Tibetan Tantra Buddhism or Vajrayana - Buddhism

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Tibetan Tantra Buddhism or Vajrayana - Buddhism

• In a nutshell!

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Tibetan Buddhism History

• Bon religion indigenous religion of Tibet,
• animistic (believing that nature is pervaded by
  good and evil spirits)
• shamanistic
• Buddhism and Hinduism
• Initially introduced late 8th century
• more steadily from the 13th century onwards
• The Great tantric mystic Guru Rinpoche blended
  these three religions in 774 CE resulting in
  Tibetan Buddhism

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Tibetan Buddhism - politics

• Tibetan Buddhism dominated Mongolia and
  Manchuria.
• Gave rise to a Theocracy hierarchy of monks or
  Lamas that govern the country
• Dali Lama is both the worldly and spiritual
  authority

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Tibetan Buddhist Sacred Texts

• Buddhist text were translated into Tibetan 11th
  14th Centuries.
• Many text survived in Tibetan translations only
• The most famous Tibetan Buddhist text is the
  Bardo Thodol, popularly known as the Tibetan Book
  of the Dead.
• Describes the experiences of the soul during the
  interval between death and rebirth. It is recited
  by lamas over a dying or recently deceased person

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Tibetan Buddhism Beliefs

• Similarities with Mahayana Buddhism
• pantheon of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and Dharma
  protectors
• 4 Noble Truths
• Eight-Fold Path
• Compassion
• Monastic life
• 3 baskets Tripitaka
• rituals such as food and flower offerings
• Religious pilgrimages
• Religious festivals
• Mantras and Mudras
• Bodhisattvas

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Tibetan Buddhism Beliefs cont.

• Unique to Tibetan Buddhism
• religious pilgrimages
• chanting prayers
• Prayer wheels
• Prostrating
• Mandalas

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Tibetan Buddhism Beliefs cont.

• Cham a dance featuring sacred masked dances,
  sacred music, healing chants, and spectacular
  richly ornamented multi-colored costumes
• Mudras - used by the monks to invite spiritual
  energies which generate wisdom, compassion.
• monastic debate

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Tibetan Beliefs - Images
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Philosophy Fight fire with fire

• Vajra diamond. Buddha elevated to a savior
  holding a diamond scepter evokes the energetic
  rigor and clarity of the diamond
• Task to shut off the energy of desire to
  accomplish the cessation of suffering
• How Harness this energy (of desire) and turn it
  against itself to propel the individual towards
  enlightenment.
• Method Chanting, Mandalas, mudras, sex

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Tibet Today

• Clergy Lamas (Oligarchy)
• Present Dali Lama - 14th in a direct line of
  succession through rebirth
• won Nobel Peace Prize 1989
• Currently living in exile in Northern India
• Tibet currently claimed by the Peoples
  Republic of China

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Zen Buddhism

• In a Nutshell

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Zen Origins

• Originated in China 6th Century
• Was popularized in Japan
• Mahayana School
• Emphasis - meditation

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Zen Teachings

• Zen direct experience of truth which is beyond
  words, thoughts and feelings about truth
• Emphasizes experience over speculation
• Beyond logical thinking that clutters the mind
• Satori Zen Enlightenment

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Zen Practices

• Koans riddles
• Intended to short-circuit the workings of the
  logical rational mind
• Cultivate full attention to everyday life

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Zen Activities

• Ikebana flower arranging
• Tea ceremony
• Landscaping
• Poetry
• Calligraphy
• Martial Arts
• Sumo wrestling
• Bonsai

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Zen Life

• Monastic lifestyle
• Seated mediation
• Menial work
• Simple meals
• Zen master Roshi
• Authority over disciples

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Zen Images