After the Chinese invasion and the subsequent wholesale destruction of monasteries in Tibet during the 1960s, His Holiness the Dalai Lama re-established the three monastic universities of Sera, Drepung and Gaden in exile along with many other important monasteries and non sectarian institutions. This was done so as to preserve the rigorous intellectual traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and it’s monastic practises, which are important and key components of Tibetan culture and worldview. Today, these monastic universities have evolved to become not only centers of Buddhist studies offering all the disciplines of a traditional monastery, but institutions that also provide a modern education for their monks in a wide variety of fields, including the sciences.
This week’s Kunleng show looks into this transition of traditional religious institutions by inviting expert guests to discuss the trend.