Lama

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about Tibetan Buddhist teachers. For other uses of the word, see Lama
(disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Llama.
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The current Dalai Lama.

Lama Dance, Dharamsala, H.P., India c. 1980.

Lama (Tibetan: , Wylie: bla-ma; "chief" or "high priest"[1]) is a title for a teacher of
the Dharma in Tibetan Buddhism. The name is similar to the Sanskrit term guru.[2]
Historically, the term was used for venerated spiritual masters[3][4] or heads of monasteries.[2] Today
the title can be used as anhonorific title conferred on a monk,[2][4] nun or (in
the Nyingma, Kagyu and Sakya schools) advanced tantric practitioner to designate a level of
spiritual attainment and authority to teach, or may be part of a title such as Dalai
Lama[4] or Panchen Lama[4] applied to alineage of reincarnate lamas (Tulkus).
Perhaps due to misunderstandings by early western scholars attempting to understand Tibetan
Buddhism, the term lama has historically been erroneously applied to Tibetan monks in general.
Similarly, Tibetan Buddhism was referred to as "Lamaism"[2] by early western scholars and
travelers who perhaps did not understand that what they were witnessing was a form of
Buddhism;[2] they may also have been unaware of the distinction between Tibetan Buddhism
and Bn. The term Lamaism is now considered by some to be derogatory.[5]
In the Vajrayana path of Tibetan Buddhism, the lama is often the tantric spiritual guide, the guru to
the aspiring Buddhist yogi oryogini. As such, the lama will then appear as one of the Three
Roots (a variant of the Three Jewels), alongside the yidam and protector (who may be
a dakini, dharmapala or other Buddhist deity figure).