Tag Archives: 佛教与部落文化
- 8-11-2019
佛教与部落文化
文化被定义为一种社会成员共享的信念，价值观，风俗，行为和文物，并通过学习世代相传下去。在英语的早期使用中，文化与动物和农作物的“培育”以及宗教崇拜有关（因此也称为“邪教”）。文化向我们自己和他人揭示了我们的身份。它影响了我们对的生活和思维方式，艺术，宗教，道德志向和知识的。
本文主要要关注佛教在部落文化中的影响和重要性，对象是塔曼社区及塔曼青年。本文将分为两部分，第一章将考察文化的定义，塔曼部落文化与佛教之间的关系。第二章将探讨塔曼佛教青年对社会的贡献。
塔曼人是蒙古血统的一个古老部落，原产于加德满都谷地，以及北部的青藏高原和尼泊尔西部的武里甘达基河，在历史上占有主要地位。在戈尔卡王国的入侵和扩张期间，进行了种族清洗，是一段漫长而黑暗的历史。在这段残酷时代，许多塔曼人大量流亡到印度的锡金和大吉岭（喜马拉雅亚地区），塔曼族是古代部落宗教-苯教的信徒，其历史可追溯至100,000年或更久。苯教是由西藏的原始萨满信仰演变而来的，也是西藏历史上最早的宗教。 其崇拜的对象包括天地日月、雷电冰雹、山石草兽等各种自然物以及自然界的神灵和鬼魂。公元767年前，莲花生大士把佛教带到喜马拉雅山一带并改变了部落的信仰体系。自西藏佛教（喇嘛教）的诞生，莲花生大士带动了巨大的宗教改革。自此，佛教在喜马拉雅雪山扎根，原本苯教信仰的塔曼人开始信奉藏传佛教（喇嘛教）。莲花生大师传入西藏的佛教也吸收了苯教的一些神祇和仪式，教义上以大乘为主；大乘中显密俱备，尤重密宗，并以无上瑜伽密法为最高修行次第，崇信 “喇嘛”（上师），形成藏密。这样，融合成以后的佛教，同时亦兼采了苯教的部份形式，形成为当地入更愿意接受的一种新的宗教派别，塔曼人的信仰是宁玛派及传统苯教的信仰。这也造成了这个族群有别于其他的原因。佛教对塔曼人文化的影响确实非常重要因为佛教在审视真相时持极其开放的态度，无过度标签，因此佛教容易融入了各种当地文化。上师教导信众要养成慈悲、真诚、诚信、纯洁及减少贪嗔痴。良好的习惯是塑造品德的基础，缺少品德即是代表没有文化。逐渐地，我们成为一名伟大及有文化的佛教徒。佛教徒应散播慈爱到任何地方。
Culture is defined as the system of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that the members of society use to cope with their world and with one another, which are transmitted from generation to generation through learning. In its early uses in English, culture was associated with the “cultivation” of animals and crops and with religious worship (hence the word “cult”).Culture reveals to ourselves and others what we are. It gives expression to our nature in our manner of living and of thinking, in art, religion, ethical aspirations, and knowledge.
This presentation, mainly focuses on the impact and importance of Buddhism in the Tribal Culture, mainly The Tamang Community and its youth,. The presentation is divided between two parts. The first chapter will examine the definition of culture, the relationship between Tamang tribal culture and Buddhism. The second chapter will explore audio visually contributions to society made by the Tamang Buddhist Youths. It may be said that the Tamangs an ancient tribe of Mongloid descent were historically predominant and indigenous to Kathmandu Valley and as far as the Tibetan Plateau in the North and upto the Buri Gandaki River in the west of Nepal .Following a long and dark history of systematic ethnic cleansing during the invasion and expansion of the Gorkha kingdom. In this cruel and unkind times many Tamangs were displaced with an exodus of significant numbers to the sub Himalayan regions of Sikkim and Darjeeling in India,Tamangs are adherents of ancient Tribal religion Bon(Shamanism), because of the core theme “earliest religion”, possibly dating back 100,000 years or more; it may well have been the religion of Neanderthal man much before the advent of Buddhism. Bon was originally a cult of nature worship. Tamangs of the early days were apparently completely subject to their formidable natural surroundings .their religious ideas, which were rooted in and dominated by nature, revolved round the various good and evil spirits with which they peopled their wild, highland landscape. Belief in the existence of superhuman or supernatural powers is almost universal.It was in 747 BC with the arrival of Guru Padmasambhava and the advent of Buddhism in the Sub Himalayan belt that changed the course of belief system of the tribe, Religion and its customs reveals that they have undergone vast religious transformation from the inception of Buddhism in Tibet or particularly with the foundation of Lama Buddhism or Lamaism by Guru Padmasamvawa.
Now, onwards Buddhism firmly footed in the land of snow and propagating the Dhamma in new form in the Himalayan region which is known as “Lamaism” which was best suited for all the Tamangs who earlier used to be adherents of Bon. The Lamaism which was introduced by Guru Padmasambhava had the esteem space for deities of Bon religion as well as it was based on Tantra, which has been central point of beliefs of the Tamangs.The Tamangs idea of religion contains a number of elements which combine to produce a representation of tribal cult of belief system along with being followers of Nyingmapa Sect of Lamaism or Lamaist Buddhism Tamangs religion is essentially comprised of two distinct yet coexisting systems, Buddhism and Bonism (Shaminsm) these are traditionally recognized dimensions which gives this tribe its distinct heritage making them culturally different from the rest of other tribal groups.
The impact of Buddhism on the Tamang culture is truly significant. Buddhism has an extremely open attitude in examining what is true. Since it lends itself to various interpretations, and resists strict labeling, it is no surprise that Buddhism has adapted well to various local cultures. Dhamma teaches us to develop good habits of kindness and compassion, honesty and truthfulness, chastity and to reduce our greed and hatred simultaneously,. Steady, wholesome habits are the basis of good character, without which no culture is possible. Then, little by little, we become great and cultured Buddhists. — hate and intolerance are for none, limitless loving-kindness and compassion are for all. It’s a thrilling message of reason, of universal benevolence and liberating influence on thought and action wherever Buddhism spread. And this indeed is Dhamma.