Tibet’s mystique is enduring. The mere mention of the Himalayan region conjures up images of a lost Shangri-la, soaring mountains, the Dalai Lama and a people left behind by time.
A recent visit to a monastery in southwestern China offered a glimpse into the mystery of Tibetan Buddhist reincarnation with a 21st century twist. Two red-robed monks were outside the temple. One took a step forward, stretched his hands over his head, knelt on the ground and then prostrated himself full length, his palms protected by pads of wood. The second monk followed. And so on at every step, making their pilgrimage a painstaking expression of faith.
Inside the temples, young monks reciting Buddhist sutras turned to greet passing visitors, delighted to interrupt their prayers at the chance to practice their English. On the altars stood photographs of past and present abbots, of living Buddhas and of the Panchen Lama, Tibet’s second-holiest monk. No sign of the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s god-king, because his image has long been banned by China’s communist authorities.
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