The Religions of Tibet

Bon

Tibet’s oldest spiritual tradition is Bon. It was founded by Tonpa Sherab Mewo and remained the dominant religion of Tibet until King Songtsen Gampo introduced Buddhism in the seventh century. Gradually, Buddhism became the pre-dominant religion of Tibet. However, the Bon religion continues to thrive today with a vibrant monastic community, whose discipline, dedication and scholarship are indeed exemplary among the exile Tibetans.

Tonpa Sherab is said to have born in the mythical land of Olmo Lung Ring, whose location remains something of a mystery. The land is traditionally described as dominated by the holy Mont Yung-drung Gu-tzeg(Edifice of Nine Swastikas) in Western Tibet, which many scholars identify as Mount Kailash.Due to the sacredness of Olmo Lung Ring and the mountain, both the counter-clockwise swastika and the number nine are of great significance in the Bon religion. The current head of the Bon tradition is Gyalwa Menri Trizin.

Tibetan Buddhism: The four schools

Tibetan Buddhism is broadly divided into four. Nyingma, Kagyud, Sakya and Gelug schools. Although each school has its respective head, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the ultimate spiritual leader of all.

The Nyingma School:

The Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism traces its origin to the Indian adept, Guru Padmasambhava. He travelled to Tibet in the eighth century at the invitation of King Trisong Detsen and hid numerous secret doctrines in various places.
These were later discovered at appropriate times and became codified into the teachings of the Nyingma order. The instruction of the Nyingma School is Dzongchen (The Great Completion). Vimalamitra, another Indian master and contemporary of Padmasambhava, transmitted this teaching to Tibetan scholar Nyangting Ngezin. The Dzongchen precepts were later explained and elaborated by Longchenpa in the form of atext, which became known as Nying-thig (Heart’s Drop).

The Kagyud School:

This school was founded in the eleventh century by the great Translator Marpha. He travelled three times to India Vajrayana masters of all times. Marpha’s who is credited with obtaining enlightenment in one lifetime. The central practice of the Kagyud School is known as the Six Yogas of Naropa.
The Kagyud School gradually diversified into Four Greater Sub sects and Eight Lesser Sub sects.

The four Greater Sub sects are:
Tselpa Kagyd
Phagdru Kagyud
Barom Kagyud
Kamtsang Kagyud

The Eight Lesser Sub sects are:

Drigung Kagyud
Taklung Kagyud
Trophu Kagyud
Drukpa Kagyud
Marpha Kagyud
Yelpa Kagyud
Yasang Kagyud
Shugseb Kagyud

The Sakya School:

The Sakya School was founded in the eleventh century by Khon Kunchog Gyalpo. The central teaching of this school is the doctrine of Paths and fruits, which is derived from the tradition of Drongmi, a great translator who studied in India. Sakya Kunga Gyaltsen (1182-1253), better known as Sakya Pandita, who was the most illustrious of Sakya masters. He maintained diplomatic relations with the Mongols and saved Tibet from the onslaught of the Mongol army.
Sakya Pandita’s nephew, Drogon Choegyal Phagpa, was also a legendary Buddhist scholar. His wisdom and dignity so impressed the Mongol emperor of China, Kublai Khan, that the emperor later accepted him as his spiritual master and gifted him to rule over all Tibet. But the most precious gift, as Phagpa himself perceived it, was the Khan’s promise to give up the annual drowning of Chinese subjects en masse in the Chinese region of the Mongol Empire.
The school consists of Three Sub sects:
Tsarpa, Ngorpa and Sakya
The overall head of the Sakya School is Sakya Trizin.

The Gelug School:

This school was founded in the fourteenth century by Je Tsongkhapa, but had its roots in the earlier Kadampa tradition founded by the Bengali reformist scholar Atistha Dipankar. This school stressed the importance of strictly following monastic discipline and scholarship as a basis for pure religious practice.
In 1409, Tsongkhapa founded the monastic university of Gaden in Lhasa. Subsequently, Drepung and Sera monastic universities were founded near the capital by his followers and in tme they became the three biggest monasteries in Tibet. Over the centuries the Gelug grew to become the dominant religious school in Tibet.
The head of the Gelug School, known s the Gaden Throne Holder, is appointed on the basis of scholarship and seniority.

SOURCE: Tibet at a Glance