13 July 2016
Starting to get a bit better handle on the four types of Tibetan Buddhism. Repetition has helps: the John Powers’ book, Michael’s lecture, then two lectures by Tsering at the two monasteries—Palyul Nyingma Gompa [Tsering’s home monastery in Bir] and Sherab Ling. Nyingma is the oldest branch. Yet, after reading about these various branches, their origins are just as sketchy as the Book of Mormon. I think Kagyu is the one that says certain teachings could not be found until the time was right, or the appropriate teacher appeared. Going to get the book. So Powers says differences have been emphasized but the four have more in common than not. Tsering said Kagyu had adopted 50 or 60% of Nyingma teachings and practice. It appears that tantra is the distinguishing feature of Tibetan Buddhism, which I understand as ritual practice. Interestingly, though, I have heard of Naropa (Naropa Institute) and Milarepa, but not really of the other masters in various lineages. There is a Sakya monastery on San Juan Island, though the rinpoche (a woman) lives in Vancouver and has a center there: http://sakyakachodcholing.org/. The brother of Tenzin Rinpoche (I think her name is) is the head honcho of Sakya branch. [Correction: Her Eminence Sakya Jetsun Chimey Luding Rinpoche, the highest and most thoroughly trained female Buddhist teacher in the West, was born into the Drolma Podrang, or Tara Palace of the Sakya Khon family in 1938, the year of the earth tiger.] Finally, I had not known that H.H. was of the Gelukpa Order. Thus the extent of my ignorance of Tibetan Buddhism tempered somewhat by our studies here. Odd fact: No discussion of the sexual imagery (or “sexual” imagery) in the Temple at Tsering’s monastery. I know the theory about this but silence spoke louder than words. Comments are closed.
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Author Rebecca Moore is Professor Emerita of Religious Studies at San Diego State University. She is currently Reviews Editor for Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions and Co-Director of The Jonestown Institute. Archives
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