Whether Bonism belongs to Buddhism or not, one thing is certain, that is, in the long and cruel struggle between Buddhism and Bonism, Bonism has absorbed many positive factors that are beneficial to its own development from Buddhism and has obvious characteristics of Tibetan Buddhism.
From the classic of Bonism, * * * is divided into nine times, which is nine parts. The first four parts are called "Karma", and the main contents are about the teachings of Bonism and various religious ceremonies, such as divination, cursing, praise, prayer and exorcism. This part basically retains the basic content of Bonism. The last five parts are called "fruit multiplication", which is specifically about how to get rid of the suffering of reincarnation. The contents described in this part and the classics telling these contents are basically from Buddhism, and they have all changed from the classics in Buddhism to the classics. Kangqin, for example, is transformed from the Prajna Hundred Thousand Odes in Buddhist Scriptures; Kang Qiong comes from the Buddhist sutra "Ode to Prajna", which is 25,000, this sutra comes from the master of yoga, and 100,000 black and white flower dragon sutra comes from the five sutras held together. ...
Judging from the gods worshipped by Bonism, a considerable number of gods come from Buddhism, and many gods are modeled after the image of Buddhist gods. Even the statue of Shinrao in Danba, as an ancestor and worship god, is modeled after the statue of Sakyamuni in some temples. The "three treasures" of Buddhism, Dharma and Monks in Bonism are also from Buddhism teaching, but the difference is that the Buddha treasure of Bonism is that Danba believes in Rao; Magic weapon refers to the Bonism classics and theories of Danba Sinrao; Monk treasure refers to the disciple of Danba Shinrao.
Living Buddha system is one of the basic characteristics of Tibetan Buddhism. However, some Bonism temples also introduced the living Buddha system into Bonism. For example, Dege Deqin Temple began to set up living buddhas in the early Qing Dynasty, and all the eminent monks in the main temple in the past dynasties were named living buddhas in this temple. However, there are still some differences between the living Buddha system of Bonism and Tibetan Buddhism, mainly in the way of inheriting the position of living Buddha, and Bonism is rather chaotic. For example, some temples, like Tibetan Buddhism, are passed down through reincarnation; Some living buddhas in temples are passed down by marriage and children. Some Bonism temples do not have a living Buddha system, and the highest host of temples is Kampo. In Boni religion, Kampo's way of attacking posts is still very confusing, but it can still be seen that it is obviously related to the reincarnation of the living Buddha of Tibetan Buddhism. For example, Kampo in some temples is hereditary (Kampo can't get married and is inherited by my nephew), some temples are reincarnated, some temples were attacked by lottery, and some were pre-designated by the previous Kampo.
Although Bonism is studying Buddhism, it is not copying Buddhism, but selectively transforming and absorbing Buddhism according to Bonism's interests. Catholics never agree with Buddhism.
Bonism and Tibetan Buddhism have some similar or identical characteristics, but there are also many different or even fundamentally opposite contents.
Compared with Tibetan Buddhism, Bonism has a strong primitive religious flavor. For example, besides Danba Shinrao, Tara Buddha, Lotus Peanut, there are various natural gods, which represent the incarnations of natural gods such as heaven, earth, mountains, rocks and trees. Most of the mountains, rivers and lakes in Tibetan areas are regarded as holy mountains and waters. This is obviously a reflection of nature worship in primitive religion. Not only that, but also divination is good and bad. Witchcraft such as cursing, exorcising ghosts and jumping off buildings to treat diseases is not only an important religious activity of Bonism monks, but also an indispensable part of Bonism's secular life.
Bonism takes "ten thousand characters" as its teaching symbol, which is contrary to the "ten thousand characters" symbol in Tibetan Buddhism. The "swastika used by the Nazi Party" is called "Neutralization", which is a symbol of Bonism. It has auspicious, sacred, eternal and firm meanings and has the function of exorcising evil spirits. The symbol "the swastika used by the Nazi Party" can be seen everywhere in Bonism temples, pagodas, scriptures, houses and clothes of believers. In Buddhism, the symbol of "swastika used by the Nazi Party", which is called "Wan Zi" or "De Zi", is opposite to the Bonism symbol, but its meaning and social function are consistent.
The turn of Bonism is completely opposite to that of Tibetan Buddhism. Bonism requires believers to walk counterclockwise when turning meridians, turn the meridian wheel with their right hand and pull the meridian tube with their left hand. Tibetan Buddhism factions are just the opposite. It is said that the Buddhist sects of Bonism and Tibetan Buddhism can't be reversed, otherwise, "it won't work to turn 10 again."
The Buddhist chimes used by the Boni lamas are also different from Tibetan Buddhism. Bonisimbel is flat and has a big mouth. When in use, the bell mouth swings upwards. The Buddhist bells used by various factions of Tibetan Buddhism are all deep-caliber, and when used, the horn is shaken downward.
In addition, Bonism temples are closely related to agricultural production activities. Few monks live in Buddhist temples. At ordinary times, most monks return home, work at home during the day, and recite scriptures at home in the morning and evening, leaving only a few people to guard the temple. Only when religious activities are held in the temple can the monks return to the temple, and after the activities, everything will be restored to its original state. This characteristic of agriculture (animal husbandry) is also not available to all factions of Tibetan Buddhism.