10. Conclusion

From the above explanation we can deduce that the Buddhism taught by Lord Buddha comes in two forms: perceptive and non-perceptive. Theravada Buddhism is the perceptive form, and Vajrayana or Tantrayana, non-perceptive. Mahayana can be both perceptive as well as nonperceptive. Perceptive means teachings directly done by the Buddha and heard by the disciples at that time in human form. Non-perceptive are those that Buddha implied or taught in the Vajradhara form^[1]. Whatever the mode of teaching, the basic teachings of the Four Noble Truths, the Law of Cause and Effect, Karma, and Dependent Origination are the same in all the teachings. In the Vajrayana School, the method to activate the subtle mind to realize subjective clear light is special, as this becomes the path and a substantial cause of attaining Buddhahood within a single lifetime. As the mind is considered the source of all delusion, training and disciplining the mind constitute the core of Buddhist practice. While Sutrayana emphasizes cleansing the mind and training it to take a positive direction gradually, Vajrayana teaching tends to bring the result into the path by seeing everything that arises in the present in light of the true nature of the subtlest mind or as manifestations of the deity‘s body, speech and mind. It aims to stop the mind from the effect of delusion by "concentration on the physical make-up of one's body and the psychological make-up of one's mind."^[2]

Why people find Tibetan Buddhism unique and special can be attributed to two reasons. Firstly, it is believed that of the Four Tantras in the Vajrayana teaching, it is only in Tibet that Highest Yoga Tantra survived and is practiced to this day^[3]. Secondly, Tibetan Buddhism shares many values with the Tibetan indigenous Bon religious culture in the form of purification rituals such as bSang gsol, prayer flags, wind horse [Tib: rLung lta], soul and life retrieval [Tib:bla 'gugs, Tshe 'gugs]. The fumigation smoke, colorful flags, ritual mask dances [Tib:'cham] and the beating of the drums have made this esoteric Buddhism of Tibet exotic and special in the eyes of many around the world. Tibet, as a land with special connection to Chenrezig Avaloketishvara, the Buddha of Compassion, is supposed to be the only country where complete [all the vehicles] teachings of Buddhism have been preserved and where living lineages survive intact to this day. Buddhists along the Himalayan regions have source and lineage affinity with this form of Tibetan Buddhism.

Whatever the forms or the appearances, His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama concludes with these words on Tibetan Buddhism:

The Buddhist teaching that spread to Tibet is just the stainless teaching of India and nothing else. The Tibetan lamas neither altered it nor mixed in with another religion^[4].

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Dalai Lama, The World of Tibetan Buddhism, P-93

[2]:

Dalai Lama, Introduction to Buddhism and Tantric Meditation", p-17, "The mind should therefore be disciplined and controlled by exercises that stop the flow of evil thoughts. This flow may be stopped, and the wandering or projecting mind brought to rest, by concentration on the physical make-up of one's body and the psychological make-up of one's mind."

[3]:

Dalai Lama, The World of Tibetan Buddhism. P-125

[4]:

Dalai Lama, The Buddhism of Tibet, p-21-21