Running head: BUDDHISM

Tibetan Buddhism
Emily Curran
University of Kentucky

Running head: BUDDHISM

ABSTRACT:
In my paper I will be talking about Buddhism and all of its aspects. Throughout the whole paper
I am going to be giving backround information on the religion. Including, traditions, festivals
and holidays. The focus of this paper is specifically on Tibetan Buddhism and how it is similar
and different. I am going to be comparing Buddhism to Christianity and other religion's. I will
discuss the stereotypes of Buddhists compared to the reality of how they are, and where we see
Buddhism today. Tibetan Buddhism is the most common seen around the world, and I was able
to Interveiw people who practice meditation here in Lexington, Kentucky. The Shambhala
Meditation Center is where i went and was able to first hand experience the Buddhist religion,
shown the ways of meditation by Tibetan instructors. This paper concludes with how it is very
similar to Christianity and how many people are unaware of the Buddhists all around them.

Running head: BUDDHISM

Buddhism now, is 2,500 years old, and has about 300 million followers worldwide. It is
the philosophy of awakening.(buddahnet). Buddah had left his family in northern India in
order to search for the key to happiness. He studied under great religious teachers, after 6 years
of learning and meditation he went on to travel and teach of what he learned. From then on he
was reffered to as the awakened one. (buddahnet). There are many types of buddhists, Zen,
Tibetan, Pure land ect. The reason for all the different types is because buddhism had evolved
into different forms, and was made to be relevant to certain cultures. It has been reinterpreted.
They may seem very different but at the center of all of them there is the, 4 noble truths and 8
fold path, which will be explained later.
According to Bob Crabtree (2014), Shambhala Meditation Center, Tibetan Buddhism is
one of the most commonly practiced. This form of buddhism all started when the religion was
forced from Tibet by the chinese communists, at one time 1 in 6 men of Tibet were buddhist
monks (BBC). The face of Tibet Buddhism is the Dalai Lama, who has been exiled in India from
fleeing China. Since then lamas also known as teachers complete a long course of study to
prepare them for their futures as buddhist teachers. They introduce teachings to students through
empowerments. Tibetan Buddhism innovated the idea of incarnate lamas, the belief that the
mind of a deceased lama can reappear in the new body of a child (sakya). Tibetan Buddhist
practice features a number of rituals, and spiritual practices (BBC). Different from most buddhist
ceremonies, tibetan ones are often noisey, with chanting, music, and instruments like the gong.
Tibetan buddhism is unique in its ways of symbols, leaders and practice. Tibetan buddhism
teaches, that we are all potential buddhas, and encourages to adopt the traits of being enlightened
through meditational practice. It is distinguished by its many ways of spiritual development.
Meditation being the most popular. I had the chance to go learn and experience meditation first

Running head: BUDDHISM

hand. The first step is to have the perfect posture. Starting with your legs crossed and your hands
resting on your thighs. A straight but relaxed back and shoulders, your chin is slightly down,
your lips slightly open and your eyes looking ahead but downwards slightly (Shambhala Center).
Clear your mind and just breathe, the slow focused breath is the most important part. Bob
Crabtree (2014, Shambhala Center) said that when you are learning, everytime you feel
thoughts coming in your head just think breath. Why meditation? Because it helps relax and
open your mind. Buddism is about being curious using practice and study. Another thing unique
to Tibetan Buddhism is Tantra, which is a mystical or ritual text. Tantra originated in India and
appears in both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions. It brings Tibetan Buddhism a magical element
and a rich portfolio of heavenly beings. It brings a wide variety of spiritual techniques, like yoga,
dance, ceremonies and mandalas; which is a symbol in a dream where the dreamer is searching
for completeness and self-unity. Tibetan Buddhism also involves many advanced rituals. These
are only possible for those who have reached a higher understanding of spiritual practice. There
are also advanced spiritual techniques. These include elaborate visualisations and demanding
meditations.
The 8 fold path was mentioned earlier. It is a buddhists guidelines to life, aspects of life.
The 8 fold path is, the right intent, right understanding, right speech, right action, right
livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. When things go right you
feel happy and satisfied, that is why the term right is used (buddha101). The right understanding
means you see the world how it is really is, not just how you want it to be. This is important I
think because knowing of reality really has no value unless you put it to use in your life. The
right intent is where you come committed to the path, urging you to decide from the heart,
recognizing compassion for life. It means persistence and passion for the journey. Right speech

Running head: BUDDHISM

is recognizing the truth, and the impact of words. By not speaking unkindly, it brings you closer
to compassionate life. Right action is to take the ethical approach in life, and be considerate of
others. Also the 5 precepts which were given by buddha, not to kill, steal, lie, avoid sexual
misconduct, and do not do drugs or other harmful substances. Right livelihood is to respect your
life, and not to harm it or others. Right effort is to have a positive atittude in a balanced way, not
having to much of an emotion, being steady. To accomplish you must leave behind anger and
focus on happiness. Right mindfulness means to be aware and focused in the moment. This Is
where meditation can come into play, to be clear and undistracted. In being aware of the moment
you are fully aware of your actions. Lastly right concentration is focusing the uncluttered mind
on an object, always important in the meditation process (buddha101). The other set of
guidelines are the 4 noble truths. The first truth is that life encorporates suffereing, the feeling
when you encounter pain, loss, sickness ect. The second noble truth says that suffering comes
from desire. By desiring for ourselves and not others we will always have suffering. The third
truth tells us by stopping desire you stop suffering. Changing our perception and reducing
attachment to desire. The last truth says the way to ending suffering, following the middle way
which is the 8 fold path (buddha101).
Going back to Tibet buddhism, they follow the truths and the path, but they also have a
few other things that have symbolic life meaning. Commonly seen painted on vases, sewn into
flags or used as decoration is the picture of the 8 auspicous symbols. The picture is whole, but
each part of it has a specific symbol. The parasol represents royalty and spiritual power. The
golden fish are fertility, good fortune and salvation. Treasure vase is material and spiritual
abundance. The lotus is mental and spiritual purity. The Conch shell is the fame of buddahs
teachings. The endless knot is the infinite wisdom of buddah. Finally the victory banner

Running head: BUDDHISM

represents the victory of buddahs teachings, and wisdom over ingnorance. Another is the wheel
of life, the perspective of life