Editing Tibetan Buddhism (section)

===First dissemination (7th–9th centuries)===
{{Main|Tibetan Empire}}
{{multiple image
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 | image1 = Tibetan empire greatest extent 780s-790s CE.png
 | caption1 = Map of the Tibetan Empire at its greatest extent between the 780s and the 790s CE
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 | caption2 = [[Samye]] was the first gompa (Buddhist monastery) built in Tibet (775–779).
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While some stories depict Buddhism in Tibet before this period, the religion was formally introduced during the [[Tibetan Empire]] (7th–9th century CE). [[Sanskrit Buddhist literature|Sanskrit Buddhist scriptures]] from India were first translated into Tibetan under the reign of the Tibetan king [[Songtsän Gampo]] (618–649 CE).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://studybuddhism.com/en/advanced-studies/history-culture/buddhism-in-tibet/tibetan-history-before-the-fifth-dalai-lama/the-empire-of-the-early-kings-of-tibet|title=The Empire of the Early Kings of Tibet|website=studybuddhism.com}}</ref> This period also saw the development of the [[Tibetan script|Tibetan writing system]] and [[classical Tibetan]].<ref>William Woodville Rockhill, {{Google books|avFDAQAAMAAJ|Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution|page=671}}, United States National Museum, page 671</ref><ref>Berzin, Alexander. ''A Survey of Tibetan History - Reading Notes Taken'' by Alexander Berzin from Tsepon, W. D. Shakabpa, Tibet: A Political History. New Haven, Yale University Press, 1967: http://studybuddhism.com/web/en/archives/e-books/unpublished_manuscripts/survey_tibetan_history/chapter_1.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617115552/http://studybuddhism.com/web/en/archives/e-books/unpublished_manuscripts/survey_tibetan_history/chapter_1.html|date=2016-06-17}}.</ref>

In the 8th century, King [[Trisong Detsen]] (755–797 CE) established it as the official religion of the state<ref>{{cite book |last=Beckwith |first=C. I. |chapter=The revolt of 755 in Tibet |title=The History of Tibet |editor-first=Alex |editor-last=McKay |volume=1 |place=London |publisher=RoutledgeCurzon |year=2003 |pages=273–285 |isbn=9780700715084 |oclc=50494840}} (discusses the political background and the motives of the ruler).</ref> and commanded his army to wear robes and study Buddhism. Trisong Detsen invited Indian Buddhist scholars to his court, including [[Padmasambhava|Padmasambhāva]] (8th century CE) and [[Śāntarakṣita]] (725–788), who are considered the founders of [[Nyingma]] (''The Ancient Ones)'', the oldest tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.<ref name="StudyBuddhism.com">{{cite web |last=Berzin |first=Alexander |year=2000 |title=How Did Tibetan Buddhism Develop? |url=http://studybuddhism.com/en/advanced-studies/history-culture/buddhism-in-tibet/how-did-tibetan-buddhism-develop |website=StudyBuddhism.com}}</ref> Padmasambhava, who is considered by the Tibetans as Guru Rinpoche ("Precious Master"), is also credited with building the first monastery building named "Samye" around the late 8th century. According to some legend, it is noted that he pacified the Bon demons and made them the core protectors of Dharma.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Buddhism Came to Tibet |url=https://www.learnreligions.com/how-buddhism-came-to-tibet-450177 |website=Learn Religion |access-date=13 April 2022}}</ref> Modern historians also argue that Trisong Detsen and his followers adopted Buddhism as an act of international diplomacy, especially with the major power of those times such as China, India, and states in Central Asia that had strong Buddhist influence in their culture.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Van Schaik |first1=Sam |title=Buddhism and Empire IV: Converting Tibet |url=https://earlytibet.com/2009/07/01/buddhism-and-empire-iv-converting-tibet/ |website=Early Tibet |date=July 2009 |access-date=13 April 2022}}</ref>

[[Yeshe Tsogyal]], the most important female in the Nyingma Vajrayana lineage, was a member of Trisong Detsen's court and became Padmasambhava's student before gaining enlightenment. Trisong Detsen also invited the [[Chinese Chán|Chan]] master [[Moheyan]]{{efn|和尚摩訶衍; his name consists of the same Chinese characters used to transliterate "[[Mahayana]]" (Tibetan: ''Hwa shang Mahayana'')}} to transmit the Dharma at [[Samye|Samye Monastery]]. Some sources state that a debate ensued between Moheyan and the Indian master [[Kamalaśīla]], without consensus on the victor, and some scholars consider the event to be fictitious.<ref>[http://yzzj.fodian.net/BaoKu/FoDianWenInfo.aspx?ID=FW00000462 定解宝灯论新月释] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102032603/http://yzzj.fodian.net/BaoKu/FoDianWenInfo.aspx?ID=FW00000462 |date=2013-11-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Yamaguchi |first=Zuihō |date=n.d. |title=The Core Elements of Indian Buddhism Introduced into Tibet: A Contrast with Japanese Buddhism |url=http://thezensite.com/ZenEssays/Miscellaneous/Indian_buddhism.pdf |website=Thezensite.com |access-date=October 20, 2007}}</ref>{{efn|Kamalaśīla wrote the three [[Bhāvanākrama]] texts (修習次第三篇) after that.}}{{efn|However, a Chinese source found in [[Dunhuang]] written by Mo-ho-yen says their side won, and some scholars conclude that the entire episode is fictitious.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hk.plm.org.cn/qikan/xdfx/5012-012A.htm |title=敦煌唐代写本顿悟大乘正理决 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101202452/http://hk.plm.org.cn/qikan/xdfx/5012-012A.htm |archive-date=2013-11-01 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |publisher=Macmillan |title=Encyclopedia of Buddhism |volume=1 |page=70}}</ref>}}