Monastery's mission of preservation

Scriptures and paintings were preserved for future generations

Sherab edits books on Tibetan culture and spends much of his free time in the Sera Monastery in Lhasa where a center to preserve scriptures and rare books has been established.

"It is great to go there on weekends and browse through the books and some of my favorites, such as the Key to Middle Way School written by Sera Chokyi Gyaltsan," Sherab said.

While the Ancient Scriptures Preservation Center plays a valued role, it is also symbolic of the dedication of those who have devoted their energies to protecting rare works. The monastery has a proud record in not just preserving works of literature but also ensuring that ancient paintings are restored to their original magnificence.

A library, mainly for Tibetan books, was built in 1996 in the monastery as the monks realized the importance of preserving valuable works for future generations. But this had to be expanded and upgraded and in 2002 a major operation was undertaken to safeguard the books from damage. All the works were catalogued by a designated team of five monks, Champa Tashi, monastery disciplinarian, second in rank to the abbot, said.

"In 2004, Lhasa's Jokhang Temple gave their support and provided manpower and funds," said the 48-year-old. The Ancient Scriptures Preservation Center was officially established in 2007 with each party investing 500,000 yuan ($81,270).

"This project means we no longer have to borrow books from the Potala Place," Champa Tashi said.

"Things like books getting lost or getting damaged no longer happen," he said.

The project gradually gained support from other monasteries and temples in Lhasa and the center has published more than 2,000 books so far, Champa said.

"All the works were saved, and they provide valuable references for researchers and students of Tibetan studies and Tibetan Buddhism," said Pema Wangyal, a researcher at Tibet University.

"Our work preserving ancient scriptures is just beginning, and we will continue this work," said Champa Tashi.

"Our work has won wide praise from readers and this sustainable project is fully affirmed by the government of the Tibet autonomous region."

The team at the center includes eight monks, eight proofreaders and seven typists.

Paintings

It is not just words that are being looked after but images too.

By 7 pm most temples at the Sera Monastery are closed but the thangka painters are still busy in Tsogchen, the Great Assembly Hall.

Thangka paintings depict a Buddhist deity or scene and are used as teaching tools to describe historical events or retell ancient folklore. It takes many years of training and practice to be a thangka painter and it requires a deep understanding of symbolism.

Phurbu Tsering was invited to take up a four-year role as the lead painter for the restoration of a fresco in the monastery.

Phurbu, who was born in Tibet's Maldrogungkar county, has worked as a thangka painter for 14 years.

"We have eight thangka painters working on the restoration of the 500-square-meter fresco in the Great Assembly Hall of the Sera Monastery, it will take another two years to complete the whole project, and 70 percent of it has already been done," he said.

"It is time-consuming work, however, I never feel tired and it is a pleasure to make a humble contribution to the preservation of the cultural relics in the Sera Monastery," he said modestly.

The government of the Tibet autonomous region began to help renovate the 600-year-old Sera Monastery in 2009.

The regional government started the latest renovation drive in 2011, when it invested more than 48.3 million yuan.

The latest projects include renovations of the Great Assembly Hall, three colleges and three apartments for monks.

The total estimated area of frescos is about 500 square meters and the monastery has invested an average of 400,000 yuan to 500,000 yuan annually as funds for renovation over the years.

"Many parts of the temples have rotted and renovation is needed to avoid collapse and leaks that could damage the Buddhist relics," Champa Tashi said.

Living conditions

Like other monks and nuns in Tibet, monks at the Sera Monastery receive medical insurance, pensions, low-income allowances and free annual health checkups under a series of government measures.

"The monastery management is a bridge between the monks and the local government. Difficulties are reported to them and solved. In the past, we did not know who to find when we had difficulties," Champa said.

With the support of the local government, the monks have the right to build houses around the monastery that they can rent out and each monk received 5,000 yuan from the local government last year as a subsidy to build houses.

The Sera Monastery was built in 1419 by Gyaltsabje - one of the two main disciples of Je Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism.

It is one of three Gelukpa school monasteries in Lhasa and it is a key site in Tibet to study the Five Volumes of Tibetan Buddhist Teachings.

Contact the writers at palden_nyima@chinadaily.com.cn and phuntsog-tashi@chinadaily.com.cn

Phurbu Tsering, a thangka painter who leads the restoration of fresco in the Sera Monastery, said they try to restore images to what they were originally. Provided to China Daily