Lamas’ daily life in Jokhang Temple

July,22 2016 BY Master Catherine Jigme 0 COMMENTS

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Jokhang Temple is holy center for Tibetan Buddhists and tourists. It receives hundreds, even thousands of visitors each day, but are the lamas there busy every day? Let’s go to see the Lamas’ daily life in Jokhang Temple.

Sitting in the center of Lhasa old city, the Jokhang Temple with a history of more than 1,350 years enjoys the supreme status in the eyes of Tibetan Buddhists.

As a noted tourist attraction, the Johkang Temple is first of all a place for monks to study Buddhist scriptures and improve their religious accomplishments.

Like monks in other monasteries, in addition to daily Buddhist scripture study, monks in the Jokhang Temple need to help receiving tourists from home and abroad.

Monks are learning Tibetan Buddhism.

Every 6 a.m, as deep sounds of monks' chanting break the silence, the morning class begins, which usually lasts for one hour.

At 8 a.m., the gate of the holy temple opens to greet Buddhists as well as tourists, who might have been waiting outside early in the morning.

The routine day of monks thus begins.

Each monk is dispatched to take charge of one or more areas with different works such as filling up the butter lamp, doing the cleaning and helping needed tourists, according to Lhakpa, deputy director of the standing committee of Jokhang Temple, who is in charge of the daily life of 103 monks.

With the running of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and the Lhasa Gongar Airport, the Jokhang Temple sees an increase of tourists, which means the monks have to do more work.

"People could tell easily whether there is religious freedom in Tibet from the flow of tourists in the Jokhang Temple, I think," added the monk, who is also a member of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Monks are debating Buddhist Scriptures.

At 5 p.m., the monks gathered to debate the Buddhist scriptures after finishing the reception work. Before dinner, they are required to chant Buddhist scriptures together in the hall.

The time after dinner is freer. They could arrange the study time on their own. Some learn non-religious knowledge from the teacher while some prefer studying Buddhist scriptures with the sutra teacher's guidance.

“The study in the Jokhang Temple is comprehensive with a wide scope of subjects. In order to better serve the visitors, the monks have to study English besides Tibetan and Han languages," the lama said.

About the Author - Master Catherine Jigme

With exceptional passion and outstanding leadership, Mrs. Catherine has dedicated herself to Tibet inbound tourism and China tour for 15 years. As one of the handful females who see great potential of Chinese inbound tourism, Catherine has made great contribution to promoting Tibet tourism and enhancing the employment of Tibetans and prosperity of local Tibetan community.

Over the years, she travelled overseas with Tibet Tourism Bureau many times to promote Tibet tourism. Currently, Catherine works as the marketing director of Tibet Vista, an opinion leader behind the whole team of Tibet Vista.

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