Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism is a complex religious tradition practiced across several Asian regions.

It is common in Tibet, Bhutan, and Mongolia. Many followers live near the Himalayan mountains in Nepal and Indian regions like Ladakh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. Smaller groups reside in parts of China, such as Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, and in Russian regions like Tuva and Kalmykia. This tradition evolved from Mahayana Buddhism. It incorporates many Vajrayana elements, which are specific tantric practices. The ultimate goal for practitioners is to achieve Buddhahood.

This tradition uses specific methods to help followers progress spiritually. One major approach involves tantric practices. These include deity yoga and the Six Dharmas of Naropa. Some practitioners use methods like Dzogchen, which are seen as transcending tantra.

Tibetan Buddhists also study classical Mahayana practices, such as the ten perfections. In the native Tibetan language, the tradition is called "the Dharma of the insiders." This term suggests that truth is found within the nature of the mind rather than outside of it. This is different from other religious systems, which are called "chos lugs."

There are four primary schools within Tibetan Buddhism. Each school is independent with its own leaders and monastic institutions. However, they remain closely related through constant dialogue. The Nyingma school is the oldest, dating back to the 8th century. The Sakya school was founded in 1073. The Kagyu school emerged in the 11th century. The Gelug school is the most recent, established in 1409.

A smaller school called the Jonang also exists. Additionally, the 19th-century Rimé movement promotes a non-sectarian approach to preserve all these diverse traditions.

The history of this faith began with early influences from India. During the 3rd century CE, Buddhism started spreading into Tibet. This process influenced the native Bon religion. The first formal dissemination occurred during the Tibetan Empire between the 7th and 9th centuries.

King Songtsän Gampo began translating Sanskrit scriptures into Tibetan. Later, King Trisong Detsen made Buddhism the official state religion. He invited Indian scholars like Śāntarakṣita and Padmasambhava to his court. Padmasambhava is a central figure who is credited with building the Samye monastery.

Following a period of political disunity known as the Era of Fragmentation, Buddhism saw a second dissemination. This revival occurred between the 10th and 12th centuries. The Bengali saint Atiśa arrived in Tibet during this time to help spread Buddhist values. His work supported the translation of massive amounts of literature. This includes the Bka'-'gyur, which contains the Buddha's words. It also includes the Bstan-'gyur, a collection of 3,626 texts spread across 224 volumes.

These texts cover everything from hymns to complex commentaries.

Political changes also helped the religion spread to new territories. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty influenced the faith. The ruler Kublai Khan played a significant role in this expansion.

In the modern era, the tradition spread globally due to the Tibetan diaspora. This movement began after 1959 when the Dalai Lama escaped to India. This led to a renaissance of monasteries in the Indian subcontinent. Many major Gelug monasteries were rebuilt during this period.

Scholars have used different names for this tradition over time. In the past, Western scholars used the term "Lamaism." This term was derived from the Chinese "lama jiao," meaning the doctrine of the lamas.

However, many modern scholars consider this term obsolete or even pejorative. It can imply that Tibetan Buddhism is separate from mainstream Buddhism. Other terms include "Vajrayāna," though this actually refers to a specific subset of practices found in other traditions. Today, terms like "Indo-Tibetan Buddhism" or "Himalayan Buddhism" are often used to be more accurate.