With the increasing interest in Buddhism and its establishment as the state religion and the founding of Samye (bSam-yas) monastery in 779 A.D. Bon was generally discouraged and a further serious attempt was made to eradicate it. This was the second persecution of Bon, by King Trisong Detsen (Khri-srong lDe-btsan). However, adherents of Bon among the nobility and especially among the common people, who had followed the Bon beliefs for generations, retained their religious convictions and Bon survived. Again during this period many Bon priests were banished or forced to flee from Central Tibet, having first concealed their scriptures for fear of their destruction and in order to preserve them for future generations.