Skateboards, cars and travel part of modern world of Tibetan monks

KEEPING UP-TO-DATE

For Gasang Losae, 49, the abbot of Wutunxia Temple, the changes go far beyond diet.

His housing at the monastery features a mix of Tibetan traditional style and modern facilities. Exquisite woodcarvings decorate beams and pillars in his living room, all typically Tibetan style. But the living areas of the monastery are definitely modern when it comes to things like electricity, televisions, plumbing and induction cookers.

"I like to use up-to-date household appliances, as they are clean and convenient," said Gasang Losae. "With a wood-fired oven, it used to take me more than two hours to make dinner, but with an induction cooker, it only takes half an hour."

Gasang Losae was once sent to study at the High-level Tibetan Buddhist Institute of China in Beijing, the highest educational institution for Tibetan monks. He has also visited other large, cosmopolitan cities and developed some modern habits.

"Tibetan monks used to take a shower only once every year or two. But living in cities, I found that showering more often is a clean living habit," said Gasang. "Now I take a shower every four or five days, and I often persuade other monks to do so.

"The Buddha will be happy if we open the sutra with clean hands."

He also decided to establish a nursing house for old monks, who traditionally lived out their retirement years in their monasteries but without any special facilities for the aged.

"After I saw a nursing home in Beijing, I decided to establish one for old monks back at the temple, because monks have no children to take care of them when they get old." Money for the facility was raised partly by the abbot and partly through donations.