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Q1. What is the holy book of Tibetan Buddhism?
The most important works are the Buddhist scriptural texts called the Kangyur and the commentaries and treatises known collectively as the Tengyur. The Kangyur (“Translated Word”) is made up of some 1,200 texts attributed to the Buddha himself, with nearly all of the original texts written in Sanskrit. The Tengyur (“Translated Treatises”) comprises more than 3,500 commentaries and treatises by Buddhist masters and here again the vast majority of the original texts were written in Sanskrit.
Q2. How is Tibetan Buddhism different?
Apart from classical Mahāyāna Buddhist practices like the six perfections, Tibetan Buddhism also includes tantric practices, such as deity yoga and the Six Dharmas of Naropa. Tibetan Buddhism, which can also be called as Lamaism is the Buddhist sect that is mainly found in Tibet, some regions of the Himalayas, India, Bhutan, and Northern Nepal. Tibetan Buddhism is Bhutan’s state religion. Tibetan Buddhism has both shamanistic and animistic elements. They believe in the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama.
Q3. What are the 4 lineages of Tibetan Buddhism?
There are four principal schools within modern Tibetan Buddhism: Nyingmapa founded by Padmasambhava, Kagyupa founded by Tilopa (988-1069), Sakyapa created by Gonchok Gyelpo (1034-1102) and his son Gunga Nyingpo (1092-1158), Gelugpa (The Virtuous School) founded by Tsong Khapa Lobsang Drakpa (also called Je Rinpoche) (1357 - 1419). All of them follow the core beliefs of Buddha Sakyamuni's Four Noble Truths and other teachings. Meanwhile, each school traces its founding in Tibet to a particular person, who in turn is connected to a particular tradition in India. In addition, the colours of hats lamas wear are different among the schools.
Q4. What are the holy books of Buddhism?
Buddhism falls into the group of religions that have multiple holy texts and the vast amount of Buddhist scriptures treasures the teachings of the Buddha, his disciples, the monks and the different sects of the religion that evolved eventually. Thus, talking of the scriptures of Buddhism on the whole, we can list the Pali Canon, Sanskrit Canon, Mahayana scriptures, Tantric scriptures and the Tibetan and Mongolian Canon.
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