Tibetan Buddhism teaches that we are all potential Buddhas, because we are essentially pure, blissful, and luminous at the core level of existence.
That purity, called Buddha-nature, is often clouded over by a dense layer of ignorance, negativity and incessant longing, which dominates us and leads to suffering.
For Buddhists, the ultimate goal is enlightenment called “Nirvana,” which is a liberation from the continuous cycle of birth, death, and re-birth.
The Tibetan Buddhist path encourages its practitioners to adopt the traits and characteristics of enlightened beings through special meditational techniques in order to realize their innate Buddha-nature to achieve “Nirvana.”
Buddhism places emphasis on practical methods, referred to as “The Eightfold Path,” for cultivating spiritual awareness and the importance of finding the truth for oneself.
It fosters loving-kindness, compassion, equanimity, clarity of mind, and wisdom in order to alleviate suffering and promote healing and transformation so that all beings may experience eternal peace (Nirvana).
The Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path
The Wheel of Dharma – cosmic law and order
The Four Noble Truths are the foundational tenets of Buddhism – awareness of suffering, its cause, it’s mitigation (end), and the path to transcend (rise above) it.
The Four Noble Truths
•Life is both pleasure and suffering
•The root cause of suffering is craving (attachment) in the physical world
•The end of craving leads to an end in suffering (non-attachment)
•There is a path which leads one away from craving and suffering (The Eightfold Path)
The Eightfold Path
•Right View – know the truth and live the truth
•Right Intention – integrity and ethical (moral) conduct
•Right Speech – speak to others with compassion
•Right Action – be of service to others (acts of kindness)
•Right Livelihood – respect all forms of life
•Right Effort – resist negative temptations
•Right Mindfulness – control your thoughts (eliminate negative ones as they arise)
•Right Concentration – focus in life and practice meditation and quieting the “monkey mind.”
By recognizing the Four Noble Truths and following the Eightfold Path, a person could find release from craving and attachment to the things of the world and liberate oneself from the endless cycle of suffering experienced through Samsara (the endlessly repeated cycles of birth, misery, and death caused by karma). The Truths and the Path are given varying levels of significance by different schools of Buddhism in the present day but remain foundational aspects of the faith in all of them.
Mandalas
Tibetan Monks create beautiful, intricate designs as a sacred ritual in their temples to raise the level of consciousness on the planet. Mandalas are constructed using tiny grains of sand which are later swept into a golden vessel and released into a body of moving water thus positively affecting mankind.
Opening Ceremony – The monks begin by consecrating the site of the mandala sand painting with approximately 30 minutes of chants, music, and mantra recitation.
Drawing of the Lines – Immediately after the Opening Ceremony the monks start drawing the line design for the mandala which takes about three hours to complete.
Mandala Construction – Throughout its creation, the monks pour millions of colored grains of sand from traditional metal funnels called chakpur. The finished mandala is approximately five feet by five feet in size and takes three to five days of work.
Mandala Completion – The monks conclude their creation of the mandala with a consecration (blessing) ceremony. In some cities, several thousand guests have attended the closing ceremony.
Dismantling the Mandala – During the closing ceremony, the monks dismantle the mandala, sweeping up the colored sands to symbolize the impermanence of all that exists. When requested, half of the sand is distributed to the audience as blessings for personal health and healing.
Dispersal of the Sand – The remaining sand is carried in a procession by the monks to a flowing body of water where it is ceremonially poured to disperse the healing energies of the mandala throughout the world.
Tibetan Medicine Bowls
A Tibetan singing bowl, also referred to as medicine bowl, is a type of metal bowl that produces a rich variety of vibratory tones when played.
Medicine bowls date back to around 3000 B.C. and Buddhist monks have long used them in meditation practice and for healing.
It is said that they promote relaxation and healing, which is why they are called medicine bowls, by causing beneficial changes in the body by reducing stress, harmonizing the cells, and balancing the body’s chakra energy system.
The bowls are often forged from five to seven precious metals, which are connected to the planets of our galaxy: lead (Saturn), tin (Jupiter), iron (Mars), copper (Venus), mercury (Mercury), silver (the Moon) and gold (the Sun).
They are created in a variety of sizes, both man and machine made, often inscribed with sacred mantras and images, and vibrate with different tones depending on the depth and width of each bowl.
A medicine bowl is played by holding it in one’s palm or placing it on a fabric ring and rotating a wooden mallet with suede on the end around the exterior repeatedly to create a sound vibration.