Tibetan Buddhism
The original religion of Tibet was known as Bon. It was
animistic and its worship of the elements of nature is
remarkably similar to that of the Native American tribes of
North America. Indian Buddhism was introduced initially
by King Tsongsten Gampo in the 7th century, but it wasn't
until the arrival from India of the great Padmasambhava
200 years later that Buddhism started making inroads into
Tibetan culture.
At that time in India, the more widely practiced form
of Buddhism was known as Mahayana or "Great Path."
This sect of Buddhism revered the ideal of the bodhisattva,
a compassionate enlightened being that devotes their life
to dispelling the suffering of all beings to bring each of
them closer to enlightenment. Tibetan Buddhism has also
inherited India's rich pantheon of supernatural beings,
from divine incarnations of different qualities of the
Buddha to the fearsome wrathful protector deities.
After the 9th century, Buddhism began to flourish in Tibet,
fueled by frequent visits by scholars and sages from
neighboring India. By the time Muslim invasions from the
east had moved across northern India in the 14th century,
destroying monasteries and burning religious texts, Tibet
had absorbed much of the written tradition of Indian
Buddhism, and had translated vast numbers of texts from
Sanskrit to Tibetan. Today, Tibet has a rich storehouse
of ancient teachings, many of which have yet to be shared
with the outside world.
In the 16th century, the head of the most predominant
sect in Tibet, the Gelukpa, took official control of the
Tibetan state. The lineage of the Dalai Lamas had begun
and continues to this day. The current leader of Tibet
(who is currently living in exile in India), Tenzin Gyatso,
is the 14th incarnation of the Dalai Lama.
Today, there are 4 primary sects of Tibetan Buddhism
that have survived. The Gelukpa, Sakyapa, Kagyupa,
and Nyingmapa. Each has different methods of spiritual
practice, but all retain the intricate rituals, colorful
symbolism and insightful philosophy of the unique lineage
of Tibetan Buddhism.
Religion And Culture
Most Tibetans are deeply religious, and Buddhism is a
strong part of their culture. It is not uncommon in
the settlements to see scores of Tibetans making their
way around temples chanting mantras and swinging handheld
prayer wheels, or to see elaborate prostrations in front of
temples in reverence to representations of the Buddha.
Although in many settlements western culture seems to have
a strong influence on the Tibetan youth, the traditional
style of dress (for women, called the "chuba") is generally
the norm. Tibetan food is by far the most predominant
fare in Tibetan settlements, with indigenous dishes such
as dumplings (called "momos") or Tibetan soup (called
"thukpa"). Luckily, the unique styles of Tibetan song
and dance survive also, preserved by the personal efforts
of the Dalai Lama and performance groups such as TIPA
(Tibet Institute for Performing Arts). It's helpful for
a visitor to know some of the traditions of the culture
(particularly from the religion) to get a better idea of
the do's and dont's in social situations.
Do's and Dont's
-
Always show respect for religious objects. Try to avoid
pointing with your index finger at statues or religious
photos, as it is considered impolite. Most of the time,
you should leave your shoes at the entrance to a meditation
hall or temple.
-
When sitting, don't point your feet towards holy objects
or any people, as it is a sign of disrespect.
-
When walking around a temple (called "circumambulation")
or spinning a prayer wheel, try to remember to make the
movement in the clockwise direction. (It might be easiest
to simply follow suit with the locals).
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