The Religion of Tibet

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This book attempts to describe firstly, how Buddhism, in late and strange form, came to Tibet and was there developed to suit the needs of an exceptional country and people; and secondly, how, for several centuries and down to the present day, it dominates the Tibetan nation. About three-fourths of the material set out in these pages is new; i.e. valuable books and manuscripts given me by the Dalai Lama, the Pan-chen Rim-po-che (1a-shi Lama), and others, as well as conversations with leading Tibetans in Lhasa and elsewhere. So many are interested in Buddhism, and so little is known of the inner workings of its Tibetan adaptation, that the subject may perhaps prove acceptable to a circle of readers.

I write Tibetan names and other words as they are pronounced in the central province round Lhasa. Tibetan spelling does not represent the modern pronunciation in any part of Tibet. But for a few of the names, &c.-the more important ones-I have entered the spelling in Tibetan script in the footnotes. There are several competing systems of transliteration into the roman character, but none are quite satisfactory, and students of things Tibetan may therefore prefer to have these words in Tibetan itself.

The illustrations, except one, are my own. This one, the frontispiece, I owe to His Holiness the Pan-chen Lama himself. My indebtedness in other fields is, I hope, made clear in the text.

**Contents and Sample Pages**