Tibetan Buddhism: An Introduction

by Sangharakshita

'Karma', 'Nirvana', 'Dalai Lama' ...Tibetan Buddhism is becoming increasingly common and fashionable in Western media - but this familiarity can cause its teachings and message to be misunderstood. If we are to truly learn from the rich and noble Tibetan tradition we must look beyond adverts and lifestyle magazines, exotic artifacts and spiritual sound-bites. Sangharakshita is ideally suited as our guide through the vast realm of Tibetan Buddhism, having spent many years in contact with Tibetan lamas of all schools, from whom he received several initiations. This down-to-earth account of the origin and history of Buddhism in Tibet explains the essentials of the tradition and can act as the starting point for our own noble journey.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Religion

144 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2004

About the author

Sangharakshita was born Dennis Lingwood in South London, in 1925. Largely self-educated, he developed an interest in the cultures and philosophies of the East early on, and realized that he was a Buddhist at the age of sixteen.

The Second World War took him, as a conscript, to India, where he stayed on to become the Buddhist monk Sangharakshita. After studying for some years under leading teachers from the major Buddhist traditions, he went on to teach and write extensively. He also played a key part in the revival of Buddhism in India, particularly through his work among followers of Dr B.R. Ambedkar.

After twenty years in the East, he returned to England to establish the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order in 1967, and the Western Buddhist Order in 1968 (now known as the Triratna Buddhist Community and the Triratna Buddhist Order respectively).

Sangharakshita has always particularly emphasized the decisive significance of commitment in the spiritual life, the paramount value of spiritual friendship and community, the link between religion and art, and the need for a ‘new society’ supportive of spiritual aspirations and ideas.

In recent years Sangharakshita has been handing on most of his responsibilities to his senior disciples in the Order. Based at the Adhisthana retreat centre in Herefordshire UK, he is now focusing on personal contact with people. For more, go to www.sangharakshita.org.

A collection of 27 volumes will represent the definitive edition of his life’s work as a Buddhist writer and teacher. Find out more about The Complete Works of Sangharakshita

A series of talks by Sangharakshita: ‘Launch of The Essential Sangharakshita and Living Ethically’.

Reviews

[kista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing introduction that covers the basic of Tibetan Buddhism from its beginning to the introduction of the four different schools.
Recommend for anyone interested in Tibetan Buddhism