The History of Buddhism in Tibet

begin quote from google ai and Internet:

Buddhism was officially introduced to Tibet during the 7th-9th centuries from India, with King Songtsän Gampo and later King Trisong Detsen establishing it as the state religion, translating Indian Buddhist texts, and building the first monasteries like Samye. After a period of decline, Buddhism revived in the 11th century, leading to the emergence of new schools like the Gelug, Kagyü, Sakya, and Nyingma traditions. The faith evolved, incorporating indigenous Tibetan religion (Bon), leading to a unique form of Vajrayana Buddhism, and it spread to Mongolia and China, with the Gelug school gaining political dominance under the Dalai Lamas.
 

Introduction and First Diffusion (7th-9th Centuries)

• Imperial Patronage:

  Buddhism arrived in Tibet during the 7th century, supported by the imperial government. 

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Decline and Second Diffusion (9th-11th Centuries) 

• Collapse of the Empire:

  The collapse of the Tibetan Empire in the mid-9th century led to a disruption of Buddhist transmission and a period of fragmentation.
• Revival:

  Buddhism resurfaced in the 11th century, marking a "second diffusion" (phyi dar) and the establishment of new, distinct traditions or "schools".

Development of Tibetan Schools (11th Century Onwards)

• Major Lineages:

  The second diffusion led to the formation of the major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, including the Gelug, Kadam, Kagyü, Jonang, and Sakya traditions, each tracing their roots to Indian lineages. 

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Rise of the Gelug School and Modern Era

• Tsongkhapa:

  Je Tsongkhapa founded the Gelug school in the late 14th century, which would rise to prominence. 

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• Tibetan Buddhism - Wikipedia

  Samye was the first gompa (Buddhist monastery) built in Tibet (775–779). While some stories depict Buddhism in Tibet before this p...

  

  Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  
  

Early Kings:

King Songtsen Gampo facilitated the first transmission, while King Trisong Detsen, in the 8th century, made Buddhism the official state religion and invited Indian masters like Padmasambhava and Shantarakshita to establish the Nyingma tradition. 

Cultural Integration:

This period also saw the translation of Buddhist scriptures into Tibetan and the creation of a written language, integrating Buddhist philosophy with the indigenous Bon religion. 

First Monastery:

The construction of Samye Monastery, the first gompa (monastery) in Tibet, marked a significant milestone in the religion's institutional development. 

Mongol Patronage:

The Mongol invasion in the 13th century and the subsequent Yuan dynasty led to the spread of Tibetan Buddhism to Mongolia and China, where it received imperial patronage. 

Dalai Lamas:

The 5th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, established the dominance of the Gelugpa school in the 17th century, merging spiritual and temporal authority. 

Rimé Movement:

In the 19th century, the Rimé movement emerged as a response to the Gelug dominance, aiming to preserve the teachings of other schools like Nyingma, Kagyu, and Sakya. 

Buddhism in Tibet - Oxford Bibliographies

Introduction. Buddhism reached Tibet relatively late, around the 7th century, and within a few centuries it became the dominant re...

Oxford Bibliographies

Tibetan Buddhism - BBC

Jan 14, 2004 — History. Buddhism became a major presence in Tibet towards the end of the 8th century CE. It was brought from India at...

BBC

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