Tibetan Buddhism is a religion in exile, forced from its homeland when Tibet was conquered by the Chinese. At one time it was thought that 1 in 6 Tibetan men were Buddhist monks.
The best known face of Tibetan Buddhism is the Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since he fled Chinese occupation of his country in 1959.
Tibetan Buddhism combines the essential teachings of Mahayana Buddhism with Tantric and Shamanic, and material from an ancient Tibetan religion called Bon.
Although Tibetan Buddhism is often thought to be identical with Vajrayana Buddhism, they are not identical – Vajrayana is taught in Tibetan Buddhism together with the other vehicles.
Quiz: Buddhism in Tibet
- Question 1 of 10
1.
Buddhism was introduced in Tibet in the 7th Century AD.
Correct
Wrong — Correct Answer – True
It is said that, during the reign of Lha Tho Tho Ri Nyen Tsen, the 5th King of Tibet, a book was found on the top of the Royal Palace. It was prophesied that this book would be understood and studied after the time of the 32nd King. Accordingly, the 33rd King of Tibet, Srong Tsen Gampo (reigned 604-650 AD), invited Buddhist missionaries from India to introduce Buddhism to Tibet.
- Question 2 of 10
2.
What was the name of the Chinese wife of Srong Tsen Gampo?
Correct
Wrong — Correct Answer – Wang Chang
The mightiest King of Tibet, Srong Tsen Gampo, was engaged in war with Nepal and China at the time. China and Nepal each had to give a royal princess to the King of Tibet. Both the Chinese princess, Wang Chang, and the Nepalese princess, Bhrikuti, brought statues of Buddha with them to Tibet.
- Question 3 of 10
3.
Name the first Buddhist scholar who was invited by Srong Tsen Gampo to introduce Buddhism in Tibet.
Correct
Wrong — Correct Answer – Shantarakshita
Shantarakshita was the Vice Chancellor, or Chief Abbot, of one of the highest seats of learning of Tantric Buddhism, Vikramshila in India (near the modern city of Bhagalpur in Bihar). Although he was the first invited to establish the religion of Buddha, the attempt was unsuccessful. With his arrival, Tibet was beset by natural calamities, like thunderstorms, famines and so on. It was seen as the wrath of the gods of the pre-Buddhist religion of Tibet, Bon.
- Question 4 of 10
4.
Who was Padmasambhava?
Correct
Wrong — Correct Answer – The person who successfully introduced Buddhism to Tibet
Padmasambhava established the Nying Ma sect of Buddhism in Tibet. This is the only sect of Buddhism established by an Indian in Tibet. Tibet has four major sects of Buddhism and the other three, Kargyu, Sakya and Gelug, were established by Tibetans. The XIVth Dalai Lama, exiled to India, belonged to the Gelug sect of Buddhism in Tibet.
- Question 5 of 10
5.
How did the world come to know Tenzin Gyatso?
Correct
Wrong — Correct Answer – As His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama of Tibet
Tenzing Gyatso is the ordained name of the XIVth Dalai Lama. (In Tibet, every newborn is given an ordained name by the nearby monastery.) Interestingly, the Dalai Lama belongs to the Gelug Sect although he is not the head of this sect. The head of the Gelug Sect is the throne holder of Tsong Khapa, founder of the Gelug Sect, and is called Ganden Thi Pa.
- Question 6 of 10
6.
Which of these Kings persecuted Buddhists in Tibet?
Correct
Wrong — Correct Answer – Lang Dharma
The modern practice of Tibetan people showing their tongues when they greet people comes from this history: they are proving that they do not have black tongues like Lang Dharma. He was the only king responsible for trying to destroy Buddhism in Tibet. During his reign in the 9th century, monks fled to other countries, books were destroyed and chapels came down in ruins, and the remaining monks were forced to adopt household life. Buddhism was reintroduced by Atisha, from India, in the middle of the 11th century.
- Question 7 of 10
7.
Let’s return to Srong Tsen Gampo. His Nepalese wife built the biggest temple in Lhasa, capital of Tibet. True or false?
Correct
Wrong — Correct Answer – False
The biggest temple in Lhasa is named Jokhang, and it was built by the Chinese wife of Srong Tsen Gampo, Wang Chang. It is believed by many Tibetans that going along the path around this temple brings them great merit.
- Question 8 of 10
8.
How many major sects of Buddhism are there in Tibet, not counting Bon?
Correct
Wrong — Correct Answer – Four
The first sect, Nyingma, was established by an Indian scholar — Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche. He is considered like a second Buddha by Tibetans. The Sakya school was founded in southern Tibet. The Kargyud sect began with masters like Marpa and Milarepa and is has links to the Siddha tradition of India. The fourth sect, Gelug, has the largest following and was established by Tsong Kha Pa.
Bon predates Buddhism and there is some debate as to how it should be classified.
- Question 9 of 10
9.
His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama has been widely considered an emanation of which form of the Buddha?
Correct
Wrong — Correct Answer – Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of compassion
Avalokiteshvara, or the Buddha of compassion, is the form of Buddha that is said to be the particular progeny of the Tibetan race. As per Tibetan popular belief, the Tibetan race started from the union of a female demon and male monkey, the Avalokiteshvara.
- Question 10 of 10
10.
How many Dhyani Buddhas are recognized in Buddhism?
Correct
Wrong — Correct Answer – Five
All over the world, the five Dhyani Buddhas (symbols of the five aspects of the Buddha and the five failings of humanity) are Avalokiteshvara, Amitabha, Akshobhya, Ratnasambhava and Amoghsiddhi.