<p>No they are not the same, Tibetan Buddhism is a broader concept that subsumes Tibetan Vajrayana. Also, there's non-Tibetan Vajrayana, some still practiced in e.g. Japan. </p>

<p>To some degree all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, and particularly Karma Kagyu, recognize three yanas (Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana) as subsequent stages on an individual's path to complete enlightenment. These days many teachers tend to have their student jump straight into tantra right after Ngondro (preliminary stage of Vajrayana training), but traditionally, the student is supposed to master the foundational theory, discipline, and meditation of Hinayana before proceeding to Mahayana, then master Mahayana's practice of subverting one's ego, and attain realization of nonconceptual emptiness, and only then proceed to tantric practices of working with Yidams (generation/completion), the Vajrayana proper.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-13T11:58:11.610Z
Ah, you are right.
Andriy Volkov
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-13T11:59:48.893Z
Yeah, I know. Fixed the answer.
Andriy Volkov
CC BY-SA 4.0
2014-06-18T03:31:25.173Z
2019-10-13T11:59:31.610Z
2019-10-13T11:59:31.610Z
Andriy Volkov
<p>Vajrayana was practiced in China, Vietnam and Korea. This is often called esoteric Buddhism.</p>

<p>Kukyo brought esoteric Buddhist to Japan and founded the Shingon sect.</p>

<p>In Russia (well, Kalmykia and Buryatia now) Buddhism was essentially Mongolian Buddhism, which in turn came from Tibet.</p>

<p>And in the US, we have modern formulations of Vajrayana like Shambhala.</p>

<p>I think it would be more accurate to say that these are all forms of Vajrayana rather than forms of Tibetan Buddhism.  However, Tibetan Buddhism certain has the most mindshare, the most widespread institutional bases (monestaries and centers established all over the place), so Tibetan Buddhism is the elephant in the room when it comes Vajrayana.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-29T03:02:56.850Z
2014-06-29T03:02:56.850Z
MatthewMartin
<p>This is a hugely amateurish question, for which I apologize, but: are Vajrayana and Tibetan Buddhism the same thing? If not, how are they related? </p>

<p>In particular, does the term "Tibetan Buddhism" refer to a specific school of Buddhist thought and practice, or does it just generically refer to any sort of Buddhism that is practiced in Tibet? </p>

<p>Wikipedia treats the two as separate entities, but some other sources (e.g. <a href="http://www.patheos.com/Library/Vajrayana-Buddhism.html">this</a>) treat them as effectively the same.</p>

<vajrayana><tibetan-buddhism><terminology>
Are Vajrayana and Tibetan Buddhism the same thing?
# Are Vajrayana and Tibetan Buddhism the same thing?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-06-18)

This is a hugely amateurish question, for which I apologize, but: are Vajrayana and Tibetan Buddhism the same thing? If not, how are they related?

In particular, does the term "Tibetan Buddhism" refer to a specific school of Buddhist thought and practice, or does it just generically refer to any sort of Buddhism that is practiced in Tibet?

Wikipedia treats the two as separate entities, but some other sources (e.g. [this](http://www.patheos.com/Library/Vajrayana-Buddhism.html)) treat them as effectively the same.

**Tags:** vajrayana, tibetan-buddhism, terminology


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-06-18. Score: 13

No they are not the same, Tibetan Buddhism is a broader concept that subsumes Tibetan Vajrayana. Also, there's non-Tibetan Vajrayana, some still practiced in e.g. Japan.

To some degree all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, and particularly Karma Kagyu, recognize three yanas (Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana) as subsequent stages on an individual's path to complete enlightenment. These days many teachers tend to have their student jump straight into tantra right after Ngondro (preliminary stage of Vajrayana training), but traditionally, the student is supposed to master the foundational theory, discipline, and meditation of Hinayana before proceeding to Mahayana, then master Mahayana's practice of subverting one's ego, and attain realization of nonconceptual emptiness, and only then proceed to tantric practices of working with Yidams (generation/completion), the Vajrayana proper.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Ah, you are right.  
> **username_1**: Yeah, I know. Fixed the answer.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2014-06-29. Score: 7

Vajrayana was practiced in China, Vietnam and Korea. This is often called esoteric Buddhism.

Kukyo brought esoteric Buddhist to Japan and founded the Shingon sect.

In Russia (well, Kalmykia and Buryatia now) Buddhism was essentially Mongolian Buddhism, which in turn came from Tibet.

And in the US, we have modern formulations of Vajrayana like Shambhala.

I think it would be more accurate to say that these are all forms of Vajrayana rather than forms of Tibetan Buddhism. However, Tibetan Buddhism certain has the most mindshare, the most widespread institutional bases (monestaries and centers established all over the place), so Tibetan Buddhism is the elephant in the room when it comes Vajrayana.


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