Buddhism is recognized as a modern religion, though it appears more a philosophy than a religion in its tenets. Most forms of Buddhism do not focus on deities or the supernatural, but rather on man’s path to enlightenment. But a major exception to this is Tibetan Buddhism, in which deities, both benevolent and malevolent play a major role.
This article will explain where Tibetan Buddhism fits within the broader framework of Buddhism.
Key Principles of Buddhism
The underlying principle of Buddhism is that the meaning of life is to seek enlightenment. This doesn’t happen in a single lifetime but over multiple lifetimes. Your progress towards enlightenment is measured at the end of your life and decides the state of your rebirth. This is called Karma and reflects the fundamental principle that your life is the result of your own actions.
The first human to discover enlightenment was the Buddha, and he chose to reincarnate in the mortal realm rather than move on so that he could teach others how to reach enlightenment. Fundamental to his teaching is letting go of attachment and just existing. This is achieved through meditation, ethical precepts, and non-harming.
These fundamental teachings evolved over time into a number of different schools of Buddhism.
Schools of Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy that thrives in several different forms across the Asian world and beyond. While there is a lot of variation within Buddhism, it can be divided into three main branches or schools, all of which draw on the fundamental teachings of the Buddha.
Theravada
Theravada (Way of the Elders), also known as Hinayana (Lesser Vehicle), is most common in Thailand, Burma, and Sri Lanka. It claims to remain closest to the original teachings of the Buddha.
It focuses on the individual personal pursuit of salvation and Nirvana. The pinnacle of Theravada are Arhats, human beings who are spiritual masters who have achieved enlightenment through their own efforts.
Mahayana
Mahayana (Greater Vehicle) Buddhism developed in northern India. When Buddhism was driven out of India following the Moghul invasions, between the 12th and 14th centuries, Mahayana became popular in the Himalayan countries of Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, and Sikkim. It is also practiced in China, Japan, and Korea. It is often called Tibetan Buddhism, but its practice is much broader.
Mahayana focuses on the Bodhisattva, a semi-supernatural being who, upon reaching the threshold of enlightenment chooses to remain on earth through Samsara (the endless cycle of life, death, and rebirth) to help others achieve enlightenment. This is considered a profound self-sacrifice. Bodhisattvas are objects of devotion and cult in Mahayana.
Vajrayana
Vajrayana, or Tantrayana, derives from Mahayana. It is closely associated with Tibet and is rarely found in other parts of Asia. It is a mystical and esoteric school and integrates elements of the cult of Shiva, the god of Yogis, that was brought to Tibet a millennia ago. Some Buddhists believe that it is so far removed from traditional Buddhism that it should be classified separately as Lamaism.
One key element of Vajrayana is Tantrism, which is more or less an alternative route to enlightenment. Through special rites of initiation, incantation, and magic, it can offer a “shortcut” to enlightenment, potentially within the scope of a single lifetime. This is separate from the work of the Bodhisattvas, which takes many lifetimes.
Tantrism derives from the Tantras, Indian texts associated with ritual yoga. This is yoga as a philosophy rather than the mostly physical practice that has become popular around the world. Underlying the philosophy is the principle that the separation of the spirit and matter is an illusion. Practitioners of Vajrayana claim that it is necessary to cut through the delusions and misconceptions of the world of duality (separate physical and spiritual plains) so that we can perceive fundamental reality. Along with this comes the idea that nothing is fundamentally good or evil, it is all just part of existence.
Only by transcending this illusion can a practitioner achieve mystical union with the divine. It is this union that provides perfect serenity and untroubled consciousness. Meditation is considered the most important method for reaching this state, and mandalas are an important meditation tool.
The Supernatural in Tibetan Buddhism
In Tibet, the practice of Buddhism includes mystical incantations, magical formulas, exorcism, the destruction of demons, divination, auguries, oracles, and symbolic sacrifice. These practices are often described as Shamanism. It is also believed that many of these elements were incorporated into Tibetan Buddhism from ancient local religions.
While other forms of Buddhism often feel like a philosophy than a religion, Tibetan Buddhism engages with the supernatural. In particular, it has a vast pantheon of gods and demons. It incorporates both local Tibetan deities and Hindu deities. In one important text, the Bodhisattva warrior Vajrapani defeated the Hindu gods and converted them to Buddhism. Similarly, another text claims that a Tibetan king summoned Padmasambhava, an Indian mystic to battle Tibetan gods and convert them to Buddhism, and the deities became champions of Buddhism. The native Tibetan religion was called Bon. This is why Tibetan shamans are called Bonpos.
There is no denying that life on the Tibetan plateau has always been difficult. The terrain is rugged, the wilderness dangerous, and like everyone, people sought explanations for unseen ailments such as disease.
Ordinary Tibetans believed themselves to be continually at the mercy of supernatural powers, surrounded by multitudes of spirits, both beneficent and malicious, that needed to be appeased or destroyed. The old folk religion offered rituals, techniques with which to safeguard the home, purify the village, protect the crops and animals, cure the sick, and see the souls of the dead into safety.
Buddhism incorporated both the omnipresence of spirits, and the ability for men to deal with these spirits through ritual action and magic. The tantric rituals in Vajrayana bridge the gap between the ancient folk religion and Buddhism.
Meets the gods and demons of Tibetan Buddhism here.
Shamans in Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan shamans are intermediaries between the supernatural and the mundane. They have the special ability to see what gods or demons might be affecting a person. In the case of demons, they can suggest rituals to remove the influence of the spirit, or even perform exorcism.
Spirit possession is a common practice in Tibetan shamanism, and the trance state is induced through drumming and chanting. The consciousness, known as the Namshe, can then leave through the top of the head and make its way into other worlds. It is believed either that the shaman searches other worlds for the cause of the problem, or that when the shaman’s Namshe leaves, other spirits can enter the body and speak through it. In this way, the shaman can diagnose the problem by identifying offended spirit that needs to be appeased or exorcised.
The shamans who engage in this are usually “laymen” but also exist in monasteries. For example, there was a State Oracle at the Nechung Monastery, but now functions in exile with the Dalai Lama.
Mantras are an important part of shamanism because sound is energy and therefore has creative power.
The Lamas
Because Tibetan Buddhism is so different from other forms of Buddhism, it is sometimes called Lamaism. This is a reference to the Lamas that play an important role in the Tibetan practice.
Lama means “superior one” and is the title given to individuals who have reached enlightenment but chosen to reincarnate on earth to teach others the path. While all monks are sometimes called Lamas, there are three principal Lamas.
The Dalai Lama is considered Tibet’s spiritual leader and he is considered the Bodhisattva of Compassion. He is believed to be the reincarnation of Avalokitesvara, who promised the Buddha to guide and defend the Tibetan people.
He has been reborn many times since at least the 16th century, and it is believed that when the Dalai Lama dies, his soul enters the body of a young boy. He is then discovered again through a series of physical and mental tests. The current Dalai Lama is the 14th, identified as a 5-year-old in 1940. He was forced to flee Chinese-ruled Tibet in 1959 and now leads from exile.
The Panchen Lama is the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. The last confirmed Panchen Lama was imprisoned by Chinese authorities in 1964 and died in 1989. Six years later the Dalai Lama recognized his successor, but the Chinese government recognized an alternative successor. The original candidate has been missing since 1995 and is assumed to be in Chinese custody.
The Karmapa Lama is associated with anger. The previous Karmapa Lama is accepted by both China and the Dalai Lama but also lives in exile in India. A new Karmapa Lama was named in December 2023.
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