Religion
In Bhutan
Buddhism was introduced in Bhutan in the 7th
century by Guru Padma Sambhava. in the centuries
that followed, Bhutan was home to many sages and
saints including the great saints-scholars like
Longchen Ramjam, also known as Kuenkhen Longchen
Raamjam, (1308 - 1363). Various schools of
Buddhism in Bhutan assimilated other earlier
practices and beliefs. The aspirations towards
enlightenment and the belief in the widely
shared among Buddhists and majority of the
innate goodness of human beings are Bhutanese
are Buddhists. Hinduism is another religion,
practised particularly in Southern Bhutan. The
Hindu religion as practised by Southern
Bhutanese has many common saints and divinities
with Vajrayana, the school of Buddhism prevalent
in Bhutan. Buddhism has a significant influence
on the values of the Bhutanese and has shaped
the institutions, organizations, arts, drama,
architecture, literature and social structure.
Bhutan's culture, as in other societies, is
continually adapting itself in the face of
development.
The importance of religious institutions
continues in present day Bhutan, as signified by
the strength of the monk body who number about
5000 in Dratshangs or Rabdeys supported by the
state. This figure takes into account only those
monks who are part of the formal monastic
structure supported by the state and excludes
those who are not part of the state sponsored
Dratshangs. The Rabdeys are based mainly in
dzongs. Each Rabdey is healed by a Lam Neten who
is appointed by His Holiness the Je Kherpo (Heal
Abbot), the elected Head of the Central Monk
Body. The present je Kherpo is the 70th
incumbent. His Holiness the Je Kherpo is the
chairman of the nine member Dratshang Lhentshog.
Monks continue to play an important role in the
daily lives of the people in performing
religious ceremonies, and in promoting and
preserving traditional scholarship. They are
also actively involved in the process of
development while constantly renewing their
relevance to society in times of change. |
History Of
Bhutan
Till well into the 17th Century, Bhutan was
split up into small independent principalities.
After the arrival of Buddhism, during the
seventh century, the various Buddhist schools
began sharing the power in the country with the
old aristocratic families.
The cleric Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel united the
independent principalities into one state. After
his death the theocracy disintegrated and the
provincial lords fought to gain control over the
central power. Only the establishment of the
monarchy in 1907 brought peace again. Today the
fourth King of Bhutan is leading his country
into modern times. |
