Gassho Ann,I've always thought that the Tibetan's have produced the most splendid array of symbolism and mythology to help all their people from a very young age understand Buddha Dharma. Many tell me older traditions that pre-dated Buddhism have been kept to keep things colorful and nessasary to break the bordom or such a cold mountain country.
They had to show through the reality and cultural tradition what Buddha Dharma was. So they needed a Buddhist monk that had to pass through some very nasty Karma/Vipaka. Milarepa was the saint of Buddha Dharma they needed to show the people that Buddhism was not just parades and ceremony. For Milarepa to be then taught by Naropa and Marpa who had travelled to India to return with Buddha Dharma helped make the connections to a very spiritual society.
In Tibet I don't think this created the need for wars or an "under ground" Buddhist society. They found just what they were looking for and as it assimilated into their Bon religion with no real proof, they needed there own Buddha. Milarepa showed that carnage and revenge and greed causing delusion and suffering can be overcome.
As the Jews have Moses who through prayer, fasting, and suffering not only saved a people from bondage; but made use of his "Meekness" to have Dominion over the same greed, delusion, lies, and killing.
Christ also had to complete his Karma in a Vipaka of un-godly horror to show his turning the other cheek was throwing out the conditioned delusions, greed (money lenders) That which many of the Jews of that time had forgotten that Abraham, David,and Moses had Dominion over "evil".
All great religions must teach the ignorant. Every once in a while a miracle must be seen. To the Prophets I mentioned it was what achieved the seeds to show the willing students how to use for the good of Man. And this will be very difficult and take many lifetimes.
The masses wanted instant relief and golden calves?
If you or I find ourselves stuck hungry in some cave we wll see this as a gift. Milarepa knew he had struggled with this for lifetimes. He fullfilled the reality of what is seeded in all of us. Power over our conditioned minds and Dominion over evil's confusion.
The Hindu Avatars knew this. That relgion recognized Gotama Buddha as the 7th or was it the 8th Avatar.
At least they didn't start a war with the Buddhists. If religions followed what the fulfilled souls have tried to teach them: that being light unto them selves and living out their own karma's Vipaka (the result) of births and re-births could not be achieved by just belief. You gotta have your own experiences at the far ends of the mind, to settle in the Middle.
Metta,
Richard
