Motivation & Recognition

20 Tales of Tibet

Chapter 1 Understanding Tibet

History and Key Facts about Tibet

Legend has it that the Tibetan people owe their existence to the union of an ogress and a monkey.

They had six Children – the six tribes of Tibet.

Population of Tibet 2,400,000.

The most effective birth control in Tibet is the sending of at least one son per family to a monastery.

1901 Britain Invaded Tibet to counter possible Russian advances.

"When the iron bird flies and the horses run on wheels the Tibetan people will be scattered throughout the world and the Dharma will come to the land of the red men."

Guru Rinpoche, 8^th Century Buddha.

The Tibetan Plateau is nearly the size of the whole of Western Europe.

Large swathes of the country are over 5,000m, 15,000ft.

Tibet is bordered by Bhutan, Nepal, India, Burma and China.

Tibet has thousands of lakes.

Millions of years ago Tibet was below sea level! India crashed into and under Asia raising Tibet still to this day.

Tibetan Buddhist practice forbids hunting, fishing and the taking of animal life.

1 million wild yaks roamed the Tibetan Plateau 50 years ago. Now it is around 15,000.

A dzo is a cross between a yak and a bull. There are 5 million domesticated yaks in Tibet.

Yaks are used for

Animals threatened with extinction are

Changtang Nature Reserve is larger than Arizona.

1000 years ago there were reckoned to be 12 million Tibetans (now 2.4 million).

1/4 of Tibetans are nomadic.

Rosary Beads
108 dried seeds in a string with a second string for higher multiples used to count prayers.

Sutras
"Scriptures"

Tautras
Alternative "Scriptures" both written and oral.

Mani Walls
Stones at holy sites carved with sutras as acts of merit.

Om mani padme hum
"Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus". Mantra.

Torma
Yak Butter Sculptures

Butter Lamps
Continuously lit for monastery and home.

Tsatsa
Small Clay icons from sacred sites.

Chuba
Sheepskin Coat

Lama
A mentor of unsurpassed attainment. A Guru.

Dalai Lama
"Ocean of Wisdom" 14 have reigned since 1642.

Tenzin Gyatso
The 14^th current Dalai Lama.

Barkhor
A circuit or kora such as around the Temple Jokhang.

Jokhang
Lhasa’s most sacred temple.

Potala
Winter Residence of the Dalai Lama (until 1949). Contains Chapels and Tombs, Throne rooms and accommodation.

Bon
Tibet religion before Buddhism.

Bo
Tibetan name for their land.

Buddha
Awakened one.

Dharma
The Buddhist "Law".

Drokpa
Nomads who live in yak skin tents. They tend yaks and sheep and transport salt.

Windhorse
Prayer Flag symbol that carries prayers to the heavens.

Prayer Flags
Sending sutras to the heavens. In the colours representing Fire, Earth, Water, Wood and Iron, Red, Green, Blue, Gold, White. They purify the air and pacify the gods.

Prayer Wheels
From hand size to power driven "monsters" they can carry a "mile" of prayers recited every revolution. Spinning them gains merits and concentration on mantras.

Mantra
A way to achieve identity with a deity. Continual recited prayer.

Dukkha
Suffering – the essential condition for all life.

Karma
Imprint of action and consequence transported through consecutive lifetimes.

Kathak
Prayer Scarf.

Lha
Life Spirit that applies also to inanimate things such as mountains.

Mani
Prayer.

Wheel of Nature
The cyclic nature of existence.

Thanka
Tibetan Religious Painting.

Yama
Lord of Death.

Pilgrimage
A means to obtain credits to improve Karma and other various motivations.

Everest
Abode of the gods – goddess Mother of the Universe. 8848m. Named after Sir George Everest. Chomlangona in Tibetan.

Monk
Trapa in Tibetan – Scholar. At least three levels evolve into all forms of administration and policing.

Keyfacts and historical notes about Tibet.

Rebirth
"Samsora" meaning wandering on is the concept relating to the Buddhist concept of innumerable births. Life wanders limitlessly through six levels. Merits are accumulated to avoid the lower three; hells of torment, ghost worlds, and the world of animals. All six are depicted in the Wheel of Life. The three higher realms are human beings, demigods and gods.

Karma
A result of actions in your lifetime determines the route into the next rebirth. Your karma is affected and the result determined. It is carried through a series of rebirths.

Merit
The aim is to accumulate as much ‘good karma’ or merit as possible.

Four Holy Truths

Life is a suffering.

We are dissatisfied with imperfection.

Nirvana is the cessation of desire. Complete non-attachment achievement and an end to the cycle of rebirth.

The Eightfold Path – TheFourth Holy Truth.
The accumulated of merits may lead to Nirvana. The paths:

Right understanding
Right thoughts
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right concentration

Ten Meritorious Deeds
Do not kill, do not steal, and restrain from inappropriate sexual activity, lying, gossiping, cursing, sourcing discord, envy, malice and opionionatedness.