The advent of Tibetan Buddhism began in the dynasty of Ancient Tibet during the reign of the 29th King Lha Thothori Nyantsen[i].  When it came to the era of the 33rd King Songtsen Gampo in 629 CE, during the monarchy of Chinese Emperor Tang Taizong, court alliances were forged with the Tang Dynasty’s imperial office and the Nepalese king through marriages. Princess Wencheng and the Nepalese Princess Tritsun were invited to Tibet and their dowry included a Shakyamuni Buddha (Jowo) statue and copious volumes of Buddhist scriptures.    In order to install the statue and Buddhist scriptures and also partially as a geomantic remedy for the inauspicious shape of Tibet which resembled a female demon, the construction of the Larger and Smaller Jokhangs (Jowo Buddha temples) and 108 other monasteries ensued.  At that time, despite numerous monasteries being constructed, there remained a dearth of Tibetan monastics.  Songtsen Gampo then sent many people to study Sanskrit and Pali in India, amongst whom a high officer Thonmi Sambhota created the Tibetan Language which is currently being used, exerting a far-reaching influence on the latter-day development of Tibetan Buddhism.

During the regime of the 38th King Trisong Deutsen, an edict was issued to propagate Buddhism.  Khenpo Bodhisattva (Prince Shiwatso[ii] of the Indian King of Zahor), Guru Padmasambhava[iii] and many Buddhist specialists were invited to Tibet.  The Samye Monastery[iv] was constructed. It was the first temple in Tibetan history which was modeled after the historical Indian Odantapura Monastery and incorporated elements of Chinese, Tibetan and Indian architecture.

The Tibetan King Trisong Deutsen invited Buddhist scholars from India, Nepal and various regions, trained talented people in translation skills and commissioned the large-scale translation of Buddhist scriptures.  With the great master Vairotsana and seven others taking the lead in the experimental inception of monastic ordination[v] in Tibet, some 300 other people followed suit to take ordination, creating the first Sangha community, thus the Buddhadharma began to flourish widely in Tibet.

Since the time when Guru Padmasambhava began to teach the Dharma and benefit beings, the past lineage Gurus had sustained the transmission until the Kathok lineage master Dampa Deshek.  The teachings of the Dharma have continued uninterruptedly like the perpetual blossoming of the lotus flower.  The lineage is as follows:

Guru Padmasambhava
Khenchen Bodhisattva
Vimalamitra
Vairotsana
Yudra Nyingpo
The translator of Nyag, Jhanakumara
Palgyi Yeshe
Nubchen Sangye Yeshe
Yonten Gyatso
Nyang Sherab Chog
Yeshe Jungne

(Below are the three famous Nyingma Masters of the Zur family, they are the great Buddhist scholars of the Tantric scripture collections.)

Zurpoche Shakya Jungney
Zurchung Sherab Drakpa
Zur Shakya Senggey (otherwise known as Sangdak Dropukpa)
Dzamton Drowai Gonpo
Kathok Lineage Master Dampa Deshek

Notes

[i] AD 500, the king Lha Thothori Nyantsen was residing at Yong-Bula Palace when from the sky fell volumes of the “Hundred Prostrations Amending and Confession Sutra”, a golden stupa, “Heart-essence of Jewel Ornament Sutra taught by Buddha — the Mani mantra” , “Cittamani Practice”.  A voice from the sky announced, “Five generations from now, the meanings in these scriptures would be known.”  Thereupon, the King Lha Thothori Nyantsen ensconced these texts in the treasure vault of the palace and made offerings earnestly to pray for good fortune.  He named them the “Secret Exalted Treasure”.  This was the beginnings of Tibetan Buddhism.

[ii] Khenpo Bodhisattva, also known as ‘Silent Life’ or ‘Guardian of Peace’ (Shantarakshita) took ordination under the translator Wisdom Treasure at Nalanda monastery, and undertook the Upasampada (full set of Bhikshu vows).  He was a Madhayamaka master and author of the Madhyamakalankara (Adornment of the  Middle Way).

[iii] Lotus-born, Guru Rinpoche or otherwise known as Padmasambhava was born in western India in the ancient kingdom Oddiyana.  He was fostered by the King Indrabhuti in the position of prince.  The King named him ‘Lotus-born’, later he went to Manjala and was ordinated by the translator Prabhahasti. Padmasambhava received the Kagye teachings from the eight Vidyadharas and received the Guhyagarbha teachings from the translator Buddhaguhya.  From Shri Singha, he listened to many sutric and tantric teachings but primarily the Dzogchen teachings.  Padmasambhava wandered through Manjala, India, Bhutan, Nepal etc, leading many beings with affinity to take refuge in Buddhism.

[iv] Samye monastery’s architectural style: its main hall symbolizes Mount Meru, the smaller halls that surround it symbolize the four main continents, the eight subsidiary continents, sun and moon.  Stupas frame the borders of the monastery.  It is a very majestic monastery.  Samye monastery has survived several great fires, renovations and repairs were carried out each time to restore it.  In the 11th century, monastic diaspora began to return to Tibet and congregated at Samye monastery, thus making it the main monastery of the Nyingmapas.

[v] In an experiment to determine if the Tibetans’ lifestyle was suited for holding the ordination vows, seven men were put to the test.  This was called the ‘experimental inception’ or ‘Tibetan experiment of the seven awakened ones.’