Throngs seek light, wisdom in Tibet

A sacred ritual hosted by the Panchen Lama in Xigaze, Tibet, has attracted a large number of Han Chinese devotees to hear him speak — a sign of the growing popularity of Tibetan Buddhism among the country's urban residents.

An estimated 100,000 devotees of Tibetan Buddhism took part in the Kalachakra initiation by the Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu during the first day of the four-day event on Thursday, according to the government news office the Tibet autonomous region. The initiation is regarded by believers as the highest of teachings.

Many of the Han devotees had undertaken long journeys, overcoming altitude sickness and other obstacles, to take part in the event, which is held near Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the Panchen Lama's traditional seat.

The Kalachakra is a ritual that aims to initiate and empower disciples. The Panchen Lama continued the Kalchakra — meaning "wheel of time" — on Friday as he was joined by at least 5,000 monks and nuns.

Chen Zijuan, a 50-year-old devotee from Shanghai, said she saw news of the event on social media and quickly decided she had to attend at all costs.

"It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear the Panchen Lama giving his first Kalchakra," she said.

Chen, who was converted to Tibetan Buddhism by a guru, is part of a group of devotees in Shanghai that meets once every two weeks.

"We use the opportunity to reflect upon whether we have broken our vows during the period, and we remind ourselves of the teachings of our guru," she said.

Chen said she traveled frequently to a monastery in Ganzi Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Sichuan province to visit a senior guru and hear his teachings.

"I told our guru that we would go to the event, and he offered a blessing that helped us overcome mountain sickness," she said.

Li Jianing, a 23-year-old from Jinan, Shandong province, who has just completed her bachelor's degree at University of California Los Angeles, was also among the devotees at the event. Converted to Tibetan Buddhism four years ago, she said it has helped her go through a difficult period in her life.

"I thought taking part in the ritual would plant a seed in my heart, and the seed would accompany me through the circles of life," she said.

She spent two hours a day studying Buddhism during her college days, she said.

"The chanting of scriptures helped me obtain peace of mind," she said.

Zhou Yuquan, a 40-year-old from Weihai, Shandong province, said he took an interest in Tibetan Buddhism because it offers a range of practices and rituals that are believed to help followers reach enlightenment faster.

"I think we can find in Tibet a sound preservation of Buddhist teachings and Buddhist monasteries," he said. "There is no match anywhere."

Contact the writer at xuwei@chinadaily.com.cn