Dali Llama? (Buddhism, reincarnation, atheist, Christianity, Christians)

[TripleHelix]

I am a Christian, and i just wanted to know who the Dali Llama: is or who he is?
I think it is associated with Hinduism, but it's hard to find out. is Sikh a type of Hinduism?

[Master Vigil]

He is actually associated with Buddhism. He is the leader of a tibetan sect of buddhism, but is often seen as a leader of all buddhism. Wonderful man, I love his books.

Sikhism is an offshoot of Hinduism, like Buddhism was, Jainism was, and like Christianity was an offshoot of Judaism.

[anders]

In the first place: the title is the Dalai Lama. The personal name of the current one, the fourteenth, is Tenzing Gyatso. Try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalai_Lama.

I'm not very fond of "offshoot" explanations. Is Communism an offshoot of Capitalism? Sikhism was from its very beginning a reaction against Hinduism as well as against Islam. There are details in Sikhism, like in Buddhism and in Jainism, that also are found in Hinduism, but the differences are easy to find.

On the surface, all of them believe in afterlife. (Well, so do Christians.) But this phenomenon is interpreted very differently in Buddhism and Hinduism.

Buddhism at least started as an atheistic religion. Sikhism is monotheistic. And who can count the number of gods in Hinduism? (But within Hinduism you'll find anything from monotheism upwards.)

[Xaero4]

In simplest terms, the Dalai Llama is the reincarnation of Buddha.

[Prima]

In simplest terms, the Dalai Llama is the reincarnation of Buddha.

No no no no no! Buddha is not the same as the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.

[Xaero4]

Originally Posted by Prima

No no no no no! Buddha is not the same as the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.

Explaination?

[Prima]

The Dalai Lama is a reincarnation of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, not of the Buddha like you said.

Bodhisattva: "An enlightened being who, out of compassion, forgoes nirvana in order to save others"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalokiteshvara Look at the fifth paragraph under 'Tibetan Buddhism'

[adthelad]

Originally Posted by Master Vigil

He is actually associated with Buddhism. He is the leader of a tibetan sect of buddhism, but is often seen as a leader of all buddhism. Wonderful man, I love his books.

Sikhism is an offshoot of Hinduism, like Buddhism was, Jainism was, and like Christianity was an offshoot of Judaism.

As a Scientologist I agree - he is a very positive influence.

[groovyable]

Originally Posted by Prima

The Dalai Lama is a reincarnation of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, not of the Buddha like you said.

Bodhisattva: "An enlightened being who, out of compassion, forgoes nirvana in order to save others"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalokiteshvara Look at the fifth paragraph under 'Tibetan Buddhism'

Excellent response.

[Hema]

Originally Posted by anders

And who can count the number of gods in Hinduism? (But within Hinduism you'll find anything from monotheism upwards.)

I know many people think that there are many Gods in Hinduism but that's not exactly true. I know it's a common misconception so I'll just explain to clarify it a bit. The Vedas which are the pillars of Hinduism say there is one God who is called by different names. The different "Gods" in Hinduism are really representations of one God and symbolic of different powers of God. For eg. God is referred to as Brahma when he is creating, Ganesh when he is the remover of obstacles etc. Just as one man is called father, brother etc. and has different roles accordingly. In Hinduism the highest name for God is Om and God is formless.

To the original question. The Dalai Lama follows Buddhism.
Sikhism began in Nothern India, now the country of Pakistan. The Muslims began their invasion of India 1200+ years ago. As a result of Islam's struggle with Hinduism, leaders sought a reconciliation between the two faiths, a middle path that embraced both religions. Hence, Sikhism was born.