Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism

[@ananda_miaoyin]

Some of the best laid out stuff on Tibetan Buddhism I have seen thus far. Milarepa was the only man to ever climb Mount Kailas. A real G.

[@vajraheart6052]

9:15 ' the whole spectrum of Buddhism is within Tibetan Buddhism, not just the Vajrayana". Thanks for the explanation of the difference.

[@d512634]

I will binge watch this channel because Religion for Breakfast channel is making a series of Buddhism and Let's Talk Religion said he's going to make one too eventually. I'll also recommend this channel in their comment section if I remember to.

[@aaronproffitt3225]

I'm a huge fan of Religion for Breakfast, so I was excited to have the opportunity to write the script for the video on Pure Land Buddhism. I'm hoping to have episodes on Zen Buddhism and Esoteric Buddhism written soon as well. I'll be doing versions on this channel as well.

[@AmericanBuddhistStudyCenter]

Thank you for watching the video. PLEASE JOIN WITH US our Zoom Event ↓↓↓ Introduction to the Heart Sutra With Professor Aaron Proffitt Click ink to the FREE Zoom event 2/24/2024 from 1-2pm (EAT. New York Time) www.ambuddhist.org/events Professor Aaron Proffitt is going to answer questions you may have.

[@i_love_tibet7001]

Wow...... I'm so grateful for your work....... one of the best intro on the Tibetan Buddhism. I never miss to learn about our sacred Vajrayana Buddhism. Today, there are many Scholars, Lamas, Nuns, Students and Practitioners emerging all over the World, learning the Vajrayana Buddhism. As you mentioned one can learn the Tibetan Buddhism in many famous Universities........rejoice and blessings. 🙏☸️🪷📿🌈💎❤️

[@MindfulExplorations-op7bg]

"I honor the energy and effort you invest in this discipline and this channel. Blessings to your soul* "

[@Jeed92]

my indian grandfather was an architect and build homes for tibetan refugees back in the 50´s in Dharamsala. He was from Delhi, but he went there anyway to build the houses. The Dalai Lama also visited him once at home, my father was 2 years old at that time. Im happy that they can preserve most of their knowledge, but its tough now to secure the future of it.

[@isokiller2346]

We are brothers in heart ❤️

[@korashortss]

5:08 You are absolutely correct, the translation from Bhuddhist Hybrid Sanskrit to Tibetan language is top notch. It is said, the translation took almost 300 years😮😮😮. Whole, Empire was involved in the process. sometime, i really think that, those great Indian Bhuddhist scholars and Maha-Siddas already had a future vision that soon Bhuddhism will disappear from India. Tibetan language is very flexible, just change prefix and suffix, you can get a new word.

[@AlanPhan128]

TLDR: Tibetan Buddhism is a complex and diverse tradition that encompasses tantric practices, philosophical debates, and a unique history, ultimately leading to its global influence and popularity despite persecution. 1. 00:00 📿 Tibetan Buddhism encompasses diverse Indian philosophical traditions, with a focus on Madhyamaka philosophy and tantric rituals, and spread literacy in Asia through the development of the Tibetan written language. 1.1 Tibetan Buddhism has its own unique features and cultural influence separate from East Asian Buddhism. 1.2 Tibetan Buddhism encompasses a diverse and preserved Indian philosophical tradition, with a focus on Madhyamaka philosophy and tantric rituals. 1.3 Tantras are present in various Buddhist traditions, but Tibetan Buddhism is particularly prevalent and central to its practice. 1.4 Tibetan Buddhism was transmitted to Tibet much later than other parts of Asia, and by the time it reached Tibet, the region was surrounded by Buddhist kingdoms. 1.5 Tibetan Buddhism spread literacy in Asia and the development of the Tibetan written language facilitated the translation of Indian Sanskrit Buddhist texts, with Vajrayana being connected to esoteric Buddhism and the tantras. 1.6 Tantras are ritual manuals associated with tantric Buddhism, kept secret and passed down from teacher to disciple, with esoteric traditions found in various South Asian religions and regions where Buddhism spread. 2. 06:49 📿 Vajrayana is a rapid path to awakening through tantric practices, emphasizing the importance of understanding the differences between Paramita yana and Vajrayana in Tibetan Buddhism. 2.1 Vajrayana is a discourse about the tantras that lead to rapid attainment of awakening, symbolizing buddha nature and requiring initiation and supervision of a teacher. 2.2 Paramita yana is compared to building a fire with a stick, while vajrayana is like pouring gasoline, and it's important to understand the differences between the two in Tibetan Buddhism. 2.3 Tibetan Buddhism encompasses all Buddhist traditions, including non-mahayana sutras, mahayana sutras, and tantras, as well as a vast body of commentary literature. 2.4 Tibetan Buddhism emphasizes devotion to the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteshwara, who is depicted as male in the Tibetan tradition and is believed to be the genetic ancestor of the Tibetan people. 2.5 The lineage of reincarnated masters, particularly the Dalai Lamas, are considered to be emanations of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshwara, with the Potala Palace in Lhasa named after the pure land of Avalokiteshwara, making the bodhisattva very important in Tibetan Buddhist tradition. 2.6 Tibetan Buddhism features wrathful deities, which are depicted with scary imagery but are said to symbolize the burning away of afflictions and ignorance, similar to a parent's protective warning to a child. 3. 14:32 📿 Tibetan Buddhism involves tantric rituals and visualization practices to become one with deities, purify the mind, and achieve enlightenment. 3.1 Buddhist deities may appear in wrathful forms to shake people out of complacency and are used in tantric rituals involving visualization practices in Tibetan Buddhism. 3.2 Tantric ritual in Tibetan Buddhism involves becoming one with deities and realizing their interconnectedness with oneself through visualization, mudras, mantras, and mandalas. 3.3 Practicing Tibetan Buddhism involves purifying oneself to become one with a deity and using their power for various purposes, including affecting the world and achieving enlightenment. 3.4 Tibetan Buddhism emphasizes the idea that the mind itself is awakening, using the mind to create something imaginary and questioning the reality that is being constructed. 4. 18:57 📜 Tibetan Buddhism has a complex history, blending Central Asian Buddhism with local traditions, establishing temples through fighting, and owing much to Indian, Central Asian, and Chinese influences, ultimately leading to the development of unique features and traditions within Tibetan Buddhism. 4.1 Tibetan Buddhism has a complex history, with some scholars speculating that the indigenous religion of Tibet may have actually been a form of Central Asian Buddhism that blended into local traditions and eventually became its own tradition, similar to the relationship between Shinto and Japanese Buddhism. 4.2 Tibetan Buddhism's history may involve fighting indigenous populations to establish temples, and it owes a lot to Chinese and South Asian connections. 4.3 Tibetan Buddhism was established in Tibet with the help of teachers from India, Central Asia, and China, leading to the ordainment of Tibetan aristocrats into the clergy. 4.4 Kamala sheila and Shantarakshita engage in a debate representing different approaches to Buddhism, with the Tibetan tradition ultimately following the Indian tradition. 4.5 Tibetan Buddhism has unique features and a history of producing Buddhist culture, including the development of the Nyingma tradition and the treasure transmission of revealed tantric texts. 5. 24:25 📜 Tibetan Buddhism involves the discovery of hidden texts, debate on violence to protect the dharma, rise of lay teachers, political fragmentation, emphasis on the perfect guru, and the practice of tantra for rapid awakening. 5.1 Tibetan Buddhism involves the discovery and revelation of hidden texts, and the tradition is connected with the Ningmah tradition and the Tibetan dark age. 5.2 A wicked king tried to destroy the dharma, but a bodhisattva appeared and killed him, leading to a debate on whether violence is justified to protect the dharma. 5.3 During a period of political and social fragmentation in Tibetan history, local economies and culture flourished, leading to the rise of lay teachers known as llamas. 5.4 Tibetan Buddhism experienced a period of political fragmentation followed by a popular flourishing, leading to the second transmission of Buddhism into Tibet and the establishment of orthodox Buddhism. 5.5 The perfect guru in Tibetan Buddhism is emphasized, along with the idea that tantra is the rapid path to awakening, and the fascinating figure of Mila Repa, who was born into a well-to-do family and later studied dangerous forms of tantra. 5.6 A man seeks to purify his bad karma through tantric practice after killing his wicked relatives, and undergoes intense training with a great teacher. 6. 31:07 📜 Tibetan Buddhism encompasses different schools and lineages, with a focus on achieving greatness through dedication to practice and the promotion of Atisha as the perfect guru by Songkappa. 6.1 A man is instructed to build a round building, but is scolded for not building it in a triangle shape, causing him distress. 6.2 Marpa's wife encourages Milarepa to stick with Marpa, who eventually teaches him and he excels in the tantric path, achieving rebirth and the ability to enter the pure land of Akshobia Buddha, engaging in extreme aesthetic practice and subsisting only on nettles and metals, leading to his skin turning green, with a play on the idea of two realities - conventional and ultimate. 6.3 Tibetan Buddhism has different schools with overlapping beliefs, and it is possible for anyone to achieve greatness through dedication to the practice. 6.4 Different lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, such as Nigma, Kagyu, and Shakya, focus on different practices and are connected to historical connections with Chan or Zen, emphasizing close reading of texts and logical argumentation. 6.5 Songkappa promoted Atisha as the perfect guru and founded the monastery Ganden, associated with the bodhisattva Maitreya, and his student Gendon Durop later became the first of the Dalai Lamas. 7. 35:36 🕉 Tibetan Buddhism influenced Mongolia and China, leading to the establishment of patron-priest relationships and the recognition of Dalai Lamas as spiritual and political leaders, until the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950. 7.1 Tibetan Buddhism influenced other Buddhist traditions, particularly in Mongolia, where the Mongolians adopted Chinese bureaucratic methods and recognized the effectiveness of Tibetan Buddhist rituals for success in battle and longevity. 7.2 Mongolian influence led to the establishment of a patron-priest relationship with Tibet, helping Tibetans develop a sense of national identity. 7.3 The Chinese Ming dynasty followed the Mongol Yuan dynasty, with the Yongle emperor being highly influenced by Tibetan Buddhism and giving the title of Dalai Lama to Soma Gatso, recognized as the third Dalai Lama. 7.4 The Dalai Lamas are reincarnated masters with political connections, and Tibetan Buddhism also includes other lineages of reincarnating masters. 7.5 Tibetan Buddhism involves the intentional reincarnation of great teachers, with the Dalai Lamas serving as the spiritual and political leaders until the Chinese invasion of Tibet. 7.6 The Qing dynasty and Chinese emperors were highly influenced by Tibetan Buddhism, and in 1950 the People's Liberation Army from China took control of Tibet. 8. 41:40 🕉 The Dalai Lama fled Tibet due to Chinese oppression, leading to the free Tibet movement and ongoing tension, while Tibetan Buddhism gains popularity globally despite persecution. 8.1 The Dalai Lama fled Tibet due to oppression and suppression of Tibetan culture by China, leading to the free Tibet movement and ongoing tension with China. 8.2 The Dalai Lama is the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism and the future of the tradition is being spread globally through centers established by spiritual seekers from Europe and America. 8.3 Tibetan Buddhism has gained popularity in America, Europe, and China despite ongoing persecution, and its rich history and teachings continue to attract more people.

[@i_love_tibet7001]

Wow......thank you.❤🫡

[@johnmattson684]

Excellent synopsis and good linkages to historical and mythological references.❤

[@ZenInsights-vp8nb]

Just what I needed today, "Thank You" 🙏☮ 😊

[@anthonytoo5260]

Namaste. Well met. Milarepa rode The Wheel. The dust still settles.

[@AmericanBuddhistStudyCenter]

Yes, it does. Thank you for your comment.

[@hellboundtruck123]

Haha brilliant comment, hello from Ladakh 🙏🏼

[@deqft0nes]

I am trying to learn more about the religion of my people. A lot of people from Mongolia are Buddhist some way or another, although there are a lot of Shamanists here too. Thank you!

[@PavaniGanga]

Thank you. The timeline was surprising and corrective for me. Also, it was an interesting and very relevant statement that China and Tibet are not only recipients but also producers of Buddhist culture. Too soon at the present time to speculate on the extent to which "the West" will be comparable producers of Buddhist culture.

[@iAmEhead]

There is already a sort of bare, stripped down, secular form of Buddhism that is popular in the West where the mythological and cosmological elements have been removed, leaving a sort of psychological Buddhism, if you will.

[@PavaniGanga]

@@iAmEhead True. But my question is whether this stripped down, secular Buddhism will ever achieve the culture-captivating, multigenerational power of transmission that endured for many centuries in Asia, due in part, but certainly not entirely, to royal patronage.

[@imbuziyentaba7212]

brilliant thank you

[@taidelek9994]

Well informed. Keep up the good work .👏

[@trisha8848]

So informative thank you 🙏

[@its-all-good]

New subscriber. Thank you so much for uploading this amazing introduction.

[@visnaya1]

Sir, how do you know so much knowledge? God bless you or Buddha give you strength.

[@leoegagamao6088]

Thank you for this wonderful lecture sir! I am learning Theravada Buddhism but is also interested in knowing other schools of Buddhism.

[@GuruRasaVonWerder]

wow handsome. I would like to take some pictures of you. Where are you located?

[@Ken-nu4qs]

thank you for the lecture!

[@nyarlantothep9555]

great exposition, thank you

[@GuruRasaVonWerder]

good God. This is an advanced college or post-graduate course. I intend to hear it all, let's see if I persevere {?}

[@Jeed92]

Great video but I might add: Buddhism never died in India, Gautama the Buddha is referred to as the 8th incarnation of Vishnu in Hinduism. Buddhism is a hindu sect. Gautama himself worked with concepts of hindu origin. Tibetans always referred to India as the guru of Tibet, even the Dalai Lama in our time said so. People in the west are not familiar with ancient India, only with some stories they heared. And with materialistic eyes you cannot see its entire history, not even the present India. The reason, why Buddhism spread outside India and "hinduism" didnt (or at least not much), was Nalanda University and king Ashoka. But it derived from Hinduism and Hinduism recognized buddhists as hindus, just like Tibetan yogis or Lamas recognized that their roots are in knowledge which originated in India.

[@HossainSalahuddin]

Good talk. May I suggest that the pronunciation of the word 'Dalai' in 'Dalai Lama' is not 'Dali', rather "Tā la'i". The presenter was missing the 'A' after the L.

[@aaronproffitt3225]

Thank you for the comment! You're totally right! It seems that I slipped into colloquial American pronunciation. It's kinda like when people say "carry-okee" instead of "ka-ra-o-ke" for karaoke ;-)

[@HossainSalahuddin]

@@aaronproffitt3225 No biggie, and thank you :)

[@mky3039]

The story of Milarepa is somewhat reminiscent of the story of Kullervo in Finnish folklore.

[@jalachandra]

Amazing! Thank you for this gift of a lecture.

[@Shambhala77]

5:04 It is not claimed. It is true that you can back-translate Tibetan Language into Sanskrit Language easier. Because Tibetan Language was developed in India, It was commissioned by Tibetan King with the help of Indian Scholars. Tibetan letters are written in Indic Style from Left to Right. Tibetan Letter, Scripts and Sounds are of Indic Style. Tibet is much more closer to India than to China. Tibet always had direct connection to India across Himalayas.

[@Shambhala77]

@@robustashorea4586 Tantra, Yantra, Mantra, Astra, Sutra, Shastra etc all these words are Sanskrit words. Tantras are 100% Indian. Tantra is deep Philosophy and practice which is developed in Northern India over millennia.

[@Q_QQ_Q]

its not modern sanskrit , its buddhist hybrid sanskrit . modern sanskrit is classical sanskrit . both are entirely different .

[@learntibetanwithmanjutib]

I just started learning Hindi and I'm finding it relatively easy to get started with it. Not just the alphabet, but even the sentence structure is closer than I expected to Tibetan syntax.

[@i_love_tibet7001]

Yes, its 100% fact. Now many Precious Tibetan texts are translating back into Sanskrit in India...... Nalanda University.

[@michigandersea3485]

@@learntibetanwithmanjutib Nonetheless, Tibetan is a linguistic relative of Burmese, and more distantly, Chinese--the Sino-Tibetan language family.

[@hamburger--fries]

I noticed you did not mention Rimé Buddhism. It is most similar to Gelug but encompasses all 4 Tibetan schools from a non-sectarian view. However it is mostly thought of as a system.

[@Hamrag7952]

My understanding of rimé is that it is a non-sectarian movement that promotes dialogue between the different schools rather than claiming to be a new school.

[@hamburger--fries]

@@Hamrag7952it is not a recognized school. But it does exist as its own school, with distinct practices, rituals and traditions. What you are saying is more about being diplomatic so senior monks do not become unhappy. I guess that’s how I see things.

[@Hamrag7952]

@@hamburger--fries. This is the first time I hear about any specific rimé practices or rituals. Here is a passage that illustrates my understanding « A great example of the Rimé view in scholarship is detailed in the life story of Dza Patrul Rinpoche when teaching on the Way of the Bodhisattva. “When among the Sakyas, he taught according to the commentary of Jetsun Sonam Tsemo; with the Gelugpas, he taught according to Je Rinpoche Tsongkhapa’s notes and Gyaltsab Darma Rinchen’s commentary; with Kagyupas, he taught according to Pawo Tsuklag Threngwa’s commentary; and with Nyingmapas, he taught the great commentaries of Sherjung Lodro and Asanga. At such times, he never held to any sectarian philosophical views between the earlier and later traditions, nor did he say anything negative that would promote his view at the expense of another. He never praised his own philosophy or disparage another. »

[@seanpatrick4155]

Very concise and great lecture.

[@heemanwave]

could you please provide any references like pdf.

[@poonamgurung4138]

🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@MsCarringtonsYoutube]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Q_QQ_Q]

5:04 its not modern sanskrit , its buddhist hybrid sanskrit . modern sanskrit is classical sanskrit . both are entirely different .

[@craigvinet3883]

This is an amazingly secular look at Tibetan Buddhism! Humans organizing religion for their own personal and political benefit and purposes. Thank you for this!

[@lucilianogueira3072]

Really?? I’m watching the Vajra Yana explanation. It’s quite non secular I think

[@AverageBuddhist88]

Tibetan Buddhism isn't organized for anyone's personal or political purpose. It was revealed to benefit and eventually save all beings from samsara. People might have abused certain elements of it, but no one on earth "created" it. It was revealed.

[@kihondosa4]

Aren't Dali Lamas usurpers and one of the harshest rulers?

[@rishavsengupta1575]

He stutters a lot

[@notionSlave]

Introduction to more nonsense, thanks.

[@seed9835]

You don't have to watch it.

[@dorjeekessang5662]

Go watch some cartoons kid…

[@notionSlave]

@@dorjeekessang5662 Already am, Buddhism fairytales is a cartoon.

[@alexqian330]

It’s what all religions are, just learn to appreciate the culture.

[@bestguy6422]

Indeed you are notion slave 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@thomasgriffith2953]

Too bad the entire world doesn't follow the law of causality in Buddhism ... there would be a lot less lying, hate & VIOLENCE in this world! 👍😉

[@123contact4]

I was a Buddhist for 50 years and was always confused about what they truly believed. I asked different monks about God and where we come from and I got different answers from different monks. Some believed there is God and some do not. However, Buddha's teaching is good but you have to save yourself from sins. Only a true God can do that for you. Jesus is God in the flesh, who came down to earth, walked with men, teach us about the Heavenly Father that created us and the universe. Jesus was willing to die for us and rise on the 3rd day to prove who he is. It is finished! Jesus gives us a new start in life if we believe in him and repent for all our sins and sin no more. Christians call it the good news of the gospel. Just ask Jesus to come into your life and you want to have a relationship with him. And I guarantee you that Jesus will come and you will have an encounter with him. This is what happened to me. God Bless everyone!

[@hauthot287]

Oh no, a religion that doesn’t believe in one or any explicit god? Blasphemy!

[@oatmeal7563]

why cant christans respect other cultures and religions. you wouldn't like it if people were always telling you to convert to their religion

[@onlyyoucanstopevil9024]

I AM LOVE PEACE KHRIS..T..14N 4ND 15L4M DES...TR0Y EVERYTHING

[@davidmartin2957]

Putting it simply I do not believe one single word of your post from the 50 years to your apparent conversion.

[@Zenithguy]

Lol ummm no Christianity makes another claim being attached to the idea of Jesus and Buddhism disregards this fully (hence non-attachment) and monks who told you there was a supreme dictator mostly referenced to shentong (which is wholly different than their sunyata philosophy) and also, you don’t ask monks about beliefs in god, if you weren’t honest in the first place. Get out of here with that 😂