2015年CRI One Day for Lamas in Tashilhunpo Monastery

 

Built in 1447 during the Ming Dynasty, the Tashilhunpo Monastery¹ in China's Tibet Autonomous² region was established by Gedun Druppa, who's recognized as the first Dalai Lama. The monastery was enlarged by the 4th Panchen Lama, Lozang Choskyi Gyaltsen. Since he assumed the post as the abbot, Tashihunpo Monastery has become the residence of many great Panchens. It's also a place where people pray for peace and happiness.

Many local Tibetans tend to bring figures of Buddha³ to the main hall of the Tashilhunpo Monastery. After being blessed, the Buddha will be enshrined in one's home. Devout⁴ pilgrims and Buddhists⁶ write down their Chinese zodiac sign and later ask Lamas to chant for them and their family.

Jia Yang is a lama at the monastery and has been there for 5 years, since the age of 15. He says that he came here seeking inner peace.

"Life here is very peaceful, which is good for me, since all the confusions and distractions⁷ from the outside world can never be found here."

Even though there are a lot of people coming to the monastery to worship, Jia Yang says that life here is actually very simple. Chanting sutras is their daily routine.

"We get up at five-thirty everyday and have our morning class. We gather in the main hall and chant sutras till eight-thirty. Evening class begins at 6pm at the same place, and people who don't have any work at that time need to go chanting there. Around 7:30, we can go back to our own room."

Besides chanting, each Lama is assigned to a different job. There are various occupations such as supplying food and maintaining order of the monastery. Jia Yang says that the regular working hour here is from 9:30 to 12:30 in the morning and 3:30 to 6:00 in the afternoon.

"The division of labor⁸ here is quite clear. Some are in charge of chanting, some patrolling, and some taking care of the patients in the hospital. I'm on the security team, but I am also a tour guide during the summer."

The monastery is more than a residence. On the grounds is a hospital which provides medical care for the local community.

"We built a hospital in the monastery, and all the doctors working here are also our lamas. They've studied medicine and are very professional."

The lamas at Tashilhunpo Monastery are extremely self-sufficient. Duo Sang, who has studied in the monastery for 30 years, is mainly in charge of the farm which provides most of the food at the place.

"I'm mainly in charge of farm management, like producing some milk and yogurt."

Life in the monastery is quite simple and routine. The monks⁹ and lamas would take classes such as Buddhist⁵ History and Culture. There are also some exchange programs with Chinese mainland. Duo Sang says that he has done a lot of traveling because of this.

"I've been to Shandong, Jiangsu and many other places. I go there to study and have a new experience."

Unlike Duo Sang, Jia Yang has never left Tibet before but feels quite fulfilled staying in the monastery. He says that the 11th Panchen lama will come here to give sermons every year and live in the monastery for 3 months, starting from August. Jia Yang says he learned a lot from studying here.

"Personally, I gained merits through chanting sutras and doing charitable work."

Like many young people at his age, Jia Yang likes to communicate with the outside world via social media. What he often posts on We-chat is information about events held at the monastery and his personal feelings regarding studying here. Through his words, Jia Yang is giving the outside world a glimse into the mysterious life in a Buddhist monastery on the Tibetan plateau.

For Studio+ I'm Doris Wang.

1 monastery   

n.修道院，僧院，寺院

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• She was appointed the superior of the monastery two years ago.两年前她被任命为这个修道院的院长。

2 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

3 Buddha   

n.佛；佛像；佛陀

参考例句：

• Several women knelt down before the statue of Buddha and prayed.几个妇女跪在佛像前祈祷。
• He has kept the figure of Buddha for luck.为了图吉利他一直保存着这尊佛像。

4 devout   

adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness)

参考例句：

• His devout Catholicism appeals to ordinary people.他对天主教的虔诚信仰感染了普通民众。
• The devout man prayed daily.那位虔诚的男士每天都祈祷。

5 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

6 Buddhists   

n.佛教徒( Buddhist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Jesuits in a phase of ascendancy, persecuted and insulted the Buddhists with great acrimony. 处于地位上升阶段的耶稣会修士迫害佛教徒，用尖刻的语言辱骂他们。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史
• The return of Saivite rule to central Java had brought no antagonism between Buddhists and Hindus. 湿婆教在中爪哇恢复统治后，并没有导致佛教徒与印度教徒之间的对立。 来自辞典例句

7 distractions   

n.使人分心的事[人]( distraction的名词复数 )；娱乐，消遣；心烦意乱；精神错乱

参考例句：

• I find it hard to work at home because there are too many distractions. 我发觉在家里工作很难，因为使人分心的事太多。
• There are too many distractions here to work properly. 这里叫人分心的事太多，使人无法好好工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

9 monks   

n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
• He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》