| |
|
Buddhism has played a very major part in the political life of the area. For centuries altogether, the religious leaders of the region have also been its political rulers; the religious head of the Tibetans, the Dalai Lama, is the main spokesman for independent rule and considered by all Tibetans, whether inside Tibet or in exile as their God - King.
Buddhism arrived in Tibet sometime in the 5th century, but became popular only in the 8th century, when the Indian missionary, Padmasambhava came to Tibet.
Three centuries later, came Atisha (from Bengal), who encouraged the study of Buddhism in Tibet.
By the 15th century, the Tibetan religious reformer Tsongkapa had founded the sect of Gelugpa (the Order of Excellence), and from that date onwards, Buddhism, or Lamaism, has been the basis of Tibetan life, in nearly all it aspects - social, cultural, and for the last fifty years, even the political.
There are four main Buddhist sects in Tibet, the Gelugpa (the Yellow sect), the Nyingmapa (the Red sect), the Sakyapa (the Variegated sect) and the Kagyupa (the White sect).
There's a minority of about 2000 Muslims and just a few who believe in Shamanism (which was a major faith at one time), but the bulk of the population is Buddhist. |
|
|
|
|
