Rivival of the Great Buddhist Culture of Mongolia
Buddhism arrived in Mongolia in the third century B.C.E. with silk traders from India. In the late 13th century, Buddhism was declared the state religion by the emperor of Mongolia, Kublai Khan, who was the grandson of Chinggis Khan. This was due to influence of the visit of Sakya Pakya, a Tibetan Lama, who was the grandson of Sakya Kunga Nyingpo. Sakya Kunga Nyingpo founded the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism.
In 1571 emperor Altan Khan, a 17th generation descendant of Chinggis Khan, invited the Tibetan Lama Sonam Gyatso (1543-1588) to visit Mongolia to give teachings on Buddha Dharma to Mongolians. Sonam Gyatso accepted and spent a number of years giving teachings and initiations in Mongolia. In 1578 the emperor bestowed the title "Dalai Lama" (meaning ocean of wisdom) upon him, thus beginning the lineage of the Dalai Lamas. The 4th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama lineage in the person of Yonten Gyatso (1589-1617) was born in Mongolia to the grandson of Altan Khan himself, further strengthening the connection between Mongolia and Tibet.
For over the next three hundred years Buddhism flourished as Mongolia's national religion, excelling in art, philosophy, science and producing many great Buddhist sages and masters such as Zanabazar and the Bogh Khan incarnations. The Dalai Lamas of Tibet became Mongolia's national guru, as well as Tibet's. At the turn of the 20th century there were 110,000 Buddhist monks and almost 700 monasteries.
Buddhism under the communist rule (1921-1990)
Communists took control of Mongolia in 1921 and committed violent purges in every aspect of the culture. The worst persecutions started during the late 1930s when tens of thousands of monks and ordinary believers were executed, monks were forced into lay life or worked to death. The vast majority of monasteries, temples and religious objects were destroyed during these years of the communist purges and Buddhism was all but obliterated.
Mongolians were systematically conditioned to view the Buddha Dharma as an undesirable remnant of their cultural history, something backward, superstitious and contrary to all ideals of progress and modernity.
Present situation - Revival of Buddhism in Mongolian (1990 - Present)
In 1990 Mongolia adopted a democratic government which brought religious and personal freedom to the people. Despite the long period of communist control and the massacre of monks and scholars, Mongolia began to experience the revival of a spiritual way of life that had long defined its culture with the restoration of monasteries and the enrollment and education of new monks. Visits by H.H the Dalai Lama and the establishment of monasteries by Bakula Rinpoche and other great masters helped create the momentum for the revival of the great past Buddhist culture.
Unfortunately, the decades of oppression and anti-religious propaganda had taken their toll. By the time Mongolia gained independence, Buddhism had been extremely weakened, as was the country which was thrown into severe economic, social and cultural crisis. The result was three generations of Mongolians who had limited opportunities to practice Buddhism and knew little of their religion. Knowledge of Buddhists scriptures, the liturgy and offering of ceremonies and rituals in general, was scarce. Very few lay Buddhist practitioners had any access to Buddhist teachings and many were attracted to the various Christian missionaries and churches to help fill the spiritual void.
Mongolians still face economic hardships and relentless religious challenges. However with the continual establishment of many Buddhist monasteries and centers, Mongolians can now face the future with the consolations of the compassionate teaching of the Buddha. Buddhism is in the heart of every aspect of Mongolian culture. The revival of this powerful Buddhist heritage is critical to Mongolia's future peace and happiness.
