THE GREAT LIBRARIES OF TIBETAN BUDDHISM a treasure saved from History

When we state that Tibetan has become one of the world's vastest spiritual libraries, it is not a poetic image. Between the 8th and 17th centuries, thousands of translators, monks, yogis, philosophers, and scribes undertook one of humanity's most extraordinary endeavors in preserving knowledge. The paradox is striking: while Buddhism gradually disappeared from its Indian cradle after the 12th century, a huge part of its intellectual heritage survived in Tibet. Tibet, Conservatory of Buddhist India Between the 8th and 13th centuries, the greatest Indian masters traveled to Tibet: Padmasambhava, Śāntarakṣita, Atiśa, as well as numerous pandits from the universities of Nalanda, Vikramaśīla, and Odantapuri. Many universities were to develop, those of Nālandā, Vikramaśīla, and Odantapuri. When these universities were destroyed during the Turkic-Afghan invasions of the 12th and 13th centuries, a large part of the Sanskrit works disappeared. But their Tibetan translations remain. Thus, even today, some Indian texts are known only through their Tibetan translation. TWO GREAT LIBRARIES OF THE TIBETAN CANON The Kangyur (Kanjur: “Translation of the Buddha's Words”) It gathers the sutras, the Mahāyāna texts, the tantric teachings, the monastic rules. Approximately 100 to 110 volumes. The Tengyur (Tanjur: “Translation of the Commentaries”) It contains: philosophy, logic, psychology, medicine, astronomy, poetry, grammar, commentaries by Indian masters. More than 220 volumes. Together, these two collections represent several million words. THE GREAT MONASTERY-LIBRARIES Before 1950, the main centers of preservation were: Drepung Monastery Up to 10,000 monks. Immense library of philosophy, logic, and meditation. Sera Monastery Major center for dialectical studies. Thousands of manuscripts. Ganden Monastery Founded by Tsongkhapa. Remarkable library. Tashilhunpo Monastery Traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas. Sakya Monastery Probably the most extraordinary. Its library still contains tens of thousands of ancient manuscripts today. A portion is still not fully cataloged. THE ARRIVAL OF THE CHINESE The entry of the People's Republic of China army into Tibet in 1950 opened a period dramatic.At the beginning, some monasteries survived. Then came the catastrophe of the Cultural Revolution. Massive destruction Between 1966 and 1976: monasteries closed, statues destroyed, libraries burned, manuscripts dispersed, artworks incinerated. Thousands of volumes disappeared. Some historians estimate that over 90% of Tibetan monastic institutions were destroyed or severely damaged during this period. How the texts were saved Fortunately, many masters had fled before the destruction. In 1959, after the Lhasa uprising, the young Tenzin Gyatso left Tibet with thousands of refugees. In their luggage, manuscripts, xylographs, sacred texts, and archives were carried. Sometimes on yak-back or hidden in clothing. THE NEW TIBET OF LIBRARIES The renaissance primarily occurred in India. Library of Tibetan Works and Archives Founded in 1970, it preserves tens of thousands of manuscripts, historical archives, oral recordings, and photographs. One of the most important Tibetan libraries in the world. Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts Safeguarding cultural heritage. Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies High-level academic research. WHAT REMAINS TODAY The Tibetan heritage is far from gone. It is estimated that almost all of the Kangyur has been preserved, almost all of the Tengyur still exists, hundreds of thousands of manuscripts are preserved, and thousands have been digitized. Today, international projects systematically photograph and digitize Tibetan collections dispersed between India, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, Europe, North America, and Tibet itself. THE MIRACLE OF TIBETAN HERITAGE One of the greatest cultural miracles in history is that Tibet preserved a huge part of medieval Buddhist Indian thought that India itself had lost. When the libraries of Nālandā burned, many thought this heritage had disappeared forever. Yet, centuries before, Tibetan translators had patiently copied every line, every commentary, every treatise on logic, meditation, medicine, or philosophy. Thus, even today, when a researcher wants to understand certain teachings of Nāgārjuna, Asaṅga, Vasubandhu, or Dharmakīrti, they often consult the Tibetan translations. Tibet was therefore not just a country of spiritual practice. It was the great ark safeguarding Asia's Buddhist memory, an ark that, despite invasions, wars, and revolutions, continues today to transmit to the world one of the vastest spiritual libraries ever established.

Aliénor and Alain Delaporte-Digard BUDDHACHANNEL FRANCE