Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.55

Language: English

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Tibetan Buddhism, at this time, entered the so-called period of the later propagation of Buddhism. Through the common efforts of Tibetan and Indian monks, some Tibetan monks arrived in India in search of the dharma and many famous Indian monks came to Tibet to expound the scriptural texts. This led to the overall revival of Tibetan Buddhism. With greater support of the Tibetan King Songnei, Buddhism became renowned and its knowledge spread. He selected 21 youths from the area of Alisan and sent them to India. He exhorted them to invite master Bao Jingang (Ratnavajra) from the land of Kaśmīra, master Damo Boluo (Dharmapāla) from eastern India and master Moni Zhou (Maṇidvīpa) from the land of Jialu in the West. They further learned two tantras and a compendium from master Bore Fuli from central India (1: *Jimi* (*Guhyasamāja*); 2: *She zhenshi jing* (*Tattvasaṃgraha*) and also the *She zhenshi jing qingxi zang she lun* (*Compendium of the Storehouse of Joy from the Tattvasaṃgraha*). From Moni Zhou and Damo Boluo they learned the *Duanchu e zhang xu* (*Tantra about the Doing Away with the Obstacles of Evil*) and a commentary. They learned the *Mantuoluo sanbai sishi zun* (*340 Venerables of the Maṇḍala*), made by Shengtian, and the Maṇḍala ritual of the Jimi (*Guhyasamāja*) (made by the bodhisattvas Fo Zhizu and Longmeng). From master Bao Jingang, they learned *Shilun* (*Kālacakra*) and the *Si jingangzuo xu shi lun* (*Explanation of the Tantra about Four Vajrāsanas*).

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The Tibetan monk Yangrongba Shenghui received the precepts from Fahu (Dharmapāla) and further went to Nepal to study *vinaya* under Zhi Dajia. In Nepal, Kashmir and other regions, he studied all exoteric and esoteric teachings with each great master and *vinaya* specialist (*vinayadhara*). He further invited Zuo Xinkai, Zuo Lianmi, Fo Xiangjing, Fohu Lianhuami and others to come to Tibet to translate exoteric and esoteric discourses. He specially attached importance to the translation of Yoga texts and the *Jimi xu* (*Guhyasamājatantra*), and propagated them on a large scale. He later also invited the two masters, Fahu and Huihu, to transmit the precepts. The Tibetan King, Guanghu’s eldest son, Jixiang Zhi, selected the intelligent youths, Zhuomi Shijiazhi (994-1078 CE) and Daluo Tongjing, and sent them to India to study the *dharma*, the *vinaya* and also *prajñā* (indicating the teaching of the *Xianguan zhuangyan lun* (*Abhisamayālaṅkāra*) and esoteric spells. The two later went to the Vikramaśīlā Monastery to study the *dharma* under six great masters (Jijing from the eastern gate, Yuzizai Cheng from the southern gate, Bore Shenghui from the western gate, Na Reba from the northern gate and Bao Jingang and Zhi Jixiang from the centre). Zhuomi was close to master Jijing for eight years. He also studied the law under other masters and himself became a great master.

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He further went to eastern India and thoroughly received initiation (*abhiśeka*) from master Hui Wangming and also his instructions to understand the scriptures and practices. He also obtained the teaching about the path and its fruition (lam-rim). In 1044, master Jiaye Daluo came to the Tibetan area and studied under Zhuomi for five years. Zhuomi studied altogether for 13 years in India and Nepal. His influence on Tibetan Buddhism is tremendous. His disciple, translator Maba (1012-1097 CE) called Fahui went three times to India. He was close to Nare Ba, Mile Ba, Jingxian, Pangting Ba and other great masters. He learned the teaching of the *Jimi* (*Guhyasamāja*), Shengle (*Cakrasaṃvara*), Shuangxi Jingang (*Hevajra*), Mohemoye (*Mahāmāyā*), *Si zuo* (*Four Āsanas*) etc and became the refuge for the Sajia (Sa-skya) school of Tibetan Buddhism. Translator Kuoku Balaze, a disciple of Zhuomi Guai, also went three times to India. He was close to 72 great masters, siddhas. He stayed there for a very long period with translator Jingxian and studied the *Jimi* (*Guhyasamāja*) and the teaching of the Longmeng school. He translated works such as the *Shengle Jingang kongxing xu* (*Cakrasaṃvaratantra*), *Si zuo xu* (*Tantra abouth Four Āsanas*), *Mohemoye xu* (*Mahāmāyātantra*), and the Shuangxi Jingang xu (*Hevajratantra*). The great translator Luodun Xierao (1059-1109 CE) was in Kashmir for 17 years to study.

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He studied logic (*hetuvidyā*) from Lita Xian and from Shangen Wang and from Sana and Kuomi Qimei and others; he learned the five treatises of Maitreya and all exoteric and esoteric teachings. After his return to Tibet, he translated commentaries about logic and Paradise (Vyūha). He propagated logic, *prajñā*, *Ru xing lun* (*Bodhicaryāvatāra*), etc. Translator Bacao Richeng also went to Kashmir and studied there for 23 years. He invited master Jiana Jiafuma to Tibet to translate the discourses of Yuecheng (Candrakīrti) and of the Zhongguan (Madhyamaka) School. The theories of the Yingcheng (Prāsaṅgika) branch of Indian Buddhism thus greatly prospered. In 1042 CE, the venerable A Dixia (Atīśa), an Indian monk, arrived in Ali in Tibet and propagated *vinaya*. He compiled Buddhist scriptures and contributed to a Buddhist renaissance. Interaction with Indian Buddhism impelled the overall prosperity of Tibetan Buddhism. Many different schools of Tibetan Buddhism have an important link with the monks of this period. Apart from the Sajia (Sa-skya) School, the Jiaju (Bka’-brgyud) school and the Jiadang (Bka’-gdams) School, pious Kings studied *Shilun* (*Kālacakra*) from Zhuodun Nanglaze from Kashmir, and the teaching of scriptures and treatises of the *Jimi* (*Guhyasamāja*). They became the forerunners of the Juenang (Jo-nang) school.

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The Indian Padang Basangjie transmitted the teaching of boreboluomiduo (prajñāpāramitā) which became the fundamental teaching of the Xijie (Zhi-byed) school. Yoga master Qiongbo went seven times to India to study. He was close to many people there, of whom the main were the following six: Da Jingangzuo, Mile Ba, Juduo Yuqie, Luohouluo Juduo, Nigu Kongxingmu and Lechengjiu Kongxingmu. After his return to Tibet, he built 108 temples in the area of Xiang. He promoted Buddhism for 30 years. He had more than 80,000 disciples and it is claimed that he lived for 150 years. His teaching formed a separate branch, Xiang ba of the Jiaju (Bka’-brgyud) school.