Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism
Buddhism
On the Origins of Buddhism
The historical Buddha attained enlightenment around 500 BC. He followed no doctrine of faith but taught on the basis of his own experiences. He conveyed the Dharma teaching according to the capacities of each living being.
The first teaching contained the “Four Noble Truths”, the second the “nature of emptiness”, the third the “supreme buddha nature”. From these teachings arose the three vehicles: Vinayana, Mahayana and Tantrayana, which he taught over the course of 44 years. The benefit of his teaching lies in the spreading of love and compassion. All living beings shall be free from suffering and abide in final bliss.
«There are only two days in the year on which nothing can be done. One is yesterday, the other tomorrow.» -Dalai Lama
Tibetan Buddhism
At the beginning of the seventh century AD, the Tibetan king Trisong Detsen invited one of the greatest Indian Buddhist masters – Padmasambhava – to Tibet. He blessed the land and the tantric teachings flourished. Padmasambhava advised the king to invite the eminent scholar Shantarakshita. From this time on, many Buddhist Dharma teachings reached Tibet.
At the end of the 11th century, the great translator Marpa Chökyi Lodrö travelled to India, where he met Naropa. From him he received the four teachings of Buddhism. Having returned to his homeland, he translated these four teachings into Tibetan. Marpa's translations are the foundation for the formation of the Kagyu lineage.