Peoples of south Asia, Clarence Matoney

Theravada Buddhism lesser Vehicle

The historical myth of Theravada Buddhism is the life and teachings of Gautama,
called Buddha because he became enlightened
*the 4 noble truths are the essence of Buddhas enlightenment
1.
2.
3.
4.

All life is sorrowful

Sorrow is due to having desires
Sorrow can only be overcome by conquering desire
The means to conquer desire are moral conduct, discipline and meditation

Mahayana Buddhism great vehicle

Became a widespread precisely because it is assimilative and flexible. Some of
them were at the point of nirvana but refrained from passing the threshold in order
to help other living beings. It is called Bodhisattvas
Bhutanese monks can be recognized by their dingy red robes andred caps, they
practice tantric ritualism along with Mahayana Buddhism
*****
Gross national happiness and development
Nyingmapa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism is: right view, right meditation, right
action. Without right view of the nature of reality, one runs the risk of doing things
that are contrary to the nature of reality leaning to poor performance for others.
Right view of reality means that the right meditation or motivation will follow almost
automatically
Buddha said in the summary of his teachings that Do not commit any
unwholesome actions, cultivate a wealth of virtues, train your mind, again and
again and again..this is the truth of Buddha.
The gross international happiness which is important for the entire world and that is
developed in the Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan.

*****
Buddhism for the future
Buddha did not advise his disciples to go and convert people who would otherwise
go to hell. Rather, he advised them to show the world what is right and what is

wrong and to be good, to encourage men to come and see for themselves the truth
that he taught,
When we are happy and contented we are in heaven, when we suffer physically or
mentally we are in hell. Theres no need to wait to die in experience either of
these states
10 Paramis
1. Dana- generosity
2. Sila- precept
3. Nekkhamma- renunciation
4. Panna- wisdom
5. Viriya- energy
6. Khanti- patience
7. Sacca- truthfulness
8. Adhittana- determination
9. Metta- loving kindness
10.Upekkha- equanimity
3 aspects to understand Buddhism
1. Intellectual aspect
2. Spiritual aspect
3. Practical aspect
*****
Buddhism in the modern world
Buddhism in the Himalayan Lands (Nepal, Sikkin, Bhutan, Ladakh) belongs to the
Mahayana Family
The Buddhist communities there are to a degree permeated by a syncretistic legacy
of teachings and forms of worship from Hinduism, but as a whole they resemble
Tibetan Buddhism and are subjects to the challenges of our century. Thus, it is that
the Buddhism of these countries, in its own way, is undergoing, even if slowly, as far
reaching and transformation today, as the Buddhism of theother Asian lands.
*****
Introducing buddhism
Buddhism was introduced to Tibet from India during the reign of Songsten Gampo
(616-650 CE) and from Tibet it spread in the other Himalayan countries. Thats the
reason how Bhutan became a Buddhist country.
*****
Buddhism: a way of life and thought

Mahayana emphasizes the Buddha-nature of humanity, it inclines more towards

tapping an intuitive wisdom to achieve the realization that one already possesses
the Buddha-nature
*****
Religions of the world
Religion derived from the latin word religio which means to the fear or awe one
feels in the presence of a spirit or a god.
The theology of Tibetan buddhism is much like that found throughout the Mahayana
world.
*****
Magazine
Buddhism is central to Bhutans identity. We believe that Bhutan without Buddhism
would not be Bhutan said Lyonpo Ugyen Tsheting, a former secretary of labour and
human resources. Bhutanese Buddhism flourished for centuries in relative isolation.
But in the modern world it has already produced some undesirable changes acts
which is not a healthy thing. Bhutan stands for peace, tolerance and non-violence
*****
John berthold
Often called the crown jewel of the Himalayas, the Kingdom of Bhutan is the last
independent country in the region to support Buddhism as the official state religion.
Numerous theories about the origin of the name Bhutan abound. One suggestion is that it
comes from the Sanskrit word Bhotant, which means the end of Tibet. Old British maps
named the country Bootan from the Sanskrit word Bhotia, which means Tibetan people.
Regardless of the Western name for their country, the Bhutanese know their home as
Drukyul, Land of the Thunder Dragon. In turn, they refer to themselves as Drukpas. The
names derive from a monastery in Tibet called Druk, which was founded in 1189 on a hill
where a legendary dragon appeared. The Bhutanese continue to identify themselves with
the dragon symbol; it is proudly featured on the national flag and on various denominations
of currency.
The official state religion of Bhutan, Drukpa Kagyu Buddhism, traces its heritage back to
the northern Indian town of Bodhgaya, where Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha
around 500 b.c. After discovering a middle path between asceticism and sensory
gratification, Siddhartha overcame numerous inner obstacles to achieve Buddhahood, or full
enlightenment. The king, as a Buddhist, should serve as an example of, and not as an

exception to, this rule. While it is certainly essential to demonstrate Buddhisms role
in the spiritual heritage of the country and to express Bhutans commitment to
Buddhist values, the primarily Nepalese Hindu minority in the country must also be
considered a part of the spiritual heritage of the country.
*****
Encyclopedia of global religion

Tantric buddhism took root in Bhutan in the 8 th century, superseding the indigenous
Bon religion which nevertheless subsists today in local practices. Ngawang
Namgyel, a leader of the drukpa Kagyupa (the thunder dragon) sect of Tibetan
buddhism, unified the territory of Bhutan in the 17 th century. Religion has played a
profound role in shaping Bhutans responses to the challenges and opportunities
that modernization has presented
****
THE BLESSINGS OF BHUTAN
Bhutan, Tibet, and other nearby regions are generally thought od as Buddhist
cultures. This is correct, but seriously oversimplified. In fact, this part of the world
had a vibrant religion in place before Buddhism arrived. The old religion is popularly
referred to as Bon ot the religion with no name. this old religion is still very
important in Bhutan and fascinating in its own right.
Buddhism in Bhutan is technically a branch of Tibetan buddhism. We sometimes use
that term in this book to include the buddhism practiced in both Tibetan and
Bhutan. We more frequently used the term tantric Buddhism which can be
regarded as a synonym. (yet another synonym is vajrayana which is frequently
heard in butan, but is used rarely in the west.)