What is a Buddhist thangka?
A thangka usually depicts a central Buddhist deity or teacher surrounded by associated gods and lineage figures, describes events or myths attributed to important religious teachers, or outlines the blueprint of a particular deity’s realm as a mandala.
Who started the Kagyu lineage?
Lingrepa Pema Dorje
Lingre Kagyu refers to the lineages founded by Lingrepa Pema Dorje (Wylie: gling ras pa padma rdo rje) [1128-1188] also known as Nephupa after Nephu monastery (sna phu dgon) he founded near Dorje Drak (rdo rje brag) in Central Tibet (dbus).
What does lineage mean in Buddhism?
A lineage in Buddhism is a line of transmission of the Buddhist teaching that is “theoretically traced back to the Buddha himself.” The acknowledgement of the transmission can be oral, or certified in documents. The historical authenticity of Buddhist lineage is questionable.
What are the branches of Buddhism?
The Buddha died in the early 5th century B.C. His teachings, called the dharma, spread over Asia and developed into three basic traditions: Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. Buddhists call them “vehicles,” meaning they are ways to carry pilgrims from suffering to enlightenment.
What is the meaning of thangka?
A thangka, variously spelt as thangka, tangka, thanka, or tanka (Nepali pronunciation: [ˈt̪ʰaŋka]; Tibetan: ཐང་ཀ་; Nepal Bhasa: पौभा), is a Tibetan Buddhist painting on cotton, silk appliqué, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, scene, or mandala.
What are thangka used for?
Thangkas have a variety of uses, but they are mostly used as a means of gaining merit, in death rituals, during meditation, and in Buddhist ceremonies.
Why did Guru Rinpoche visit bumthang what did he do there?
According to the Bhutanese calendar, he said, Guru Rinpoche first visited Bhutan in 810AD, the year of the Iron Tiger at the invitation of king Sindhu Raja of Bumthang. He came to Bumthang, subdued the local deity, and the king recovered.
What is Rinpoche Tibet?
After death comes for a rinpoche — a Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, imbued with supernatural powers — he or she may choose to reincarnate as an infant. Rinpoche translates as “precious one” but is best described as a reborn spiritual master of divine provenance.
What do you mean by Mahayana Buddhism?
Mahayana, (Sanskrit: “Greater Vehicle”) movement that arose within Indian Buddhism around the beginning of the Common Era and became by the 9th century the dominant influence on the Buddhist cultures of Central and East Asia, which it remains today.
How many lineages are there in Tibetan Buddhism?
Over the centuries four religious movements in Tibet evolved into the four religious orders of Tibetan Buddhism. These orders are all based on Buddhism from India, but they have different founders and lineages of teachers, prefer different sacred texts, and practice different methods of reaching their goals.
What are the 4 major branches of Buddhism?
They are Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, and Vajrayana Buddhism.