Buddhism
Our centre promotes the precious Teachings of the Buddha for peace, harmony and wellbeing.
Brief Overview
Tibetan Buddhism
It is believed in traditional Tibetan history that the spread of Buddhism to Tibet was brought about by holy activities of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
The spread of Buddhism to Tibet was prophesied by Lord Buddha himself in the Manjusrimulatantra.
Prior to the spread of Buddhism to Tibet, Tibet’s indigenous religion and culture was Bon. Buddhism began to spread to Tibet in two disseminations beginning with the period of the Three Great Religious Kings.
The First Religious King
Srong-btsan-sgam-po of the Yar Lung dynasty,
33rd in the royal linage (ca. 618-650)
This king was the emanation of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and he opened the door and established both the Buddhist religion and the political order.
He built the great Potala palace and two temples in Lhasa. Under his reign, a legal system combining religious and secular principles was established. The king himself also gave moral teachings of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.
The Second Religious King
Khri-srong-Ide’u-btsan, 37th in the royal line,
an emanation of the Bodhisattva Manjushri (ca. 740-798)
In this period, Buddhism flourished immensely with the coming together of the Abbot- Santaraksita and the Preceptor- Padmasambava who was invited to Tibet by the King.
From here, the translations of Buddha’s teachings were carried out, the assemblies of monks were established and the first monastery in Tibet, the Temple of Samye was built. The two systems of laws- the religious law and the laws of the kingdom, were further spread and strengthened.
Third Religious King
Srong-btsan-sgam-po of the Yar Lung dynasty,
33rd in the royal linage (ca. 618-650)
This king was the emanation of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and he opened the door and established both the Buddhist religion and the political order.
He built the great Potala palace and two temples in Lhasa. Under his reign, a legal system combining religious and secular principles was established. The king himself also gave moral teachings of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.
The Four Schools of Tibetan Buddhism
arisen in the first & second disseminations of Buddhism to Tibet.
The Nyingma Tradition is the oldest school of Tibetan Buddhism, which was founded during the first disseminations of Buddhism to Tibet in 8th century.
The remaining three schools were founded in the second dissemination.
The Kagyu Tradition was founded by Marpa, Milarepa and Gampopa. This tradition stemmed from the teachings of great Indian Mahasiddhas such as Naropa and Tilopa.
The Gelugpa Tradition was founded by the 14th century philosopher Lama Tsong Khapa and during 17th century which became the dominant political force in central Tibet.
The Sakya School was founded by Khon Konchok Gyalpo in 1073 where he established the Sakya monastery in south central of Tibet. This tradition stemmed from the teachings of great Indian Mahasiddha Virupa. Within the Sakya School, there is the principal branch of Sakya and the three main sub-sects of Ngorpa, Dzongpa and Tsarpa.
The Five Patriarchs of The Sakya Tradition
What Is Buddhism?
origin in ancient India in 6th century BC
The famous Indian prince Siddhartha renounced his royal life as a prince and chose to live the life of a wandering mendicant.
At age 29, Prince Siddhartha left his royal life and went forth to find the answers as to why we are born, age, get sick and die.
He studied meditation under 2 great masters but still the answers eluded him. He then spent 6 years meditating and fasting under extreme conditions.
Ultimately though, he broke his fast and meditation, thinking there might be another way to find the truth. This culminated in his attainment of enlightenment under the sacred Bodhi tree.
One who attains enlightenment is called Buddha, which means, ’awakened one’.
There is still a sacred Bodhi Tree in the exact location where he attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya in Bihar India. It is one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites that Buddhist pilgrims visit.
After Buddha’s enlightenment he taught his wisdom through simple discourse, parables and stories. There are over 80,000 discourses that the Buddha gave in his lifetime.
Through self-discipline, meditation and cultivating insight/wisdom, the path the Buddha promoted was one that uprooted the three root causes of all suffering, ignorance, desire/craving and hatred.
The Buddha’s teaching was known as the Dharma, his disciples were known as the sangha.
The sangha consisted of ordained monks and nuns as well as both lay men and women. These three things, Buddha, Dharma and Sangha are known as the three Jewels and are considered more precious than any wish fulfilling jewel.