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introduction to tibetan buddhism
What differentiates Tibetan Buddhism from the mainstream religion? Well, it's actually a hybrid or mixture of traditional Buddhist teachings with Indian yoga and tantra. These two aspects are very different from one another. The original teachings of Buddha, first off, are contained in scriptures called sutras. They are very traditional, in that they advocate renouncing the self-ego to the maximum extent possible. Desire is bad. Desire is the root of pain. Avoid extremes. Take the middle way. That is the traditional way of enlightenment.
Such a practice, however, might be difficult for many individuals, in a world so filled with material distractions and experiences.
So, Tibetan Buddhism figured out another method. It doesn't reject desire or ignore the ego altogether. Instead, it aims to purify our primal urges by using them to help attain spiritual development. Work with what we have, with what we are faced. This is an alternative way to enlightenment.
