The Formation of the Lama Religion in Tibet

It was in the mid-seventh century that Buddhism was introduced into the Tibetan region of our country. (1) At that time, the crucible of its fermentation was exclusively the royal court of the Turfan and several noble families; it had very little effect on the masses of the Tibetan people. In society, the dominant position, as far as religious belief was concerned, was occupied by a primitive, naturalistic religion known as Bon-po.