Religion

2004-03-01 18:01

Nearly all Tibetans follow Tibetan Buddhism, with the exception of approximately 2,000 adherents of Islam and 600 of Catholicism. Tibetan Buddhism It is a branch of Chinese Buddhism In the seventh century A D, Buddhism was introduced into Tibet from China and Nepal. It first gained acceptance among the nobility, later being gradually embraced by all of society The conversion of Tibet is usually considered as proceeding in two stages, the first propagation from the seventh to ninth centuries, followed after a break by the second propagation lasting from the tenth century until the middle of the present century During this long latter period, a constant stream of eminent Buddhist monks and scholars came from India and Kashmir bringing the dharma An indigenous religion, Bon, influenced the develop ment of the particular form of Mahayana Buddhism known as Tibetan Buddhism.

Tibetan Buddhism has its own distinctive qualities and practices. A well-known example is the recognition of reincarnating Living Buddhas, a belief alien to Chinese Buddhism. Many different orders were formed over the centuries, all with the same goal These include Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu and Gelug orders.

The Gelug, sometimes referred to as the "Yellow Hats" in reference to the colour of their headgear, was founded by Tsongkhapa and has been the most influential order since its beginnings in the 15th century. Later the order developed its recognition of the Dalai Lama and Panchen Erdeni as reincarnating Living Buddhas Respecting and Protecting the Freedom of Religions Belief Respecting and protecting the freedom of reli gious belief is a basic policy of the Chinese government This policy is carried out in the Tibet Autonomous Region as it is elsewhere in China.

The policy may be briefly stated as asserting citizens' freedom to believe or not believe in any religion, to abandon a religion h or she followed in the past or follow a religion that h or she didn't follow in the past, and to follow any sect or order within a given religion. After the peaceful liberation of Tibet, institution at various levels earnestly carried out the policy c freedom of religious belief and were widely praised.

Currently, under the protection of the Constitution and laws, the people of Tibet enjoy fully the freedom of developing normal religdous activities. During the "cultural revolution" (1966-1976 freedom of religious brief was seriously violated in Tibet as elsewhere in the nation. Places of religion and their attendant facilities were seriously damaged. After the end of the "cultural revolution," the policy of freedom of religious belief returned to Tibet Institutions doing religious work were restored or newly created one after another.

Some of the traditional religious festivals resumed and many new religious sites were added. At present, there are more 1 1,400 temples, monasteries, mosques, churches and other places for religious activity in Tibet, satisfying the needs of the masses for a normal religious life. Over the last more than ten years, the state has allocated over 220 million yuan in special funding to Tibet to implement the policy of freedom of religions belief, and to repair the seventh century Jokhang Temple, the eighth century Same Monastery and four famous Gelug monasteries --Drepung, Sera, Ganden and Tashilhunpo.

In addition, the state invested 55 million yuan for a five-year restoration of the Potala Palace and provided 6.70 million ynan, 111 kg. gold, over 2,000 kg silver and a large quantity of precious stones towards the renovation of the stupas and memorial halls of the fifth through ninth Panchen Lamas. In January 1992, the Tenth Panchen Erdeni Choskyi Gyaltsen passed away The state allocated money for the construction of his stupa and memorial hall in Tashilhunpo Monastery, and held a grand initiation ceremony in accordance with traditional Tibetan Buddhist ritual.

With the approval of the central government, the search for and confirmation of the reincarnation of the Tenth Panchen Erdeni and other related affairs are currently proceeding smoothly at Tashilhunpo Monastery. Independent Religious Activities The various religious organizations in Tibet independently organize religious activities.

The Tibetan Branch of the Chinese Buddhists Association has founded the Academy of Tibetan Buddhism and started sutra study classes in temples of the various orders Each year it recommends a certain number of Living Buddhas and student monks for further study at the China Tibetan Language Institute of Buddhism in Beijing.

In 1984, the government of the Tibet Autonomous Region presented the Lhasa edition of the Tibetan language Buddhist classic Kanjur to the Tibetan Buddhists Association and opened the Lhasa Sutra Printing House The Kanjur printed by the printing house are supplied to Buddhist temples and monasteries using the Tibetan language inside and outside of Tibet In 1990 the Tibetan Buddhists Association began to cut the printing plates for the Lhasa edition of the Tanjur, another Tibetan language Buddhist classic, in Muru Temple in Lhasa, a project started but not completed by the Thirteenth Dalai Lama.

In 1985 the Tibetan Buddhists Association started publishing the magazine Buddhism in Tibet. Currently, there are more than 34,000 monks and nuns in Tibet Several hundred religious huggers have been elected to serve as deputies to people's congresses at various levels, members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference committees at various levels, to the Tibetan Buddhists Association Council and for governmental posts Delegations from Buddhist organizations and religious figures in Tibet have frequently visited foreign countries for on-the-spot investigations or academic exchange.

Tibet has also played host to groups and individuals from some tens of countries who came in pilgrimage, as sightseers or to conduct their own investigations.