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Why is Zen Buddhism more prone to violence than Tibetan Buddhism?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Answer 1
Since Buddhism teaches non-violence to all sentient beings I can't even think of any violence that Zen or any other Buddhist tradition has perpetrated.
Answer 2
The issue lays with interpretation of the way in which a person should attain selflessness. In most Tibetan forms of Buddhism, the idea of transcending the self is a universal transcendence. A person is to become an element of all people and all people are to become the individual. In this way, a person has no individual facets that would spawn violence or disunity. People would be in natural harmony with one another as they would all be the same.
In Zen Buddhism, especially in Japan, the transcendence was localized. A person would shed his form of self to become one with the rest of his nation and to have the will of his leader pass through him. He was an element and portion of the people as a whole and was as necessary in defense as offense. As a result, he cannot manifest any opposition to the policies of the country because in so doing, he asserts self in opposition to the national interest. Killing those who threaten the natural trajectory of the nation becomes a part of a person's required attitude.
As to the claim in Answer 1, there are numerous violent actions that have been taken by believing Buddhists throughout history; they are just less publicized in the West than they are in Asia. Consider the Buddhist support of the Emperor of Japan in World War II for the reasons given in this answer. Consider the Tibetan alliance with the Zhungrar Confederacy, a Mongol Tribe that pillaged much of West China and the "Stans". Consider the current violence against the Burmese Muslims in Rohingya led by Buddhist monks. Consider that during the Sengoku Jidai Period in the Japanese history, nearly every major clan had Buddhist Warrior Monks and had Yamabushi Monks as lead commanding generals. Consider that the first to revolt against the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty in 1351 (Red Turban Revolt) were the Members of the White Lotus Society, a Buddhist movement.
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∙ 10y ago
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Where can one find more information on Tibetan Buddhism?
One may find more information in Tibetan Buddhism at Wikipedia. They have a great page that explains the origins, history and popular beliefs of Tibetan Buddhism.
Is there more than one type of Buddhism?
Yes. They include Tibetan, Theravada, and Mahayana, among others.
Mahayana Buddhism and Tibetian Buddhism are the same?
Tibetan, or Vajrayana, Buddhism is one of the four major schools of Mahayana Buddhism. The other three are Zen, Nichiren and Pure Land.The term Mahayana has two distinct usages. Firstly, it refers to one of the two branches of Buddhism, the other being the Theravada. Mahayana Buddhism in this sense includes Tibetan Buddhism. Secondly, within Tibetan Buddhism, Mahayana refers to the second of the three levels of teachings, the other two being Hinayana and Vajrayana.In some of the other schools of Mahayana Buddhism, the studying of sutras plays a crucial role in understanding reality. In Tibetan Buddhism, more emphasis is placed on studying the texts of the Prasangika-Madyamaka school (supposedly derived from Nagarjuna's teachings). Also some schools of Tibetan Buddhism constantly engage in philosophical debates on Buddhist principles to cultivate their wisdom. However, it must be noted that both the the Mahayana sutras and Prasangika-Madyamaka schools study the emptiness philosophy of Nagarjuna. So, in essence, they should be the same (differences only arising in the conceptual dimension).The most famous book in Tibetan Buddhism is the Tibetan Book of the Dead, which can be seen not only literally as dealing with the states after death, but also with the consciousness states.Another difference betwen Tibetan Buddhism and other Mahayana schools is that Tibetan Buddhists will often practice tantra, which they believe is higher than the highest practices of the other Mahayana schools.
Is the Dalai Lama the Head of Buddhism?
No. The Dalai Lama is the head of the Tibetan Government in Exile. He is not even the head of any of the 4 schools of Tibetan Buddhism (Sakya, Gelug, Nyingma, and Kagyu). In fact, the 14th Dalai Lama's political role in Buddhism has cause many problems within Buddhism. He has caused huge divisions in both the Kagyu and Gelug traditions. Search 'Dorje Shugden Controversy' and 'Karmapa Controversy' on Google or click on the related links below to learn more about problems in Tibetan Buddhism created by the 14th Dalai Lama.
How is Buddhism in Tibet unigue?
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).
Is the Dalai lama a Buddhist?
The Dalai Lama is the high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" school of Tibetan Buddhism. He is not the head of all Tibetan Buddhism as believed by many Westerners any more than the Roman Catholic pope represents or leads all Christians.
What religions are commonly practiced in Mongolia?
More than 90 percent of Mongolian citizens practice some form of Buddhism, mostly Tibetan Buddhism with traditional Shamanism. 5 percent of Mongolia are Muslim, and more than 4 percent of the population practices Christianity.
Why are some communties more prone to outbreaks of violence than others?
Because of less security of weaker police forces
Who runs the Buddhism church?
There are many leaders within the Buddhist traditions. There are three major branches of Buddhism: Mahayana, Therevada and Vajrayana. From these three major divisions there are many schools. The schools each have lineage holders, revered teachers and most monasteries or temples have abbots. For example, within Vajrayana lies Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism consists of several lineages, Nyigma, Gelug, Sakya, and Kagyu. The Ganden Tripa is the spiritual head of the Gelugpa and His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the temporal head (a position with more political power).
What is the proper adjective for Tibetan?
The adjective form of Buddhism is Buddhist, using the -ist ending. As an example, "Buddhist teachings began in ancient India and quickly spread across its Asian neighbors." Teachings are the noun, and Buddhist is the adjective in that sentence. More rarely, "Buddhistic" is used.The proper adjective for the noun Buddhism is Buddhist (for example, Buddhistphilosophy).The word Buddhist is also a proper noun, a word for a follower of Buddhism.
Do they children become violence if they are poor?
yes childrenfrom low income families are more prone to have a criminal behaviour,the more if they live in a single parent family.
Does alcohol lead to violence?
Alcohol leads to reduced inhibitions. If the individual is prone to violence, he or she is more likely to become violent.
