How did Bon influence Tibetan Buddhism?

Bon, the indigenous religion of Tibet, significantly shaped the distinctive character of Tibetan Buddhism after being absorbed by the Buddhist traditions introduced from India in the 8th century.1

This influence is evident in several key areas:

• Deities and Pantheon: Many original Bon deities associated with the atmosphere, earth, and subterranean regions were incorporated into the Buddhist pantheon as lesser deities.1
• Oracular Traditions: The Bon order of oracular priests provided a structural counterpart to the Buddhist tradition of soothsayers.1
• Divine Kingship: The Bon concept of divine kingship—where rulers were viewed as manifestations of a sky divinity—was reformulated within Buddhism as the reincarnation of lamas.1
• Ritual Practices: While early Bon focused on magic, the propitiation of demonic forces, and blood sacrifices, these elements were integrated and transformed as the two traditions merged.1

Although Khrisong Detsen persecuted Bon in the late 8th century, the religion was never fully eradicated, surviving both through its integration into Buddhist practices and as a distinct, living faith on Tibet's frontiers.1