GURU PADMASAMBHAVA

Guru Padmasambvhava (7th century BUddhist Tantrik master)) is credited with bringing Buddhism to Sikkim. He is regarded as the second Buddha by the Buddhists of Sikkim. In Sikkim I came to know that the Buddhists of Sikkim who mostly belong to Bhutia tribe follow four schools of Buddhism. The four of schools of Tibetan Buddhism are Nyingma,Kagyu, Sakya and Gelugs. Most of the Buddhists in Sikkim are followers of Nyingma which was founded by Guru Padmasambhava. It basically is a Tantric sect and its Lamas keep long hair and are allowed to live with their consorts called 'Khandrula'. They claim that they achive enlightenment through Tantric way taught by Buddha. The photgraph here is of Gurupadmasambava recently built at Namchi (South Sikkim). It is 135 ft tall statue of Guru Padmasambhava said to be tallest in the world.

I was full of surprise when Lama Yungdrung told me that he doesnt belong to all the four sects mentioned by me. His sect is the oldest. He belongs to a pre-Buddhist sect of Tibet. Read my next blog to know about this pre-Buddhist sect.