“Both in Western and Eastern Tibet, as in every other place where Buddhism predominates, there are two distinct religions, the same as it is in Brahmanism – the secret philosophy and the popular religion. The former is that of the followers of the doctrine of the sect of the Sutrantika. They closely adhere to the spirit of Buddha’s original teachings which show the necessity of intuitional perception, and all deductions therefrom. These do not proclaim their views, nor allow them to be made public.
“All compounds are perishable”, were the last words uttered by the lips of the dying Gautama, when preparing under the Sal-tree to enter into Nirvana. “Spirit is the sole, elementary, and primordial unit, and each of its rays are immortal, infinite, and indestructible. Beware of the illusions of matter.”
Buddhism was spread far and wide over Asia, and even farther, by Dharm-Asoka. He was the grandson of the miracle-worker Chandragupta, the illustrious king who rescued the Punjab from the Macedonians – if they ever were at Punjab at all – and received Megasthenes at his court in Pataliputra. Dharm-Asoka was the greatest King of Maurya dynasty. From a reckless profligate and atheist, he had become Pryadasi, the “beloved of the gods”, and never was the purity of his philanthropic views surpassed by any earthly ruler. His memory has lived for ages in the hearts of the Buddhists, and has been perpetuated in the humane edicts engraved in several popular dialects on the columns and rocks of Allahabad, Delhi, Guzerat, Peshawur, Orissa, and other places. His famous grandfather had united all India under his powerful sceptre.
When the Nagas, or serpent-worshipper of Kashmere had been converted through the efforts of the apostles sent out by the Sthaviras of the third councils, the religion of Gautama spread like wildfire. Gandhara, Cabul, and even many of the Satrapies of Alexander the Great, accepted the new philosophy. The Buddhism of Nepal being the one which may be said to have diverged less than any other from the primeval ancient faith, the Lamaism of Tartary, Mongolia, and Tibet, which is a direct offshoot of this country, may be thus shown to be the purest Buddhism; for we say it again, Lamaism properly is but an external form of rites.
The Upasakas and Upasakis, or male and female semi-monastics and semi-laymen, have equally with the lama-monks themselves, to strictly abstain from violating any of Buddha’s rules, and must study Meipo and every psychological phenomenon as much. Those who become guilty of any of the “five sins” lose all right to congregate with the pious community. The most important of these is not to curse upon any consideration, for the curse returns upon the one that utters it, and often upon his innocent relatives who breathe the same atmosphere with him.
To love each other, and even our bitterest enemies; to offer our lives even for animals, to the extent of abstaining from defensive arms; to gain the greatest of victories by conquering one’s self; to avoid all vices; to practice all virtues, especially humility and mildness; to be obedient to superiors, to cherish and respect parents, old age, learning, virtuous and holy men; to provide food, shelter, and comfort for men and animals; to plant trees on the roads and dig wells for the comfort of travelers; such are the moral duties of Buddhists. Every Ani or Bikshuni (nun) is subjected to these laws.”
H. P. Blavatsky
The Mark Of God: Understanding Your "I AM Presence" 