Why is Tibetan Buddhism different?

Answer 1

As with Christianity in Europe, interpretation and methods of doing things are affected by geography, and the culture within that geography. In Tibetan Buddhism, it is thought that you can not attain enlightenment unless you are guided by an enlightened master. You basically spend your days meditating and memorizing Buddhist scripture. In Zen Buddhism, called "Chan Buddhism" in China (get it? "Chan?" "Zen?" from an Asian language perspective the words are close), although the memorization of scripture, and "giving your life to Buddha" is considered the best way, it is not mandatory. Moreover, although there are Buddhas that are universal to all Buddhism, the two branches have additional Buddhas, that are different in each tradition. For example, I could be mistaken but I believe the Nio Kings, the guardians to the gates of heaven, Ungyo and Agyo, are uniquely Asian. Additionally, Bishamonten the god of warriors may in fact be uniquely Japanese, I don't think he appears in Chinese Buddhism. Another crucial difference, is the idea that in Zen Buddhism, anyone can become a Buddha on rigorous meditation alone, you don't need to be a priest. Its BETTER if you are a priest or a monk, but it is NOT mandatory, whereas in Tibetan Buddhism it is. In Tibetan Buddhism, which is heavily influenced by India, there are a lot of Hinduism influences.

In Hinduism there is the belief that life station, social class, is rooted in past actions. Now, while Tibetan Buddhism does not hold this view, it does hold the view that those fortunate enough to be born into priesthood, get to meditate all day, while those born into poverty, have to wait a few more lifetimes. Now this is crucial because, the Chinese government used this as an excuse to take over Tibet, see, in a manner of speaking the Tibetan Lama system, was akin to the Indian Caste System. While a bunch of monks spent the day meditating, everyone else spent the day working, feeding them, making clothes for them, the Lamas, were not at all self sufficient, and the Chinese government has stated repeatedly it was basically slavery. Of course, the "kindness of their heart" was hardly the motivation of the PRC to take over; Tibet was taken over for strategic reasons. Namely, to have a place from which they could strike Russia if it came to war with them, and cut off the rest of the west from China, should Europe choose an outright land invasion, Chinese troops would strike from the Himalayas.

If you do not believe a word of what I'm saying, you only need to read "The Tibetan Book of the Dead." The Penguin Classics, orange cover version. There are very strong Hindu influences in the text, namely the justification of having a sort of theocratic Caste System, where most of the populace works, while a minority of people spend their day meditating all day. I enjoy meditation as much as the next person who has taken it up but, forgive me for imposing Daoist views, but having servants of any sort, goes against the whole idea of "simplicity" and "humility." How in the heck are you supposed to attain enlightenment if you have people waiting on you all day? That is not Chinese Propaganda; prior to the PRC's arrival, most Tibetans were indeed basically slaves. Let me emphasize one more time though; selfless kindness was hardly the PRC army's motivation, it was all strategic positioning because, the atmosphere of the Cold War, made "Chairman Mao" paranoid. Paranoia, as much as a "vision" that he had.

Mao Zedong's "vision," was that future generations of Chinese, would develop technology, that would in time allow them to reclaim much of the Gobi and make it fertile, and in so doing, alleviate the population problem China has. At least, alleviate the overcrowding. Mao's vision, was to have a Gobi "desert," full of Chinese cities. If somehow artificial rivers could be carved out, their origins at the Himalayas, with Chinese manpower, it could be done. Problem is the Himalaya mountain range is extremely dangerous; in search of the famed "Shangrila" or "Shambalah" as it is called in Tibetan, countless adventurers froze to death. Bodhidarma, had to cross over the Himalayas to get to China. See though Bodhidarma was a Yogi, with a lifetime of training; he could handle it. Can a man survive treking over the Himalayas on foot? Once I was watching the discovery channel, about this British practitioner of Yoga, who could raise his body temperature and survive freezing temperatures. Whatever method he used, highly like Bodhidarma used something similar; according to the Shaolin temple tradition, Bodhidarma was a master of chi. He knew how to use it, to protect his body against extreme elements.

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Answer 2

As with Christianity in Europe, interpretation and methods of doing things are affected by geography, and the culture within that geography. In Tibetan Buddhism, it is thought that you can not attain enlightenment unless you are guided by an enlightened master. You basically spend your days meditating and memorizing Buddhist scripture. In Zen Buddhism, called "Chan Buddhism" in China (get it? "Chan?" "Zen?" from an Asian language perspective the words are close), although the memorization of scripture, and "giving your life to Buddha" is considered the best way, it is not mandatory. Moreover, although there are Buddhas that are universal to all Buddhism, the two branches have additional Buddhas, that are different in each tradition. For example, I could be mistaken but I believe the Nio Kings, the guardians to the gates of heaven, Ungyo and Agyo, are uniquely Asian. Additionally, Bishamonten the god of warriors may in fact be uniquely Japanese, I don't think he appears in Chinese Buddhism. Another crucial difference, is the idea that in Zen Buddhism, anyone can become a Buddha on rigorous meditation alone, you don't need to be a priest. Its BETTER if you are a priest or a monk, but it is NOT mandatory, whereas in Tibetan Buddhism it is. In Tibetan Buddhism, which is heavily influenced by India, there are a lot of Hinduism influences.

In Hinduism there is the belief that life station, social class, is rooted in past actions. Now, while Tibetan Buddhism does not hold this view, it does hold the view that those fortunate enough to be born into priesthood, get to meditate all day, while those born into poverty, have to wait a few more lifetimes. Now this is crucial because, the Chinese government used this as an excuse to take over Tibet, see, in a manner of speaking the Tibetan Lama system, was akin to the Indian Caste system. While a bunch of monks spent the day meditating, everyone else spent the day working, feeding them, making clothes for them, the Lamas, were not at all self sufficient, and the Chinese government has stated repeatedly it was basically slavery. Of course, the "kindness of their heart" was hardly the motivation of the PRC to take over; Tibet was taken over for strategic reasons. Namely, to have a place from which they could strike Russia if it came to war with them, and cut off the rest of the west from China, should Europe choose an outright land invasion, Chinese troops would strike from the Himalayas.

If you do not believe a word of what I'm saying, you only need to read "The Tibetan Book of the Dead." The Penguin Classics, orange cover version. There are very strong Hindu influences in the text, namely the justification of having a sort of theocratic caste system, where most of the populace works, while a minority of people spend their day meditating all day. I enjoy meditation as much as the next person who has taken it up but, forgive me for imposing Daoist views, but having servants of any sort, goes against the whole idea of "simplicity" and "humility." How in the heck are you supposed to attain enlightenment if you have people waiting on you all day? That is not Chinese propaganda; prior to the PRC's arrival, most Tibetans were indeed basically slaves. Let me emphasize one more time though; selfless kindness was hardly the PRC army's motivation, it was all strategic positioning because, the atmosphere of the Cold War, made "Chairman Mao" paranoid. Paranoia, as much as a "vision" that he had.

Mao Zedong's "vision," was that future generations of Chinese, would develop technology, that would in time allow them to reclaim much of the Gobi and make it fertile, and in so doing, alleviate the population problem China has. At least, alleviate the overcrowding. Mao's vision, was to have a Gobi "desert," full of Chinese cities. If somehow artificial rivers could be carved out, their origins at the Himalayas, with Chinese manpower, it could be done. Problem is the Himalaya mountain range is extremely dangerous; in search of the famed "Shangrila" or "Shambalah" as it is called in Tibetan, countless adventurers froze to death. Bodhidarma, had to cross over the Himalayas to get to China. See though Bodhidarma was a Yogi, with a lifetime of training; he could handle it. Can a man survive treking over the Himalayas on foot? Once I was watching the discovery channel, about this British practitioner of Yoga, who could raise his body temperature and survive freezing temperatures. Whatever method he used, highly like Bodhidarma used something similar; according to the Shaolin temple tradition, Bodhidarma was a master of chi. He knew how to use it, to protect his body against extreme elements.

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Answer 3

Tibetan Buddhisms has so many different forms that to group it with another form of Buddhism (Zen) and then to compare with all other forms of Buddhism seems like a tall order. Just to give an idea, there are five main schools of Tibetan Buddhism and they have differences compared to each other.

Answer 4

It is not so much the beliefs as the technique used to attain realization. Zen is often called the "Sudden Teaching". The Dalai Lama (not a Zen Buddhist himself) once made the following apt comparison between Zen and other schools of Buddhism:

In most schools of Buddhism, a guide takes you by the hand and carefully leads you up the mountain by safe paths. Zen goes right up the northern flank.

(paraphrased)

Answer 5

There are a range of factors that have influenced the development of Tibetan Buddhism not least the national culture, history, politics and the spirtual traditions that were overcome or integrated into Buddhism in Tibet. There are many schools of Buddhism each of which differs to the others in some respects, so for example Tibetan Buddhism would differ from Sri Lankan or Mongolian Buddhism in very different ways.

Answer 6

Zen places great emphasis on obtaining individual awareness through meditation, and less on teachings and writings.