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Tibetan Buddhism
I am interested in learning more (or should I say...interested in beginning to learn) about Tibetan Buddhism. I know I can just do a search on the internet, but could some of you experienced ones point me in the right direction, or tell me where to start?
Thank you.
Kim
Thank you.
Kim
0
Comments
The World of Tibetan Buddhism
If, however, you would like to learn more about the 'magicians and mystics' observed during the time of this Dalai Lama's predecessor, the Great Thirteenth, less than a century ago: a strange, mediaeval world:
"Magic and Mystery in Tibet " by Alexandra David-Neel
That's the kind of stuff I have a hard time believing...
NOT SAYING IT'S NOT TRUE, PALZANG BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET ALL UP IN MY BUSINESS FOR SAYING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
I'm just saying I have a hard time with it. I think mysticism is also used to create a dominant/submissive culture.
-bf
I think you can be a mystic and not be a Buddhist.
I think you can be a mystic and a Buddhist (and a lot of other labels as well).
Didn't Buddha say something like he couldn't give his realization to others?
-bf
Yogamoma: some readings that I found useful...
http://www.newbuddhist.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1207
Well, you have to remember that Mme. David-Neel knew nothing about Tibetan Buddhism before her famous sojourn to Tibet, so you have to take everything with a grain of salt. Wonderful book, but I wouldn't take everything she says as "gospel". It's also interesting that in Ancient Egypt, the word for "magic" and the word for "religion" were the same. So I guess it all depends on your point of view.
Palzang
Palzang
In addition, Mme D.-N. visited Tibet before, during and after WW1, when Bon shamanism and feudal mediaevalism were still the context of Tibetan society.
As Mme D.-N. comments, over and over, the Buddhism that she encountered in Tibet appeared far removed from the Mahayana Buddhism that she had studied in India and Nepal, although, among the senior lamas, she found a metaphorical approach, more similar to that which we tend to take.
One of the things that I have found most interesting about her books is that they describe a peasant culture which has almost entirely disappeared. I cannot say that I am really sorry to see it go, although I could wish that it had happened in a more organic way. HHDL has now ditched the old autocracy, replacing it with a democratic system.
We should not sentimentalise pre-invasion Tibet, particularly if we believe that such things as human rights, universal suffrage and equality of opportunity to be important.