| 87. Q: Are Tibetans' rights of freedom of religious belief respected and protected in Tibet? | |
A: The majority of Tibetans are believers in Tibetan Buddhism. China's Constitution stipulates that it is a basic right of Chinese citizens to enjoy freedom of religious belief. The provisions on freedom of religious belief as stipulated in the Constitution have been actively implemented in Tibet. Protected by the Constitution and other state laws, the broad masses of Tibetans have the freedom to conduct normal religious activities.
At present, there are more than 1,700 monasteries and religious centers of Tibetan Buddhism. Almost all Tibetan homes have niches for Buddhist statues or small scripture-chanting halls. Each year, over one million Tibetan pilgrims converge on Lhasa to burn incense in the monasteries. In addition, there are colorful sutra streamers openly displayed and piles of Mani stones engraved with lines of Buddhist scriptures everywhere in Tibet. There are always continuous streams of Tibetan worshippers inside and outside the Jokhang Monastery, prostrating, praying, and chanting scriptures.
Since the 1980s, the central government has allocated substantial funds, including gold silver, every year for renovating, rebuilding and protecting monasteries in Tibet, and at the end of 1997, the state had thus spent about 100 million yuan. In addition, funds earmarked by the state have made it possible to publish numerous Buddhist scriptures, including Dangur, the China Tripitaka, and the Tibetan Canonical Collection of Buddhist Scriptures, to meet the demands of Tibet Buddhists and monks and nuns.
In 1992, the enthronement ceremony for the 17th Living Buddha Karmapa was held in accordance with religious procedures, and with the approval of the State Administration of Religious Affairs of the State Council. The enthronement ceremony of the 11th Panchen Lama was held in accordance with Tibetan Buddhist rituals in 1995, when the reincarnated soul boy of the 10th Panchen Lama was identified and approved by the central government. |
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