the Kangyur (collection of words of the Buddha) mandala. and the Tengyur (commentaries on the words). Vajrayana Chenrezig: ‘om mani padme hum’. Buddhism is closely associated with Tantric Buddhism which stresses practices and rituals to gain enlightenment.

Canon Suttavibhanga ‘Bon doctrine, history, and practices can be found throughout Tibet, Paravira and have had a profound influence on the form of Buddhism that has taken root there, just as Buddhism in Tibet has had a profound Key words Keyparajikas arguments/debates Tipitaka Khandhaka influence on Bon.’ (Gardner) Some focus on how different Tibetan Buddhism is Upaya suttas dham- Kalachakra from other forms of Buddhism. ‘Vajrayana uses magical practices for transforming mundane reality Others focus on the connections between Chinese into a form most suited to help others.’ (Williams) mas Patimokka Bud- Key Kangyur and Indian forms of Buddhism. Issues for dha vacana Theravadin Dasa ‘The much wider range of mudras used in tantric ritual are seen as Key questions the signs – and causes – of particular states of mind.’ (Williams) Tengyur quotes Howsila can Tibetan Buddhism best be categorised if at analysis and ‘What is important about a mantra is that it has some effect all – as Tantrayana, Mantrayana or ? yidam sima evaluation (or power) beyond that of just uttering the sounds of which it is How important/helpful/significant are the practices composed.’ (Williams) Chenrezig associated with mudras, mantras and mandalas? ‘The next turns to the visualisation of the body mandala, in Tantric which thirty-seven parts of his body … are transformed into thirty- seven .’ (Lopez)