Indonesia: The Island of Clarity
In classical Tibetan texts, Indonesia is often referred to as dvangs ba’i gling (དབངས་བའི་གླིང་), translating to the island of clarity or the pure land island. This designation highlights Indonesia’s profound cultural and spiritual significance, especially in the context of Buddhism which has historically flourished within its boundaries.
The Connection to Srivijaya
This title is intricately connected to the ancient kingdom of Srivijaya, situated in Sumatra, where the prominent Tibetan scholar Atiśa studied under the revered Guru Serlingpa (Dharmakīrtiśrī). The legacy of Srivijaya represents a pivotal chapter in the exchange of Buddhist knowledge and practices across Southeast Asia. Atiśa’s teachings, which were significantly influenced by his time in this esteemed Buddhist center, underline the importance of Indonesia in shaping the wider fabric of Buddhism.
Tibetan Textual References
Tibetan historical documents, notably The Blue Annals (Deb Ther Sngon Po), address the teachings of Serlingpa without explicitly naming Indonesia. Instead, these texts refer to it as a great Buddhist land across the ocean, fostering a sense of mystique around its role in the spiritual realm. Occasionally, the name Suvarṇadvīpa (Golden Island), attributed to Sumatra in Sanskrit literature, is also transliterated into Tibetan as gser gling (གསེར་གླིང་), further emphasizing the direct reference to this significant locale.
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