Modernity mixes with tradition

There is a heady mix of modernity and tradition. And the Jokhang monastery, in the main bazaar area, one can see every morning thousands of devotees prostrating before the Buddha and turning the huge prayer wheels for good fortune. Monks and nuns can be seen circumambulating. Ordinary men and women move around with the rotating prayer wheel in their hands.

At Barkhor Street, Tibetans play the traditional Tibetan music. Modern buildings still follow the basic structure of the traditional style. Cultural and historical monuments are being protected throughout Tibet and being opened to the public. Nearly all Tibetans follow Tibetan Buddhism with the expectation of a miniscule minority who follow Islam and Catholicism.

Respecting and protecting the religious belief is a basic policy of the Chinese government. The citizens have the right to believe or not to believe in any religion or to follow any sect within a religion. Normal religious activities can be seen anywhere in Tibet.

Religious institutions are being restored. At present there are about 1700 monasteries in Tibet. In this regard China has allocated more than 380 million yuan for the repair and restoration of monasteries including the Potala Palace, Jokhang, Samye, Sera, Tashilhunpo, Gandain monasteries, to name a few.

The government-funded Institute of Buddhism is the place where Living Buddhas and Buddhist scholars teach sutras and religious history. Major monasteries hold classes for studying sutras and arrange debates on Buddhist doctrines.

Tibetology

Tibetology has become a special area of study in China and there are more than 50 institutions specializing in Tibetology. The China National Centre for Tibetan Studies was set up in Beijing in 1986.

These institutions have undertaken many research projects on a wide variety of topics including regional economic and social development strategies, editing and studying and researching Sanskrit sutras written in pattra palm leaves and conducting research on Tantric Buddhism.

Editor:Liu Fang