Sakya Monastery is expected to join World Heritage List

July,28 2016 BY Master Catherine Jigme 0 COMMENTS

Sakya Monastery is known as the 'Second Dunhuang' due to its colossal collection of numerous Tibetan Buddhist scriptures, murals and Thangkas. Palden Donyo, a lama from Sakya Monastery, knows how to protect religious treasures - politically. He submitted a proposal that the monastery apply for a place on the World Heritage list for protection and awareness when attending the ongoing plenary session of the Tibet committee of China's political advisory body.

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According to statistics, about 40,000 volumes of scriptures are housed there. A wooden bookshelf which is about 57 meters (187 feet) long, 11 meters high (36 feet) and one meter wide (three feet) has 464 grids. More than ten thousand scriptures are housed on the shelf. Among them, the most precious is Burde Gyaimalung, which records Tibetan religion, history, philosophy, literature, agriculture and animal husbandry. It is 1.8 meters (six feet) long, 1.3 meters (four feet) wide and 0.67 meter (two feet) thick and boasts the biggest scriptures in the world. Additionally, it also houses 21 volumes of Buddhist scriptures written on Pattra leaves in Sanskrit. Each consists of one hundred to two hundred pages and four-color illustrations. They are the most precious sutras in the world.

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"The Potala Palace is the only one making it to the United Nations' list in Tibet. But we have other sites worthy of introducing to the world," Palden Donyo said.

"Monasteries alone cannot do the protection job. We have to engage authorities through this way to preserve treasures passed down from generations."

Abbots of Sakya - one of the four major branches of Tibetan Buddhism along with the Gelug - governed Tibet in the 13th century until they were eclipsed by the rise of the Gelug School.

As many as 84,000 scrolls of ancient holy writings were found to have been stored, and remain untouched, in a wall 60 meters long and 10 meters high at the monastery, which was built in 1073 in Sakya county, about 400 km from Lhasa, according to a Xinhua News Agency report.

Palden Donyo said the scroll wall and more than 100,000 priceless items, including the conch thought to have been used by the Buddha and a wall painting sprawling over 8,000 square meters, are unique offerings to the world.

"I hope Sakya Monastery's application will inspire member advisers at other monasteries to follow suit and seek protection and financial help from counties, prefectures or the autonomous region's government."

If the Tibet Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference accepts proposals such as Palden Donyo's, it will forward them for action by local legislatures or government authorities.

The Tibet committee has been convening for its annual plenary session since Tuesday, and it ends on Sunday. It will also hear the autonomous region's government report and its courts' and prosecuting authority's reports.

Palden Donyo is just one member from a rising force with a religious background. Religious figures hold 115 seats on the political advisory body in Tibet, with the group taking up 18.7 percent of the 615 seats.

Latsan, deputy general secretary of the Tibet committee, said, "The situation ... will make contributions to the scientific development, harmony and stability, ethnic unity and livelihood improvement in Tibet."

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Jamyang Chodrak, a lama at the Ramoche Temple in Lhasa, said, "The rising number of religious figures in the conference shows religion carries increasing political weight. It means monks and nuns will participate more and discuss political agendas more."

Tub Tandragpa, a Living Buddha and newly elected member of the conference, said more religious figures joining the political system is a requirement that temples have to meet for development.

"This system bridges religion with decision-makers, and gives us a channel to effectively voice our difficulties," he said.

"I can do more to help others with the new role, and contribute to building a harmonious Tibet."

Palden Donyo added that he will submit at least three proposals every year in his five-year term as a political adviser.

"Then I'd like to look back at what I have done over the five years."

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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