Tibetan Buddhism is a major branch of Buddhism, a spiritual path practised in Tibet, as well as in Bhutan, Nepal, Mongolia, parts of northern India and the Western world. This tradition is part of Mahayana Buddhism and combines it in a unique way:
the compassion-oriented teachings of the Mahayana,
the mystical and tantric practices of the vadjrayana (diamond path),
and elements of the ancient shamanistic religion of Tibet, Bon.
Main features
1. Llama system
Teachers are called lamas - honorary masters who guide the disciple towards enlightenment.
Best known as the 14th Dalai Lama - Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, a global symbol of peace and compassion.
2. Tantric practices (Vajrayana)
Mantras (sacred syllables, e.g. Om mani padme hum),
Mudras (hand gestures),
Mandala (sacred geometry, visualization map of the divine),
Jidam (visualization of a protective deity),
Guru-yoga (the practice of conscious union with the teacher).
3. Meditations
Shiné (samatha): stillness meditation.
Lhaktong (vipassana): insight meditation.
Tonglen: developing compassion (breathing in the suffering of others and breathing out love).
4. Reincarnation and karma
There is a strong belief in the rebirth of consciousness and the workings of karma.
Related to the lama system is the tulku system: consciously reborn masters (e.g. the Dalai Lama).
5. Death and Bardo
It pays great attention to the afterlife (bardo).
The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thödol) describes the experience of consciousness between death and rebirth.
Tibetan Buddhist schools
Nyingma - the oldest, "primordial" teachings, strongly tantric.
Kagyu - emphasis on meditation, master line: e.g. Milarepa.
Sakya - philosophical depth, middle way approach.
Gelug - the school of "strict order", the order of the Dalai Lama.
What does it teach?
The goal of Tibetan Buddhism is to achieve enlightenment not only for ourselves, but for all beings. The means to this end are inner awareness, compassion, wisdom and deep transformation of the mind through various practical methods.
