Lamaism, << LAH muh ihz uhm, >> is a form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Mongolia. It is usually called Tibetan Buddhism. Lamaism is named for the Buddhist Lamas (monks), who teach the faith. Many Lamaists follow a branch of Buddhism called tantrism, which stresses meditation and secret rituals.
Shortly before A.D. 650, monks from India introduced Buddhism into Tibet. Through the years, Buddhism was combined with traditional Tibetan religious beliefs to form Lamaism. The Lamaists built monasteries called Lamaseries, which became political and educational centers in Tibet. Between 900 and 1400, several Lamaist sects developed in Tibet, including the Gelugpa, Karmapa, Sakyapa, Brugpa, and Nyingmapa. The most powerful one, the Gelugpa, was also called the Yellow Hat sect because its monks wore yellow uniforms. The sect leader became known as the Dalai Lama. From the mid-1600’s until 1950, the Dalai Lama was the supreme political and spiritual ruler of Tibet. The Chinese invaded Tibet in 1950 and eventually removed the Buddhists from power. The Dalai Lama went into exile in India in 1959.
See also Asia (Way of life in Central Asia) ; Buddhism ; Dalai Lama ; Painting (Indian painting) ; Tibet .
