Tibetannet

Sun Chunlan, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of the United Front Work Department, met the winners of the 12th "Tho Ram Pa" advanced degree in Beijing, capital of China, May 19, 2016.

This is the second time that Sun Chunlan met "Tho Ram Pa" winners after 2015. She beforehand had asked about the situation of "Tho Ram Pa" gainers: To which province/region and which monastery does it belong? How is it going with the study and the examination?　

So, what is the meaning of "Tho Ram Pa" eventually? Why has Sun Chunlan paid such great attention to it? What did she speak about with them?

"Tho” in “Tho Ram Pa” means “high” or “top”, and “Ram Pa” means “step”, “level”, or “rank”, all together it carries the meaning of “high level”.

The system regarding Tibetan Buddhism academic title divides into three levels, “Tho Ram Pa” is the highest academic level, equal to doctor degree, after it come "Nzhing Ram Ba" intermediate degree and “Zen Ram Pa” elementary degree which are equal to bachelor and master studies respectively.

“Tho Ram Pa” is awarded by the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China. Those who want to gain this academic title have to firstly concentrate on studying in a monastery for more than 15 years, amongst whom, only those who commit to the commandments and have very high grades can take the examination entering the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College. After being accepted by the college, they will get access to a comprehensively systematic study program for 2 years. They on one hand must study the traditional Buddhist classics; and on the other hand have to study knowledge regarding sciences, culture, law and management. At the time of graduation, they not only have to have all of the credits and pass the examination regarding culture and politics, they also have to give lectures on Buddhist classics and overcome an oral dissertation defense. Those who pass the examinations, after getting approved by the academic title committee, will gain the highest Tibetan Buddhism academic title of “Tho Ram Pa”.

All of the students from the 12th grade of the high-level academic title have passed the examinations with excellence; this year’s “Tho Ram Pa” has reached the record-breaking number of 14. Other than this, there are 22 students that were awarded the "Nzhing Ram Ba" intermediate degree.

Moreover, this is the last grade that practices a 2-year program, from the next grade, the 3-year program will be carried out with more study-load and higher requirements.

Why does Sun Chunlan receive the group every year?

The “Tho Ram Pa”  system was established in 2004. It has trained 135 lamas including 14 from this year. Amongst whom, there are some who have become sutras teachers in monasteries and taken part in democratic management; while there are also some who have started working in different levels of the People’s Congress, in CPPCC (Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee) as well as in Buddhism Associations. Most of the graduated students have already become the main figures amongst the Tibetan Buddhism circle and played an important role in the reinforcement of monastery management, maintaining a normal stage of the religious order. They have also brought a great contribution to guiding the religious population, pushing forward the social adjustment between religion and socialism, therein gaining widely great compliments.

The central government has always been paying attention to the development of the representative figures from the Tibetan Buddhism circle. After taking charge of the Minister of the United Front Work Department, Sun Chunlan made clear requirements for the work on the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China. She also made a trip to the college and visited the dormitory of the students.

Today, seeing these students having successfully completed their study after putting a lot of efforts in, Sun Chunlan feels sincerely happy for them, therein she wants to encouragement them all the more! 

So what did Sun Chunlan say?

Sun Chunlan addressed the 14 “Tho Ram Pa” recipients and expressed her congratulations, and hopes that they would cherish the honor, actively engage in the cause to incorporate Tibetan Buddhism into socialist society, and to make due contributions to social harmony and economic development of Tibet and other Tibetan-inhabited areas in China.　

Sun Chunlan stressed that the important speech of President Xi Jinping at the National Work Conference on Religion was aimed at guiding religious framework documents under new circumstances. Sun expected lamas to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of speech; to always adhere to the religious doctrines associated with socialism with Chinese characteristics; to fully implement the Party’s fundamental policies on religion; and to unite religious figures and religious believers with the Party and government.

Sun Chunlan emphasized the following 4 points:

Advocating the good traditions of the Tibetan Buddhism regarding loving the religion and the country, working hard and following the commandments, improving the comprehensive quality;

Finding the positive elements in Buddhism doctrines, therein making interpretations that meet the requirements of the development of today’s China;

Improving the construction of the academic title system; establishing the Tibetan Buddhism talent training mechanism in order to bring more talented monks for the Tibetan Buddhism circle.

Promoting the development of teaching materials and qualificatioin of sutra teachers, and enhance schooling levels.