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Tibet
1. The White snow mountain in the center
depicts the land of the great nation of
Tibet.
2.The six red rays emanating from the sun
symbolize the six original peoples of
Tibet: the Se, Mu, Dong, Tong, Dru, and
Ra.
3. The blue rays symbolize the commitment
to spirtual and secular rule.
4. The pair of snow-lions symbolize the
complete victory of the spiritual and
secular rule.
5. The three-sided yellow border represents
the flourishing of the Buddha's
teachings. The side without a border
represents Tibet's openness to non
Buddhist thought.
6. The raised jewel symbolizes Tibet's
reverence for the three Precious Gems:
the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.
Flag of
Tibet
“This center of heaven.
The core of earth.
This heart of the World
Fenced round by snowy mountains.
The headland of all river
Where peaks are high and the land is pure.
Where men are born as sages and heroes.
And act according to good laws.”
-9th Century CE Buddhist monk
Tibet
• Unified kingdom in the 7th
Century CE under King
Song-tsen Gampo
• His queens built the first
Buddhist temple in Lhasa
• Tibet became deeply rooted in
Buddhism in the 8th
Century CE
JoKhang Temple
Built by Queen Bhrikuti
Built on top of lake Lhasa
Tibet
• Many different orders of Buddhism
developed in Tibet
• Tsong Khapa (1357-1419)
• Most influential scholar of Tibetan
Buddhism
• Founded Gelug-pa “Yellow Hat” religious
order
• Mongol leader gave leader of this order
title “Dalai Lama”
• Dalai Lama is Tibet’s most scared and
secular leader
• Theocratic government until 1959 when
China took over Tibet
Tibet
• Most scared God in Tibet is the
Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara
• Name means “Supreme Lord
of Compassion”
• Patron deity of Tibet
• Incarnated as the
Dalai Lama
(priest king of Tibet)
Bodhisattva
Bodhisattvas
Means “those whose Essence is
Supreme Knowledge”
Supersede the Arhats because
they stand on the verge of
enlightenment but delay
nirvana in order to help others
Follows the Mahayana Tradition
of Buddhism
All can be Bodhisattvas but only
cultivating the virtues over
hundreds of lifetimes
13th century bronze figure
Tibet
Gelug-pa Monks
Current Dalai Lama
14th Dalai Lama to rule Tibet
Real name Tenzi Gyatso
Former home of the Dalai Lama
Potala Palace
at capital city of Lhasa
Tibet
• Second in Charge
Panchen Lama
• Current picture of the 11th
Panchen Lama
• Still lives in Tibet
• Fear he is being persecuted
by the Chinese authorities
11th Panchen Lama age 12, 2001
Holy city = Lhasa
• Capital and largest city
• Potala Palace
• Home of Dalai Lama built in 1645
• Built in typical Tibetan style = gently sloping
walls and flat roofs resting on wooden beams
• Not far from Potala is JoKhang, the “cathedral of
Lhasa the most sacred temple in Tibet
• At JoKang the rites into lamahood of the Dalai
Lama and Panchen Lamas are held here
Potala Palace
Front Door
to Potala Place
Red Palace
Upper section of
the building
Contains temples,
images, shrines
and relics of the
Dalai Lamas
JoKhang
“House of the Lord”
Most sacred temple in Tibet
House of the Jowo Buddha
•
“Wheel of Dharma”
• At the main entrance to the
JoKhang Temple
Art in Tibet
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Religious in purpose
Artists worked for monasteries and temples
Considered treasures
Types of art
– Sculptures
– Painting on cloth scrolls (thangkas)
– Mandala Sand Painting
Mandala Sand Painting
http://www.mysticalartsoftibet.org/Man-Proc.htm
Thangkas
Music
• Silent meditation is a prominent aspect of Buddhism
• But music and dance have been integral
– In processions
– In rituals
• All ceremonies involve chanting and the use of musical instruments
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Long trumpets
Drums made from two skulls
Conch shell trumpets
Shawm (oboe like)
Cymbals
Singing bowls
Sacred Sound
• Mantras
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Holy sounds that are endowed with the very essence of the reality
Means “instruments of thought”
Every mantra has a specific purpose
Knowledge is closely guarded secrete
• Handed down from teacher to student
• Not to be written, but many are now
– Most popular is the six syllable prayer of Avalokiteshvara
• Om Mani Padme Hum