Why are llamas significant?

[Seth19930]

Hello everyone, I'm having a very hard time finding the reason llamas are a significant symbol in Buddhism. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Modus.Ponens]

They are a significant symbol in tibetan buddhism, not in theravada buddhism. In theravada, the importance is given to admirable friends, companions in the holy life.

[Seth19930]

Thanks! Well since I've already posted in a Theravada discussion forum does anyone have knowledge pertaining to why llamas are significant in Tibetan Buddhism?

[daverupa]

Llamas aren't indigenous to Tibet...

[David N. Snyder]

Which lama are you referring to? This one:



Or this one:

[Aloka]

Here's a photo of a very important high llama.

[daverupa]

The one-l lama,
He's a priest.
The two-l llama,
He's a beast.
And I will bet
A silk pajama
There isn't any
Three-l lllama.

-Ogden Nash

(Nash added as a footnote, *The author's attention has been called to a type of conflagration known as a three-alarmer. Pooh.)

[David N. Snyder]

And with that note, let's move this to the lounge.

[Kim O'Hara]

Thanks! Well since I've already posted in a Theravada discussion forum does anyone have knowledge pertaining to why llamas are significant in Tibetan Buddhism?

Hi, Seth,
Lamas are highly trained priests. That's one reason they are respected.
For most of Tibet's history, hardly anyone except the lamas got much of an education in anything, so lamas were also respected for their other kinds of expertise.
Finally, Tibetan Buddhism gives teachers - lamas - far more spiritual authority than other Buddhist schools give to monks.

Hope this helps,

Kim

[LonesomeYogurt]

Man I step out to get groceries and all the good llama puns are taken by the time I get back...

Just my luck!

Anyway a Lama is just a term for a highly respected teacher of Tibetan Buddhism - and as Tibetan Buddhism focuses heavily on student-teacher relationships and Dharma transmission, they form an integral part of the lineage chain that defines their school.

[Ben]

I'm gonna ride my llama
From Peru to Texarcana

I'm gonna ride him good
In my old neighbourhood.

-- Ride my llama, Neil Young

[Seth19930]

So the animal has no relation to the title in any symbolic way?

[mikenz66]

So the animal has no relation to the title in any symbolic way?

Unlikely, since the term lama originated in South America:
http://oxforddictionaries.com/definitio ... lish/llama


Mike

[Dan74]

So the animal has no relation to the title in any symbolic way?

Unlikely, since the term lama originated in South America:
http://oxforddictionaries.com/definitio ... lish/llama


Mike

Oh, but there is!



Note that the 6 minutes of your life you will lose in watching this toon are non-refundable!

[Seth19930]

Lama in Tibetan means weighty! I figured it out! Because the dharma is weighty!

[tiltbillings]

Lama in Tibetan means weighty! I figured it out! Because the dharma is weighty!

lama (blama) literally means "none higher." It is not a direct translation into the Tibetan of guru (Sanskrit; garu in Pali), which means heavy or one with gravitas.

[Aloka]

Lama in Tibetan means weighty! I figured it out! Because the dharma is weighty!

lama (blama) literally means "none higher." It is not a direct translation into the Tibetan of guru (Sanskrit; garu in Pali), which means heavy or one with gravitas.

From The Berzin Archives:

The Tibetans translated guru as lama (bla-ma). La means unsurpassable or sublime, while ma means mother.

Lamas resemble mothers in that they have given birth internally to what is sublime. In other words, lamas are people who are extraordinarily advanced in spiritual development. Moreover, lamas help others to give birth to their own achievements of similar states.

http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/e-books/published_books/spiritual_teacher/pt1/spiritual_teacher_02.html

.

[Raitanator]

It actually depends on what you practice. At some point, lama might become essential for the path, especially if one is trying to engage to tantric practices. As they saying goes: "guru is the path". However, there's plenty of mahayana, and some similar to theravadin tradition, which doesn't require any commitment or guru-disciple relationship. In addition, guru doesn't necessarily have to be a monk or a nun. There are also gurus who are laypeople.