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Tibetan Buddhists Support China's Current Religious Policy
"Buddhists in Tibet enjoy absolute freedom in religious belief," said Bomi Qambalozhub, vice- president of the Buddhist Association of China and president of the association's Tibet branch.
His remarks represent the common view of Buddhist believers in Tibet.
According to a recent sample survey on 100 Buddhist households in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, 87 percent of the respondents expressed satisfaction over the existing religious policy in China, with nine percent fairly satisfied. Three percent of them failed to answer the question while only one percent of those polled were dissatisfied.
Tibet has a population of about 2.6 million. The majority of Tibetans believe in Tibetan Buddhism, which is divided into four sects including the Sakya, Kagyu, Nyingma and Gelug.
"All religious sects live in harmony and work for the common desire of promoting Buddhism and revitalizing China," said Bomi Qambalozhub, who is a follower of the Nyingma sect.
The main hall of the Johkang Monastery, in downtown Lhasa, shrines the statue of Sakyamuni, founder of Buddhism, and the statue of the esteemed image of the Nyingma sect as well, he added.
Bomi Qambalozhub, 83, said the current policy of religious freedom is a fundamental and long-term policy, and by no means a makeshift policy.
To better protect Buddhist facilities in Tibet, the central and local governments have earmarked 300 million yuan and large quantities of gold and silver to restore and renovate temples including the Potala Palace and Sera Zhebung, Gandain and Sagya monasteries.
"The prestigious Potala Palace has been placed high on the list of the World Culture Heritage and it has epitomized the best efforts to ensure religious freedom in Tibet," said Bomi Qambalozhub.
Up to now, Tibet has more than 1,700 lamaseries and temples, a rise of more than 300 from that in 1959, when democratic reforms were launched in Tibet. They are open to Buddhist believers all year around.
With the resumption and growth of lamaseries, the number of resident monks has risen to 46,300. All temples and lamaseries are equipped with newly printed Tripitaka, a complete volume of Buddhist doctrines.
A number of religious festivals suspended for some years have been resumed and are being celebrated in a larger scale in recent years.
"We senior Tibetans hope the current religious policy in Tibet will remain unchanged forever," said Qoizhoin, a 65 year-old woman.
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