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Article #1: Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism

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Tibetan Buddhism is the body of religious (including knowing perfectly the minds of
Buddhist doctrine and institutions all sentient beings) are removed. In the
characteristic of Tibet, the Himalayan Tibetan Buddhist view, when one perceives
region (including northern Nepal, Bhutan, or conceives of a particular object the
and Sikkim and Ladakh), Mongolia, mind (carried upon a subtle energy -
Buryatia, Tuva and Kalmykia (Russia), and 'prana' in Sanskrit and 'lung' in
northeastern China (Manchuria: Tibetan) goes to that object. Thus it is
Heilongjiang, Jilin). It includes the said that upon the attainment of
teachings of the three vehicles (or yanas omniscience, one's mind becomes
in Sanskrit) of Buddhism: Hinayana, omnipresent.
Mahayana, and Vajrayana (also known as There are said to be countless beings
Tantrayana). The invasion and occupation that have attained Buddhahood, or in
of Tibet by China in 1959 eventually led other words there are countless Buddhas.
to the spread of Tibetan Buddhism to many Buddhas spontaneously, naturally and
Western countries (which has become known continuously perform activities to
as the Tibetan Diaspora) where the benefit all sentient beings. However it
tradition has gained great popularity. In is believed that sentient beings' karma
the past, Tibetan Buddhism was referred (or actions and results) has equal power
to by some as "Lamaism" (Teaching of to Buddhas. Thus, although Buddhas
spiritual teachers) but by many this is possess no limitation from their side on
now considered inappropriate. (See Lama) their ability to help others, sentient
Introduction beings continue to experience suffering
Tibetan Buddhism is a Mahayana Buddhist as a result of their own negative actions
tradition, meaning that the goal of all (usually committed in previous
practise is to achieve full enlightenment lifetimes).
(or Buddhahood) in order to remove all Vajrayana
limitation on one's ability to help all Tibetan Buddhism encompasses Vajrayana (a
other living beings to attain this state. Sanskrit word that is a conjunction of
This motivation for practise is called vajra which may be translated as diamond,
Bodhichitta (a Sanskrit word meaning thunder or indestructible and yana or
'mind of enlightenment'). vehicle). It is said that Vajrayana
Tibetan Buddhist monks at a monastery in practice is the fastest method for
Sikkim attaining Buddhahood, however this is
Tibetan Buddhist monks at a monastery in only the case for advanced practitioners
Sikkim who have a grounding in the preliminary
Buddhahood is defined as freedom from the practices (which may be categorised as
obstructions to liberation (or negative renunciation, Bodhichitta and wisdom -
states of mind such as hatred and specifically, the wisdom perceiving
desirous attachment) and the obstructions emptiness). For practitioners who are not
to omniscience (which are the imprints of qualified, Vajrayana practise is in fact
negative minds, or delusions). When one dangerous, and will only lead to
is freed from mental obscurations one is suffering if it is not practised with the
said to attain a state of unimaginable, pure motivation of Bodhichitta. For this
continuous bliss where all limitations on reason also, Vajrayana should only ever
one's ability to help all other living be practised after receiving an
beings are removed. This includes the appropriate initiation (also known as an
attainment omniscience - that is all empowerment) from a qualified lama.
obstructions to knowing all phenomena






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