Tibet

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Tibet
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Flag ofTibet

• 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.

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• 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

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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
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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 Tibets most scared and secular
  leader
• Theocratic government until 1959 when China took
  over Tibet

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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
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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
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Tibet
Current Dalai Lama 14th Dalai Lama to rule
Tibet Real name Tenzi Gyatso
Gelug-pa Monks
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Former home of the Dalai LamaPotala Palaceat
capital city of Lhasa
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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
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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

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Potala Palace
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• Front Door
• to Potala Place

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Red Palace

• Upper section of the building
• Contains temples, images, shrines and relics of
  the Dalai Lamas

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JoKhang

• House of the Lord
• Most sacred temple in Tibet
• House of the Jowo Buddha

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Wheel of Dharma

• At the main entrance to the
• JoKhang Temple

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Art in Tibet

• Religious in purpose
• Artists worked for monasteries and temples
• Considered treasures
• Types of art
• Sculptures
• Painting on cloth scrolls (thangkas)
• Mandala Sand Painting

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Mandala Sand Painting

• http//www.mysticalartsoftibet.org/Man-Proc.htm

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Thangkas
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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
• Long trumpets
• Drums made from two skulls
• Conch shell trumpets
• Shawm (oboe like)
• Cymbals
• Singing bowls

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Sacred Sound

• Mantras
• 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