Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
The Grand Lama explained
This chapter explores the Buddhist and Brahminical doctrine of the human soul as an emanation of the divine spirit, confined to a body due to past sins, and the concept of voluntary incarnations of Buddha, particularly the Dalai Lama in Thi
What happens
This chapter explores the Buddhist and Brahminical doctrine of the human soul as an emanation of the divine spirit, confined to a body due to past sins, and the concept of voluntary incarnations of Buddha, particularly the Dalai Lama in Thibet. It discusses the historical rise of the Lama to temporal and spiritual power after the victories of Genghis Khan, and notes the surprising similarities between Lamaist and Roman Catholic practices, possibly derived from Nestorian Christians.
Themes in this chapter
Mortality and Immortality
The chapter discusses the soul's confinement in a human body as a state of misery due to past sins, and the concept of voluntary incarnations of Buddha, touching on themes of mortality and the possibility of transcendence.
Cultural Transmission and Education
The chapter highlights the transmission of religious practices between Nestorian Christians and Buddhists in Thibet, showing how cultural and religious elements were shared and adapted.
Key passages
“It is a doctrine alike of the Brahminical Hindus and of the Buddhist sect that the confinement of the human soul, an emanation of the divine spirit, in a human body, is a state of misery, and the consequence of frailties and sins committed during former existences.”
Both Brahminical Hindus and Buddhists believe that the soul, which is a part of the divine spirit, is trapped in a human body as a punishment for sins from past lives, making earthly existence a state of suffering.
This explains the shared belief in reincarnation and suffering as a result of past actions.
“But they hold that some few individuals have appeared on this earth from time to time, not under the necessity of terrestrial existence, but who voluntarily descended to the earth to promote the welfare of mankind.”
However, they believe that certain beings have chosen to be born on Earth, not because they had to, but to help humanity.
This introduces the concept of voluntary incarnations, such as the Dalai Lama.
“In consequence of the victories of Genghis Khan and his successors, the Lama residing in Thibet was raised to the dignity of chief pontiff of the sect.”
Because of the conquests of Genghis Khan and his descendants, the Lama in Thibet became the highest religious leader of the Buddhist sect.
This links the political power of the Mongol Empire to the religious authority of the Dalai Lama.
“The first Christian missionaries who proceeded to Thibet were surprised to find there in the heart of Asia a pontifical court and several other ecclesiastical institutions resembling those of the Roman Catholic church.”
Early Christian missionaries in Thibet were astonished to discover a papal-like court and religious institutions similar to those of the Roman Catholic Church.
This highlights the unexpected similarities between Lamaism and Catholicism.
“It is not improbable that the Lamas derived some of these practices from the Nestorian Christians, who were settled in Tartary when Buddhism was introduced into Thibet.”
It is likely that the Lamas adopted some of their customs from Nestorian Christians, who lived in Tartary at the time Buddhism arrived in Thibet.
This suggests a historical exchange of religious practices between Nestorian Christianity and Buddhism.