| Unit name | The Coming of Buddhism to Tibet |
|---|---|
| Unit code | THRS30020 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Emeritus Professor. Williams |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
THRS20032 or equivalent |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of Religion and Theology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
We shall begin by spending some weeks looking at the Indo-Tibetan doctri-nal foundations of esoteric (Tantric; Vajrayana) Buddhism. We then treat the historical context and events of the transmission of Buddhism to Tibet, and look at the siddhas (the wandering yogins/yoginis) and some of their practices associated with the Six Yogas of Naropa. We then go on to some characteristic religious ideas of the rNying ma pa (the Ancient Ones), Padmasambhava and his Hidden Treasures, and the philosophical and meditation teachings known as the Great Perfection considered by many to be the peak of Buddhist meditation practice.
