1. The Diamond Thunderbolt Way

2. I am the Guru Padmasmbhava, and I brought Buddhism to Tibet. I combined my Indian Tantric teaching with aspects of the Bon Shamanism of Tibet to form a totally new kind of Buddhist path.

3. I “converted” many of the Bon Spirits to Buddhism, and they have become “Dharma protectors” – fierce spirits who protect Buddhist teaching and those who follow it

4. This is Mahakala, for example;

5. Tantra is an Indian religious tradition that emphasises Ritual and Visualisation meditations, and values the gaining of Siddhas – mysterious, magical powers. Some of my disciples call me the “Crazy Wisdom Guru”, because my teachings are often strange!

6. Vajrayana Buddhism is very colourful and its rituals are often very loud as well.

7. The idea of the Mantra is really important in Vajrayana – this is a short phrase that is repeated while a person meditates… The most famous is “Om Mane Padme Hum” Click here to hear it chanted

8. “Aum mane Padme hum” literally means “Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus”, but Tibetans believe that the words themselves are powerful – just repeating this mantra often enough can make you enlightened. A good way to think about this is water dropping on a stone – after a few hours you have a wet stone, but after thousands of years, water can actually wear it’s way through. Mantras have a similar effect, slowly but surely breaking through to enlightenment.

9. Mantras can be used in lots of different ways – you can write them out and put them in a prayer wheel, which you can spin as you walk, or talk – Tibetans believe that even doing this will gain merit, and help you get enlightened, as there is a small part of your mind that is still aware of the mantra as you spin it.

10. Some prayer wheels are very big indeed – you can see them on the streets, and around temples.

11. You can carve Mantras into rocks by the roadside, and their power will pass into the cosmos, as they erode…

12. You can write Mantras onto “Wind Horses” – flags, and their power will be carried into the cosmos by the wind!

13. Vajrayana monks are called Lamas – and have some differences to other kinds of Buddhist monk – we are allowed to eat Meat (as it is a staple in Tibet), and we have to support ourselves financially, as well as living a monastic life.

14. Many of our Pujas are long, complex rituals, involving specific types of meditation, as well as the use of some particular ritual tools, which are unique to Vajrayana

15. The Dorje, or Vajra – Thunderbolt Sceptre is held in the hand while performing rituals, or meditating – it represents the Male Principle, and the idea of Action and may be thought of as a “battery” for storing spiritual power.

16. The Bell that is held in the other hand represents the female principle, and the idea of “Wisdom”. Used together in rituals, the Bell and Dorje represent the union of Wisdom and Action.

17. The Phurba is a ritual dagger, that is used as a means of focussing and directing spiritual power, often to aid others, in healing or exorcism rituals.

18. The Mala is another important ritual tool – a necklace of 108 beads that is used to count repetitions of mantras. This one, like many of the most powerful ritual objects is made out of human bone – this is a way of showing that the Lamas do not fear the power of death!

19. Lamas are expected to be experts in Buddhist Philosophy – we argue with each other every day in a very vigorous way – only the very finest get promoted!

20. Thankas are very detailed pictures of Bodhisattvas that are used as a focus for Pujas, and for meditation – some very large ones are used for festivals.

21. Offerings are made in front of the images of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas – Light, Water, and Flowers you will be familiar with, but also white scarves – which are a symbol of honour and respect – the Tibetan equivalent of garlands of flowers – as these do not grow easily in Tibet.

22. Lamps fuelled with Yak Butter are offered to Images of the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, and Dharma protectors, as symbols of enlightenment

23. This complicated Mandala is a map of the Vajrayana Universe, meditating upon it can lead you to enlightenment – see if you can guess what it is made out of?

24. It is made out of sand – teams of Lamas painstakingly spend months creating these. They are created for particular festivals and celebrations

25. At the high point of the ritual, these mandalas are destroyed, and the sand swept up – this is an example of Anicca, and teaches us not to be attached to things!

26. I am the Dalai Lama, the Spiritual Leader of Tibet (although I now live in exile in India). I teach that the Vajrayana path is one that must emphasise Wisdom, and Compassion to all living beings.

27. Before the Chinese invasion, I was the ruler of Tibet as well, and Tibet was a Buddhist state – everyone practiced Buddhism, and nearly every man was a monk.

28. I am the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, and I am a direct reincarnation of the previous thirteen – many Tibetans believe that I am the incarnation of Chenzenrig – the Bodhisattva of compassion Many senior Lamas reincarnate like this, this called a “tulku”

29. This is the Potala – My palace in Lhasa. It is still a place of Pilgrimage for many of my Countrymen.