Tibetan Buddhism Flashcards
What are the four main practices we are taught about in Tibetan Buddhism?
The four main practices in Tibetan Buddhism are:
- Tantra
- Mudra
- Mantra
- Mandala
What is a tantra within Tibetan Buddhism?
In Tibetan Buddhism, Tantras are a loosely defined word used to describe esoteric practices handed down from teacher to student. Tantric traditions are believed to be vehicles towards enlightenment that can bring practitioners towards nirvana much quicker than would otherwise be possible, perhaps even within a single lifetime.
Name a tantric practice used by Tibetan Buddhists.
One example of a tantric practice in Tibetan Buddhism is that of visualisation and later actualisation. In it, students are assigned a yidam (a bodhisattva or holy being) that acts as a guide and a protector for the student. They are then encouraged to focus on and visualise this yidam, along with a host of other divine beings and bodhisattvas. Eventually, they can then imagine these beings being absorbed and actualised within themselves, empowering them with the qualities of the yidam in order to bring compassion to all sentient beings. `
What is a Mudra? How are they used in Tibetan Buddhism?
Mudras are hand symbols used to represent different concepts, such as enlightenment, the four traditional elements or a yidam. The practice is not exclusive to Tibetan Buddhism, however, they are often used in conjunction with other Tibetan practices such as visualisation and mantras in order to increase their efficacy. Mudras are sometimes performed with the traditional Tibetan objects of the vajra, an ancient weapon, and the tribu, a kind of bell.
What is a mantra?
Put simply, a mantra is a sacred sound or set of sounds used as a means of purifying and focusing the mind, or expressing gratitude to a bodhisattva or the Buddha. It is in the syllables themselves, rather than the Buddhist’s knowledge of what they mean, that a mantra has value, although some monks do try to explain what a mantra means.
What is the most famous mantra in Vajrayana called? How has it been interpreted?
The most popular mantra used in Vajrayana Buddhism is the Mani mantra, ‘om mani padme hum’ or ‘homage to the one holding the jewel and the lotus.’ The mantra is associated with the bodhisattva Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara to most other Buddhists), and can be used to seek his compassion, empowerment and blessings; it also generally help the practitioner in heading towards enlightenment.
The six syllables of the mantra are sometimes said to represent the six realms of rebirth, with the mantra expressing the blessings of compassion given to each.
What are Mandalas? How are they used?
Mandalas are generally two-dimensional representations of images such as the Tibetan universe or Mount Meru . Such a Mandala would also contain the five main Buddhas and their protectors; they are rife with symbolism. One depicts the outer universe, a five storied building which the Buddhas and bodhisattvas reside in. The five stories represent five different aspects of the universe, such as the body, mind and wisdom.
Mandalas of this kind are used for practitioners to visualise what the image represents, and actualise themselves as one of the beings it conveys. Again, it is used to transform the mind from the mundane to the supramundane.
What are some types of mandalas?
Kalachakra mandalas are painstakingly made of individual grains of coloured sand. In spite of their intricacy, they are swept up and sometimes spread into a river to spread its blessings to the world, representing its impermanence.
Offering plates filled with rice and sometimes adorned with replicas of a heavenly palace can also be considered a type of mandala, an offering to a yidam, lama, Buddha or bodhisattva.
Sometimes the practitioner’s own body is viewed as a mandala or in a mandala, with each component part being represented as a yidam.
What are the three main types of Bön?
Old Bön- believed to be a shamanistic faith indigenous to Tibet, it relies upon currying the favour of spirits and gods and controlling evil spirits.
Yungdrung Bön- Founded by Shenrab Miwoche, Yungrung Bön carries some similarities with Buddhism, but predates it by several thousand years.
New Bön- a religion similar to Tibetan Buddhism due to it absorbing influences from it.
When was the first monastery established in Tibet?
The first Buddhist monastery in Tibet was established in the 8th century, and is accredited to the Indian teacher Padmasambhava.
