Splendors of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries

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Every day, as the sun rises in the sky, life in the Drepung Monastery begins with the chant of sutras. The monks wake up, have a light breakfast, and begin their studies.

An asphalt road connects the monastery at the foot of a mountain to the western suburb of Lhasa. Behind its whitewashed walls lurks a hidden world of golden sculptures and colored murals.

Wooden signage in both Chinese and English is everywhere inside Drepung directing for endless streams of Buddhist pilgrims and foreign tourists hither and thither.

For 600 years, Drepung, the largest monastery of the Gelug school, has stood silent witness to events beyond its walls.

Drepung Monastery /Photo via WestChinaGo.com

Modern monasteries

Having survived hundreds of years, many monasteries are in poor condition and in need of work.

More than 200 million yuan (around 30 million US dollars) of government money has been spent on the renovation of Drepung over the past five years.

"The buildings were repaired and parking lot and nursing home built," said Nyima, head of Drepung's management committee.

Tibet started providing funds to monasteries in 2011, supplying them with electricity and water, and building roads, bathhouses, greenhouses and garbage treatment facilities.

In addition to government money, Drepung Monastery makes more than 10 million yuan each year from tickets, alms given by pilgrims and earnings from shops and teahouses. Most of the money is used to maintain the buildings and preserve its artwork. The remainder is making life easier for the monks.

A management committee consisting of government officials and monks has been set up in almost every monastery in Tibet. These official members work with monk members to manage monastery affairs and solve problems faced by monks.

A large thangka painting of the Buddha is exhibited at Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, Aug. 21, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

Dradul entered Tsurpu Monastery 31 years ago. He enjoys high prestige in the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism since completing a three-year retreat of fully-cloistered meditation.

Dradul is a member of the monastery's management committee and a political adviser of Tibet. It is through those management committees that monks now have medical and endowment insurance, and living allowances. Buildings are maintained. Infrastructure such as roads is improved.

Datri, a government-designated member of the management committee of Drepung Monastery, has helped source more than 200,000 yuan in medical aid to 39 monks. He also helped 114 monks apply for living allowances.

"These officials are like a family member to us. Whenever we have a problem, we will look for their help," said Ngawang Gonchen, a monk.

Unchanged tradition

Religious study and services are the main activities of monastic life.

Tibet Buddhist Theological Institute, the autonomous region's first comprehensive Buddhist academy, has branches in 14 major monasteries.

Located in the quiet Piedmont area of the Shannan Region, the Samye Monastery is the first temple to be built in Tibet, with a history of more than 1,000 years. /china.org.cn Photo

Aged between 17 and 30, the monks at the institute's branch at Drepung study sutra to acquire the highest academic degree – "Geshe Lharampa" – similar to a doctorate. Since 2005, more than 100 monks have received the degree in Tibet.

"Those monks who study sutras are the future of any monastery," said Ngawang Kunqing, head of the Drepung branch of the institute. "So it's important to look after them well."

Those with excellent conduct and academic performance have the opportunity to study at the institute, which recruited its first batch of 150 monks in 2011.

"To acquire the highest degree is not easy," said Ngawang Chupa, a sutra teacher from Ganden Monastery. It took him 32 years to obtain his "Geshe Lharampa". He now teaches sutra to more than 100 monks in 4 classes.

Dharma assemblies are still the most important activities in monasteries.

On the anniversary of the birth of the Buddha every year, Sera Monastery begins an assembly at 6 a.m., when over 500 monks chant sutras together. It's a grand sight to see.

Tsurphu Monastery /Photo via chinaexpeditiontours.com‍

On auspicious days of Tibetan calendar, monasteries, big and small, hold the same traditional ceremonies as they have for centuries.

Tsurphu Monastery holds 38 such ceremonies a year, while Sera and Drepung monasteries hold even more.

An official survey found 1,787 places of religious activity in Tibet, with over 46,000 Buddhist monks and nuns in-residence, offering on-the-spot services like weddings or funerals.

"Such services not only meet the religious demand of Tibetans, they are also the responsibilities of monks," said Dorje Tsering from the religion bureau of Xigaze city.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency