Buddhism Then & Now

by Bhaskar Mukherjee

Buddhism is currently broadly divided into two prinicpal panths, traditions or orders:

Theravada: This is the oldest form of Budddhism.

Mahayana: This panth became a reality during the Third Buddhist Council convened by the emperor Kanishka in the first century AD five hundred years after the mahaparinirvana of the Buddha. The Mahayana however rests on the foundations of the Theravada elucidating further that which is not fully expressed in it.

The Mahayana is also sometimes termed Northern Buddhism and has been the most adaptable to foreign cultures. Thus in Tibetan Buddhism there are four principal panths or orders.

Nyingmapa: This is the oldest panth or order. It was founded in 725 AD. Its elected and designated head is currently Penor Rinpoche, based in Karnataka.

Sakyapa: Founded in 1035 AD this panth or order is led by hereditary succession in the person of Sakya Tridzin Rinpoche. This is the only panth in Buddhism where the spiritual leader is required to get married and produce an heir. It has its exile headquarters in Dehra Doon.

Kagyupa: Founded in 1050 AD this tradition has many branches. The spiritual leader of the Karma Kagyu tradition is Pal Gyalwa Karmapa. Currently Ugen Trinlay Dorjee alias Apo Gaga, and Trinlay Thaye Dorje are both claimants to the throne of the Gyalwang Karmapa. Shamar is the second in seniority after the Karmapa. Tai Situpa is the third. It is the Shamarpas who have traditionally recognised the Karmapas from the 4th Karmapa onwards. Tai Situpa ascended to prominence much later. The Karmapa's exile headquarters are at Dharma Chakra Centre, Rumtek, in Sikkim .

Gelugpa: Founded in 1385 AD this 'reformed' panth or order is headed by the Dalai Lama. It has its exile headquarters at Dharamasala in Himachal Pradesh. Currently Tendzin Gyatso is the fourteenth Dalai Lama. The Panchen Lama is its next most senior spiritual leader. In Tibetan, 'panchen' means 'great scholar', the title dating back to the erudite teacher of the Fifth Dalai Lama. The tenth Panchen Lama died in China 1989. Subsequently the Dalai Lama recognised a five year old Tibetan child in Tibet , Gyaltsen Choekyi Nyima as the 11th Panchen Lama. This child lama was arrested by the Chinese Govt and is now tracelss. The Chinese then nominated its own 11th Panchen Lama, a young boy called Gyaltsen Norbu. It is the Panchen Lama who recognises the Dalai Lama.

The present Dalai Lama is now caught in the Chinese net because after his death the Chinese nominated 11th Panchen Lama will certainly be required to nominate the 15th Dalai Lama. This is the reason why the present Dalai Lama has predicted his next incarnation will be born outside Tibet .

Bhaskar Mukherjee, Photo Journalist, 325 Pataliputra Colony, Patna 800 013, Bihar , Tel 0612 26 0264.