Theravada Buddhism: “The teaching or tradition of the elders” 

Location: Sri Lanka, Thailand Myanmar (Burma), Kampuchea (Cambodia) and Laos 

Sacred Text: Pali Canon 

Tripitaka – Three Baskets: 
Sutta (Sutra) Pitaka: Sutras (Sermons of the Buddha) and their explanations 
Vinaya Pitaka: Rules for monks and nuns 
Abhidhamma (Abhidharma) Pitaka: The psychological and philosophical work of the Buddha’s teachings 

Any of the sources I have listed, texts and web sites, will give you more information on the Sacred
Texts.  I would like to point out a source you may find most valuable.  Access to Insight will send
you a free CD-ROM with Buddhist Texts.  It also contains other information about Buddhism.  
Write them on your school’s official stationery, requesting a copy of the CD-ROM. 
The address is: 
Access to Insight 
PO Box 153 
Lincoln MA 01773 
Or you could go to the web site http://www.accesstoinsight.org to get the up to date information that is added. 

How the Buddha is viewed: stress is on the human Gautama. 

Ideal: The ideal is the arhat, the being who meditates, is detached, and seeks own salvation 

Tradition of Monks: the monks are at the center of the tradition.  One must be a monk to attain
enlightenment. 

Rituals:  the focus of rituals is upon images of the Buddha, chanting, making merit (giving, moral
observance, meditation, and respect for elders are a few of the many ways of attaining merit), and
the stupas (monuments where the relics of the Buddha and high monks and nuns are kept so that
people can show their respect). 

Mahayana Buddhism: “The great vehicle” 

Location: Nepal, Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia 

Sacred Text: Canons of sutras in Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese of which there are many
not accepted by Theravada Buddhism. 

How the Buddha is viewed: “3 Bodies of Buddha” theory. 

Ideal: bodhisattva – the being who forgoes nirvana, remaining to liberate others as well as self. 

Tradition of Monks: while monks are at the center of tradition, it is not seen as a necessary way of
life for achieving enlightenment. 

Rituals: the focus of rituals is on images of the Buddha, chanting, making merit for oneself, the
stupas and the celestial Bodhisattvas. 

Schools within Mahayana:

-Shingon: "true word," referring to sacred mantras 
-Tendai: named after the greatest Chinese monastic mountain institutions at Mount Tiandai 
-Jodo or Pure Land 
-Nicheren: named after a Tendai monk 
-Zen 
-Tantra/Tantric 
-Vajrayana Buddhism: “The Diamond vehicle” 
I will be offering more information in this section, as I believe this Tibetan form of Buddhism is a 
little more complex and it is within the scope of the institute I have been in this summer. 

It would be important to familiarize yourself with the area. 
http://iris.lib.virginia.edu/tibet
This site offers  information, interactive maps, video clips and photos of the Tibet (and other 
Himalayan regions) 

Tibetan and Himalayan Digital Library http://www.thdl.org/ 
This site is perhaps the most developed resource for students and scholars of the Himalayas.  It 
includes impressive databases of educational materials, web-based movies of cultural and social 
phenomena, images, transcripts, essays, indexes and catalogues of Tibetan language materials, 
geographical information, virtual tours of famous buildings, etc.  This site serves as an umbrella 
organization for several different projects relating to research and instruction on the topic of
Tibetan and Himalayan Studies. 

Tibetan Cultural Region Directory http://www.kotan.org/tibet/directory/index.html 
This is a page with links to all sorts of resources relating to Himalayan art, culture, religion, history, 
and so forth. 

FRONTLINE offered an excellent program called "Dreams of Tibet."
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/tibet/
You will find useful information to help understand Tibetan Buddhism, a Chronology, links and 
China in Tibet, to name a few. 

Tibetan Education Network  at Global Source  http://www.globalsourcenetwork.org
This site offers a catalog in which you will find many useful resources for the classroom.  I will list 
some of the articles and other educational tools I found helpful.  You may order them from the
catalog. 
"The Escape that Rocked the Reds" 
"How the Dalai Lama was Discovered" 
"Little Lama" 
"The Nature of Tibetan Sacred Art" 
"The Realpolitik of Spirituality: Interview with the Dalai Lama" 
The Wheel of Life - this is a depiction of the understanding of the transmigratory nature of 
existence, which explains rebirth.  The other side of the picture offers some wonderful information
on the wheel of life.
Basics of Buddhism 
"Themes of Tibetan Sacred Art" 
"The Worlds Youngest Political Prisoner" 
and many more articles, web sites and video suggestions. 

The one video I use while teaching  this section is "Kundun." 
This film is the story of the 14th Dalai Lama, from the "discovery" of his "reincarnation" at age two 
until his self-exile in India after the Chinese occupation of his country. Before he reaches maturity 
the Dalai Lama is placed at the head of his small, undeveloped and very religious country. He 
must deal with the surging strength and territorial ambitions of China, a newly unified and 
invigorated great power. The film shows how the boy grows to be a young man trying to do what is 
right and serve his people, while resisting the Chinese through nonviolence. The film also shows 
some of the superstitions and practices of Tibetan Buddhism. 

Benefits: "Kundun" will introduce children to Tibet, to its relationship with China, and to the Dalai 
Lama. 

Caution:  It is the accepted view of Tibet and the Dalai Lama.; therefore, it is one-sided. 

Succession of Dalai Lamas

1. Gendun Grub (1391-1474) 
2. Gendun Gyatso (1476-1542) 
3. Sonam Gyatso (1543-1588): First to bear the title of Dalai Lama 
4. Yontan Gyatso (1589-1616): Mongul
5. Ngawang Lobzang Gyatso (1617-1682): First to rule over Tibet 
6. Tsangyang Gyatso (1683-1706 OR 1746): Deposed and taken away from Tibet; may or may
     not have died in 1706. 
7. Kelsang Gyatso (1708-1757) 
8. Jampel Gayest (1758-1804) 
9. Lungtok Gyatso (1805-1815): Died at the age of 10. 
10. Tsultrim Gyatso (1816-1837): Died at the age of 21. 
11. Khedrub Gyatso (1838-1855): Died at the age of 17. 
12. Trinle Gyatso (1856-1875): Died at the age of 21. 
13. Thubten Gyatso (1876-1933) 
14. Tendzin Gyatso (1935-