Lord Auckland wrote to the deb and dharma rajas that the British were “… compelled by an imperative sense of duty to occupy the whole of the duals without any reference to your Highnesses’ wishes, as I feel assured that it is the only course which is likely to hold out a prospect of restoring peace and prosperity to that tract of country.”
1971: Bhutan finally joins the UN as a member after spending 3 years holding observer status.
This treaty stated that the British government would “exercise no interference in the internal administration of Bhutan.” It was agreed, though, that Bhutan would “be guided by the advice of the British government in regard to its external relations.”
In 1949 Bhutan signed a treaty with independent India that was very similar to its earlier treaty with the British.
Theravada, sometimes referred to as Hinayana, focused on pursuing liberation for the individual. Mahayana took Buddhism in a different direction, emphasizing compassion and the liberation of all living beings. The Theravada teachings retreated to southern India before becoming established in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma and Cambodia. The Mahayana teachings were developed in the new Buddhist universities in northern India before being transmitted northwards in a huge arc along the Silk Road to China, Tibet, Bhutan, Japan and Korea. It is the Mahayana teachings on compassion that permeate the religious beliefs and practices of the Bhutanese.
Both the Theravada and Mahayana schools studied the Sutras that recorded the teachings of Sakyamuni; however, the followers of Tantrism believed that he had left a collection of hidden esoteric teachings to a select few of his early disciples. These were known as Tantra.
The Buddha started his teachings by explaining that there were a middle way that steered a course between sensual indulgence and ascetic self-torment. The Middle Way can be followed by taking the Eight Fold Noble Path, underpinned by the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths set out the laws of cause and effect. Buddhism is thus not based on a revealed prophecy or divine revelation but rather is firmly rooted in human experience.
The first Noble Truth is that lief is suffering. This suffering is the result of an unenlightened life and is maintained by the constant process of rebirth in the different realms of existence.
The reason for this dissatisfaction and suffering is contained in the second Noble Truth, which refers to our desire for things to be other than they actually are. This dissatisfaction leads to actions and karmic consequences that merely prolong the cycle of rebirths.
The third Noble Truth was described as True Cessation — the stopping of all delusions, desires and attachment to samsara. With the cessation of desire and attachment, we are able to break the cycle of rebirth and suffering and reach a state of nirvana, the ultimate goal of Buddhism.
Millions of years ago the space Bhutan now occupies was an open expanse of water. The Tibetan plateau was beachfront property.
The 4 Noble Truth, True Paths, set out by the Buddha refers to the correct means through which an individual is able to overcome attachment and desires in the pursuit of liberation from samara. These are often described as the 8-Fold Path: with dedication and practice it may lead to accumulation of merit, then enlightenment and liberation.
In Buddhism, life is seen as a countless cycle of rebirths as living beings “wander” in samara. There is not just one world but a myriad of worlds in which beings may be reborn — 6 different realms of existence. It is important during one’s lifetime to accumulate enough merit to avoid being reborn in 1 of the 3 lower realms.
As beings are reborn in samsara their rebirths in the different realms of existence are determined by their karma, a kind of psychic baggage that follows each being from rebirth to rebirth.
A bodhisattva (hero of enlightenment) seeks enlightenment for the sake of all living beings, out of heartfelt compassion and self-sacrifice, rather than seeking liberation from samsara for her or himself. This altruistic attitude is referred to as mind of enlightenment.