Rituals in Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhist rituals are practices by both monks and lay practitioners.

Buddhism traces its roots to the 6th century BCE, with the quest for enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha. Buddhism was introduced to Tibet in the seventh century CE and was influenced by the country's history, culture and indigenous religion, Bon. Rituals play an important role in Tibetan Buddhism, especially when compared to other Buddhist traditions.

Meditation

Meditation is a key practice for Tibetan Buddhists

Meditation is a feature of all Buddhist traditions. The three main types of meditation are samatha, vipassana and metta bhavana. Samatha, translated as tranquility meditation, focuses on keeping the mind still and developing concentration. Vipassana, meaning insight meditation, which is often combined with samatha, aims at creating mindfulness which allows meditators to realize and understand certain truths taught by Buddhism. Metta bhavana, translated as loving-kindness meditation, is done to develop a habit of showing altruistic love towards oneself and others.

Mantras

Mantras, which are especially popular in Tibetan Buddhism, are sounds which are believed to hold supernatural powers and may be used to grant a person protection from evil or misfortune. Mantras are often repeated aloud or in one's head as part of meditation, which may happen in either private or public settings. A common Tibetan Buddhist mantra is "Om mani padme hum," which is associated with the deity Avalokiteshvara.

Prayer Wheels

Prayer wheels are commonly spun in temples.

A prayer wheel a metal cylinder which is mounted and spins on a rod. Prayer wheels contain a scroll with a mantra written on it and also contain mantras or symbols on the outside, which is often richly decorated. Spinning the wheel is considered to be equivalent to reciting a mantra. Prayer wheels come in a variety of size, ranging from hand-held ones to others so large they spun by a water mill.

Mudras

Mudras are hand gestures that may be made during meditation and are associated with certain buddhas, deities or ideas. Buddhas are also often pictured making certain mudras. Common mudras include the Abhaya Mudra --- representing fearlessness, Bhumisparsha Mudra --- meaning earth witness, Dharmachakra Mudra --- meaning wheel-turning, Dhyana Mudra --- representing meditation and the Varada Mudra, which symbolizes gift-giving or bestowal.

References

• Religion Facts: Buddhist Rituals and Practices
• BBC Religions: Buddhist Worship
• BBC Religions: Tibetan Buddhism
• BBC Religions: Buddhism at a Glance

Resources

• World Buddhist Directory: North America