Religion

Buddhism and Bon, the indigenous religion of Tibet, have pervaded and inspired Tibetan life for centuries. In exile, Tibetans continue to rely on their religious traditions for guidance and sustenance. Through the efforts of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and heads of major religious traditions, many abbots and lay leaders, the refugee community has succeeded in re-establishing their major religious institutions and preserving their spiritual traditions in exile.

Over the past fifty years, Tibetan refugees have established more than 300 monasteries and nunneries that enroll over 20,000 monks and nuns. Many of the larger Tibetan monasteries were rebuilt in or near Tibetan settlements including Sera, Drepung, Ganden, Tashi Lhunpo, Sakya, Dzongsar, Tsurphu, Drigung, Palpung, Dzogchen, Mindroling, Palyul, Shechen, and Menri. Each of the major Buddhist sects--Gelug, Kagyu, Nyingma, and Sakya--as well as Bön, have flourishing branches in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Western countries.

New opportunities for nuns to study and practice religion is another special accomplishment of the exile community. From the Tibetan Nuns Project to individual nunneries throughout the Himalayas, great strides have been made in nuns’ education, support, and facilities.

In addition to building monasteries and nunneries throughout South Asia and further abroad, Tibetan refugees have joined with their relatives in Tibet to rebuild or refurbish the monasteries there. Throughout occupied Tibet, one can find village monasteries and temples rebuilt with the help of the refugee community.

Tibetan Buddhist thought and practices have also spread to all corners of the globe. In just 50 years, thousands of Tibetan Buddhist centers and retreat facilities and scores of academic programs focused on Tibetan religious studies, as well as Tibetan Studies in general, have been established around the world. Through His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s engagement with western scientists, the underlying philosophical and psychological perspectives of Tibetan Buddhism are contributing to new directions in scientific and humanities research.