BRIEF HISTORY OF BUDDHISM IN INDIA
Gautama the Buddha was born in northern India 15th
Century BC, the son of a King. It was clear from the beginning that the
young prince Siddharta was destined to be an extraordinary being. His
early life was spent in palatial luxury, before long he began to doubt the
validity of his worldly life. Fleeing from his father's palace, he sough a more
meaningful life, studying under a number of highly regarded masters of
philosophy and meditation. He was sincere in his quest and rapidly achieved the
highest meditational accomplishments that these masters could teach him.
But he was not satisfied. Through his own efforts finally attained
enlightenment at the present day BodhGaya,
India.
What he discovered was the truth so profound and vast and the Buddha
taught during his lifetime in 3 categories:
1) Pali Canon - form the basis for the Theravada
school; emphasize Moral discipline and ethics
2) Teachings of Mahayana/Great Vehicle - stress on
compassion and concern for others
3) Tantric/Vajrayana/secret Mantrayana - variety
of skillful methods to bring profound realization in a relatively short time.
The Buddha predicted that they would be spread in this world by Other Enlightened Beings who would appear later.
After his death, over the centuries these
strands of the Buddha's teachings have been handed down from master to student
until today. Learned scholars/pandits studied the teachings they received
by fully realized individuals who had practised and mastered what had been transmitted
to them and thus fully qualified to pass on the teachings to their students.
BRIEF HISTORY OF
TIBETAN BUDDHISM IN TIBET
Pre-Buddhist religion of Tibet was BON.
The first appearance of Buddhism in Tibet is said to have occurred
during the reign of 23rd monarch of Yarlung dynasty, Totori Nyentsen (born
c.173 C.E). According to legends, a Buddhist text and relics consecrated
to Avalokitesvara fell from the sky to the roof of the King's palace. The
scriptures were written in Sanskrit and no one at the Court understood the
significance of the relics.
This occurred during the reign of Songtsen Gampo
(c.618-650). Seeking to make political alliances, King Songtsen Gampo
married a princess from Nepal
(Bhrkuti, a devout Buddhist). Next, King Songtsen Gampo married a Chinese
princess from the Tang dynasty. Princess Wencheng was sent to Tibet in 640 -
a devout Buddhist. Princess Wencheng civilised Tibet.
King Songtsen Gampo sent scholar Tonmi Sambhota
to India
to develop a script and codify the language. Next, great king Tri
Songdetsen (c 740-798) - a devout Buddhist sent a message to the Indian scholar Santaraksita inviting him to Tibet. Scholar Santaraksita
faced many obstacles caused by the Bon dieties. Before his departure, he
advised the King to invite Tantric adept Padmasambhava who could defeat the
Gods of Bon. As a result of this victory, Padmasambhava was able to
overcome oppositions.
In 775, Tri Songdetsen, Padmasambhava and
Santaraksita successfully established Buddhism in Tibet by building the first
monastary called SAMYE.
THE GREAT DEBATE
BETWEEN KAMALASILA (INDIAN SCHOLAR) & FA SHANG, MAHAYANA SCHOLAR)
Tibet faced opposition from
two groups - Indian Mahayana (Kamalasila of Santaraksita school) - Chinese
Chan/Zen Mahayana School (Fa Shang).
To settle
the dispute the King arranged for a debate between them to identify a
system/standard of teachings in Tibet.
This debate was held in Samye.
Tibetan
Buddhist believe the council resulted in clear victory for the Indian gradualist
Buddhism & the defeat of the Chinese teachings of Sudden
Awakening-Buddhahood. The Indian Mahayanan view that awakening is the
result of gradual perfection of Compassion and Wisdom - a process that begins with
- Moral
Cultivation
- Meditation
practice
- Remove
mental defilements lead to deeper understanding of reality.
