Sacred Texts: The Heart of Tibet's Culture

As Tibetan script was based on Sanskrit, the sacred language of India, the motherland of Buddhism, and created in order to bring the Dharma to Tibet, Tibetans regard it as sacred. Accordingly, texts are never put on the ground or stepped over, and damaged pages containing Tibetan script are never thrown away, but instead respectfully burned. To study and practice with these texts is to enter the realm of the sacred; they are the bridge from the ordinary mind to transcendent wisdom. Indeed, practitioners revere the texts as the living embodiment of the Buddha.

Tibetans have a profound relationship with the physical text. Even yogis who have renounced all material possessions may leave this world with only a beloved text by their bedside. Engaging with the physical text with an attitude of devotion, as if it were the most noble living being, is deeply rooted in the culture. Whenever Tibetans receive or put away a text, they briefly bring it to the forehead, a gesture of deep respect for the transformative knowledge that is within.

Tibet’s rich cultural heritage is embodied in these texts, which are the basis for the continuity of its living tradition. Throughout the history of Buddhism, with the support of devout patrons, the teachings of the Buddha and Buddhist masters have been preserved on palm leaves or paper, and by wood block or printing press. The production of sacred texts has always been lauded as one of the highest forms of meritorious activity, leading the individual and society toward enlightenment.