One of the biggest highlights of a Tibet tour is the monasteries. There are many monasteries in Tibet, and each has its own characteristics and things to be aware of. Read on to learn more about them.
1. Samye Monastery became Tibet's first Buddhist monastery in the 8th century.
Samye Monasteryis about 2½ hours' drive south ofLhasacity. The monastery is built as a Mandala - a circular Buddhist figure representing the universe.
Samye Monastery
2. Jokhang Temple is seen as "the heart of the world".
InsideJokhang Temple, there is a life-sized sitting Buddha statue of Sakyamuni, when he was 12 years old. It is the most sacred statue in the eyes of the Tibetan people, and they see Jokhang Temple as "the heart of the world". Some pilgrims spend years journeying to this temple.
Jokhang Temple
3. Most monasteries are built on mountains.
Tibet's monasteries and palaces are usually built on mountains, so there will be many steps to climb if you visit them. Tibetan pilgrims count some mountains and lakes as sacred.
Mountainside temples are seen as closer to heaven, and they are easy to defend.Potala PalaceandTashilunpo Monasteryare famous monasteries on the hillside.
4. Tibet's monasteries are also schools for monks.
Tibetan monasteries are not only for worshipping Buddha, but are also complexsocial institutions, functioning asschools, libraries, medical clinics, and so on. In Tibet's history, monasteries also functioned as localgovernment buildings.
Monks in theological college
5. There are also nunneries in Tibet.
Usually, the monasteries people visit are only for monks. But there are also some "monasteries" for nuns in Tibet, like the largest "monastery" - Xiongse, one hour's drive south from Lhasa city. And the highest monastery, Rongbuk, actually houses both monks and nuns.
Ani Tsamkhung Nunneryis the only Buddhist nunnery in the old city of Lhasa (the area aroundBarkhor Street).
6. The Dalai Lama is the head of the Yellow Sect of Buddhist
Usually, the monasteries people visit are only for monks. But there are also some "monasteries" for nuns in Tibet, like the largest "monastery" -Xiongse,one hour's drive south fromLhasa city.
And the highest monastery,Rongbuk, actually houses bothmonksandnuns.
There are different monasteries for different Buddhist sects. TheDalai Lamais the head of only one of them - theGelugpa Sectalso called theYellow Sectbecause its monks usually wear a yellow hat.
Most of the monasteries that are popular with Tibet tourists are Yellow Sect monasteries, e.g. thePotala PalaceandJokhang Temple.
7. Pilgrims give generously and journey laboriously to monasteries.
Most pilgrims are not rich. They bring yak butter and money, small amounts for each chapel, as offerings to the monastery.
They also bring things they treasure to offer at monasteries: flowers, oil, tea, candy, sugar, fruit, etc. It's kind of like the pilgrims provide for the monks and the monasteries.
Devout Tibetans prostrate themselves on the ground after every few steps in worship.
Some pilgrims who live thousands of miles from Lhasa walk for years to worship at Tibet's monasteries, frequently prostrating themselves along the way.
8. Holy stupas in Tibetan monasteries actually house mummies.
在印度大多数佛教寺院的舍利塔商店onks' body parts, thought to be holy relics. But some stupas in Tibetan monasteries actually store monks' whole bodies.
There are 8 holy stupas in thePotala Palacewith bodies in. The stupas are decorated with gold, silver, pearls, agate, coral, diamond, and other treasures.
Ani Tsamkhung Nunnery
9. Tibetan Buddhist monasteries require clockwise visits.
When you visit aTibetan Buddhist monastery(the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple,Sera Monastery, etc.), keep in mind to walk around it clockwise.
You will find pilgrims visiting the rooms of a monastery clockwise, walking around a monastery clockwise, and also turning prayer wheels clockwise.
10. No photography is allowed in monasteries.
Usually, visitors are not allowed to take photos inside a monastery. But several monasteries, likeTashilhunpoandPalcho Monastery, photography is allowed at a cost.
If a monastery allows taking pictures, there is usually a hanging sign to tell you. So when you don't see a sign,don't take picturesinside a monastery.
InSera monastery, videoing and photographing the monks debating with a camera is not allowed, but you can use your cell phone instead.
>>Find out more about Things Not to Do When Visiting Tibet
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