Tibetan Buddhists prime for debate test

Candidates for advanced degrees at the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China in Beijing debate Buddhist scripture on Friday with heated arguments. The candidates will be challenged on five major classic works of Tibetan Buddhism by senior monks from Buddhist temples or colleges from Tibet and other provinces. [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

Judges will use secret ballot to decide results

Students at the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China in Beijing debated Buddhist scripture on Friday in sessions filled with nerves and heated arguments.

There are 13 candidates from the Tibetan Bon region for the Tho Ram Ba－equal to a university doctorate－and 22 candidates for the Chi Ram Ba－equivalent to a master's degree－according to the college.

The college, established in 1987 after a proposal by the late 10th Panchen Lama, is the only Buddhist college in China that offers the Tho Ram Ba degree.

Zhu Xiangdong, an official with the news office of the college, said a major change this year is that judges will use a secret ballot after the debating test.