The Tibet Bon religion

The Tibetan Bon religion has its roots in pre-Buddhist religious practices which in its early phase had similarities with animistic shamanist religious forms. The Bon religion developed at the same time as Buddhism in the 7th century. Today Bon forms a structured doctrine.

At different times in history, the relationship with Buddhism was rather unfriendly. Adherents of Bon were periodically persecuted and often had to convert to Buddhism. Thus many emigrated into the hinterland of Tibet, into the provinces Amdo and Kham as well as the bounder regions in North Nepal, where they could practice their religion in relative freedom. In these areas, Buddhists and Bonpo live peacefully side by side. Today, two Bon monasteries (sMen-ri und gYung-drung-ling) still exist in central Tibet, yet neither of these is surrounded by a huge lay community which could support them.

Religious freedom in Tibet has become very limited since the Chinese occupation of 1950. Many Tibetans fled into neighbouring countries and built new centres, particularly in India and Nepal. In this changed situation a new Tibetan identity developed, solely based on Buddhism and completely excluding the Bon religion. Only with much difficulty did the Bonpo manage to create their own religion centre (named "new Menri") in Dolanji, North West India. Many old texts from Dolpo were exported to India and printed anew, because many of the Tibetan texts were destroyed, lost or inaccessible. After a long struggle with the exiled Tibetan government in Dharamsala the Bonpo finally managed to speak to the Dalai Lama in person. In 1978 the Dalai Lama acknowledged the Bon religion as a school with its own practices after visiting the newly built Bon monastery in Dolanji. He bestowed on Sangye Tenzing (Lungtok Tempa Nyima) the significant "throne" title. This title is usually granted to the highest leaders of Buddhist sects only and means an important step towards an integration of the Bon community in the Tibetan exile community.