Links to Free Online Study Materials on the History, Philosophy and Teachings of Tibetan Buddhism
Our goal is to provide you with some of the resources that will help you continue your practice of kindness, love, and compassion. This is a brief list which we plan to expand. We hope you find something in it that inspires your inquiring mind.
If you have a suggestion, please let us know.
General Resources Publishers and Bookstores Traditions Teachings Tibetan Political Organizations Media Tibetan Language Art and Culture Buddhism for Kids Tibetan Calendar for Your Desktop Shopping
www.dalailama.com - The Website of the Office of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama features the Latest News, Teachings, Message/Speeches, Schedule, and Webcasts.
The Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Buddhism offers comprehensive courses both online and at their various centers.
The Dalai Lama Foundation was established in 2002, with the Dalai Lama's endorsement and advice, by a core founding group including long-time friends of the Dalai Lama and members of the Silicon Valley business community. The main program focus is in the area of education, promoting and developing curricula for ethics and peace. Their initial offering is a Study Guide for the Dalai Lama's book Ethics for the New Millennium. This guide is available for download by anyone wishing to form a study circle to engage in their own exploration of values and ethics.
Maitreya Project - Home of the Heart Shrine Relic Tour.
Bodhicitta.Net - This Site is Dedicated to the Development of Compassion, Universal Responsibility and Enlightenment
Lama Zopa Web Site - Lama Zopa Rinpoche was born in 1946 in Thami, in the Mount Everest region of Nepal, not far from the Lawudo cave where his predecessor had meditated for the last 20 years of his life. Lama Zopa Rinpoche is now the Spiritual Director of the Foundation for the preservation of the Mahayana Tradition and oversees all of its activities. This web site is under the direction of one of Lama Zopa's students, Lilian Too.
The Robert Thurman Web Site - Robert A.F. Thurman is the Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religion at Columbia University, President of the Tibet House U.S., a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Tibetan civilization, and President of the American Institute of Buddhist Studies, a non-profit affiliated with the Center for Buddhist Studies at Columbia University and dedicated to the publication of translations of important texts from the Tibetan Tanjur. Find more information about Robert Thurman, his books, and many free essays on this site. Also see his podcast page.
Buddhist Book Publishers and Online Bookstores
Snow Lion . Publisher of Buddhist literature.
Wisdom Publications. Publishers of Buddhist literature.
Namse Bangdzo Bookstore Excellent online bookstore.
KTD publishers - Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, under the spiritual guidance and protection of His Holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa, is devoted to the authentic representation of the Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.
Drukpa Kagyu Heritage Project - The transmission of the Buddha's teaching occurs in two ways—through words and through realization. Transmission through words occurs through the Buddha's instructions and through the texts which have been composed on the basis of his instructions. Generally speaking, the work of the Drukpa Kagyu Heritage Foundation is to preserve the transmission of the Buddha's teaching by preserving the texts which have been composed on the basis of his instructions. Specifically, it is to preserve the texts of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The written works of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage are vast and are currently scattered across Nepal, Bhutan, Ladakh, India and Tibet. Our intent is to search for and gather copies of whatever texts exist and to compile them into a collected edition which accurately transmits the written heritage of the Drukpa Kagyu tradition.
Chagdud Gonpa Foundation is an international Nyingma Buddhist organization, founded in 1983 by H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche (1930-2002), a highly revered meditation master, artist and Tibetan physician who taught extensively in the East and West. Through its many activities, which include offering public teachings and retreats, translating, and publishing texts, Chagdud Gonpa Foundation upholds and preserves the arts, philosophy, and meditation practices of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism.
Palyul Nyingmapa Buddhist Centers - Nyingma resource.
Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archives - The Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive (LYWA) is the collected works of Lama Thubten Yeshe and Kyabje Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche. The Archive was founded in 1996 by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, its spiritual director, to make available in various ways the teachings it contains. Distribution of free booklets of edited teachings is one of those ways. Highly recommended.
Thubten Chodron Ven. Chodron is the founder of the newly established Sravasti Abbey, where monks and nuns will train and practice the Dharma and make the precious teachings of the Buddha available to others throughout the world. Fantastic teachings from a fantastic teacher. Highly recommended.
Lam Rim Radio - This web site hosts many free audio files of teachings given by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and other formidable teachers. These are great to record on CD's for your listening enjoyment to and from work. From this site you can also access Lam Rim TV
Teachings from Kurukulla Center for Tibetan Studies - Excellent site includes live broadcasts of many teachings as well as an archive of downloadable files.
Asian Classics Institutes - An effort to make a comprehensive course of Buddhist studies more readily accessible world wide. Classes are available on-line. Classes include all the written material, complete lectures, homework, quizzes, and exams for those who wish to complete a certificate. In keeping with the tradition that the Dharma should be offered at no cost, all courses are completely free. CAUTION: Since the Guru is so important in Tibetan Buddhism, it is recommended that one examine their teachers thoroughly before studying under them. Geshe Michael Roach is a very controversial figure. Examine the situation and make up your own mind before embarking on study under him or any other teacher.
E-books on Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism - available Free online.
I. Alexander Berzin, born in 1944 in Paterson, New Jersey, received his B.A. degree in 1965 from the Department of Oriental Studies,
Rutgers University in conjunction with Princeton University; and his M.A. in 1967 and Ph.D. in 1972 from the Departments of Far Eastern
Languages (Chinese) and Sanskrit and Indian Studies, Harvard University. From 1969 to 1998, he resided primarily in Dharamsala, India,
initially as a Fulbright Scholar, studying and practicing with masters from all four Tibetan Buddhist traditions. His main teacher was
Tsenzhab Serkong Rinpoche, the late Master Debate Partner and Assistant Tutor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He served as his interpreter
and secretary for nine years, accompanying him on several world tours. He has also served as occasional Dharma interpreter for His Holiness
the Dalai Lama.
Alexander Berzin is offering this book as well as many other essays, books, and articles free of charge on his web site including the
following:
The Gelug-Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra
Originally published as H. H. the Dalai Lama and Berzin, Alexander. The Gelug/Kagyü Tradition of Mahamudra.
Ithaca, Snow Lion, 1997
Engaging in Bodhisattva Behavior
(sPyod-‘jug, Bodhisattvacharyavatara)
by Shantideva
translated from the Tibetan, as clarified by the Sanskrit by Alexander Berzin, 2004
Also available as a pdf file
More E-books by Alexander Berzin can be found on his web site.
Tibetan Political Organizations and the Tibetan Situation:
The web site of the Tibetan Government in Exile.
TASHI LHUNPO MONASTERY - Seat of HH Panchen Lama.
The International Tibet Independence Movement (ITIM) was founded by Thubten Jigme Norbu (Taktser Rinpoche) and Larry Gerstein on March 18, 1995 to obtain Tibet's Independence through non-violent methods.
International Campaign for Tibet - he International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) works to promote human rights and democratic freedoms for the people of Tibet.
Tibet Online - Tibet Online aims to counteract the disadvantages Tibetans face in their struggle against the vast resources of the Chinese government. We level the playing field by leveraging the Internet's ability to harness international grassroots support for Tibet's survival. - from the Tibet Online web site.
Tibetan links - News, culture, stuff of interest to Tibetans and those interested in Tibet.
Here are some links for those who wish to learn more about the Tibetan situation:
Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy
The Official Website of Central Tibetan Administration
Phayul.com
Tibet Online
And here are some links for those wishing to become actively involved:
International Tibet Independence Movement
Students for a Free Tibet
International Campaign for Tibet
Free Tibet
International Tibet Support Network
Nitartha, The Home for Digital Tibetan - Nitartha´s charter is to provide secular and impartial advice and assistance for Asian cultural institutions. Nitartha international is an educational, not a religious, corporation. Our work supports institutions affiliated with various schools of Tibetan Buddhism, but Nitartha international does not advocate any particular religious preference in performing its work.
Tibetan Clipart, screen savers, and other computer goodies
Learn Tibetan - One of the best resources for understanding the basics of the Tibetan language.
Manjushree Center of Tibetan Culture - Intensive Tibetan Language Program in Darjeeling, India...
The Tibetan Language Institute - A US resource for learning Tibetan. Many excellent Tibetan language textbook and material reviews. No refunds on any purchases.
The Tibetan Computer Company - The best Tibetan word processor available.
The Himalayan Art web site features a wonderful collection of children's stories told through the artwork of Tibet. Entitled Explorations, many of these stories contain lessons about leading a good life, focusing on the importance of kindness, generosity and compassion. Garland of Stories, one of the newest collections, includes over 20 stories of the Buddha's past lives.
Geography of Heaven: Kawakarpo - In this series, photographs, video clips, and audio highlights shape the stories around the sacred mountain of Kawakarpo. Stories include The Lessons of the Buddha, Morality and the Gift of the Moment, The Mountain Home of a Warrior God, and several others. Look around...there are a few very special surprises tucked away in this radio expedition.
Children's Buddhist eBooks - from Buddhanet's eLibrary this is a list of downloadable Buddhist books for children of all ages.
Northwest Dharma Association - Links to Family Dharma web sites and centers.
Buddhist Songs for Children - Free for Download.
Tibetan Calendar for Your Desktop
Tibetan Calendar for Your Desktop - Free download found by IBC President, Clifton Carmody who says that it is a "a simple and free program that will tell you the practice days and other days of note if you are interested. I have used it the last couple of years and it is nice. You can put in your own city/longitude/latitude for correct days for one thing."
IBC is proud to announce the opening of
Mantras in Wood
which produces handmade replicas of Tibetan Buddhist mantras in wood. These beautiful hand-cut altar pieces are one of a kind
as each one is made individually. The owner is donating a minimum of 25% of all the profits from this online business to IBC.
The work is beautifully finished and will make a wonderful addition to your altar or workspace. And, what a wonderful gift idea!
Everyone who sees this artistic work will benefit. This site and its products are approved by Geshe Jinpa Sonam.
More coming soon