School of thought

Tibetan Buddhism

Tradition

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Classification

Period
c. 650 CE onward
Regions
east asia
Domains
Philosophy of Mind , Philosophy of Religion

Overview

Tibetan Buddhism synthesizes Mahayana philosophy with Vajrayana (tantric) practice, creating a rich tradition of meditation, ritual, and philosophical analysis. It preserves and extends the Indian Buddhist scholastic traditions (Madhyamaka and Yogacara) while adding distinctively Tibetan elements such as the tulku reincarnation system and elaborate visualization practices.

Key ideas

  • Vajrayana: The 'Diamond Vehicle' — a set of advanced practices (deity yoga, mantra, visualization) that can accelerate the path to enlightenment within a single lifetime.
  • Lamrim: The 'stages of the path' systematize the entire Buddhist path from initial motivation to full enlightenment, making the vast teachings accessible and progressive.
  • Bardo: The intermediate states between death and rebirth — described in the Tibetan Book of the Dead as opportunities for liberation through recognition of the mind's true nature.

Key figures

Padmasambhava · Tsongkhapa · Milarepa · Longchenpa · Atisha

Influenced by

References

  • John Powers, Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism (Snow Lion, 1995)
  • The Tibetan Book of the Dead — Padmasambhava (trans. Robert Thurman)
  • Introduction to Tantra — Lama Yeshe