Description
Tibetan community is well known for its numerous temples of which 1,700 are Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. According to the locals, over 46,000 monks live there as well as around 10,000 living Buddhas.
In Tibet, monks and living Buddhas enjoy extremely high social status and are considered one of the Buddhist treasures. Every 1 in 60 people in Tibet would choose to join monastic life.
It is a great honour to have a monk in the family. Normally, every Tibetan family would have at least one monk, some even a living Buddha. Historically speaking, Tibetan kings practised Buddhism and heavily promoted their religion. Thus, like other religious leaders, monks are highly regarded across the region.
In Gelugpa Monastery, a group of monks sitting peacefully on the rugs, some playing Jialing, a wind instrument made from copper and wood. It is believed to originate from inland China and is often used during religious ceremonies. The devotion to tradition and mindfulness is palpable. They are performing a ceremony.
