Inheritance Way of Different Schools of Tibetan Buddhism

In Tibetan history, there are many different inheritance ways of hierarch of the different Schools, which could lead us to find the origin of the reincarnation system of the Mahayana, the teachings of Samsara and Living Buddha.

Inheritance Way of Different Schools of Tibetan Buddhism

Nyingma Sect

Nyingma Sect is the oldest one among the Tibetan Buddhist Schools. The name of Nyingma means ancient and old in Tibetan language. The teaching of this Sect is considered as imparting from Master Padmasambhava since 8 century.

The disciples of Nyingma Sect wear red hat so that Nyingma Sect is also called Red Sect. The son of the hierarch of Nyingma Sect takes the status, which almost lead to the breakdown. Due to the support of the Gelug Sect (Yellow Sect) since the 5th Dalai Lama, Nyingma Sect has been succeeded in some areas of Tibet Region.

Sakya Sect

Sakya originally means the grey land in Tibetan language, besides there are strips of other color such as red, white and black on the wall, Sakya Sect is also called the Colorful Sect. According to the history record, the hierarch of Sakya Sect straightly controls the local politics and economy and then the cousin of the hierarch will take the status.

In 1247, the hierarch Saban met with Kuoduan who was the grandson of Genghis Khan. After that, Tibet Region has officially been included by China.

Phagspa took the status after the death of Saban and awarded as the imperial master by Kublai in 1268.

Kagyu Sect

There are lots of branches of Kagyu Sect, which the Phagdru Kagyu has controlled the Tibet local political power.

The Karma Kagyu has been the first Sect to use the reincarnation system of Living Buddha.

Gelug Sect

Gelug Sect has been established by Tsongkhapa. All of the disciples of Gelug Sect wear yellow cassock, thus Gelug Sect also has been called Yellow Sect.

After over one hundred years later the death of Tsongkhapa, the leader of Sonam Cyatso (1543 - 1588) established the reincarnation system of Living Buddha. Sonam Gyatsi has been called the 3rd Dalai Lama.