Classifying the Tibetan Traditions
Among the many contemplative systems, scholastic methodologies, and esoteric instruction lineages that were transmitted from Indian Buddhist masters onto their Tibetan successors, there are 2 basic categories that define the Tibetan Buddhist traditions historically:
- Nyingma (“ancient,” rnying ma)
- Sarma (“new,” gsar ma)
The pre-Buddhist indigenous Bon make up a 3rd separate category of Tibetan religious tradition.
The Nyingmapa sustain the knowledge transmitted during the Tibetan imperial period from the 8th to the 9th century. This era is known as the “early dissemination” (snga dar) or the initial period when tantras were translated from Sanskrit into Tibetan. During this time, the ancient tantras (rnying rgyud) were brought to Tibet, arranged and translated under the direction of the Tibetan King Trisong Deutsen, the Indian Abbot Shantarakshita, and the Kashmiri Master Padmasambhava. Though this early translation tradition of Buddhism in Tibet was interrupted in the 10th century, the Nyingmapa continue on to today. Continue reading ‘Traditions of Tibetan Buddhism’
Although many different names have been given- Great Perfection (Dzogchen), Great Seal (Mahamudra) and Great Madhyamaka,
Path and Fruit, Object of Cutting, and Pacification – when they are investigated by a Yogin who has cultivated them experientially,
he arrives at just one intention.
Panchen Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen Continue reading ‘Quotations on: Buddhist Traditions’
Text extracted from Prof. Pathmanathan’s paper “Guardian Deity of Lanka: Skanda-Murukan and Kataragama” presented at the First International Conference Seminar on Skanda-Murukan in Chennai, Dec. 28-30, 1998. This article first appeared in the September 1999 issue of The Journal of the Institute of Asian Studies.
In the
Buddhist tradition, Kataragama is one of the sixteen sacred sites in the island.
21 One of oldest monastic centres in the country was established there. From pre-Christian times it was the seat of the rulers of a minor principality. The Ksatriyas of Kataragama, according to the
Mahavamsa had joined Devanampiya Tissa of Anuradhapura in felicitating Sanghamita when she brought a branch of the sacred bo-tree. In relation to this event the Mahavamsa says:
Continue reading ‘Buddhist Traditions of Kataragama by S. Pathmanathan’
