BUDDHISM in Himalayan Region

The concept of Himalayan Buddhism is as old as Buddhism itself. In fact, the Himalayas and Buddhism are synonymous, for the Buddha himself was born at Lumbini in Nepal in the foothills of the Himalayas.

The Himalayan region is known for its diverse cultural heritage and religious practices. Among the various religions, Buddhism has gained significant prominence in the Himalayan region. The spread of Buddhism in the Himalayas can be attributed to various historical, cultural and economic factors including the massive trade through silk routes at that time.

Influence of ancient Buddhist empires: The spread of Buddhism in the Himalayan region was also influenced by the presence of ancient Buddhist empires. The Mauryan Empire, for example, had a significant impact on the spread of Buddhism in the region. The empire was instrumental in spreading Buddhism through its patronage of the religion and support for Buddhist missionaries.

Cultural assimilation: The Himalayan region has a diverse cultural heritage, and the spread of Buddhism was facilitated by the assimilation of Buddhist beliefs and practices into the local culture. The religion was able to take root in the region by adapting to local customs and traditions.

Role of monasteries: Monasteries played a crucial role in the spread of Buddhism in the Himalayan region. Monks were instrumental in spreading Buddhist teachings, and monasteries served as centres of learning and education. The establishment of monasteries also contributed to the development of local communities and the spread of Buddhism throughout the region.

Role of Tibetan Buddhism & Dalai Lama: Tibetan Buddhism   played a significant role in spreading Buddhism in the Himalayan region. The religion was introduced to Tibet in the 7th century, and the Tibetan Empire actively supported the spread of Buddhism throughout the Himalayan region.

Tibetan Buddhism is known for its unique practices and beliefs, which have contributed to the popularity of Buddhism in the region. Arrival of the 14th Dalai Lama with over 85,000 Tibetan refugees in 1959 had a significant impact on the revival of Buddhism in India. Large numbers of Tibetans settled in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, which became the headquarters of the Tibetan Government in Exile.

Tibetan refugees also contributed to the revitalization of the Buddhist traditions in Himalayan regions such as Ladakh, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, other North Eastern states, all other parts of India and even neighbouring Bangladesh. Tibetan Buddhists have also contributed to the building of monasteries and institutions in the Buddhist sites and ruins of India. There are several Tibetan refugee camps in many parts of India and such Tibetans who are Buddhists are treated almost at par with Indian citizens.

Buddhism in Burma (Myanmar): Pali historical chronicles state that King Ashoka sent two bhikkhus, Sona and Uttara, to Suvaṇṇabhūmi (“The Golden Land”) lower Myanmar around 228 BCE with other monks and sacred texts as part of his effort to spread Buddhism. The messengers and monks started Buddhism from Thaton, a main trading centre, to spread the teachings of the Buddha. Gradually it spread to other parts of the country and later became the state religion.

Nearly, 90 percent of the population now practise Buddhism and it is the most religious Buddhist country in terms of the proportion of monks in the population and proportion of income spent on religion.

In Burma, Theravada Buddhism is the dominant form of Buddhism. It emphasizes individual liberation, where each person must use their own power to achieve enlightenment. Leave alone the past, Buddhism is deeply ingrained in daily life in Myanmar even today. There are thousands of pagodas throughout the country, and Buddhist practices can be seen everywhere. And among the pagodas, the 2500 years old Shwedagon Pagoda is the oldest and one of the richest in the whole world.

This stunning property is adorned with gold plates and precious stones including diamonds. It contains the eight hair strands from Siddhārtha Gautama, the sacred relics. It is said that the world-famous pagoda was built when Buddha was alive.