The sutra debating examination for advanced and intermediate academic degree of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the Buddhism teacher qualification assessment, all administered by the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China, officially took place at the Western Yellow Temple, Beijing on May 13.

A total of 13 monks took part in the advanced academic degree examination, while 16 took part in the intermediate examination. Besides, 24 others took part in the Buddhism teacher qualification assessment, including 12 from the Gelug sect, six from the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism and six from the Bonismo.  

 

The picture shows the sutra debating.

Living Buddha Drukhang Thubten Khedrup, director of the Tibet Buddhism Academy, observed the debates of the Gelug, Sakya, Nyingma sects and Bonismo. He said that although the sutra debating in Tibetan Buddhism was prevalent in the Gelug sect in early times, nowadays it’s encouraging to see all sects promote it.

The sutra debating originated from ancient India and was later passed on to Tibetan-inhabited areas.  As a debate on Buddhism doctrines, it is a must for Tibetan Buddhist monks when studying the exotoric Buddhism classics, and is usually held in the open area of a monastery under the shade of trees. 

 

Thutop Sengye, Deputy Director of the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China.

According to Thutop Sengye, deputy director of the High-level Tibetan Buddhism of China, with the establishment of Buddhism colleges of different levels in relevant regions, monks now can go to temple scripture classes, provincial Buddhist colleges, and then the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China in sequence for a comprehensive education and attain academic degrees of various levels.

Starting from this year, the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China has stopped recruiting monks studying for intermediate academic degrees, and is mainly focusing on the advanced classes. In future, provincial Buddhism colleges will largely be responsible for intermediate class enrollment, monks training and awarding of the intermediate title.

According to the Methods for Tibetan Buddhism Academic Titles Award (trial) passed and implemented by the National Religious Affairs Bureau in 2015, Tibetan Buddhism academic titles are divided into elementary title, or Chanrampa, intermediate title, or Zhirampa, both of which are awarded by the Buddhist colleges set up by the provincial Buddhism organizations, as well as advanced title, or  Thorampa, which can only be awarded by the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China . The High-level Tibetan Buddhism of China can also award the Zhirampa title according to requirements.  

A monk is recording the advanced academic examination of Bonismo with his phone.

In the past, the Buddhism academic titles are different among different sects of Tibetan Buddhism and there are no unified examining standards for monks to attain it. Although monks would learn astronomy, calendar, medicine, Tibetan language, history, music, painting and other knowledge in the monastery, they are not covered by modern teaching system. Thus, what they learn are not widely accepted in society.

After the Tibetan Buddhism title system was established, monks need to learn computing, foreign language and other modern teaching content, which on one hand make up the deficiency of traditional practicing of Buddhism, on one another hand further systematize the study of Tibetan Buddhism.