Trisong Détsen
The second of Tibet's three great Dharma kings, King Trisong Détsen (742-797) played a pivotal role in establishing Buddhism as the state religion of Tibet during the eighth century. He invited the Indian Buddhist master Guru Rinpoche and the abbot Shantarakshita to Tibet, where they successfully overcame resistance from local deities and Bön practitioners, with Guru Rinpoche subjugating hostile spirits and binding them as protectors of the Dharma. Under Trisong Détsen's patronage, Samyé Monastery—Tibet's first Buddhist monastery—was constructed around 779, and the king sponsored the translation of Buddhist texts from Sanskrit into Tibetan, laying the foundation for Buddhism's enduring presence in Tibetan culture.
Since the early 8th century, Tibetans and Himalayan people have treasured "Namtars" as written or spoken narratives that demonstrate the realization of the Buddhist path by exceptional practitioners. These namtars, or spiritual biographies, serve as inspirational guides on the path to enlightenment.
Today, Namtars Foundation aims to record, preserve, and freely offer the world a written and electronic treasury of the oral wisdom of Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhism.
