How is Buddhism in Tibet unigue?

Answer 1

Tibetan Buddhism, is one of the four major schools of Mahayana Buddhism. It contains many elements that are not found in the other Mahayana schools.

Whereas all Mahayana Buddhism believes that the Buddha had a higher level of teachings called the Mahayana ("Greater Vehicle"), Tibetan Buddhism believes that he left a still higher body of teachings called the Vajrayana ("Indestructible Vehicle"). The Vajrayana is also known as the vehicle of transmutation of energies. It places an emphasis on devotion to one's teacher. High teachers in Tibetan Buddhism are regarded as being on a similar level to the Buddha, and thus anything they say or do is regarded as being consistent with the Buddha's teachings even if it might appear otherwise. Thus, Tibetan Buddhists have many beliefs and practices that some other Buddhists may believe contradict the teachings of the Buddha.

Vajrayana arose in India out of the union of Buddhism and Tantric Yoga. When it went to Tibet, it merged further with the existing Tibetan religion called Bon. Bon placed a heavy emphasis on allegedly magical practices, and Tibetan Buddhism absorbed these and adapted them.

Thus, Tibetan Buddhism contains many practices reminiscent of pre-Buddhist Hinduism, such as visualization of deities, fire worship, etc. Tibetan Buddhists believe that by practicing the Vajrayana, one can attain enlightenment much more rapidly than by practicing in the other schools.Tibetan Buddhism is unique because of teachings of bardos, the terma tradition and the tumo or inner heat (a yogic practice).