Amitabha Buddhist Centre - History of Tibetan Buddhism in Singapore

History of Tibetan Buddhism in Singapore

Tibetan Buddhism is based on Vajrayana, a branch of Mahayana Buddhism. Vajrayana is also the main form of Buddhism practised in neighbouring countries like Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan. Its practice begins with the student hearing teachings ("oral transmission") from a Lama (religious teacher) who is adept in a given practice. The student practises special techniques for transforming the energy of actions, speech and states of mind into a path of Enlightenment.

During the 11th Century, many Buddhist scriptures were translated into Tibetan, and then later codified into the Tibetan Kanjur and Tanjur. As Buddhism developed in Tibet, it branched into several major schools, four of which are known today:

• Nyingma school, founded by Padmasambhava in the 9th Century
• Kagyu school, founded by Tilopa (998–1069 AD)
• Sakyapa school, founded by Sakya Pandita (1181–1251 AD)
• Gelug school, founded by Tsongkhapa (1358–1419 AD)

Before 1959, not much was known of Tibetan Buddhism in Singapore as only the Chinese Mahayana and Theravada forms were present in Singapore then. As Tibet was an isolated region, made nearly inaccessible by the high Himalayan mountains, few Tibetan lamas travelled outside of Tibet. Moreover, many could not speak or write in English or Mandarin then. Occasionally, Tibetan lamas and monks would pass through Singapore on transit and give talks. For example, a high Tibetan lama visited Singapore on 23 January 1949 while on his way back to China by sea. He was warmly welcomed at the Singapore Buddhist Lodge where over a hundred people gathered to listen to his Dharma talk, given in Tibetan and translated by a Chinese monk into Mandarin.