The ancestor of Tibetan Buddhism

 

The ancestor of Tibetan Buddhism

 

Old Lavani smiled and said to Agudengba: "Smart Mr. Agudengba, you already know the connection between Indian Buddhism and China's Tibet, and you have also heard some stories about Tibetan Buddhism, but do you know the history of Tibetan Buddhism?" Who is the founder? Then let me tell you about the past and present life of Venerable Atisha."

Munshiganj County in Bangladesh was originally part of the Gabangro region in eastern India. In 982 AD, in the palace of the Sahoor Kingdom in this area, a baby boy was born. He lay obediently in the warm arms of his mother Prabhavati. The mother relied on the boy's father, Sahor. The king of your country. The king of Sahor is the third ruler of the Chandhara dynasty who is about to succeed.

The baby boy who came into the world was their second child, named Yuezang. The baby boy looked around at the blurry thirteen-story golden-domed palace and the beautiful scenery of the forest garden inside the palace, as curious as any newborn.

Atisha was born into a royal family. He was influenced by the family's strong religious beliefs since childhood and received a good cultural education. He became literate at the age of 3, recited Buddhist scriptures at the age of 5, went to Nalanda Temple to study Buddhism at the age of 11, and practiced Tantra at the age of 18. After receiving the Vajra Initiation, he decided to give up the throne at the age of 20 and determined to devote his life to Buddhism. At the age of 21, he became proficient in the Five Ming Dynasties. At the age of 29, he went to Bodh Gaya Temple to practice the precepts. The name of the Dharma is "Auspicious Lamp Wisdom".

In 1013 AD, Atisha led 125 disciples on a 13-month voyage to Jinzhou (today's Sumatra) to seek Dharma and Buddhist scriptures. After arriving at Jinzhou, Atisha devoted himself to studying Dharma from Master Jinzhou, majoring in the lineage of Maitreya to Asanga. Professor "Treatise on the Solemnity of Present Observation", "Treatise on Entering the Bodhisattva's Conduct" from the Manjushri to Shantideva lineage, etc.

Atisha practiced in Jinzhou for 12 years and became proficient in sutra and esoteric teachings. After returning, he served as the head of the Chaojie Temple. Together with Baoshengji, Juexian, Abudu Dibotuo, Dongpibo, Shanxian and others, he was called Chaojie. The Eight Sages of the Jie Temple.

In the 9th century AD, Langdama, the ruler of Tibet in China, adopted banishment measures against Buddhism, which was known in history as "Langdama destroyed Buddhism." This led to the rise of internal dissent, theoretical differences, and disunity in Tibetan Buddhism. In order to revitalize Tibetan Buddhism At the beginning of the 11th century, La La Lama Jiangquwo, the king of Aliguge, followed the last wishes of his uncle La Lama Yesiwo and sent Tibetan translators Gyal Zunzhi Sengge and Natso Zuchengjiewa to welcome Atisha. After many twists and turns in promoting the Dharma in Tibet, Atisha was finally moved by the piety of King Aliguge and decided to go north to Tibet.

In 1040 AD, the 58-year-old Atisha had gray hair on his temples, but he still chose to pack his bags, get up and head north, with the Chaojie Temple behind him gradually getting further and further away. It was a common thing for him to go on a pilgrimage, but Little did he know that this journey would span thousands of miles and be sung for thousands of years.

After a long journey of nearly two years, at the end of 1042 AD, Atisha passed through Nepal and arrived at the Guge Kingdom in the Ngari region of Tibet, China, officially starting the journey of spreading Tibetan Buddhism in the later period.

In Tibet, the Venerable devoted himself to preaching sutras and teachings, compiled the "Bodhi Path Lamp Treatise", refuted the heresies that violated the Buddha's teachings, taught the three sages, and went to Lado Jiang, Ningcuo, Samye, Nyetang and other places to give lectures. He taught many disciples, promoted the true Dharma, integrated Tantra and Sutra, carried it forward, and revitalized Tibetan Buddhism through Dharma practice and reform.

In 1054 AD, Venerable Atisha passed away in Nietang, west of Lhasa, at the age of 72. His Holiness has been in Tibet for 12 years and has made outstanding contributions to the stable development of the Tibetan region. The Gaden Sect he founded has far-reaching influence and is the source of the current Gelug Sect of the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama.

This is how history was quietly written. No one could know at that moment that Yuezang would be honored as Atisha by the world in the near future, and would become the founder of the later great period of Tibetan Buddhism in China. As a seal of religious and cultural relations between China and Bangladesh, his honor will flow throughout the land of China, and every inch of land he walked on, every volume of scripture he carried, and every grain of hope he spread will still be praised thousands of years later. It has also been continuously passed down by those who are destined to live in this world.

Old Lavani smiled and asked Agudengba: "Smart Mr. Agudengba, after listening to this story, what will you think of Venerable Atisha?"

Agudengpa thought for a while and then sang a song "Atisha":

 

Venerable Atisha has a kind and kind face

Wearing monk robes and wearing a Tongren crown

Feet in lotus position in the middle of the lotus seat

Behind me there is light, auspicious clouds and distant mountains

Atisha puts his hands on his chest to say the Dharma mudra

There are golden domes and sutra baskets on the right and left rear

 

Atisha was born into a royal family

Atisha became a monk at the age of twenty-nine

He studied under famous Indian masters successively

Become a great pandit who is proficient in the five enlightenments

Served as abbot of eighteen monasteries

Later he served as the senior monk of Chaoyan Temple.

 

He is an eminent Indian monk who went to Tibet to spread the Dharma

He revived Tibetan Buddhism

Endless stories have been shed

He received an invitation from the Guge Dynasty

Depart for Nepal and Guge

In addition to lecturing and translating classics, he

He also wrote a treatise on the Bodhi Path and Lamp.

It has a great influence on the history of Tibetan Buddhism

As a result, he was honored as Buddha

His Holiness lived in Guge for three years

He set off to return to Chaoyan Temple

Traveling to Burang, he met Zhongdunba and others.

So he came to Weizang to teach the Dharma again.

He visited Lhasa and Yeba successively

There are also missionaries in Nietang and other places in the basin

Nearly ten years before and after Atisha entered Tibet

Passed away in Nietang, southwest of Lhasa

 

Zhongdunba led the people to practice and spread the Dharma

Rezhen Temple became a stronghold for propagating Buddhism

From this, the Uizang Kadam Sect was formed

Marks the revival of Buddhism and its entry into Tibet

The history of Tibetan Buddhism is called Shanglu Hongfa

Atisha thus became the Kadam Sect

The originator of Tibetan Buddhism has immeasurable merits