Lecture series continues with topic of Buddhism
Maggie Mertens
Issue date: 3/8/07 Section: Features
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Last Tuesday Lobsang Norbu Shastri delivered the third in the series of lectures leading up to the visit of His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet to Smith College in May. Shastri invited his listeners into an hour-long lesson in the history of Tibetan Buddhism.
Buddhism's journey to Tibet was a long one. Between the years 173 and 293 A.D. monks from neighboring countries came to Tibet to disseminate Buddhist teachings from India. However, it was not until the beginning of the 20th century that Tibetan Buddhism was finally widely understood.
The texts originally brought to Tibet were written in Sanskrit, and it took many years for the kings of Tibet to begin the translations of these religious texts into Tibetan. Beginning with the reign of King Soytsen Ganpo from 616 to 650, the first texts were translated by Thonmi Sanbhota. Under his rule enough texts were translated to begin to build a foundation for Buddha Dharma in Tibet.
By the eighth century and the rule of King Trisong Detsen, the first monastery was built in Tibet and the first seven Tibetan monks were initiated. Even though the monk who read them their vows didn't speak Tibetan, he read the vows both in Sanskrit and in Tibetan because of the importance placed on knowledge.
These monks began the ever-growing tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and continued to translate the Buddhist texts to such an extent that, today, although many of the original Sanskrit texts have been lost, they are being translated back from the Tibetan translations.
Not only were the texts of Buddhism being translated and disseminated throughout Tibet through these many centuries, but the Buddhist philosophies were also made increasingly common. Many of the basic concepts of Buddhism were created during this time of religious development in Tibet. Among them are the Path and Fruit, which relates the importance in the life of a Buddhist to remain free from the four attachments. These attachments include: attachment to this life, attachment to renunciation, attachment to any philosophical view and attachment to your own interest. The main idea behind this Path is that all humans hold the same wish for happiness, so you should do your best to try to achieve happiness not just for yourself but for everyone.
Shastri noted many other paths to enlightenment that were founded in Tibet, including the Path of Renunciation, the Path of Awakening Mind and the Path of Wisdom. His emphasis, however, was not on the religion itself, but on the important role Tibet has played in the development of Buddhist culture. There are many different schools of Buddhism that have their roots in Tibet, but because of the current political situation, all of this history is in danger.
Buddhism's journey to Tibet was a long one. Between the years 173 and 293 A.D. monks from neighboring countries came to Tibet to disseminate Buddhist teachings from India. However, it was not until the beginning of the 20th century that Tibetan Buddhism was finally widely understood.
The texts originally brought to Tibet were written in Sanskrit, and it took many years for the kings of Tibet to begin the translations of these religious texts into Tibetan. Beginning with the reign of King Soytsen Ganpo from 616 to 650, the first texts were translated by Thonmi Sanbhota. Under his rule enough texts were translated to begin to build a foundation for Buddha Dharma in Tibet.
By the eighth century and the rule of King Trisong Detsen, the first monastery was built in Tibet and the first seven Tibetan monks were initiated. Even though the monk who read them their vows didn't speak Tibetan, he read the vows both in Sanskrit and in Tibetan because of the importance placed on knowledge.
These monks began the ever-growing tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and continued to translate the Buddhist texts to such an extent that, today, although many of the original Sanskrit texts have been lost, they are being translated back from the Tibetan translations.
Not only were the texts of Buddhism being translated and disseminated throughout Tibet through these many centuries, but the Buddhist philosophies were also made increasingly common. Many of the basic concepts of Buddhism were created during this time of religious development in Tibet. Among them are the Path and Fruit, which relates the importance in the life of a Buddhist to remain free from the four attachments. These attachments include: attachment to this life, attachment to renunciation, attachment to any philosophical view and attachment to your own interest. The main idea behind this Path is that all humans hold the same wish for happiness, so you should do your best to try to achieve happiness not just for yourself but for everyone.
Shastri noted many other paths to enlightenment that were founded in Tibet, including the Path of Renunciation, the Path of Awakening Mind and the Path of Wisdom. His emphasis, however, was not on the religion itself, but on the important role Tibet has played in the development of Buddhist culture. There are many different schools of Buddhism that have their roots in Tibet, but because of the current political situation, all of this history is in danger.
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