What is Tibetan Buddhism?

Tibetan Buddhism is a variant of Buddhism, which began in the 8th century BCE in India. This is a branch of the original Buddhism, which began with Siddharta Gautama, and Indian prince who renounced all worldly pleasures, his cornw, his wife, and son, to go out into the world as a beggar and to learn the meaning of lie.

What he found was "the middle way": that life was not meant to be lived through extreme asceticism, nor extreme luxury. He also found that man is perfect, inherently. It is the world that makes men confused and out of touch with the natural great perfection within.

Tibetan Buddhism incorporated many methods for finding spiritual enlightmentment, including the Mahayana, the Hinayana, the Vajrayana (also know as Tantra), and Dzogchen. While each is different and unique, all are considered branches of Tibetan Buddhism, and part of Tibetan culture and religion.

Tibet is a sovereign country, sadwiched between China and Nepal. An independent kingdom for centuries, Tibet was invaded by China's Communist Leader Mao Ze Dong in 1949. China embarked on a terror campaign, killing and torturing tens of thousands of Buddhists monks and nuns, who had lived peaceful, non-violent spiritua lives in religious homes throughout Tibet. The international community, still weakened from World War II, did nothing to help stop the invasion.

The Dalai Lama is the spiritual and political leader of the Tibetans. He currently resides in Dharamsala, India, having fled Tibet. He has recently established a center in Vancouver, Canada, as a base of operations for his spiritual teachings.

Tibet Buddhism incorporates a variety of goddesses; Green and White Tara are among the best known. Gods and goddesses are not worshipped in Tibetan Buddhism in the same way that they are worshipped in Christianity, Hinduism, or Islam. Instead, the god or goddess represents a part of the person who is meditating with them in mind; by projecting one's feelings onto the god or goddess, the meditator can release emotions and get closer to one's natural great perfection.

Many Tibeta Buddhists choose to take a boddhisatva vow. This vow is a promise not to achieve enlightenment until all beings are fully awakened and illumined. It is the ultimate sacrifice and sign of selflessness to take the vow; a Buddhist promises to put him or herself last with a biddhisatva vow, for eternity. Tibetan Buddhists believe that with each life we are reborn and experience karma--simply cause and effect--and that how we act in our current life is a reflection of past lives, and dictates the circumstances of our future lives.

Pope Benedict, the leader of Roman Catholics worldwide, has stated that Buddism--not other branches of Christianity, or even Islam, is the greatest threat in terms of religion to the future of the Catholic Church. As shocking as this statement is, it is a testament to the spread of Tibetan religion worldwide. The popularity of the Tibetan variant of Buddha's teachings shows that the message--of love, compassion, faith, and perfection within--strikes a chord worldwide.

Tibetan Buddhism is gaining strength in the United States, and continueds to be a major force in the rise of Buddhism worldwide.As increasing numbers of monks and nuns emigrate to the United States, more teachers become available, and this deep font of knowledge will become a major force in America over the next decade.