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Buddhism was transmitted to Tibet in 7 century but came in earnest in 8 century.
Unlike many northern countries who accepted Buddhism through China,
Tibet received Buddhism directly from Indian Abhidharma teachers and masters.
Indian masters came to Tibet with volition to transmit dharma and spent
the rest of their lives in Tibet without returning their home country to see
Buddhism established there. Moreover their Indian disciples also followed their
masters’ wishes and made effort to publicize Buddhism widely in Tibet. It is no
exaggeration to say that Indian Buddhism was transplanted in its entirety through
the tradition of master-disciple transmission. Therefore Tibetan Buddhism has
the most similarity with original characteristics of Indian Buddhism that inherited
Buddha’s teaching since Buddha’s nirvana.
The early Buddhism transmitted to Korean peninsula was Indian Buddhism and
it is in accordance with Mahayana Buddhism that was continued from the period
of Three Kingdoms, Unified Silla and Goryeo. In fact many monks including
Ven. Won-Hyo, Ven. Ui-Sang, Ven. Won-Cuek went to study abroad in Tang,
China and travelled to India to seek Dharma because they realized the limitation
of Buddhism introduced from China. They longed for the original profound
teaching of Buddhism in India.
From that point of view, the research on Tibetan Buddhism, in which Indian
Buddhism was transplanted as it was, helps us understand true teaching of
Indian Buddhism our ancient monks in Silla Period longed for. It has further
significance and value to restore and revive original teaching that was lost
in Korean Buddhism. In other words, the research on Tibetan Buddhist Canon
is not to transmit Tibetan Buddhism but to further develop and enrich Korean
Buddhism on the strength of Tibetan tradition that still keeps the linage of 교증.
Donation to Translation Fund will be used to translate Tibetan Buddhist Canon,
to publish a series of Tibetan Buddhist Literature and to train scholars specialized
in Tibetan Buddhism.
