TIBETAN BUDDHISM

GS1 CULTURE: 

New regulations implemented by China’s State Administration for Religious Affairs in late 2024 aim to control Tibetan Buddhist practices. Effective from January 1, 2025, these rules integrate Tibetan Buddhism into Han Chinese culture, enforcing political loyalty in religious institutions.

About Tibetan Buddhism:

• Spread to Tibet by the 9th century AD, evolving from Mahayana and Vajrayana with Bon influences.
• Divided into four main schools: Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug, with Gelug being the most influential since the 17th century.
• The Dalai Lama, from the Gelug School, symbolizes spiritual leadership with the title meaning “ocean teacher” in Mongolian.

New Regulations:

• Require political allegiance from religious leaders, merging state ideology with religious governance.
• The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) uses these measures to curb dissent, raising concerns about Tibetan cultural identity.

Impact:

• Monastic life and religious practices are now under strict state control, aiming to create a unified Chinese identity.
• Increased suppression of religious freedom, including ‘patriotic education’ and arbitrary detentions.

Broader Implications:

• Part of China’s strategy to “sinicize” religion, potentially eroding Tibetan cultural heritage.