Lamaism

Lamaism, popular term for Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism, which evolved from Indian Buddhism starting in the 7th century A.D. This religion combined intellectual discipline with the ritual of tantric yoga and shamanism. The spiritual and political head of the hierarchy of monks or lamas is the Dalai Lama (Tibetan, “oceanic teacher”). He is chosen as a young boy and considered to be the reincarnation of previous lamas and of Avalokitesvara, a bodhisattva (spiritually enlightened being who remains on earth to help others achieve enlightenment). The intensely religious society remained unchanged until the Communist Chinese invasion of Tibet (1959), which forced the Dalai Lama into exile.

See also: Buddhism.