China Creates Indoctrination Program to replace Buddhist Teachings

The Chinese government has recently declared a ruling over a Tibetan Buddhism center. The ruling has rendered all authority from the center’s executive committee powerless.

The Larung Gar Buddhist Learning Center is one of the biggest Buddhism education institutions in the world, and the heavy-handed rule has caused unrest among the learners and clergy authority associated with it. Tibet has been resisting the Chinese government since their invasion in 1950 and still fights its oppression. They still hold onto the belief Tibet is an independent nation.

Over the past year, China’s authorities have been on a demolition drive, flattening houses and structures in the valley and displacing the nuns and monks studying and living in the area. The committee comprised ten experienced and learned abbots that were a symbol and representation of the heritage and sanctity of Buddhist culture, and beliefs.

The new administration insists the new authority will not affect the learning or influence the culture, beliefs or religion of the Tibetan people. It is there only to ensure that the school is running lawfully.

Despite these claims, the attendance of these party and government officials in the nunneries, temples, and monasteries comes with new rules and expectations. One of them is attending “patriotic education” lessons that were not present previously – the classes are intended to instill patriotism in students, but end up taking up the time for their religious studies. These changes have left the Tibetan people skeptical because of the reputation that precedes the Chinese ruling, which they have always opposed over the years.

Resources

Follow the Conversation on Twitter