Tibetan Buddhism Qs the Great

Tibetan Buddhism Qs

The Great Perfection can be seen as the result of a process of ritual meditation similar and even analogous to that suggested by the Anuttara/Mahayoga concepts of attaining enlightenment. This connection is made possible largely due to the unique nature of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, which is traced directly to the Indian Buddhist master Padmasambhava. The direct connection to India not only explains some of the essential similarities between the Nyingma school and Indian schools of Buddhism, but also makes Nyingma the oldest and most definitive form of Tibetan Buddhism. The rhetorical negation of Dzongchen allowed for the deconstruction of hierarchies and deities that were a part of the Mahayoga traiditon of Buddhism that first arrived in Tibet, and this deconstruction served to facilitate the assimilation of Buddhism in Tibet.

Lecture 11:

Much of Atisha's efforts at reforming Buddhism in Tibet centered on educating the masses and spreading the Dharma beyond the boundaries of the monasteries and libraries that were home to the Tibetan Buddhist scholars. He attempted to make Buddhism practical and a part of daily life rather than something wholly esoteric and removed from the day-to-day activities and behaviors of the Tibetan people, and his teachings were eagerly accepted. In some ways, the conflicts that had emerged amongst the Eastern Vinaya monks, who had originally created conflict with other competing forms of Buddhism, paved the way for Atisha's arrival by making it -- and his reforms -- more obviously necessary. The disorder brought to Tibetan Buddhism by these monks demanded greater attention.

Lecture 12:

The Kadampas monks were instrumental in spreading Tibetan Buddhism not so much for developing their own strain and teachings of Buddhism, but rather through the creation of programs for advancement towards Enlightenment and progress through Tibetan Buddhist teachings. These monks also develops preaching techniques that proved highly effective and popular. The Gelupkas were similar to the Kadampas in many respects, but placed a greater emphasis on the doctrine of emptiness than the older school.

Lecture 13: