At university, I read Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha. Curious to learn more about Buddhism, I waded through the Evans-Wentz translation of the Tibetan Book of the Dead and was fascinated when I found a road map describing what happens to a person after they die. According to the “Bardo Thodol”, there is a period of 49 days when a person can either become enlightened or begin their journey back to the land of the living in a new incarnation.
In Buddhism, there are 4 Noble Truths, and an 8-Fold Path which directs you on how to live your life in ways that support the 4 Noble Truths:
- All life is suffering
- suffering is the result of desire
- get rid of desire and you’ll no longer suffer
- to end suffering, follow the 8-fold path
The 8-fold path includes right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right concentration, and right mindfulness.
Like other religions, not all Buddhists believe exactly the same things or practice in the same ways. There are two major branches. Mahayana (the greater vehicle) dedicates itself to the liberation of all sentient beings through a combination of compassion and wisdom. Theravada (the lesser vehicle) concerns itself with the liberation of oneself.
Vajrayana Buddhism is often called the third branch, although it has its roots in Mahayana Buddhism. Also referred to as Esoteric Buddhism, this is certainly the root of what we call Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism is also heavily influenced by Bon, a traditional religion in Tibet before Buddhism was introduced in the 8th century CE. Tibetan Buddhism has spread beyond Tibet, however, and is currently practiced in Bhutan, Sikkim, Ladakh, and Mongolia. There are also large Tibetan communities in Sichuan, Yunnan, Qinghai, Gansu, and in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
One unique aspect of Tibetan Buddhism is the Dalai Lama. Bodhisattvas are reincarnated holy people who have been reborn into the world for the specific purpose helping all people. The Dalai Lama is believed to be the reincarnation of Avalokitshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. The current Dalai Lama’s primary message is one of compassion and harmony.
Tibetan Buddhists believe that we live in a continuing cycle of birth and rebirth (samsara). They believe that the actions of this life will impact on this life and on future lives (karma). They also believe that the goal of Buddhism is to escape from this cycle of birth and rebirth by becoming enlightened. The spiritual teachers who help Buddhists navigate towards enlightenment (Nirvana) are called lamas. They teach their students activities that benefit all living beings and the environment since every living creature is believed to have an “energy” (which somehow differs from a permanent essence or “soul”). Lamas and rinpoches abound, some Buddhist scholars, some laypeople, often reincarnations of teachers from the past.
Tibetan Buddhists carry prayer beads and use them to count the times that they chant mantras (short prayers) to help them connect with enlightened beings or Buddhas. The most popular chant, “Om Mani Padme Hum” is not only heard but seen, all over the Buddhist world. It is commonly translated as “The jewel in the lotus” but is meant to direct one’s focus to attaining the level of compassion and wisdom that Bodhisattvas have reached. Not for the purpose of achieving enlightenment but rather to direct one’s actions towards others. In Tibetan Buddhism, symbols are pervasive. Whether prayer wheels, prayer flags, or on shrines made of stones, on walls, on tapestries, prayers, and mantras are meant to be shared with all sentient beings. They’re not limited to the interiors of monasteries or the homes of practitioners. Like thousands of tiny prayer flags, they flap in the wind spreading and sharing their messages.
There is a breadth and depth to Tibetan Buddhism, I could not begin to unearth (or understand at this writing). A huge number of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, supernatural beings and spirits (many not from Buddhism) abound in writing, on paintings, tapestries, on prayer wheels, sand art, prayer flags, and in a wealth of tantras of all sorts.
The final image that comes to my mind is that wherever Tibetan Buddhism is practiced, people pray by prostrating themselves to show respect to the Buddha, the Dharma, or the Sangha. This act is also done to humble oneself and to release one’s ego.
Chinese Odyssey 57
There were monks all about
wearing red robes with sashes,
prostrating themselves
nearby incense and ashes.
Like a Buddhist golf course,
18 halls at Labrang
reminded us softly
it was time to move on.
The Panda in the Room PD 