- 07 Nov 2013 05:29
#14326527
The central government has attached great importance to protect Tibetans' freedom of religious belief and made efforts to create a friendly environment of study for monks and nuns by practicing a serious of beneficial policies, according to Rinpoche Liexie Shimi.
Rinpoche Liexie Shimi, also abbot of Samye Monastery, told China Tibet Online before leaving for Germany as a member of the delegation of 2013 Germany China Tibetan Culture Week, which kicked off on Oct. 24 in Berlin.
His remark coincides with the white paper "Development and Progress of Tibet" issued by the Information Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, on Oct. 22.
The paper says the Central Government and the local government of the Tibet Autonomous Region fully respect citizens' freedom of religious belief, respect and protect all religions and sects, and protect normal religious activities and beliefs according to law.
In recent years, Tibet has seen an increasing number of tourists and pilgrims thanks to the improved tourism and transportation services. In summer sight-seeing tourists pour into Tibet while in winter Tibetans in Tibet and from other Tibetan-inhabited areas make a pilgrimage journey to this sacred place, according to Liexie Shimi.
"As the first temple in Tibet, Samye Monastery absorbs a great number of tourists and pilgrims every year," said Liexie Shimi.
The Samye Monastery is also the first temple with full three Buddhist jewels of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha in Tibet.
Liexie Shimi became abbot of the monastery in 1996. He said more than 500 nuns and monks from Tibet and other Tibetan-inhabited areas like Gansu and Yunnna are now having a closed-door meditation near the monastery, almost five times more than that in 1996.
"Some will have their meditation for several years while others only choose few days. Buddhists from the monastery supply them with food voluntarily to help them complete the meditation smoothly," he added.
At present in Tibet, it is not difficult to see prayer flags, Mani stones inscribed with Buddhist scriptures, and believers taking part in religious activities. Ordinary believers usually have a scripture hall or a Buddha shrine at home, and such religious activities as circumambulation while reciting scriptures, Buddha worship, and inviting lamas or nuns from monasteries to hold religious rites are normally conducted.
"Many beneficial policies have been practiced to create a good sutra-studying environment like setting up libraries in monastery. At present, most of the monasteries have access to electricity and water."
He added, "What is more, monks and nuns in Tibet are also covered by the social security system. Life is getting better now."
According to the white paper, reincarnation is a special succession system of Tibetan Buddhism and is respected by the State. So far, over 40 incarnated Rinpoches have been confirmed through traditional religious rituals and historical conventions.
As head of the searching group for reincarnation boy of the 5th Dezhub Rinpoches, at Zagor Monastery in Shannan Prefecture of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region in 2005, Liexie Shimi said "We didn't encounter any trouble neither in search of the reincarnation boys nor the ceremony to draw lots from the gold urn since the central government has formed a very complete system to protect the traditional religious ritual."
Rinpoche Liexie Shimi, also abbot of Samye Monastery, told China Tibet Online before leaving for Germany as a member of the delegation of 2013 Germany China Tibetan Culture Week, which kicked off on Oct. 24 in Berlin.
His remark coincides with the white paper "Development and Progress of Tibet" issued by the Information Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, on Oct. 22.
The paper says the Central Government and the local government of the Tibet Autonomous Region fully respect citizens' freedom of religious belief, respect and protect all religions and sects, and protect normal religious activities and beliefs according to law.
In recent years, Tibet has seen an increasing number of tourists and pilgrims thanks to the improved tourism and transportation services. In summer sight-seeing tourists pour into Tibet while in winter Tibetans in Tibet and from other Tibetan-inhabited areas make a pilgrimage journey to this sacred place, according to Liexie Shimi.
"As the first temple in Tibet, Samye Monastery absorbs a great number of tourists and pilgrims every year," said Liexie Shimi.
The Samye Monastery is also the first temple with full three Buddhist jewels of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha in Tibet.
Liexie Shimi became abbot of the monastery in 1996. He said more than 500 nuns and monks from Tibet and other Tibetan-inhabited areas like Gansu and Yunnna are now having a closed-door meditation near the monastery, almost five times more than that in 1996.
"Some will have their meditation for several years while others only choose few days. Buddhists from the monastery supply them with food voluntarily to help them complete the meditation smoothly," he added.
At present in Tibet, it is not difficult to see prayer flags, Mani stones inscribed with Buddhist scriptures, and believers taking part in religious activities. Ordinary believers usually have a scripture hall or a Buddha shrine at home, and such religious activities as circumambulation while reciting scriptures, Buddha worship, and inviting lamas or nuns from monasteries to hold religious rites are normally conducted.
"Many beneficial policies have been practiced to create a good sutra-studying environment like setting up libraries in monastery. At present, most of the monasteries have access to electricity and water."
He added, "What is more, monks and nuns in Tibet are also covered by the social security system. Life is getting better now."
According to the white paper, reincarnation is a special succession system of Tibetan Buddhism and is respected by the State. So far, over 40 incarnated Rinpoches have been confirmed through traditional religious rituals and historical conventions.
As head of the searching group for reincarnation boy of the 5th Dezhub Rinpoches, at Zagor Monastery in Shannan Prefecture of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region in 2005, Liexie Shimi said "We didn't encounter any trouble neither in search of the reincarnation boys nor the ceremony to draw lots from the gold urn since the central government has formed a very complete system to protect the traditional religious ritual."
- By FiveofSwords
- By wat0n
- By Unthinking Majority
- By litwin