Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism Is a

Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism Buddhism is a major world religion which has proliferated throughout the globe across its roughly 2500 years of existence. However, some argue that the tradition which is identified as Tibetan Buddhism is actually closest in practice to the original religion that emerged in the Indian subcontinent so many centuries ago. Known as Theravada, or the School of Elders, Tibetan Buddhism distinguishes itself from the forms practiced in other parts of the world by its highly ethical and humanitarian orientation.

Whereas the traditions of Zen Buddhism and other commonly practiced forms in contexts such as China and Japan focus substantially on self-guided medication a quest for the inner-self, the text by Fisher (2011) describes Tibetan Buddhism as far more outward-looking in nature. Tibetan Buddhism believes that the Buddha was Siddhartha Gautama, who was of Indian origin and conveyed his teachings in the late 500s BCE to the early 400s BCE.

Many of the practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism believe that the practices and ideals employed in this religious sect are most closely representative of his teachings. And because of the more social and community-driven applications of Tibetan Buddhism, as opposed to Zen Buddhism, these teachings are interpreted with a greater religious conservatism than is seen in its counterpart denominations. Over the last century, Tibetan Buddhism has also come to play a pivotal role in the political identity of modern Tibet.

Due to the occupation of communist China beginning in the mid-1950s and escalating during the Cold War, the Tibetan monks who formerly provided authority and governance for Tibet gradually became the central leadership of Tibetan resistance. This points especially to the role played by the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists in exile in India and other parts of the world.

In addition to functioning as a vocal and visible spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama has positioned himself as a powerful political advocate for the cause of Tibetan self-determination as well as serving as an intellectual voice for the overall improvement of global human rights. Today, the Dalai Lama works tirelessly to bring attention to the Tibetan cause, to illuminate human rights abuses by China and to move forward in creating an autonomous, if not independent Tibet.

The quest for Tibetan independence and, subsequently, the quest for Tibetan autonomy, have both been informed by this distinct orientation of the Buddhism. The Tibetan mode of Buddhism has historically been a channel for political resistance and the vocalization of protest against injustice. As the text by Fisher indicates, Buddhists have "often been non-violent social activists, protesting and trying to correct injustice, oppression, famine, cruelty to animals, nuclear testing warfare, and environmental devastation. E.F.

Schumacher preached what he called 'Buddhist economics,' to restore willingness to live simply, generously, and humanely with each other." (p. 161) These are the very principles which underlie the global endeavors of the 14th Dalai Lama and which have garnered support from.