(TibetanReview.net, Jul12’24) – China says it has graduated 320 more monks and nuns this year from the Xizang Buddhism University in Lhasa with the mandate, among others, to promote the Sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism, bringing the total since its establishment in 2011 to more than 1,700. “Xizang” is China’s term for Tibet truncated to the territory of Tibet (Xizang) Autonomous Region.
The graduates “should learn to use the national language and script, infuse Tibetan Buddhism with excellent traditional Chinese culture, actively engage in doctrinal interpretation, promote positive thoughts in Tibetan Buddhist doctrine such as promoting equality and tolerance, poverty alleviation, and helping the needy, and jointly promote the Sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism,” China’s official chinadaily.com.cn Jul 12 quoted Drubkhang Thubtan Khaidrub, the head of the university, as saying.
Drubkhang, who is also the executive vice-president of the Tibet branch of the Buddhist Association of China, has also “emphasized the pivotal role the graduates will play in the healthy development of Tibetan Buddhism, encouraging them to continuously enhance their religious knowledge and moral values, and embrace diverse cultural experiences.”
Drubkhang has made his remarks during the university’s graduation ceremony on Jun 30 which saw the conferral of graduation certificates and academic titles, and the commendation of exceptional teachers and students, the report noted.
The report quoted graduate student Tenzin Yontan, a monk from the Gonsar Monastery in Driru county, Nagchu City, as saying during the ceremony that the graduates would engage in social development and progress, promote patriotism and dedication to Tibetan Buddhism, and contribute “every bit of our efforts to maintaining social stability, harmony and national unity”.
The university was established by China outside the rigorous traditional Geshe degree programme to educate Tibetan monks and nuns to promote the Sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism and culture with focus on teaching Mandarin Chinese and the ideology of patriotic loyalty to the communist Party of China-state as the basis for learning Buddhism.