What I Didn’t Know About Tibetan Buddhism
One form of Buddhism that has always been shrouded in secrecy is Tibetan Buddhism, until the 1950’s not too many people even were aware that it existed. This was due partially to the secluded location of Tibet and because of it’s isolation not much of the teachings made there way out.
When the takeover of Communist China in the 50’s took place many of the Tibetan leaders migrated to India including the Dalai Lama. And fast forwarding today, we have Tibetan monks making their tours across the world teaching the world about their beliefs. For the first time in history, people from all over the world have the opportunity to learn from authentic sources about how Tibetan Buddhism was practiced.
Buddhism continues to be one of the fastest growing religions in the United States. It is a tolerant religion that places emphasis on practical methods for cultivating spiritual awareness and on the importance of finding truth for oneself. Buddhism teachings express loving kindness, compassion, clarity of mind and wisdom. It’s purpose, to alleviate suffering and to create a healing and transformation so that we all can experience peace in this World.
Siddhartha (Shayamuni Buddha) lived in northern India about five centuries before Christ. He was born into a royal family and was protected from witnessing the suffering of the world by being kept in his palace. After witnessing the suffering of others he renounced his royalty to try and find the ultimate peace and good. Through study, concentration and meditation he realized his highest level of enlightenment and became a Buddha at age 35. He taught his learned path of spiritual liberation to many people for over forty years until passing at the age of eighty. The community of his followers continued his teachings in which we now know as the Buddhism religion.
Tibetan Buddhism teaches that we are all potential Buddhas, because we are born pure and luminous. Our Buddha nature is clouded over by a layer of ignorance and negativity, which cause us suffering. Tibetan Buddhism teaches adopting the traits of enlightened beings through special meditation techniques, to realize our true Buddha nature.
Buddhism has a long history in Tibet which started during the reign of the first emperor around 600-650 CE. This is the time that Tibet first established itself as an independent kingdom and empire, and the teachings of the Buddha were introduced. It would be another century before the religion flourished during the reign of three emperors, Tri Son Detsen, Tri Saynalek, and Tri Ralpachen.
The latter part of the 20th century has brought many changes to Tibet. Communist China controls Tibet and it’s religion and culture have suffered tremendously. Most of the Tibetan exiles have settled in India, but their are others who have fled to Nepal, Switzerland, Canada and the U.S. After all of the dissident that has occurred, the exiles still embrace the values of compassion, and not all view the loss of their land with anger and resentment. Some were quoted as saying “The changes in Tibet are examples of the true Human Nature, all is impermanent and everything changes.
It is amazing to me that as much suffering as many of the Tibetan monks have underwent, that they can still hold to their core teachings and look to their aggressors as brothers and still feel compassion and Love. This is true teaching by example, which is not found very often in our society. There is much that we can learn in spiritual matters from the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. Take Care my friends!
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Comments
Insightful post. I enjoyed the read. I do agree on the fact that Buddhism is one of the fastest growing religion on earth.
I am not sure if I agree on every thing that you mention, but it’s definitely worth the read.
Cheers!
Namo Buddhaya,
It’s nice to see that Buddhism has growing fast in the US, especially the Tibetan Buddhism which is the highest level of practice in the Buddhists way.
mettacitena,
Eddy aka Attamano
Great post, thank you for that.
As I figured Buddhists can teach us a lot of good things and make our days more worthwhile. Especially realizing that at the main source we are all one tells us that fight and anger are actually an action against ourselves.
Again, thanks much for this post, Charles.
~Marcus