Tibetan Buddhism

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/tibetan-buddhism

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary scriptural language?Classical Tibetan, developed through extensive translation efforts from Sanskrit
2. What is the philosophical goal?Attainment of Buddhahood through Mahayana and Vajrayana (tantric) practices for universal liberation
3. Who helped bring Tibetan Buddhism to other parts of Asia?Mongol rulers, especially Kublai Khan, supported the spread of Tibetan Buddhism across the Mongol Empire, reaching places like China and Siberia.
4. How do Tibetan Buddhists practice meditation?They use special techniques like deity yoga, where they imagine themselves as a Buddha or bodhisattva, and they also recite mantras to help focus their minds.

Vajrayana: A branch of Mahayana Buddhism characterized by tantric practices and rapid paths to enlightenment.
Dzogchen: A high-level meditative tradition within the Nyingma school, emphasizing direct insight into the nature of mind.
Tibetan Diaspora: The community of Tibetan people living outside Tibet, particularly after 1959, who have spread Tibetan culture and religion globally.