History of Tibet

Many people, especially idealistic newcomers to Buddhism, would like to believe that Buddhism has been immune to the phenomenon of conversion.

Before 1959, Tibetan Muslims living in Central Tibet were the descendents of Muslim merchants who spoke Tibetan and followed most Tibetan customs. In Indian exile as well, the Muslim and Buddhist Tibetan communities live in harmony, with religious tolerance.

We gain a more balanced perspective of Bon by understanding Tibetan history and culture and how Bon’s approach to spiritual development relates to Tibetan Buddhism.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Russia tried to gain influence in Tibet by claiming Russia was Shambhala. Japan also tried to win over Tibetan and Mongolian support by claiming that Japan was Shambhala.

The Bon system of astrology was amalgamated with the Chinese astro materials that first came to Tibet in the mid-7th century. In the 11th century, with the introduction of the “Kalachakra Tantra” from India, its astro traditions were added as well to make the unique blend of...

Tibetan language and culture spread and interacted with many other civilizations. The Tibetan traditions have evolved over the centuries, and this process of evolution and growth must continue.

A report on the situation of the Buddhist monasteries in Central Tibet and in the region of Amdo in 1994.

The Umayyad Caliphate (661–750 CE) was the first Arab empire in the Middle East. It was the first Muslim empire to interact with Buddhists in parts of Central Asia and the western regions of the Indian subcontinent.

Several postwar writers on the Occult have asserted that Buddhism and the legend of Shambhala played a role in the German-Tibetan official contact during the Nazi era.