Nagtsang Rinpoche, a living Buddha and the Deputy Director of the High Level Buddhism College of China

Nagtsang Rinpoche, a living Buddha and the Deputy Director of the High Level Buddhism College of China, recently received the interview of China Tibet Online, and expressed his views on the development of the Tibetan Buddhism. According to him, Tibetan Buddhism is in prime time of development now.

Since the Tibetan Buddhism was introduced to Tibet in the 7th century, it has brought profound influence on the Tibetan people and has gradually penetrated into every aspect of social facets including history, politics, economy, culture, education and customs. The Tibetan Buddhism is now a widely believed religion among the Tibetan people. 

Monks are debating [Photo/CRI.com]

Monks are listenign to the debating [Photo/CRI.com]

Buddhist monks and nuns, on their own initiative, study and debate the scriptures, attend lectures given by eminent monks, perform Abhiseka (consecration by pouring water on the head) and ordainment, disseminate Esoteric doctrines, perform Buddhist ceremonies, chant scriptures in the presence of believers, release the souls of the dead and pray for blessings by touching the heads.

Small prayer halls or shrines are virtually universal in the homes of believers, and pilgrims coming to Lhasa number well over one million each year.In Tibet, you can see people engaging in religious activities everywhere, the sutra streamers are everywhere, and also the Mani Stones on which the sacred scripture of the Buddhists are engraved.

In addition, religious activities during the annual Sholton Festival and the traditional practice of circling Mount Kangrinboqe in the Year of the Horse and circling Lake Namco in the Year of the Sheep along pilgrim paths have been carried on and respected by society at large.

With the improving of the living standards and the development of transportation in Tibet, people now have better economic conditions and more convenient transportations to undertake religious activities.

Almost every religious family has a small sutra recitation hall or a niche for a Buddhist statue [Photo/www.google.com]

What's more, the monks are included in the social security system now. In view of the features of traditional education in Tibetan Buddhism, and combining the mode of modern education, the College of Tibetan Buddhism was established, and a new degree system of the Tibetan Buddhism was also found and implemented . The High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China has started to formally enroll students for the high-level degree class since September 2004. And totally 66 monks have been awarded the Doramba degree until 2010. Supporting the studying of scriptures through system, this is greatly welcomed by both by the religious figures and the believers in Tibet.

Students of the High Level Buddhism College of China are having class [Photo/www.google.com]

The ceremony at which the high-level degree of Tibetan Buddhism are conferred[Photo/Tibet.cn]