Tibetan Buddhism is a couple of sects of Buddhism. There is Mahayana, and then there is Vajrayana. Originally all there was was Buddha's historic teachings, called Sutrayana. Then later it evolve into Mahayana. The difference is basically that in Sutrayana the focus is on reaching enlightenment for yourself. Mahayana is reaching enlightenment fo the benefit of all sentient beings. This is where the Bodhisattvas come from: Mahayana. Then Vajrayana is basically Mahayana mixed with magical sorcery and shamanism. It has a lot lot lot of stuff that the Buddha never taught. Vajrayana is Tantra.
So, for these teachings, lineage is very important. Every monk can trace his lineage back to the Buddha himself, or to another Buddha (enlightened being) who brought the teachings. The idea is to keep the teachings pure and there is a secret transmission beyond words that is passed on form teacher to student.
However, it can become a dogma. I'd like to think that an you were already initiated when you had your experience. The Buddha initiated himself. You initiated yourself.
That is something that is lost nowadays and that is something that we are bringing back. The ability to initiate yourself. But then you don't have the lineage to back you up.
The whole requirement of initiation is also a way for the lamas to keep their power. Unfortunately, even Buddhism is trying to cling to its authority and resist change.
But real Buddhism is just the truth. The Dharma is the truth. And to take refuge in the Dharma is to take refuge on the truth. To take refuge in the Buddha is to take refuge in the fact that you to are a Buddha. To take refuge in the Sangha (spiritual community) is to join a living web of light made of people like you, me, the Incan Shaman, Juroara, Darkmatters, NonDualistic, the Dalai Lama, etc...
If we feed this living web of light it will expand and empower us and envelope others and empower everyone.
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