How did Bon beliefs influence Buddhism among the Sharchop people?

The Sharchop people of Bhutan share a common religious foundation in Tibetan Buddhism with other ethnic groups in the country, yet their practice is often distinguished by a strong element of Bon, the indigenous pre-Buddhist religion of Tibet.1

While Buddhism in Bhutan generally incorporates an admixture of Bon shamanism, the influence of these older beliefs is particularly notable among the Sharchop. Historically, Bon was characterized by the propitiation of demonic forces, a cult of divine kingship, and the veneration of atmospheric and subterranean deities. As Buddhism spread, these indigenous elements were often integrated into the Buddhist framework; local gods and demons were either converted into protectors of the faith or relegated to the periphery, where they continue to require propitiation.2134

Consequently, the Sharchop’s religious life reflects this synthesis, where traditional Buddhist practices coexist with the enduring influence of these older, pre-Buddhist spiritual traditions.1