Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism is a special kind of Buddhism that people practice mainly in Tibet, Bhutan, and Mongolia. You can also find followers in places near the Himalayas, like parts of India such as Ladakh, Darjeeling, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, as well as in Nepal.

This form of Buddhism grew from a bigger branch called Mahayana Buddhism. It includes many special practices from ancient Indian Buddhism, along with some unique Tibetan ideas. It became well-known around the world partly because of leaders like the Dalai Lama.

Tibetan Buddhism has four main groups or schools: Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug. Each has its own traditions but works together in many ways. The main aim in this Buddhism is to reach a state called Buddhahood. People study special books written in the old classical Tibetan language.

In Tibet, people call their form of Buddhism "The Dharma of the insiders." This means that followers look for truth inside their own minds, not outside. This is different from other religions, which are called "dharma systems." For example, Christianity is called the "Jesus dharma system."

When people in the West first learned about Tibetan Buddhism, they often used the Chinese term "Lamaism." This term was used by scholars long ago but is now seen as not fully accurate.

Sometimes, the word "Vajrayāna" is used for Tibetan Buddhism, but it really refers to certain special practices found in many Buddhist traditions.

In recent times, people in the West have started using the term "Indo-Tibetan Buddhism" to show that it comes from Buddhist development in northern India. It is also sometimes called "Northern Buddhism."

The term "Himalayan" Buddhism is used to show that this form of Buddhism is practiced not only in Tibet but also throughout the Himalayan Regions.

After Buddhism began in India, a form called Mahayana Buddhism reached China through Tibet in the first century CE. By the third century CE, Buddhism started to grow in Tibet, influencing an older religion called Bon.

Buddhism was officially brought to Tibet during the time of the Tibetan Empire, between the 7th and 9th centuries. Important Buddhist texts from India were translated into Tibetan, and the Tibetan writing system was created. In the 8th century, a king made Buddhism the official religion and built the first monastery, Samye.

Buddhism returned stronger in the late 10th and 11th centuries. A famous teacher named Atiśa helped spread Buddhist ideas and translate important texts. New Buddhist schools formed, like the Kadampa and Sakya.

The Mongols took control of Tibet and supported Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism became very important to the Mongol leaders, and many Buddhist texts were collected and carved into wood for printing.

With the end of Mongol rule, local families governed Tibet. A new Buddhist school, the Gelug, formed and became very important. Later, a united government was created with the help of Mongol leaders.

The Qing Dynasty from China ruled Tibet and supported Buddhism, especially the Gelug school. Many beautiful temples were built, and Buddhism stayed strong among the Mongols too.

Today, Tibetan Buddhism is practiced in many places, including Tibet, Mongolia, parts of India, and even in Western countries. The Dalai Lama leads a government in exile, working for peace with China. Buddhist centers can now be found in Europe and North America, attracting many followers.

Tibetan Buddhism includes classic Buddhist teachings such as the four noble truths, karma, and rebirth. It also follows ideas from Mahāyāna Buddhism and the Vajrayāna tradition.

The goal in Mahāyāna Buddhism is to achieve Buddhahood to help all beings. This motivation is called bodhicitta. Bodhisattvas are beings who work to help others reach enlightenment. Important Bodhisattvas include Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, and Tara.

Tibetan Buddhism uses the idea of the five paths to describe how someone grows spiritually. These paths are steps toward enlightenment.

Lamrim is a way of organizing Buddhist teachings into steps for spiritual growth. It comes from an old text by Atiśa.

Tibetan Buddhism also includes Vajrayāna, which uses special ideas and practices to reach enlightenment more quickly.

Tibetan Buddhism mostly follows the Madhyamaka philosophy, which teaches that everything is empty of true, lasting existence. Another important philosophy is Yogācāra, which looks at how our minds shape our world.

Studying important Buddhist books from India is a big part of learning in Tibetan Buddhism schools. Students often memorize classic books as part of their training. They also practice debating to understand these teachings better.

The main collection of Buddhist books, called the canon, was mostly finished in the 13th century. It has two parts: the Kangyur with stories and teachings, and the Tengyur with explanations. The Nyingma school also has its own books called the Nyingma Gyubum, put together in the 15th century.

Tibetan is the main language used for studying these books, but they have also been translated into other languages like Mongolian and Manchu. During Chinese dynasties, many of these books were translated into Chinese.

Recently, many of these books have been translated into Western languages by scholars and Buddhist practitioners.

Some of the most studied books in Tibetan Buddhism are called Mahāyāna sutras, such as the Perfection of Wisdom or Prajñāpāramitā sutras. Others include the Saṃdhinirmocana-sūtra, and the Samādhirāja Sūtra.

Studying books written by Indian Buddhist teachers is very important in Tibetan Buddhism. Some of the most important books are by six great teachers, known as the Six Ornaments and Two Supreme Ones. These teachers are Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Asanga, Vasubandhu, Dignaga, and Dharmakirti, along with Gunaprabha and Shakyaprabha.

Since the late 11th century, Tibetan schools often study Buddhism using five main groups of books:

1. Abhidharma
   • Asanga's Abhidharma-samuccaya
   • Vasubandhu's Abhidharma-kośa
2. Prajnaparamita
   • Abhisamayalankara
   • Shantideva's Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra
3. Madhyamaka
   • Nagarjuna's Mūlamadhyamakakārikā
   • Aryadeva's Four Hundred Verses (Catuhsataka)
   • Candrakīrti's Madhyamakāvatāra
   • Śāntarakṣita's Madhyamākalaṃkāra
   • Shantideva's Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra
4. Pramana
   • Dharmakirti's Pramāṇavarttika
   • Dignāga's Pramāṇa-samuccaya
5. Vinaya
   • Gunaprabha's Vinayamula Sutra

Other important books include the "Five Treatises of Maitreya", such as the Ratnagotravibhāga, and the Mahayanasutralankara. Books for meditation practices, like the Yogācārabhūmi-Śāstra and Kamalaśīla's Bhāvanākrama, are also very useful.

While many books come from India, Tibetan teachers have also written their own important works. These are collected into books called sungbum. Different schools use different commentaries. For example, the Gelug school uses books by Tsongkhapa, while other schools might use newer works by teachers from the Rimé movement like Jamgon Kongtrul and Jamgon Ju Mipham Gyatso.

There is also a special group of hidden teachings called terma, known mostly by Nyingma practitioners. Most of the main books were translated from Indian sources, but Tibetan Buddhism also includes many ideas and practices from India.

In Tibetan Buddhism, special teachings called Tantras are divided into different groups.

Tibetan Buddhism has many kinds of religious groups, from small village groups to very large teaching monasteries with thousands of monks. Some Lamas lead spiritual groups, and some are special reincarnations called tülkus, like the Dalai Lamas and Karmapas. There are also special teachers called Tertöns who find hidden teachings.

Tibetan Buddhism has many schools or traditions, but they share most of their practices and ideas. There are four main schools, and they often agree on most topics, even though they sometimes have different ways of explaining things.

Each school has its own special focus and history, and they all trace their teachings back to India and important Tibetan teachers. Even though they have some differences, they all work toward similar goals in their spiritual practices.