How many lamas are there in Tibetan Buddhism exactly?

There are hundreds if not thousands of lamas. Buddhists who enter into a 3 year retreat where they are given the complete lineage of the school of Tibetan Buddhism to which they belong usually become lamas upon their "graduation". read more

There are hundreds if not thousands of lamas. Buddhists who enter into a 3 year retreat where they are given the complete lineage of the school of Tibetan Buddhism to which they belong usually become lamas upon their "graduation". 3 year retreats happen at most Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries all over the world. read more

Lama: Lama, in Tibetan Buddhism, a spiritual leader. Originally used to translate “guru” (Sanskrit: “venerable one”) and thus applicable only to heads of monasteries or great teachers, the term is now extended out of courtesy to any respected monk or priest. read more

The Karmapa Lama is the leader of the Karmapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The current Karmapa, a 14-year-old, is the 17 th incarnation and is the only high lama accepted by both China and the Dalai Lama. read more