Buddhism 101

Lesson 4: Buddhism Around the World

Tibet

     Tibet has become the last stronghold of Vajrayana Buddhism – it has been exterminated in most other regions that it was introduced to. However, in those snowy lands it became the exclusive teaching of the Buddha.

     Tibet already had a religion prior to the arrival of Buddhism – Bön. This tradition was forced to become more systematic in response to the introduction of Buddhism – when there was no competing ideology, there was no reason to define itself. Bön is traditionally attributed to the spiritual teacher Shenrap, who is thought of as a buddha, in the sense that he was supremely enlightened. His biography is similar to the historical Buddha’s, indicating that his birth was preceded by miracles, and he was raised as a prince. Practitioners of Bön are often villanized in Buddhist works, portrayed as fearful of the dharma and setting in motion plans against it. The spirits conquered by Padmasambhava are sometimes listed as Bön deities.

     There are four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, and though they all differ in history and doctrine, they are all thoroughly Vajrayana. There is no sense of animosity between them, though at different times certain schools were more politically powerful than others.

     The Nyingma school is the eldest of the sects, a distinction that is evident in its name, meaning “Old School”. It claims direct lineage from Padmasambhava, and as such it is the sect associated with the discovered terma texts.

     The Kagyu sect claims lineage beginning with the Indian Buddhist Tilopa and continuing through with Marpa and Milarepa – this lineage is still existent today. Though these are popular figures in all of Tibetan culture, their teaching lineages belong to the Kagyu school.

     The Sakya school begins with a powerful mystic named Virupa. A popular story involves his banishment from a monastery for requesting a pie made of birds – he is scolded for harming life, but brought the birds back to life in a demonstration of his powers. He is known for his belief that Buddhists could transcend monastic life and still achieve enlightenment.

     Finally, there is the Geluk school, to which the famous Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama belongs (though it can be argued that he is a figure of great importance to all Tibetans). The Geluk school was founded by Tsong Khapa, who was believed to have had an encounter with the historical Buddha in one of his previous lives. Legend says Padmasambhava also prophesied his birth. His birth was preceded by miracles, as so often happens with the birth of great bodhisattvas, and he spent much of his early adult life fiercely studying under any monk that would tutor him.

     As the major figure of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama deserves some discussion. Great religious teachers in Tibet are thought to continue to reincarnate, as bodhisattvas do, to continue leading the Tibetan people. The current Dalai Lama is thought to be the fourteenth reincarnation of an important Tibetan leader, who is also believed to be an emanation of Avalokiteshvara.

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