Buddhism in Tibet Trivia Quiz

Answer: True

It is said that, during the reign of Lha Tho Tho Ri Nyen Tsen, the 5th King of Tibet, a book was found on the top of the Royal Palace. It was prophesied that this book would be understood and studied after the time of the 32nd King. Accordingly, the 33rd King of Tibet, Srong Tsen Gampo (reigned 604-650 AD), invited Buddhist missionaries from India to introduce Buddhism to Tibet.

Answer: Wang Chang

The mightiest King of Tibet, Srong Tsen Gampo, was engaged in war with Nepal and China at the time. China and Nepal each had to give a royal princess to the King of Tibet. Both the Chinese princess, Wang Chang, and the Nepalese princess, Bhrikuti, brought statues of Buddha with them to Tibet.

Answer: Shantarakshita

Shantarakshita was the Vice Chancellor, or Chief Abbot, of one of the highest seats of learning of Tantric Buddhism, Vikramshila in India (near the modern city of Bhagalpur in Bihar). Although he was the first invited to establish the religion of Buddha, the attempt was unsuccessful. With his arrival, Tibet was beset by natural calamities, like thunderstorms, famines and so on.

It was seen as the wrath of the gods of the pre-Buddhist religion of Tibet, Bon.

Answer: The person who successfully introduced Buddhism to Tibet

Padmasambhava established the Nying Ma sect of Buddhism in Tibet. This is the only sect of Buddhism established by an Indian in Tibet. Tibet has four major sects of Buddhism and the other three, Kargyu, Sakya and Gelug, were established by Tibetans. The XIVth Dalai Lama, exiled to India, belonged to the Gelug sect of Buddhism in Tibet.

Answer: As His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama of Tibet

Tenzing Gyatso is the ordained name of the XIVth Dalai Lama. (In Tibet, every newborn is given an ordained name by the nearby monastery.) Interestingly, the Dalai Lama belongs to the Gelug Sect although he is not the head of this sect. The head of the Gelug Sect is the throne holder of Tsong Khapa, founder of the Gelug Sect, and is called Ganden Thi Pa.

Answer: Lang Dharma

The modern practice of Tibetan people showing their tongues when they greet people comes from this history: they are proving that they do not have black tongues like Lang Dharma. He was the only king responsible for trying to destroy Buddhism in Tibet. During his reign in the 9th century, monks fled to other countries, books were destroyed and chapels came down in ruins, and the remaining monks were forced to adopt household life. Buddhism was reintroduced by Atisha, from India, in the middle of the 11th century.

Answer: False

The biggest temple in Lhasa is named Jokhang, and it was built by the Chinese wife of Srong Tsen Gampo, Wang Chang. It is believed by many Tibetans that going along the path around this temple brings them great merit.

Answer: Four

The first sect, Nyingma, was established by an Indian scholar -- Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche. He is considered like a second Buddha by Tibetans. The Sakya school was founded in southern Tibet. The Kargyud sect began with masters like Marpa and Milarepa and is has links to the Siddha tradition of India. The fourth sect, Gelug, has the largest following and was established by Tsong Kha Pa.

Bon predates Buddhism and there is some debate as to how it should be classified.

Answer: Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of compassion

Avalokiteshvara, or the Buddha of compassion, is the form of Buddha that is said to be the particular progeny of the Tibetan race. As per Tibetan popular belief, the Tibetan race started from the union of a female demon and male monkey, the Avalokiteshvara.

Answer: Five

All over the world, the five Dhyani Buddhas (symbols of the five aspects of the Buddha and the five failings of humanity) are Avalokiteshvara, Amitabha, Akshobhya, Ratnasambhava and Amoghsiddhi.