Tibetan Culture

Points to keep in mind as a newcomer to Buddhism so as to be realistic and avoid disappointment.

Introduction This evening I have been asked to speak about the Bon tradition and its relation to Buddhism. When His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaks of the Tibetan traditions, he often refers to the five traditions of Tibet: the Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, Gelug and Bon. From His...

Thangka Scroll Paintings and Statues The Mongolian style of Tibetan painting maintained the iconography but adapted the details of the background. In Tibetan thangkas (scroll paintings framed in brocade), the backgrounds typically have stylized snow-capped mountains and...

I have been very happy to be able to attend this conference here in Kalmykia. I’ve found it very inspiring because the topic, “Philosophy in the Dialogue of Cultures,” suggests many things. From one point of view, “philosophy” can be understood in terms of Buddhology, the...

The cultural context in which Buddhism originated and spread plays an important role in its practice, however, there are indispensable points that characterize Buddhism, regardless of culture.

Introductory Remarks All Buddhist traditions emphasize the importance of a spiritual teacher on the path. Spiritual teachers do not just: Give information Answer questions Check the student's understanding Check the student's intellectual, emotional, and meditation...

Translating Trust and Respect for a Mentor into Actions The more convinced we are of our mentors' good qualities, the more confidently we trust them and their ability to guide us correctly. Similarly, the more deeply we appreciate our mentors' kindness, the more respect we...

I’d like to speak about the role and need of a spiritual teacher particularly in our present modern day digital age. We, in the West and non-traditional Buddhist countries, don’t have the same circumstances and conditions for studying the Dharma as existed in Tibetan or even...

The Tibetan Ephemeris, Calendar, and Almanac The Tibetan system of astronomy and astrology is extremely complex. It takes five years to study and master it at the Astro Division of the Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute in Dharamsala, India. Students learn to calculate...

The Rectification of Terms Titles, particularly those in foreign languages, often mystify Western people. They frequently conjure romantic images that are inappropriate. This especially happens with the various titles for spiritual teachers, such as – in the Tibetan...