Tibetan Religions Sects

Tibetan Buddhism has been divided into many sects in the “Later Period of Buddhism”, and the most influential
one are following five:
1. Nyingmapa Sect, the Ancient Ones, dates from around 750 with Padmambhava. Its name means "old",
since it was the oldest of the Buddhist sects in Tibet. The Nyingmapa lamas wear red robes and hats, so it is
also known as the Red Sect. It has a loose organization and focuses on mantra practice. Its lamas may marry
and usually live in small groups. The sect retains many more of the Bon features than the other sects.
Nyingmapa lamas believe that the mind is pure and that by cultivating one's being in such a way as to reject all
outside influences, it is possible to become as one with Buddha. This sect has a greater number of deities
than the other four. The major Nyingmapa monasteries are the Mindroling Monastery and the Dorje Drak Monastery. The former is particularly
important for its collection of Tibetan calligraphy.

2. Kahdampa Sect ordains that Buddha's acts and teachings should be the doctrines of cultivation. It is based on the teachings of Atisha, who
arrived from India in 1042. The tradition lays stress on scriptures and discipline and emphasizes Tantra can be imparted to only to a select few.
Kahdampa preaches samsara and retribution, so it underwent rapid development. By comparison with the other sects, its Yoga and Tantra
remain pure. The main monastery is the Nechung Monastery, the hegumen (or abbots) of which acted as regents during the ethnic group of the
Dalai Lamas and conducting the government of Tibet. Later this sect converted to Gelugpa.

3. Kagyupa Sect was originated by two great teachers, Marpa and Milarepa. Kagyupa means "to teach orally" and its focus is on Tantric teaching.
Since Marpa and Milarepa wore white robes, this sect is also called White sect. Its doctrines are unique and stresses, a combination of the
practice of quasi-qigong and Buddhist satori. It also advocates asceticism and obedience as the source of enlightenment. An important
contribution of Kagyupa was the creation of tulku (reincarnating lamas) system, in which an existing lama can show evidence of his prior
incarnations. Kagyupa's principal shrine is the Tsurphu Monastery, the traditional seat of Karmapa lama.

4. Sakyapa Sectdates from 1073 and was founded at the Sakya Monastery after which it was named. Later, the sect was to govern Tibet for a
period. As the monastery wall was painted with red, white and black stripes, the order became known colloquially as the Colorful Sect. Sakyapa's
doctrines persuade people to do good deeds so that they may gain a good incarnation in their next samsara and to discard all temporal desires
to ensure relief from pain.

5. Gelugpa Sect is the order of Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama and is also called the Yellow Sect since they wear yellow hats. It was founded by
Tsong Khapa, a great Buddhist reformer, in 1407. It absorbed Kahdampa and carried on Atisha's tradition. It stresses strict discipline and study
of the scriptures. Its successful reform made it dominant in Tibet after the 17th century, leaving other sects to play a minor role. Its six main
monasteries are the Ganden Monastery, Ta'er Monastery, Drepung Monastery, Labrang Monastery, Sera Monastery and Tashilhunpo Monastery.

Kham & Khamba

In the past, Kham, is one of the three traditional provinces of Tibet (In traditional notion of Tibetan history and
geography, Tibetan Nationality was divided into three parts as: U-Tsang, Amdo and Kham).

Linguists and anthropologists refer to Kham as the “Ethnic Corridor of Southwest China”, as its vast and
sparsely populated territories are inhabited by over 14 culturally and linguistically distinct ethnic groups. For
reasons of simplicity, the Chinese government combines the various ethnic groups of Kham together with the
Tibetans to form one big nationality, called the "Tibetan Nationality". There are, however, significant differences
in traditions and beliefs--even physical appearance--between the peoples of Kham and Lhasa.

Kham comprised a total of 50 contemporary counties, which have been incorporated into the Chinese provinces of Sichuan (16 counties),
Yunnan (3 counties), and Qinghai (6 counties) as well as the eastern portion of the Tibet Autonomous Region (25 counties).
Khamba are the Tibetans who live in Kham area.