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TRANSMISSION TO TIBET

From Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia
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The introduction of Buddhism from India north to Tibet can be grasped in two disseminations of the religion. The initial dissemination occurred in the seventh century CE during the reign of Songtsen Gampo

(ca. 618–650), who was portrayed as an incarnation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara for the purpose of spreading Buddhism. The king appears

to have been influenced by his two wives: Bhrkutī, a princess from Nepal who brought an image of Aksobhya Buddha to Tibet, and


Wen-ch’eng, a daughter of the Chinese emperor who brought a statue of the Buddha with her. Songtsen Gampo built the first Buddhist temple in his capital of Lhasa, developed a legal code based on Buddhist ethical principles, and sent scholars to India to study.

Buddhism was also promoted by another king named Trisong Detsen (ca. 740–798), who was believed to be an incarnation of the bodhisattva Mañjuśrī. The king invited learned Buddhist scholars from India, such

as Śāntaraks.ita (ca. 705–798), but they were forced to leave Tibet when the local angry spirits caused natural disasters. In order to subjugate the local spirits, a great tantric master named Padmasambhava was invited to Tibet, and his efforts were successful, but he was also forced to leave the country when he became a victim of anti-foreign sentiment. In 775,

the Samyé Monastery was consecrated, giving Buddhism a tenuous foothold in Tibet. During Trisong Detsen’s reign, the controversy over gradual versus sudden enlightenment was allegedly settled by a debate with the king judging the contest in favor of the gradual approach, and also decreeing that the Mādhyamika school would be the preferable way followed in Tibet.

The first dissemination of Buddhism in Tibet ended in persecution by King Lang Darma (r. 838–842), who closed monasteries, required


monks and nuns to return to lay life, and severed contacts with Buddhism in India. The persecution drove Buddhism underground and eventually the king was assassinated by Belgyi Dorje, a Buddhist monk, which led to political chaos, collapse of the dynasty, regional fragmentation, and the demise of the Tibetan power in central Asia.

The second dissemination of Buddhism into Tibet had more enduring consequences. By the end of the 10th century, political stability enabled kings to revitalize Buddhism. Not only did kings send students to study in India, but they also invited famous Buddhist masters to Tibet, such


as Atiśa (982–1054) in 1042 whose disciple Dromten (1008–1064) founded the Kadam school and Marpa (1012–1096), who was another student of Nāropa (1016–1100), a great tantric master and teacher at Nālandā University. Marpa inspired his disciple Milarepa (1040–1123), who in turn influenced Gampopa (1079–1153), a founder of the Kagyüpa school.

on paying tribute to the Mongols, but this negative development gave way to something positive for Buddhists when the Godan Khan agreed to allow a Tibetan representative at his court around 1274, was converted,

became a protector of the religion, and made the leader of the Sakyapa school named Günga Gyelsten (also known as Sakya Pandita, 1181–1251) the regent of Tibet. This began the practice of monastic leaders assuming responsibility for the social and political welfare of the Tibetans.


By the late 14th century, Tibetan Buddhism had fallen into decay, but it was to experience a major reform initiated by Tsongkhapa (1357–1419) and his reformist movement that emerged as the Gelugpa (Order of

Virtue) school. This reform started a spiritual revival as evidenced by the construction of the Ganden Monastery in 1409, and it was symbolized by the ceremonial yellow hats and robes of the monks, in contrast to the red-colored attire of the unreformed monks. Further construction followed before Sonam Gyatso, leader of the school, was given the title

Dalai Lama by the Altan Khan, which initiated the reincarnation doctrine associated with the Dalai Lama. During the life of the fifth Dalai Lama, Tibet became unified for the first time with the support of the Mongols. This period also witnessed the building of the Potala Palace in Lhasa,


After a period of international isolation, Tibet became a British protectorate before it lost its independence in March of 1959 when the Communist Chinese invaded the country. This event caused the 14th Dalai Lama to flee into exile in India. The Dalai Lama became a spokesperson for a


free Tibet and a major international figure espousing peace and nonviolence. His efforts for international peace won him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. From his residence in Dharamsala, India, the Dalai Lama sought to find a solution to Chinese domination of Tibet.


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