Difference between Mahayana Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism?

Answer 1

Buddhism encompasses several sects that hold a wide range of beliefs, with core Buddhist concepts. The Tibetan branch of Buddhism contains animistic and shamanistic elements. Tibetan Buddhists believe that when the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama die, they are re-incarnated in this world, for them to follow again. So, the present Dalai Lama is the re-incarnation of his predecessor.

Answer 2

Here we have to note that the very term "Mahayana" is used in two meanings: the broad one and the narrow one. (A) According to the first, or broad sense, Mahayana is the path of spiritual training, that is taken by one who aspires to become a Buddha to liberate all sentient beings from all sufferings. This aspiration is called Bodhichitta, and one who has that is called Bodhisattva. From this perspective Tibetan Buddhism is Mahayana Buddhism, because all the practices of Tibetan Buddhism are practiced with this aspiration and for this purpose (may be few initial ones could be an exclusion). (B) The other, more narrow meaning of Mahayana Path is for distinguishing it from Vajrayana Path. Here we have two ways to distinguish: from the viewpoint of practice and from the historical viewpoint. (1) Historically, Vajrayana, or the Path of Expedient Means (which later became known as Tibetan Buddhism), became well-known and widely practiced in India when Buddhism was already adopted in China in its more early form of Mahayana (without Tantric, or Vajrayana practices); while Tibet had adopted Buddhism much later, in the time when Vajrayana was most prominent in India. Because of that "Mahayana" often used as a term for Chinese (Korean, Japanese etc.) Buddhism, while "Vajrayana" - for Tibetan (Mongolian, Bhutanese etc.) Buddhism. (2) Practically, Vajrayana (or Buddhist Tantra) presents the additional 4 or 6 categories of practices (called Outer and Inner Tantras), along with common Mahayana practices, that allow to achieve accomplishments on the Path much faster. /tsendzin

Answer 3

Broadly Buddhism has three shcool of thoughts; Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana (Tantric). Theravada is about perfecting yourselves to enlightenment. Mahayana is about perfecting yourselves as well as others to attain enlightenment. Tantric is more than perfecting oneself but also to be the enbodiment of the specific deity which governs your practice.

Just to add to this, Mahayana contains Tantra as part of it's path to enlightenment. It is known as the Quick Path and involves visualising oneself as the Buddha one will become in the future.