Resource: Tibetan New Year

Print Background Essay

Tibetan Buddhism, also known as Vajrayana Buddhism, emerged in India as an intersection of the two other main paths of Buddhism: Theravada and Mahayana. Theravada Buddhism, the most orthodox, focuses on upholding the Buddha's teachings, which were first transmitted orally and then written in Pali, an ancient Indian language. The main doctrines of the Pali canon are the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path . Central to Theravada Buddhism is the arhat, or worthy one, who has attained enlightenment through the teachings of Buddha, thus ending the cycle of rebirth and suffering.

Mahayana Buddhism is known as the "great vehicle." Mahayana proponents, believing the tradition of Theravada to be too limited, expanded orthodox Buddhist teachings by incorporating Hindu beliefs and practices. As Buddhism ventured further from the Indian subcontinent into northern and eastern Asia, elements from Confucianism, Taoism and other native traditions became absorbed into the Mahayana tradition. One of the main distinctions between Mahayana and Theravada are the ideals of the bodhisattva and arhat. While the arhat focuses on a path of personal enlightenment, the bodhisattva forgoes nirvana until all beings are enlightened.

Tibetan or Vajrayana Buddhism, known as the "diamond vehicle," migrated from northern India to Tibet and its surrounding areas where it fully developed and fused with Bon, a shamanic indigenous tradition. Its practitioners believe it to be a complete embodiment of Buddha's teachings that can lead to buddhahood in a single lifetime if actively practiced. Common in the Vajrayana tradition is the use of prayer aids that engage many of the senses, such as prayer flags, prayer wheels and mala beads.

Prayer flags, unique to Tibetan Buddhism, are used to spread blessings, increase luck and improve karma. They come in five colors to represent the elements, and have mantras and sutras printed on them. The mantras and sutras are activated and spread throughout the world when the flags are fluttered in the wind, Tibetan Buddhists believe.

Prayer wheels share some of the same concepts as prayer flags. They are shaped liked cylinders, and have mantras or sutras written on the outside of them. When the wheel is rotated by hand, the mantra is believed to vibrate throughout the world and spread to mankind. This gives the practitioners the same merit as orally reciting the mantras or sutras.

Mala beads aim to focus thought by bringing body and mind together. Practitioners repeat a mantra on each bead of a triple-strand thread of 108, 54 or 27 beads. The repetition of a mantra with the mala beads is believed to help release negative thoughts and center the mind and body on breathing and prayer, thus creating positive energy.

Print Questions for Discussion

• What happens when these traditions and cultures come to the United States?
• Why does Kalden Lodoe say he is concerned about the time when his son reaches his age and "the veil between culture and religion is thinner"? What does he mean by this statement?