Also see: Buddhist
persons and terminology
Introduction
Mongolian Buddhism is often described as a part of Tibetan
Buddhism, which is in many ways. However, there are enough distinct features to
refer to the practice as Mongolian Buddhism. Here I will briefly introduce
some aspects of Buddhism in Mongolia
History (taken from The history of religion in Mongolia)
It is in the time of the Great Khans that the Tibetan form of Buddhism gains influence in Mongolia. In the beginning of the 13th century Chinggis Khan conquers Tibet. The leader of the biggest empire ever was known for his religious tolerance, having Nestorian Christians, Moslems, Manicheďsts and shamans within his realm. When after his death trouble arises in Tibet his grandson is send to settle things. Although doing this with a trail of destruction he makes friends with Sakya (Sa skya) Pandita, the patriarch of the Sa skya sect. With these two the special Tibetan lama-patron relationship starts. Godan´s successor Khubilai Kahn continued this relation with Sakya Pandita´s nephew
Phags-pa. He was kept at the Mongolian court, but more for political than spiritual reasons. By holding a representative from the ruling Sa skya pa, Khubilai hoped to realise a friendly attitude of the Tibetans. While being at the Mongolian court Phags-pa converted great parts of the ruling class including Khubilai. So for the first time Mongolia came under major Buddhist influence, although it seems to mainly have been limited to the upper
class.
At the end of 16th century Altan Khan is in power. He meets with Sonam Gyatso, a Tibetan Buddhist leader whom he gives the title of Dalai Lama. This meeting means a revival of Buddhism in Mongolia. Later great-grandson of Altan Khan will pointed as an incarnation of the Dalai Lama, strengthening the ties between Mongolia and Tibetan Buddhism. From that period on Buddhism becomes the predominant religion in the Mongolian territories and establishes a big clergy. At the end of the nineteenth century there were 583 monasteries and temple complexes and 243 incarnate lama's would be living in the Mongolian territories, of which 157 resided in Inner Mongolia. The Buddhist clergy controlled about 20 percent of the country’s wealth and in the 1920s there were about 110.000 monks, making up one-third of the male population
. Moses especially emphasis the negative impact of this clergy:
“…[T]he evils of the monastic system; the greedy and corrupt lamas; the ignorance, poverty and disease perpetuated by an unresponsive, untutored clergy; and …the crushing economic burden of an unproductive and acquisitive clerical hierarchy.” (Moses 1977: 3-4)
Lama´s
One
of the characteristics of Mongolian Buddhism are the many independent lama's.
These lama's who don’t belong to any kind of monastery. There income, often
among others, consists of gifts or payments from people consulting them. These
consults might concern religious, spiritual or medical issues. Also lama's can
be asked to ensure the well going of a project/for special occasions, like I
observed sometime when someone wanted to build a kiosk he had a lama come to
bless the ground.
These
independent lama's in most cases didn't take the monks vows, and it seems that
even in many monasteries a vow is not necessary. The independent lama's might
have bonds with a monastery, or even work for them as for instance a librarian.
Medicine
Mongolian traditional medicine is very much based on the Tibetan Buddhist practice.
There are some differences however. According to Lama Baatar, working at the
Medical college in the Dornogobi aimag, Mongolian medicine would be much better
in handling physical problems because of the weather, diseases related to food
and taking blood from the body. Furthermore in the Mongolian tradition there is
an acupuncture like treatment with needles.
At several monasteries, like Dashchoilon Khiid,
Gesar Sum and Mamba Datsun
it is possible to get medical consults. Also there are independent lama´s who offer
these consults.
Calendar
In the Tibetan calendar years are named after one of the animals of the
Tibetan zodiac (horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog, pig, rat/mouse, cow/ox, tiger,
hare, dragon, snake). Together with this cycle of twelve years is a cycle of ten
years in which two subsequent years are indicated with one of five elements
(iron, water, wood, fire, earth). These cycles combined give a sixty (12x5) year
period of unique combinations of an animal with an element[*].
Every year is divided into lunar months which in principal consist of thirty
days but might be shorter because unlucky days are not counted and some holy
days are counted twice. Than every month has four special days of worship: the 8th,
10th, 15th and 25th And every year has it’s
special holy days Losar. The birthday of Buddha was celebrated in 2002 on May
26.
In Mongolia the lunar new year is called Tsagaan sar, meaning the white
month, which is celebrated during a few days at the end of the 81 days winter
period. Nomads divide the year in periods of nine days and the winter thus is
nine of these periods. The periods have names like: `Lambs must be covered´ and
`Not cold enough to freeze the soup´. The main shamanistic ritual called the
Great sacrifice is held on the third day
of Tsagaan sar.
Ovoo worship
One of the distinct features is the
ovoo worship. At these sites rituals are
executed by Buddhist lama's.
Five pure lands (NI)
In Mongolian Buddhism there five pure lands or paradises:
[*] Example of the combinations: