Tibet Tours

The 11th Panchen Lama on Monday visited south Tibet’s Shannan Prefecture, held large prayer services and gave head-touch blessings to more than 5,000 local devotees.

It was the 11th Panchen Lama’s first visit to Shannan, honored as the cradle of Tibetan civilization, since he was enthroned as a Tibetan Buddhist leader in 1995.

Thousands of devout Buddhists welcomed the Panchen Lama when he arrived.

He held prayer services at Yumbu La Kang — the first Tibetan palace — and a local monastery and blessed thousands of local devotees who had gathered there.

“I am very happy because it has been my dream to come to Shannan and hold a prayer service here,” the Panchen Lama told local government officials.

The 11th Panchen Lama arrived in Lhasa last Thursday for the start of his annual visit which will include participation in a variety of Buddhist events.

Every daybreak on the southeast edge of the Tibetan Plateau, Lucy walks into the only Catholic Church in Tibet, dips her fingers into the holy water and makes the sign of the cross before praying.

Rain, hail or shine, the 62-year-old has attended masses and sermons since she was baptized as a child. The priest who baptized her gave her the Western name.

But Lucy is at home among Tibetans, who swing prayer wheels and prostrate themselves in front of Buddhas.

Unlike Catholics elsewhere, Lucy reads the Bible in Tibetan and presents hada, long pieces of silk used as greeting gifts among Tibetans, to the Virgin Mary.

The church she visits every day is perched on a hill in the valley west of the Jinsha River. It is in the village of Yanjing, also known as “Yerkalo”, and is adorned with gesang flowers in its court, where white hada frame the religious artworks.

Built by French missionary Felix Biet in 1865, the whitewashed structure has two crosses on its outer walls while its interior is adorned with Gothic arches and frescos on the ceiling.

Father Felix was born in 1838 and ordained a priest in January 1864. He arrived in Tibet two months later. He was also ordained a bishop and died in 1901.

After the church was built, clashes between its followers and those of a nearby lamasery were common. The clashes reached a peak in the 1940s when armed lamas took over the church. The church was not returned to Catholic hand until 1951 after many local Catholics had asked the local authorities, the Qamdo People’s Liberation Committee, to return it to them.

That handover marked the end of clashes between the local Catholics and Tibetan Buddhists, according to the China Tibet News website.

The church became an elementary and middle school during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). In the late 1980s, the church was renovated at a cost of 102,000 yuan (about 14,934 U.S. dollars), 95,000 yuan of which came from the government.

Tibetan priest Father Laurent says the Upper Yanjing Village has a population of less than 1,000, and that the church, with more than 500 parishioners, has enriched the local culture and coexists with Tibetan monasteries.

“Many villagers bring their babies to be baptized, and the baptism is performed over eight consecutive days. The babies will receive religious names like Paul and Anne. The names will be with them for their whole lives, and when they die, they will be buried,” he says.

But wedding ceremonies do not take place in the church, Father Laurent says, the priest will instead go to the couple’s home and pray for them.

Maria takes charge of cleaning and daily necessities. But her husband Zhaxi Wangdui is a fervent Tibetan Buddhist.

Maria says they are both pious and respect each other’s beliefs – “We still share the same culture and lifestyle after all.”

When the Tibetan New Year falls, normally in March, Maria joins her husband and the village folk to celebrate.

“After all these years of coexistence, couples who belong to different religions in the village can stick to their own faiths when they marry and their children can choose their own religion once they grow up.”

At Christmas, Father Laurent says Catholics from neighboring provinces come while Buddhists from nearby lamaseries are invited over.

“Religious conflicts between the Catholics and Buddhists are a thing of the past,” says Father Laurent.

On the steps of Drigung monastery, singing a dozen monks. Before she is on the floor of the court, a body in white linen, which had rolled onto a stretcher, carried out at the time. The monks pray for a spirit that was present, when here, but now emancipated from his former home. It is the visitor as a third day, after a specialty Gonpa Drigung profitable, but awful: the elimination of the dead.

My team and I came here last night after a long day trip from Lhasa to Meldor Gungkar County in central Tibet. Drigung monastery is located on a steep hill overlooking our camp. Above the temple complex is a site of “sky burial”, a term that is the removal of the body by being eaten by birds. The birds, which are summoned by incense and revered by Tibetans, issue their droppings on the tops. Sky burial is practiced in the tray, but Drigung is one of the three most famous sights and best prices.

After the song is over, take a furrow of a high ridge, keeping a respectful distance behind the funeral procession that went all the way from Lhasa, this obligation to his deceased friend to fulfill. The ossuary, or Durtro, is a large fenced meadow with a few temples and a stone circle of large stones at one end, where the ceremony takes place. Prayer flags hanging Chorten are numerous, and the smell of burning juniper purifies the air. General Vultures circle, and many others are clustered in the grass a few feet from the coffin.

Tibetans practice several methods of disposing of the dead, but the sky burial is the most common and a very good practice in a country where the fuel is often scarce and land too hard to dig. For me it is a great opportunity for the day, not a visitor to five hundred, had the privilege of the ceremony, which I see, will participate. But I’m afraid I also wonder how the stomach, the spectacle of death.

To pack men in long white skirts OUT the body, which is naked, stiff and swollen. The men have large leaves, which are only a few lines spurred keen on the rocks nearby. The bright sun and clear blue skies but my vague feeling of ill omen. Forensic doctors themselves are not heavy or ceremonial, but quite seriously, as they chat with each other and begin preparation.

Tibetans believe that more important than the body, the spirit of the deceased. After the death of the body three days should not be touched, except perhaps in the crown of the head, through which the outputs of awareness or namshe. Lamas guiding spirit of a series of prayers that the intermediate past seven weeks, as the person who is on his way through the Bard – before the Renaissance.

How to make the first cut, more people are vultures, but from long-wavelength, three men with sticks. Within minutes, the bodies are removed and scheduled for a later, separate disposal. The vultures, which prohibited the entry and waving sticks and shouts. Then the knife a signal and the people all at the same time be reduced. The herd was made that the entire body, including as head bent down, to snatch away the cuts. They are huge birds with wings that more than 2 meters above the dirty white feathers and cover large gray-brown back. Their heads are virtually featherless, not hinder, the bird came to feed in a body.

Thirteen minutes the vultures on a feeding frenzy. The only sound tearing flesh and screams competition for the best pieces. The birds are fed and take the other into the air, their huge wings sounds like steam locomotives in the overhead door. Now get men, what is left of the corpse – only a skeleton of blood – and drive the other birds. They bridge the huge, and started hitting the bone. The men talk while they work, sometimes even laugh, because according to Tibetan belief the mortal remains are merely an empty shell. The spirit of the deceased is gone, his fate will be decided by karma accumulated through all past lives.

The bones are soon reduced to rubble and ashes mixed with barley and then triggered crows and hawks who have been waiting in turn. Vultures remnants of cartilage softens catch and eat greedily. Half an hour later, the body has disappeared. The men also leave your workday ended. Suddenly it is the mountain restore calm. I think the people whose flesh upward leaps over the mountains, and decided that if I had to die in the Highlands, nor anything about it.

Note: At the request of the funeral attendees were no photos taken

The system of reincarnation of Living Buddhas is the main point to distinguish Tibetan Buddhism from other forms of Buddhism. This led to the introduction of the system?

The term Living Buddha emerged in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) when Emperor Kublai Khan Pagba, head of the Sakya Sect, was honored by the granting of the title “Buddha of the Western Paradise.”Thereafter, eminent Tibetan monks who distinguished in the practice of Buddhism is known como”budas life.”However, the term “Living Buddha was not recognized as a specific title for a monk who was succeeded by Dece the head of a monastery until the eventual introduction of living Buddha reincarnation system.

In 1252, Kublai Khan granted an audience Pagba and Garma Pakshi, an eminent monk with the Garma sect. Garma Pakshi, however, sought the patronage of Monge Khan who came to him an award gold rimmed black hat and a golden seal of authority. Write Before his death in 1283, Garma Paksli a testament to the established interests of his sect guaranteed. The will advised his disciples to a child to inherit the black hat again based, with instruction on the premise that Buddhist idelogy eternal, and a Buddha is born again, he had taken to complete missions. Garma Pakshi disciples acted in accordance with the will and found the soul boy of their master. The event will Has the introduction of the system of reincarnation of living Buddha for the Black-lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Emperor Yongle honored Black-Hat Living Buddha as Prince Garmab el”Gran treasure of the Dharma,”the first of three “Princes of Dharma.”System of reincarnation of Buddha’s life still active today. On September 27, 1992, the monastery in Curpu Doilungdêqên County, Lhasa, the site of a ceremony of the enthronement of the 16th Living Buddha Garmab. The event marked a new history page or Garma GAGY Sect.

Various sects of Tibetan Buddhism reacted to the introduction of the system of reincarnation of living Buddha by a number of similar systems. During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) during the reign of Emperor Qianlong alone, 148 entered the Great Buddha Hall for reincarnation with the Council of the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs, the number rises to 160 d ‘by the end of the dynasty. Reincarnation systems have a role, as played by the Dalai Lama and the Panchen systems.

The system of reincarnation of the Dalai Lama was in the 16th Century introduced. In the early years of the Qing Dynasty, visited the Dalai Lama Beiing 5 in honor of the Emperor Shunzhi. The Qing emperor granted him the honorary title “Dalai Lama, Guardian of the Buddhist Faith on Earth under the autonomy of the Grand Charity subsisting Buddha of the Western Paradise.”The title Dalai Lama was thus established, and again, until today. The current Dalai Lama in the Potala Palace, February 22, 1940 enthroned in a ceremony presided over by Wu Zhongxin, minister of the Committee on Mongolian and Tibetan nationalist government of the Republic of China (1911-49). The nationalist government ordered that confirms that the Child reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama without the requirement of the established method to draw the golden urn and assert instead directly as the 14th Dalai Lama to be successful.

The system reincarnatin The Panchen Lama was introduced in 1713, when 5 of the Panchen Lama was awarded the honorary title “Panchen Lama” with Erdeni meaning “great treasure” in Manchu. The 9th Panchen and 13 Dalai Lama has been disagreement over the period of the Republic of China, the Panchen Lama from 9 cities in China. He died in the province of Qinghai. Tashilhungpo Monastery, the resident monastery of the Panchen, which is a child name Gongbo Cidain. Everything indicates that he, the soul of the 9th Panchen Boys Zongren Li, President of the Republic of China, issued a special order of the direction of the child “excuse for the drawing process and a special permit as the 10th Panchen Lama to be successful. The induction ceremony prominent place in Tar Monastery August 10, 1949 was developed by Guan Jieyu, minister of the Committee on Mongolian and Tibean nationalist government of the Republic of China headed.

Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism came to power in Tibet in the 17th Century, and the system of reincarnation of Living Buddhas was a point of contention with the upper class in Tibet. In 1793, as part of efforts to change the direction of the nominated overcome the drawbacks characteristic of soul boys of the same tribes, the Qing government announced the 29-article regulation for the effective administration of Tibet. The first article of the Regulation states: “To ensure the Yellow Sect continues to flourish, awarded the Grand Emperor with a golden urn and ivory slips for use in confirming the reincarnated soul boy of a deceased Living Buddha. For this purpose, four major Buddhist guardian will be called the names of the candidates and their year of birth written on the ivory documents in three languages – Manchu, Han Chinese and Tibetans, ivory slips will be placed in a golden urn and learned Living Buddhas, who pray for seven days before Hotogtu Number of Living Buddhas and high commissioners in Tibet by the central government has officially confirmed the soul boy by drawing lots from the golden urn in front of the statue of Sakyamuni in the Jokhang Temple.

The lottery system of the golden urn and perfected the system of reincarnation of living Buddhas of Tibetan Buddhism. After the draw ceremony, the High Commissioners and leaders were needed by the soul boy search group to report back the result to the central government report. The induction ceremony took place after the approval of the central government.

Creating the Qing dynasty commissioned artisans given to two golden urns. An urn go1den to confirm the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama in the Potala Palace in Lhasa. The others, the reincarnations of Mongolian and Tibetan Grand Living Buddhas and Buddha Hotogtu confirm living in the Yonghegong Monastery in Beijing.

China is home to a variety of religious beliefs, with the three major world religions – Buddhism, Catholicism and Islamism – all with large congregations, organizations and businesses in the country. Buddhism in China mainly includes language Han Chinese Buddhism spread in China in 2 BC, the Tibetan Buddhism, which spread into Tibet in the 7th Century, Buddhism and Pali language, spread to China in the 13th Century. Tibetan Buddhism refers to Tibetan Buddhism, and is also known as Lamaism.

Tibetan Buddhism has exerted extensive and profound effects on the Tibetan ethnic group. The spread of Buddhism in Tibet in the 7th Century gradually infiltrate Tibet’s history, politics, economy, culture, exchanges and habits and customs to become more widely revered religion of Tibetans. Prolonged ethnic cultural exchanges also contributed to Tibetan Buddhism, the way to Mongolia, Tue, yugu, Luoba, Lhoba, Naxi, Purna nationalitites and ethnic minorities in China. Buddhism was widely spread in the revered Tibetan Autonomous Region of China, and Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Qinghai, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia. He also has his way into Sikkim, Benazir Bhutto, Nepal, People’s Republic of Mongolia and the Russian Republic of Buryatia.

More than 1,400 Tibetan monasteries and other religious centers have been renovated and opened following the peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951. Chinese government and policies for religious freedom enable 34,000 monks from several monasteries free study Buddhist sutras and hold various types of Buddhist activities in their respective monasteries. In addition, the broad masses of religious have set up shrines, Buddha halls and sutra recitation rooms in their homes, and undertake pilgrimages to holy sites.

Numerous Buddhist Acts emerged after the mid-11th century, including the Nyingma, Gatang, Sagya, Gagyu, Zhigyed, Gyoyul, Gyonang, Kodrag and Xalhu sects. The latter five were rather weak owing to the lack of political support. They were thus forced to join force or were otherwise annexed by other sects, and as individual entities fell into the oblivion of the long flow of history. The following five sects enjoyed impressive popularity:

Nyingma Sect :
 The sect, founded in the 11th century, is also known as the Red Sect and is the oldest sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The sect paid great attention to absorbing the fine points of the Bon religion and, at the same time, did its best to locate Buddhist sutras secreted away when Darma moved to suppress Buddhism. Based on its practice of Buddhism deeply rooted in the Tubo Kingdom of the 8th century, the sect called itself Nyingma, a word meaning ancient and old in the Tibetan language. Monks of the Nyingma Sect wore red hats, hence the name the Red Sect. The Red Sect mainly advocates the study of Tantrism. Its theory was strongly influenced by Han Chine language Buddhism, and is quite similar with the theory of Ch’an School of Buddhism in China’s hinterland. Today, the Red Sect is not only active in Tibetaninhabited areas in Ghina, but also in India, Bhuttan, Nepal, Belgium, Greece and France, as well as in the Unite States.

Gatang Sect :
 The Gatang Sect, founded in 1056, primarily advocated the study of Exoteric teachings, with later emphasis on Tantrism. In the Tibetan language, Ga refers to the teachings of Buddha, with tang meaning instruction. The combination Gatang thus refers to advising people to accept Buddhism based on the teachings of Buddha. Its doctrines were promoted far and wide and thus exerted great influence on various Tibetan Buddhist sects. However, along with the rise of the Gelug Sect in the 15th century, the Gatang Sect dissolved with its monks and monasteries merging with the former.

Sagya Sect :
 Sagya means “white land” in the Tibetan language. The Sagya Sect, founded in 1703, derived its name from the fact that the Sagya Monastery, the sect’s most important monastery, is grayish white in color. Enclosures in the sect’s monasteries are painted with red, white and black stripes, which respectively symbolize the Wisdom Buddha, the Goddess of Mercy and the Diamond Hand Buddha. Hence, the sect is also known as the Stripe Sect. The ever increasing influence of the sect and the expansion of feudal forces throughout its formation led to the increasing fame of the “five Sagya Sect Forefathers”. The Fourth Forefather Sapan Gonggar Gyaincain was summoned to Liangzhou in 1247 by the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) ruler to dialup matters concerning Tibet pledging allegiance to the Yuan Dynasty. This was followed by Sapan bringing various feudal forces in Tibet under control of the Mongols. Following the death of Sapan, Pagan, the Fifth Forefather of the Sagya Sect, emerged as a high-ranking official in the Yuan court. Pagba Was granted honorary titles such as “State Tutor”, ”Imperial Tutor” and ”Great Treasure Prince of Dharma.” Thereafter, the Sagya Sect emerged as the Yuan Dynasty representative in Tibet. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) , Gonggar Zhaxi, an eminent monk with the Sagya Sect, journeyed to Nanjing, capital of the Ming Dynasty, to pay homage to Emperor Yongle. Gongar was granted an honorary title as the “Mahayana Prince of Dharma”, one of the three Princes of Dharma.

Gagyu Sect :
 The Gagyu Sect, founded in the 11th century, stresses the study of Tantrism and advocates that Tantrist tenets be passed down orally from one generation to another. Hence the name Gagyu, which in the Tibetan language means “passing down orally.” Marba and Milha Riba, the founders of the Gagyu Sect, wore white monk robes when practicing Buddhism , leading to the name White Sect. In the early years, the White Sect was divided into the Xangba Gagyu which declined in the 14th and to 15th centuries, and the Tabo Gagyu. The Tabo Gagyu was powerful and its branch sects were either in power in their respective localities or otherwise dominant amongst feudal forces.

Gelug Sect :
 The Gelug Sect, founded in 1409, was the most famous Buddhist sect in Tibetan history dating to the 15th century. The sect was founded during the reform of Tibetan Buddhism initiated by Zongkapa. Zongkapa himself was born at a time when the Pagmo Zhuba replaced the Sagya Regime in power. At that time, upper-class monks involved in political and economic power struggle led a decadent life, and rapidly lost popularity with society. Faced with this situation, Zongkapa called for efforts to follow Buddhist tenets. He proceeded to undertake lecture tours in many areas and wrote books accusing decadent monks of failing to abide by Buddhist tenets. Zongkapa spared no effort to press ahead with Buddhist reform. For example, in the first month of 1409 according to Tibetan calendar, Zongkapa initiated the Grand Summons Ceremony in Lhasa’s Jokhang Monastery. The ceremony remains in practice even today. This effort was closely followed by the construction of the famous Gandain Monastery and the founding of the Gelug Sect which was famous for its strict adherence to commandments. The Tibetan language meaning of Gelug is “commandments”. Zongkapa and his followers wore yellow hats, and thus the Gelug Sect is also known as the Yellow Sect. Since its founding, the Yellow Sect has built the Zhaibung, Sera, Tashilhungpo, Tar and Labrang monasteries, which join the Gandain Monastery as the six major monasteries of the Gelug Sect. The Yellow Sect is also known for formation of the two largest Living Buddha reincarnation systems – the Dalai and Bainqen systems.