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TIBETAN BUDDHISM SYSTEM

Tibetan Buddhism, also known as Lamaism or Vajrayana Buddhism, is a unique tradition that integrates Indian Buddhist teachings, local Tibetan practices, and elements of Bon, Tibet's indigenous religion. It is one of the major branches of Buddhism and is widely practiced in Tibet, the Himalayan regions, and among Tibetan diaspora communities worldwide.

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BUDDHA

Buddha is a Sanskrit word meaning "The Awakened One" or "The Enlightened One." It refers to someone who has attained complete enlightenment, overcoming ignorance, craving, and all forms of suffering. In Buddhism, "Buddha" can denote both the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, and the concept of enlightenment accessible to all beings.

- Shakyamuni  

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- Amitabha Buddha

  (The Buddha of Infinite Life）

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- Five Tathagatas

  • Vairocana Buddha (Center)

  • Akshobhya Buddha (East)

  • Ratnasambhava Buddha (South)

  • Amitabha Buddha (West)

  • Amoghasiddhi Buddha (North)

- Three-Ages Buddhas

  • Past Buddha: Dipankara

  • Present Buddha: Shakyamuni

  • Future Buddha: Maitreya

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- Five Primary Deities

  • Vairocana

  • Akshobhya

  • Ratnasambhava

  • Amitabha

  • Amoghasiddhi

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Bodhisattva

Bodhisattva is a being who has generated bodhicitta, the aspiration to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. The term "Bodhisattva" translates as "enlightenment-being" and represents a central concept in Mahayana Buddhism.

- Eight Great Bodhisattvas

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  • Avalokiteshvara

  • Manjushri

  • Kshitigarbha

  • Samantabhadra

  • Maitreya

  • Vajrapani

  • Sarvanivaranavishkambhin

  • Aksobhya

- Tara

  • Green Tara

  • White Tara

 

- White Umbrella Goddess (Chandali)

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- Vajrayogini

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-Akashagarbha

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Arahant 

An enlightened being in Theravada Buddhism who has attained nirvana through personal effort and is free from suffering and rebirth.

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Dharmapala Protectors 

Dharmapālas, or Dharma Protectors, are deities or protective spirits in Buddhism who defend the Dharma (the teachings of the Buddha) and Buddhist practitioners from harmful forces. These protectors are often seen as wrathful or fierce figures who are tasked with ensuring the preservation and flourishing of Buddhist teachings in the world by removing obstacles and defeating external threats—whether they are physical, spiritual, or mental.

- Transcendental Dharma Protectors

  • Five Great Vajras

    • Yamataka

    • Samvara

    • Guhyasamaja

    • Hevajra

    • Kalacakra

  • Mahakala

  • Vajrapani

  • Guhyapati

  • Palden Lhamo

  • Kshitigarbha

  • Dorje Shugden

  • Kalarupa

  • Hayagriva

  • Tara

- Worldly Dharma Protectors

  • Local deities or spirits: Pehar, mountain deities

 

  • The Four Heavenly Kings:

    • Vaiśravaṇa, the King of the North

    • Dhritarashtra, the King of the East

    • Virūḍhaka, the King of the South

    • Virūpākṣa, the King of the West

- Eight Classes of Deities

  • Devas (gods),

  • Nagas (serpent spirits),

  • Yakshas (nature spirits),

  • Yaksinis (female nature spirits),

  • Gandharvas (celestial musicians),

  • Asuras (wrathful beings),

  • Garudas (mythical birds),

  • Kimnaras (half-human, half-bird creatures).

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- Dakinis

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Lama

Guru of Tantric Buddhism from ancient India

High monks of various sects

Masters of the different Dharma lineages

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