An Illustrated Outline of Buddhism: The Essentials of Buddhist Spirituality (26 page)

The Introduction of Buddhism into the Theravada Countries

85

Shwedagon Pagoda, Burma, 6th century B.C.

The Wat Phra Singh Temple, Thailand, 14th century

86

An Illustrated Outline of Buddhism

Angkor Wat, Cambodia, 12th century

Wat Xieng Thong, Laos, 16th century

The Introduction of Buddhism into the Theravada Countries

87

Map of India and Neighboring Countries

(circa 1900)

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An Illustrated Outline of Buddhism

Potala Palace, Lhasa,Tibet

Husbands should respect their wives, and comply as far as pos-

sible with their requests. They should not commit adultery. They

should give their wives full charge of the home, and supply them

with fine clothes and jewelry as far as their means permit. Wives

should be thorough in their duties, gentle and kind to the whole

household, chaste, and careful in housekeeping, and should car-

ry out their work with skill and enthusiasm.

A man should be generous to his friends, speak kindly to

them, act in their interests in every way possible, treat them

as his equals, and keep his word to them. They in turn should

watch over his interests and property, take care of him when he

is off his guard, stand by him and help him in time of trouble,

and respect other members of his family.

Employers should treat their servants and workpeople de-

cently. They should not be given tasks beyond their strength.

They should receive adequate food and wages, be cared for in

time of sickness and infirmity, and be given regular holidays and

bonuses in time of prosperity. They should rise early and go to

bed late in the service of their master, be content with their just

wages, work thoroughly, and maintain their master’s reputation.

Dīgha-Nikāya, iii, 181ff

89

(17) Tibet

i. The Introduction of Buddhism into Tibet

Buddhism was first introduced into Tibet in the seventh century A.D.

by King Songtsen Gampo, who was looked on as an incarnation of

Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig). Two princesses whom he married, one

from Nepal and one from China, were considered to be incarnations

of the supreme feminine principle Tārā—respectively “green Tārā” and

“white Tārā”, representing two complementary modes of celestial fa-

vors. (See p. 72.)

For a time Buddhism contended with the earlier religion of Bön,

but in 791 A.D. King Trisong Detsen issued an edict declaring Bud-

dhism to be the official religion of the country. The king was still faced

with the rivalry of two Buddhist sects, the “Gradual Path” (combin-

ing elements of
Sarvāstivāda
and
Vajrayāna
)
which had come from

India and the “Sudden Path” (
Dhyāna
or
Ch’an
) which had come

from China. The king invited the Indian monk Kamalashīla and the

Chinese monk Mahāyāna to expound before him their respective