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16th Karmapa
The 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje (; August 14, 1924 – November 5, 1981) is the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and the spiritual leader of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He is of the oldest line of reincarnate lamas in Vajrayana Buddhism, known as the Karmapas whose coming was predicted by the Buddha in the Samadhiraja Sutra. The 16th Karmapa was considered to be a "living Buddha" and was deeply involved in the transmission of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism to Europe and North America following the Chinese invasion of Tibet. He was known as the "King of the Yogis", and is the subject of numerous books and films. Biography Birth The 16th Karmapa was born in Denkhok in the Kingdom of Derge in Kham eastern Tibet near the Dri Chu River (Ch. Yangtze). The previous Karmapa Khakyab Dorje (1871-1922) left a letter setting forth the circumstances of his next incarnation. The 15th Karmapa's close attendant, Jampal Tsultrim, possessed the letter of prediction, which matched exactly ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kingdom Of Derge
The Kingdom of Derge (; ) was a large kingdom in Kham, whose estate was founded in the 13th century by the Gar Clan of Sonam Rinchen in present-day Pelyul County. The Gar Clan traces its lineage to minister Gar Tongtsen at Songsten Gampo's 7th century court, and the kingdom lasted until the 20th century. After the 1630s, the Derge Kingdom became a major center of Tibetan culture, printing, industry, Tibetan Buddhism, and politics, and the seat of its kingdom was in the town of Degé. The kings of Derge belonged to the 1300-year old Gar Clan lineage, At its height, the population of the kingdom consisted of 12–15,000 families. The northern border of the kingdom was defined by Tso Ngon Lake; on the east, the boundary terminated at those states that utilized the Horpa variation of the Rgyalrongic languages, Chantui and Litang; the southern and western boundaries were defined by Batang, Sanai, Gonjo and Draya; and Lhato and Chamdo, respectively. During the Qing dynasty, a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tai Situpa
Tai Situ (; from ) is one of the oldest lineages of tulkus (reincarnated lamas) in the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism In Tibetan Buddhism tradition, Kenting Tai Situ is considered as emanation of Bodhisattva Maitreya and Guru Padmasambhava ( Guru Rinpoche) and who has been incarnated numerous times as Indian and Tibetan yogis since the time of the Gautama Buddha, historical Buddha. History The Tai Situ is one of the highest-ranking reincarnate masters of the Karma Kagyu lineage. Chokyi Gyaltsen was the first to bear the title "Grand Situ (office), Situ" (), conferred upon him in 1407 by the Yongle Emperor of Ming dynasty, Ming China. He was a close disciple of the 5th Karmapa, Deshin Shekpa, who appointed him Khenpo of Karma Goen, the Karmapa's principal monastery at the time. The full title bestowed was ''Kenting Naya Tang Nyontse Geshetse Tai Situ'' which can be abbreviated to ''Kenting Tai Situ''. The full title means "far reaching, unshakable, great master, holder of the co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama (, ; ) is the head of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The term is part of the full title "Holiness Knowing Everything Vajradhara Dalai Lama" (圣 识一切 瓦齐尔达喇 达赖 喇嘛) given by Altan Khan, the first Shunyi King of Ming dynasty, Ming China. He offered it in appreciation to the Gelug school's then-leader, Sonam Gyatso, who received it in 1578 at Yanghua Monastery. At that time, Sonam Gyatso had just given teachings to the Khan, and so the title of Dalai Lama was also given to the entire tulku lineage. Sonam Gyatso became the 3rd Dalai Lama, while the first two tulkus in the lineage, the 1st Dalai Lama and the 2nd Dalai Lama, were posthumously awarded the title. Since the time of the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century, the Dalai Lama has been a symbol of unification of the state of Tibet. The Dalai Lama was an important figure of the Gelug tradition, which was dominant in Central Tibet, but his religious authority went beyond sectarian bo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tenzin Gyatso
The 14th Dalai Lama (born 6 July 1935; full spiritual name: Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, shortened as Tenzin Gyatso; ) is the incumbent Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader and head of Tibetan Buddhism. He served as the resident spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet before 1959 and subsequently led the Tibetan government in exile represented by the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala, India. A belief central to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as well as the institution of the Dalai Lama is that he is a living Bodhisattva, specifically an emanation of Avalokiteśvara (in Sanskrit) or Chenrezig (in Tibetan), the Bodhisattva of Compassion. The Mongolic word ''dalai'' means ''ocean.'' He is also known to Tibetans as Gyalwa Rinpoche ("The Precious Jewel-like Buddha-Master"), ''Kundun'' ("The Presence"), and ''Yizhin Norbu'' ("The Wish-Fulfilling Gem"). His devotees, as well as much of the Western world, often call him ''His Holiness the Dal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sakya Trizin
Sakya Trizin ( "Sakya Throne-Holder") is the traditional title of the head of the Sakya (Tibetan Buddhist school), Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism.''Holy Biographies of the Great Founders of the Glorious Sakya Order'', translated by Venerable Lama Kalsang Gyaltsen, Ani Kunga Chodron and Victoria Huckenpahler. Published by Sakya Phuntsok Ling Publications, Silver Spring MD. June 2000. The Sakya school was founded in 1073 CE, when Khön Könchog Gyalpo (; 1034–1102), a member of Tibet's noble Khön family, established a monastery in the region of Sa'gya County, Sakya, Tibet, which became the headquarters of the Sakya order.''The History of the Sakya Tradition'', by Chogay Trichen. Manchester Free Press, U.K. 1983. Since that time, its leadership has descended within the Khön family. The 41st Sakya Trizin, whose reign spanned more than fifty years, was the longest reigning Sakya Trizin. The current Sakya Trizin is Gyana Vajra Rinpoche, officially known as Kyabgon Gongma Trizi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thubten Gyatso, 13th Dalai Lama
The 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso (full given name: Ngawang Lobsang Thupten Gyatso Jigdral Chokley Namgyal; abbreviated to Thubten Gyatso) (; 12 February 1876 – 17 December 1933) was the 13th Dalai Lama of Tibet, enthroned during a turbulent modern era. He presided during the collapse of the Qing dynasty, and is referred to as "the Great Thirteenth", responsible for redeclaring Tibet's national independence, and for his national reform and modernization initiatives. In 1878, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. He was escorted to Lhasa and given his pre-novice vows by the Panchen Lama, Tenpai Wangchuk, and given the name "Ngawang Lobsang Thupten Gyatso Jigdral Chokley Namgyal". In 1879, he was enthroned at the Potala Palace, but did not assume political power until 1895, after he had reached his maturity. Thubten Gyatso was an intellectual reformer and skillful politician. He was responsible for rebuilding Tibet's geopolitical position after the Briti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Black Crown
The Black Crown () is an important symbol of the Karmapa, the Lama who heads the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. The crown signifies his power to benefit all sentient beings. Similar crowns in red are worn by the Shamarpa and the Tai Situpa, while Goshir Gyaltsab wears an orange crown. These crowns were bestowed by the Karmapa. Legend tells that in a previous eon, in a former life as an accomplished yogi, the Karmapa attained the eighth level or '' bhumi'' of the bodhisattvas. At this time, 100,000 dakinis (female buddhas) manifested their hair as a crown, and offered it to the Karmapa as a symbol of his accomplishment. Dusum Khyenpa, the 1st Karmapa, was regarded as an emanation of that yogi and his appearance was predicted by the historical Buddha Shakyamuni in the Samadhiraja Sutra: A bodhisattva with the lion's roar will appear. He will use the power he achieved in deep meditation to benefit countless beings. By seeing, hearing, touching or thinking of him, th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Six Yogas Of Naropa
The Six Dharmas of Nāropa (, Skt. ''ṣaḍdharma'', "Naro's six doctrines" or "six teachings") are a set of advanced Tibetan Buddhist tantric practices compiled by the Indian mahasiddhas Tilopa and Nāropa (1016–1100 CE) and passed on to the Tibetan translator-yogi Marpa Lotsawa (). Another name for the six Dharmas is "the oral instruction transmission for achieving liberation in the bardo," or "the ''Bardo Trang-dol'' system". Bardo here, refers to the three bardos of waking, sleep and dying. They are also referred to as "the path of means" (''thabs lam'') in Kagyu literature.Kragh (2015), p. 345. They are also sometimes called the ''Six Yogas of Nāropa'' (though not in the traditional literature which never uses the term ''ṣaḍaṅga-yoga'' or ''sbyor-drug''). The six dharmas are a collection of tantric Buddhist completion stage practices drawn from the Buddhist tantras. They are intended to lead to Buddhahood in an accelerated manner. They traditionally require ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mahamudra
Mahāmudrā (Sanskrit: महामुद्रा, , contraction of ) literally means "great seal" or "great imprint" and refers to the fact that "all phenomena inevitably are stamped by the fact of wisdom and emptiness inseparable". Mahāmudrā is a multivalent term of great importance in later Indian Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism which "also occurs occasionally in Hindu and East Asian Buddhist esotericism." The name also refers to a body of teachings representing the culmination of all the practices of the New Translation schools of Tibetan Buddhism, who believe it to be the quintessential message of all of their sacred texts. The practice of Mahāmudrā is also known as the teaching called " Sahajayoga" or "Co-emergence Yoga". In Tibetan Buddhism, particularly the Kagyu school, Sahaja Mahāmudrā is sometimes seen as a different Buddhist vehicle ( yana), the "Sahajayana" (Tibetan: ''lhen chig kye pa''), also known as the vehicle of self-liberation. Jamgon Kongtrul, a T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bodhisattva Vows
file:Sumedha and Dīpankara, 2nd century, Swat Valley, Gandhāra.jpg, Gandharan relief depicting the ascetic Megha (The Buddha, Shakyamuni in a past life) prostrating before the past Buddha Dipankara, Dīpaṅkara, c. 2nd century CE (Gandhara, Swat District, Swat Valley) The Bodhisattva vow is a vow (Sanskrit: '','' lit. bodhisattva aspiration or resolution; Chinese: 菩薩願, pusa yuan; J. bosatsugan) taken by some Mahayana, Mahāyāna Buddhists to achieve full buddhahood for the sake of all Sentient beings (Buddhism), sentient beings. One who has taken the vow is nominally known as a bodhisattva (a being working towards buddhahood). This can be done by venerating all Buddhas and by cultivating supreme moral and spiritual perfection, to be placed in the service of others. In particular, bodhisattvas promise to practice the Pāramitā#Mah.C4.81y.C4.81na Buddhism, six perfections of giving, moral discipline, patience, effort, concentration and wisdom in order to fulfill their bodhi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Palpung Monastery
Palpung Monastery () is Tai Situ's historic monastic seat in Babang, Kham (modern Sichuan). Palpung means "glorious union of study and practice". It originated in the 12th century and wielded considerable religious, political, and economic influence over the centuries. The current monastery was founded in 1727 by the 8th Tai Situ "Situ Panchen" with the great support of the Dharma King of Derge Temba Tsering. It is the seat of four lines of incarnate lamas, the best-known being the Tai Situ as well as the Jamgon Kongtrul and the Second Beru Khyentse. The gompa has historically been associated with the Karmapas: for instance, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, 16th Karmapa, was enthroned first at Palpung before traveling to his main seat at Tsurphu Monastery in Ü-Tsang. The 12th Tai Situ, Pema Tönyö Nyinje, has established another monastic seat in exile at Palpung Sherab Ling Monastery( in India's state of Himachal Pradesh near the city of Baijnath. Palpung Yeshe Rabgye Ling Nunnery ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tulku
A ''tulku'' (, also ''tülku'', ''trulku'') is an individual recognized as the reincarnation of a previous spiritual master (lama), and expected to be reincarnated, in turn, after death. The tulku is a distinctive and significant aspect of Tibetan Buddhism, embodying the concept of enlightened beings taking corporeal forms to continue the lineage of specific teachings. The term "tulku" is a loanword from Tibetan སྤྲུལ་སྐུ ("sprul sku"), which originally referred to an emperor or ruler taking human form on Earth, signifying a divine incarnation. Over time, it evolved within Tibetan Buddhism to denote the corporeal existence of certain highly accomplished Buddhist masters whose purpose was to ensure the preservation and transmission of a particular lineage. The tulku system originated in Tibet, particularly associated with the recognition of the second Karmapa in the 13th century. Since then, numerous tulku lineages have been established, with each tulku having a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
