Transcript Tiibetan and Zen Buddhism

Tibetan Tantra Buddhism
or Vajrayana - Buddhism
In a nutshell!
Tibetan Buddhism History
 ‘Bon’ religion indigenous
religion of Tibet,
 animistic (believing that
nature is pervaded by good
and evil spirits)
 shamanistic
 Buddhism and Hinduism
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Initially introduced late 8th
century
more steadily from the 13th
century onwards
 The Great tantric mystic Guru
Rinpoche blended these three
religions in 774 CE resulting in
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism - politics
 Tibetan Buddhism
dominated Mongolia
and Manchuria.
 Gave rise to a
Theocracy – hierarchy
of monks or Lamas
that govern the
country
 Dali Lama is both the
worldly and spiritual
authority
Tibetan Buddhist Sacred Texts
 Buddhist text were translated into
Tibetan 11th – 14th Centuries.
 Many text survived in Tibetan
translations only
 The most famous Tibetan Buddhist
text is the Bardo Thodol, popularly
known as the Tibetan Book of the
Dead.
Describes the experiences of the
soul during the interval between
death and rebirth. It is recited by
lamas over a dying or recently
deceased person
Tibetan Buddhism Beliefs
Similarities with Mahayana Buddhism
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pantheon of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and Dharma protectors
4 Noble Truths
Eight-Fold Path
Compassion
Monastic life
3 baskets – Tripitaka
rituals such as food and flower offerings
Religious pilgrimages
Religious festivals
Mantras and Mudras
Bodhisattvas
Tibetan Buddhism Beliefs cont.
Unique to Tibetan Buddhism
 religious
pilgrimages
 chanting prayers
 Prayer wheels
 Prostrating
 Mandalas
Tibetan Buddhism Beliefs cont.
 Cham: a dance featuring
sacred masked dances,
sacred music, healing
chants, and spectacular
richly ornamented multicolored costumes
 Mudras - used by the
monks to invite spiritual
energies which generate
wisdom, compassion.
 monastic debate
Tibetan Beliefs - Images
Philosophy – Fight fire with fire
 Vajra – diamond. Buddha elevated to a savior
holding a diamond scepter – evokes the energetic
rigor and clarity of the diamond
 Task: to shut off the energy of desire to accomplish
the cessation of suffering
 How: Harness this energy (of desire) and turn it
against itself to propel the individual towards
enlightenment.
 Method: Chanting, Mandalas, mudras, sex
Tibet Today
 Clergy: Lamas
(Oligarchy)
 Present Dali Lama - 14th
in a direct line of
succession – through
rebirth
 won Nobel Peace Prize
1989
 Currently living in exile in
Northern India
 Tibet – currently claimed
by the People’s Republic
of China
Zen Buddhism
In a Nutshell
Zen Origins
 Originated in China 6th
Century
 Was popularized in
Japan
 Mahayana School
 Emphasis - meditation
Zen Teachings
 Zen: direct experience of
truth which is beyond
words, thoughts and
feelings about truth
 Emphasizes experience
over speculation
 Beyond logical thinking
that clutters the mind
 Satori – Zen
Enlightenment
Zen Practices
 Koans – riddles
 Intended to shortcircuit the workings of
the logical rational
mind
 Cultivate full attention to
everyday life
Zen Activities
 Ikebana – flower
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arranging
Tea ceremony
Landscaping
Poetry
Calligraphy
Martial Arts
Sumo wrestling
Bonsai
Zen Life
 Monastic lifestyle
 Seated mediation
 Menial work
 Simple meals
 Zen master –
“Roshi”
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Authority over
disciples
Zen Images