What is Tibetan Buddhism?

Tibetan Buddhism is a unique expression of Buddhism that has developed over centuries in the high Himalayan region of Tibet and the surrounding areas. The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, is perhaps the most well-known figure associated with Tibetan Buddhism. In this video, we will explore the key teachings and practices of Tibetan Buddhism, including tantric meditation, compassion, and the concept of emptiness.

Special thanks to Dr. Connie Kassor for co-writing this episode. Follow her on Twitter at: @constancekassor

To learn more, check out Dr. Aaron Proffitt's introduction over at: @AmericanBuddhistStudyCenter

[ReligionForBreakfast]

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[Nyingmaba]

I'm entering a PhD program in Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the Fall, and have been considering making content on the history, theology, cosmology, etc. So I'm happy to see more of that kind of content

[Embassy_of_Jupiter]

Padmasambhava's journey to subjugate all spirits would probably make for a great anime

[obiseankenobi]

13 minutes in and you have managed to put the concepts of emptiness and compassion into the minds of modern English speaking people better than a lot of much grander efforts. The bicycle analogy was most excellent. Very very well done. This was a pleasure to watch and made me want to go back and re-read some old stuff. Thanks !

[chilldragon]

Great information. I'm doing my Master's Degree in Buddhist Studies and practicing Tibetan Buddhism. You're spot on as always.

[stormgodworshipper]

Just as the great Dalai Lama recommends gratitude, I want to thank you for the amazingly informative videos on both the philosophical and historical aspects of religion.

[maddiewadsworth]

I've been a Buddhist for years and you taught me a lot of things I did not know about Tibetan Buddhism.

[davidcheater]

Just to add, Tibetan Buddhism is also the main religion of the Kalmyk Republic within European Russia.

[rebuildingnoseas]

Many years ago, as a World Religions major. We as a class were tasked with visiting five houses of worship for the five largest world religions. I visited them all to fulfill the requirements of the assignment and earn my grade. However, after visiting the grandiose houses of Catholicism and Islam. I had trouble finding a place to visit to experience Buddhism. To my surprise I found a small Darmha Center just 4 miles from my home. So, I went to visit it and met the Monks, who had been ones that escaped Tibet and fled to India. After that they came to the United States. I began studying with them every Sunday and we chanted and I listened to the eldest monk talk to us about the impermanence of all things. I began reading and found joy in the concepts of the Bards and how reincarnation manifests itself from the ether to the physical realm. (The Bard of the Becoming) It was at this point that I began to lose my worries and also my desires to attain more material possessions and gratifications.

However, living in America, it didn't last long as I was a student in an expensive university, living on borrowed money and time. And I was surrounded and permeated by capitalism and excess. No matter how much I rebelled against it, no matter how much I resisted the minute by minute onslaught of advertisers, marketers, colleagues, friends, family and love interests. I ultimately gave in and succumbed to the pressures and went back to my previous existence. Only, now I was changed and couldn't approach my old life in the same manner as before...knowing and feeling what I had learned anew.

The teachings always stuck with me and were always in my thoughts, from the mundane to the critical.

Flash forward now some 18+ years. And in 2018 after many years of ignoring my lessons. I closed my company, sold every possession and gave many away, including a pretty fine small sailing yacht that I once loved dearly. I sold 3 very expensive cars, 2 motorcycles, an entire building full of tools and equipment. I donated three car-loads of clothing and household goods to Goodwill.

At this point my only son was grown and gone and my wife and I had been divorced for 11 years.

On the Eve of my 50th birthday, I threw on a backpack and bought a one-way ticket to Thailand. I spent the next 6 months traveling Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. I was looking for...something...clarity perhaps.

I ended up settling in Thailand and moved around infrequently for a few years. I met a wonderful Thai woman, who I became life partners with. We live a calm, serene and usually peaceful existence.

I began studying Buddhism again and Thai language, and took up teaching at a small, rural school in Southern Thailand. I've been here for five years now and have no intention of ever returning to America. My next trip will be a pilgrimage to Bhutan and further north to Nepal.

The study of ancient religions and their writings, (linguistic anthropology) are my life's foci now, along with the study of traditional indigenous water craft building techniques. (an indulgence)

I recently tried to teach at a local university, but was sickened by what I experienced there to such a degree that I felt compelled to exit as quickly as possible. I have lost my taste for the pursuit of status and money and being involved in enlightenment for sale.

So now, I only indulge in free classes and seminars, podcasts and videos like these. I do enjoy what the internet has to offer for free education and I see no need to pursue paying for paper with paper... to tell others what I have come to know and understand.

Openculture.com has enough free classes listed in it's web pages to last any would-be scholar a life time of study for -0-$'s.

This is the path that I chose...to find what it is that I'm looking for in this life time. I'm in no way seeing ultimate enlightenment on the horizon. But I know it's somewhere ahead. Had I not made the decision that I made way back when, I wouldn't be where I am now. And feeling correct about ones course-heading is contentment.

Peace be with you all. Keep searching, learning and growing.

[froodychick]

As a practicing Karma Kagyu Tibetan Buddhist, I truly appreciate your video. You have a wonderful way to explain very complex ideas!

[ArmchairAcademics]

Great work! I'm a postdoctoral researcher in Tibetan studies (and am working on an animated Tibetan history series, myself) -- and I've got to say, this was a lot better than I expected. I only just found your channel and am very impressed. It's very important to have public facing resources like this. If you ever need a consultant on Tibetan historical or cultural issues, give me a shout.

[CCPJAYLPHAN]

As a Buddhist, I thank you for sharing our faith. May Buddha bless all!

[guiteo]

As a long-time Kagyu practitioner (and former monk) I was impressed with the clarity of this presentation. The only thing I would have added is the importance of the Karmapa and the controversial popularizer, Chogyam Trungpa. Trungpa spoke and wrote English better than any other Tibetan I met, and was able to translate the teachings into something very comprehensible to westerners. This was a great talk, and thanks for your efforts to present it to us.

[zarathustra]

This might be one of the best introductions to and presentations of Tibetan Buddhism on Youtube. Congratulations, I wish I had this video when I first started studying Buddhism almost 10 years ago.

[lucamaddalena]

There is nothing that I love more than your great talent and religious history. Keep it up man!

[matthewluttrell]

Your videos are some of the best "general" religious content! I say general because they are like extensive introduction chapters. And I love it! Sometimes I'm content with your videos, "that was interesting, glad I learned about it", other times, "that was interesting, I need to learn more!"

[gkukel]

What a detailed accurate explanation in such a short time. 👏 Being a Tibetan Buddhist, I thank you for taking so much time and effort to make this beautiful video. I subscribed and watched all the ads.

[_middleside]

Excellent video. I've been trying to learn more about Tibetan Buddhism online and this was the clear, sequential overview that I needed to make sense of things. Thank you

[donsambol]

You did a very good job of describing TB. I studied it off and on for 10 years and didn't really start understanding everything until years later.

[sub-zin]

Very impressed with your knowledge and pronunciation. I wish more people learned the tibetan language, it sounds so beautiful and the writing is mesmerizing