RG ST 31 Notes 23:56Scope of Tibetan BuddhismBackground-Buddhism emerged during a transitional period of Indian intellectual history(ca. 5th-6th century BCE)-Certain key concepts become ubiquitous in Indian religious movements1.karma: law of moral cause and effect2.samsara: “cyclic existence(i.e. reincarnation) 3.Moksha/nirvana: “liberation” from Samsara4.Yoga: techniques of transcendence-Buddha wasn’t satisfied and attempted his own path of moderation to achieve nirvana, the extinguishment of struggles. Samsara is the cycle of reincarnation. It’s endless. Nirvana = end of the cycle of reincarnation. Buddhist Schools3 main “schools” or movements in Buddhism-Early Buddhism: Theravada (“school of elders”) or Hinayana(“lesser vehicle”)1.Monastic emphases2.More strict with religious observances3.South and Southeast Asia-Mahayana (“great vehicle”)1.Greater lay emphasis2.“bodhisattva” (enlightenment-being) ideal; nirvana for everyone else; savior type of figure3.Elaborate cosmologies4.North and East Asia-Vajrayana (“Diamond Vehicle”)1.Emphasis on esoteric ritual and meditation techniques; for those who want to reach enlightenment more quickly. 2.Tibet, Mongolia, East Asia
