This groundbreaking study by Emil Schlagintweit, a German explorer and scholar, was one of the first comprehensive surveys of Tibetan Buddhism to appear in the West. Based on extensive research and personal observation, Schlagintweit provides a detailed account of the religious beliefs, practices, and institutions of Tibet, as well as a historical overview of Buddhism in India and its spread to Tibet. Richly illustrated with photographs, drawings, and maps, this book remains a classic of Buddhist studies. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.