In recent years, the Chinese government has tightened its control of Tibetan Buddhism, which it sees as a threat to the Chinese state because it is an expression of a distinct Tibetan identity, and because Buddhist institutions have the potential to unify and empower individuals outside the Party state.
Under President Xi Jinping in particular, Tibetan Buddhism has been the main target of proactive policies aimed at “Sinicizing” religion, meaning to shape religion to the diktats of the Chinese Communist Party for political purposes. To do so, the Chinese government has created an authorised catalogue of verified ‘living Buddhas’, halved the 10,000 resident population of the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, increased “political re-education” campaigns for monks and nuns, and formal training for Tibetan Buddhist teachers and cadres posted to monasteries. In addition, the authorities have adopted a number of laws and measures equating ‘terrorism’ with an undefined ‘extremism’ linked to religion, thereby creating a more dangerous political environment for monks, nuns and lay Buddhists.
At the same time, small acts of religious freedom – including worship of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama – are still criminalized in most parts of Tibet. Restrictions on religious practices have been placed on government workers, with many threatened with losing their identity cards, social benefits and jobs, and controls on children participating in religious activities have been strengthened. As part of its objective to contain and control Tibetan Buddhism, the Chinese state has also indicated plans to appoint its own reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama, in total contravention to Buddhist religious tradition and the fundamental right of Tibetan Buddhist communities to follow their own spiritual process without government interference.
Related news and resources
Tibetan students ordered not to take part in religious activities during winter break
As schools in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa began their winter vacations this week, parents received orders saying their students cannot be involved in any religious activities during the break. In one such directive dated Dec. 31, 2019 and sent by Lhasa Chengguan Haicheng Elementary School, parents are told that it is the order of […]
Larung Gar abbot’s international centers closed under suspected pressure from China
As one of the leading Tibetan Buddhist voices within China has made a surprising announcement about the closure of his Bodhi Institute of Compassion and Wisdom, ICT has learned that some of his followers suspect there is more to the closure than the reason he cited.
ICT calls on China to allow Tibetans to learn in their mother tongue at UN Forum on Minorities
In a statement delivered at the 12th Forum on Minority Issues taking place in Geneva on the theme “Education, Language and the Human Rights of Minorities,” ICT highlighted the difficulties that Tibetans in China face to learn in their mother tongue.