The origin of Tibetan Buddhism

 

The origin of Tibetan Buddhism

 

The wise man Agudengba and the caravan leader Lacuo came to the foot of Gonggar Snow Mountain. They walked all the way along southern Tibet. The two chatted about Tibet's native religion Bon, which evolved from Tibet's original shamanic belief. It is also the earliest religion in Tibetan history. But the conversation soon turned to Tibetan Buddhism.

Agudemba said:

Tibetan Buddhism is a branch of Buddhism in Tibet, China. Tibetan Buddhism, commonly known as Lamaism. Tibetan Buddhism is spread mainly in Tibet and Russia.

Han Buddhism is a Buddhist sect divided by geographical location. It spreads in China, Japan, the Korean Peninsula and other places, with Mahayana Buddhism as the mainstay. The influence of Han Buddhism spread to the Korean Peninsula, Japan, Vietnam and other places along with Chinese influence, and influenced Tibetan Buddhism in later generations. In fact, Chinese Buddhism can be said to be one of the main forces shaping the appearance of Mahayana Buddhism; but unlike Tibetan Buddhism, which places equal emphasis on both Sutra and Tantra, the majority of Han Buddhism's sects are Sutra and Sutra. Theravada Buddhism, also known as Theravada Buddhism. It is popular in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos in Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka in South Asia, and Yunnan Province in China.

Latso raised a series of questions:

Why was the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism chosen by the rulers of the Yuan Dynasty? Is Tibetan Buddhism orthodox Buddhism? What are the differences between Chinese Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism? Who are the four living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism?

Agudemba said:

What are the characteristics of Tibetan Buddhism? This has to start with the origin of the Tibetan Buddhist sect.

Tibetan Buddhism began in the mid-7th century, after Songtsen Gampo married Princess Chizun and Princess Wencheng. In the second half of the 10th century, Tibetan "Buddhism" took shape. In the following more than 300 years, sects with different characteristics were formed, and Tantra in Buddhism was generally believed in. With the development of "Buddhism" in Tibet, upper-level lamas gradually took control of local political power.

Buddhism in the Tubo period coexisted for about 200 years from the mid-7th century to the mid-9th century. Tibetan Buddhist historical records are called the "Qianhong Period", which is roughly equivalent to the period from Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty to Dezong of the Tang Dynasty.

The first myths about Tibetan Buddhism say: On the 28th generation of Zangpra Tuotuo, divine objects descended from heaven. The divine objects include: a cubit-sized gold pagoda, the "Hundred Bows and Confessions Sutra", the "Treasure Box Sutra" and six The word Ming Mantra.

In fact, the large-scale introduction of Buddhism into Tibet should have started when Songtsen Gampo established the Tubo Dynasty. Buddhism was introduced from two directions, Han Dynasty and India. At that time, King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet converted to Buddhism under the influence of his two wives, Princess Wencheng of Tang Dynasty and Princess Bhikkhu of Nepal. He sent minister Duanmei Sambodhi and 16 other people to India to study Sanskrit and Buddhist scriptures. After returning, he created Tibetan characters and began to translate some Buddhist scriptures. He also formulated laws to make people devoutly believe in Buddhism, and Buddhism began to spread in Tubo.

Since then, Trisong Detsen played a great role in the development of Buddhism. During his reign, he adopted various administrative means to translate Buddhist scriptures, build temples, and establish monastic groups to spread and promote Buddhism. First, welcome the Indian monks Shantarakshita and Padmasambhava into Tibet. After Shantarakshita and Padmasambhava came to Tibet, they first established the Samye Monastery. After the completion of the Samye Monastery, Trisong Detsen specially sent people to India to invite 12 monks to ordain and ordain 7 young Tibetan nobles. The ordination of these seven people is an extremely important event in the history of Tibetan Buddhism. It is the beginning of Tibetan monkhood. They are honored as the "Seven Enlightenment Scholars" in Tibetan historical records. He also invited translators to translate a large number of Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit, and also translated some Buddhist scriptures from Chinese. Therefore, the Three Jewels of Buddhism—Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha—are finally in place. At this time, the Bible translation industry began to flourish. During this period, three catalogs were compiled: Pangtang catalog, Danga catalog and Qingpu catalog.

Agudumba added:

The three Tsangpu after Trisong Detsen also vigorously supported Buddhism, and monks were exempted from taxes and manual labor; a monastery was set up in the palace to worship the "Three Treasures" of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, allowing monks to participate in state affairs.

After Trizu Detsen came to power, Trizu Detsen once again played a great role in promoting the development of Buddhism.

There is an incident that can express his attitude towards Buddhism: When a monk was giving a sermon, Chizu Detsen sat in the middle. His hair was braided into two braids and stretched out with long ribbons on the monk's seat, and then he asked the monk to sit on it to show that he Respect for monks.

The main measures taken by Trizo Detsen to promote Buddhism include: building Wu Xiangduo Temple, formulating the requirement for seven households to support monks (stipulating that every seven civilian households are responsible for supporting the life of one monk), and determining the script (the second time in Tibetan history that the script was determined) , Unified translation examples (promulgated a decree to determine new terminology and stipulated three articles of translation examples). During this period, many famous translators appeared, including the "Three Elders" (Biruchana, Danmazimang, Kashimila Ananda), the "Three Middle Schools" (Nirvana Prajna Kumara, Jian Lu Yi Wangbo, Ma Rinchencho) and the "Three Young Masters" (Gawa Baitse, Jiaoro Luyi Gyaltsen, Shang Yixide).

Due to the outstanding contributions of Songtsen Gampo, Trisong Detsen and Trizu Detsen, these three generations of Tsampu were called the "three kings of ancestors and grandsons" in history.

Agudemba continued:

However, in the middle of the ninth century, Tibetan Buddhism was once destroyed, which was the so-called Langdama Dharma. There was a period of time (842-978) when Buddhism was silent. Called the "Dark Ages."

Trizo Detsen's measures to promote Buddhism and the transfer of military and political power of the dynasty to Buddhist monks aroused dissatisfaction among the nobles. After the nobles murdered Trizu Detsen and established Langdama as Zanpu, they launched a large-scale ban on Buddhism.

Famous temples such as Samye Temple were closed, Jokhang Temple was turned into a slaughterhouse, and statues of Sakyamuni and others were buried. Because it was Princess Wencheng who brought the Sakyamuni Buddha statue from the mainland and introduced Buddhism to Tibet, Princess Wencheng's banned Buddha is said to be the reincarnation of the devil.

The monks were ordered to convert to Bon religion. The monks who were unwilling to obey and abstained from killing were forced to pick up bows and arrows and go hunting in the mountains with hunting dogs. After the murals in Buddhist temples were wiped out, paintings of monks drinking and having fun were painted on them. Many Buddha statues were dragged out of the temple, nailed on and thrown into the river. A large number of Buddhist scriptures were burned or thrown into the water.

This movement to ban Buddhism was such a heavy blow to Buddhism that Tibetan religious history books refer to the nearly 100 years after Langdama as the "Period of the Destruction of Dharma" or the "Dark Age".

The practitioners of Tantric Buddhism are only white-clothed lay people who practice teachings on the order of life and perfection in their homes or on the side of a pure mountain. Therefore, the tradition of Tantric rituals can be continued. Other common Buddhist teachings say: All the sutras and sutras translated by the three Tibetan kings are good at preserving, so most of them can still be passed down to this day.

One hundred years after Langdama exterminated Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism was revived after it was introduced to Uizang from Amdo, Kham, Ngari and other places.

The spread of Buddhism in Tibet before Langdama's extermination of Buddhism was called the "pre-propagation period" of Tibetan Buddhism, and after that it was called the "later propagation period". The later propagation period of Tibetan Buddhism was divided into the upper route of propagation and the lower route of propagation according to the different routes of introduction of Buddhism.

Shanglu Hongchuan refers to the entry of Buddhist forces into the Uizang area from Ngari. Famous monks who have contributed to the development of Buddhism include: La Lama Yixiwo, Jiangqiu Wo, Rinchen Zangpo (958-1055), and Atisha (982-1054).

Rinchen Zangpo translated 17 sutras, 33 treatises, 108 tantras, and built 108 monasteries.

Atisha wrote "Bodhidharma Lamp Treatise" and made great contributions to the development of Tibetan Buddhist theory. His disciple Zhongdunpa founded the Kadam Sect. At the same time, he is also the promoter of Guanyin and Tara beliefs.

Xialu Hongchuan refers to the introduction of Buddhist power from Amdo and Kham areas to the Uizang area. The main figures are: Sonam Gyaltsen, Sai Zun, Lodun Dorje Wangchuk, and Zhuo Mi's translator Shakya Yixi.

In this way, Buddhism gradually revived in Tubo and developed into Tibetan Buddhism with unique plateau ethnic characteristics. Various sects were gradually formed from the 11th century. By the formation of the Gelug sect in the early 15th century, sects of Tibetan "Buddhism" branched out. Only then was it finally finalized. There are mainly four major sects in the early period, including the Nyingma sect, Kadam sect, Sakya sect, and Kagyu sect, and the Gelug sect in the later period.

Lacuo was speechless again, he didn't want to say anything more.

Agudengpa sang an impromptu song "Tibetan Buddhist Epic":

 

Tibetan Buddhism began in the mid-seventh century.

Tibetan Buddhism took shape in the second half of the tenth century.

King Songtsen Gampo had two wives,

Princess Wencheng of Tang Dynasty and Bijuhao of Nepal,

Under the joint influence of these two princesses,

King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet converted to Buddhism.

He sent ministers to India to study Sanskrit,

Created Tibetan writing and translated Buddhist scriptures,

Legislation was enacted to explicitly require Tibetan people to practice Buddhism.

From then on Buddhism spread in Tubo.

 

The three Zangpu after Trisong Detsen,

Monks were exempted from taxes and manual labor,

There is a dojo for worshiping Buddha, Dharma and monks in the palace.

Support Buddhism and allow monks to participate in state affairs.

Langdama came to power and launched the ban on Buddhism movement.

Famous temples such as Samye Temple have been closed.

The statues of Sakyamuni and others were buried.

One hundred years after Langdama’s extermination of Buddhism,

Tibetan Buddhism gradually revived in Tubo.

and developed into unique plateau national characteristics.

Various tribes began to form in the eleventh century,

By the formation of the Gelug sect in the early fifteenth century,

The branch of Tibetan Buddhism finally took shape.