Tibetan Buddhism

Buddhism is the main religion practiced by Tibetans. Less than one percent of Tibetans practice Islamic and Catholic faiths. The remaining 99% of Tibetans organize their lives around the practices of Buddhism and the teachings of Buddha.

Tibet historically has been a theocratic country, which means that the roles of government and religion are closely connected. His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, is the spiritual leader of Tibet and the Head of State. Prior to the Chinese invasion, Tibet was an independent country.

The roles that religion plays in Tibet makes it unique because religion is involved in every aspects of Tibetans' lives. One example of how integrated religion is in Tibetan society is its educational system. Monasteries have set up schools and universities. The religious lifestyle of Tibetans has been widespread and consistent. Practicing their religious faith is integral in all Tibetans' lives. In his book, Heinrich Harrer observed:

"The daily life of Tibetans is ordered by religious belief. Pious texts are constantly on their lips; prayer-wheels turn without ceasing; prayer-flags wave on the roofs of houses and the summits of the mountain passes; the rain, the wind, all the phenomena of nature, the lonely peaks of the snow-clad mountains, bear witness to the universal presence of the gods whose anger is manifested by the hailstorm and whose benevolence is displayed by the fruitfulness and fertility of the land. The life of the people is regulated by the divine will, whose interpreters the lamas are. Before anything is undertaken, they must test the omens. The gods must be unceasingly entreated, placated or thanked." [25]