 | [Introduction] The Panchen Lamas |
| Traditional abbots of Tashilhunpo Monastery, frequent rivals to the central authority of Lhasa and often pawns in Chinese designs on the high plate…… |
| | [Introduction] The mandala |
| The mandala (literally circle) is a fascinating concept, as well as often making for quite a beautiful artistic creation in itself. In a sense you …… |
| | [Introduction] Sutra and Tantra |
| Lurking in the minefield of Buddhist terminology that makes even the briefest of excursions into Tibet so bewildering is the distinction between su…… |
| | [Introduction] Sacred Items and Symbols |
| Swastikas
An ancient symbol of Buddhism often found painted on houses to bring good luck. Swastikas which point clockwise…… |
| | [Introduction] Reincarnation Lineages |
| It is not unusual for an important Tibetan lama to be a trulku, or ‘incarnate lama. There are thought to be several thousand of them in contemporar…… |
| | [Introduction] Red Hats Versus Yellow Hats |
| The distinction is actually Chinese. The Chinese differentiated between the yellow-hatted Gelugpa order and the red-hatted Kagyupa order - disputan…… |
| | [Introduction] Prayer wheels |
| Prayer wheels, which range from the hand-held variety to huge water-powered versions, are filled with up to a mile of prayers, which are recited wi…… |
| | [Introduction] PRAYER FLAGS |
| Strips of coloured cloth printed with Buddhist sutras are strung up at the top of passes and streams and houses to purify the air and pacify the go…… |
| | [Introduction] Pilgrimage |
| Pilgrimage is practised throughout the world, though as a devotional exercise it has been raised to a level of particular importance in Tibet. This…… |
| | [Introduction] Followers of Sakyamuni |
| Everywhere you go in Tibet, from the regional capital Lhasa to the cities, towns and villages, you can see the glittering, golden roofs of monaster…… |
| | [Introduction] Basic Buddhist concepts |
| Rebirth
Life is a cycle of rebirths. The common assumption is that there are many rebirths, but in Buddhist thought they …… |
| | [Introduction] The Impact of Buddhism on Tibetan Culture |
| Though imported from outside , Buddhism was effective in accelerating the development of Tibet’s culture. Songtsan Gampo is credited with the inven…… |
| | [Introduction] Tsongkapa's Religious Reform and the Emergence of the Ge… |
| Tiber’s decentralization had contributed to the establishment for the different Buddhist sects, and it was the revival of religion rather than the …… |
| | [Introduction] The Four Major Sects of Tibetan Buddhism |
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There are many religious sects in Tibet, but the four described below are considered the major groupings. The earliest established sect, the Nyi…… |
| | [Introduction] Buddhism |
| Buddhism first penetrated Tibet when Songtsan Gampo’s ancestor Lhato-Thori Nyantsan was at the age of sixty, around the fifth century AD. It was th…… |
| | [Introduction] Bonism |
| To trace the origins of the Tibetan people’s belief in Buddhism we need to go back 1,300 years into the past. Buddhism has not always existed on t…… |
| | [Introduction] Wheel of life |
| The Wheel of Life, most commonly seen at monastery entrances, is essentially a pictorial representation of how desire chains us to samsara, the en…… |
| | [Introduction] Mandala of avalokiteshvara |
| This mandala portrays the eight-armed Avalokiteshvara (Tibetan: Chenresig) as the central deity surrounded by the four directional guardians sitti…… |
| | [Introduction] Bonism and buddhism in the land of snows |
| The Four Major Sects of Tibetan Buddhism
Tsongkapa’s Religious Reform and the Emergence of the Gelugpa Sect as a Political Power
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