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Photos: Mongolia’s millennial monks lead revival of Buddhism

Amarbayasgalant Monastery in Mongolia was home to around 800 monks before the Soviet era. In the decades after the anti-religion purges of 1937, half the monastery’s monks fled, while most of those who remained were killed. The fate of Buddhism in Mongolia today rests on young shoulders in a country where monasteries are increasingly being run by millennial monks. They hope that one day the monastery will be full of enthusiastic children committed to a journey on the path of devotion laid out by the Buddha.

Updated on: Jun 07, 2018 11:04 AM IST

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1/13

Senior Buddhist monk Lobsang Tayang walks outside the Amarbayasgalant Monastery in Mongolia. Buddhism is one of the world’s oldest religions but its fate in Mongolia now rests on young shoulders. The country’s monasteries are increasingly run by millennial monks, the first generation to come of age after decades of religious repression under the Soviet system wiped out almost all Buddhist clergy. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 07, 2018 11:04 AM

Senior Buddhist monk Lobsang Tayang walks outside the Amarbayasgalant Monastery in Mongolia. Buddhism is one of the world’s oldest religions but its fate in Mongolia now rests on young shoulders. The country’s monasteries are increasingly run by millennial monks, the first generation to come of age after decades of religious repression under the Soviet system wiped out almost all Buddhist clergy. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

2/13

Stars twinkle over the Buddhist Monastery during a moonlit night. Amarbayasgalant Monastery, whose name means “monastery of the quiet felicity” is located near the Selenge River at the foot of Mount Burenkhan. It is one of the rare monasteries that have partly avoided the destruction of 1937 by the Soviets. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 07, 2018 11:04 AM

Stars twinkle over the Buddhist Monastery during a moonlit night. Amarbayasgalant Monastery, whose name means “monastery of the quiet felicity” is located near the Selenge River at the foot of Mount Burenkhan. It is one of the rare monasteries that have partly avoided the destruction of 1937 by the Soviets. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

3/13

The monastery is a sprawling complex deep in the endless grasslands, 35 kilometers from the nearest road. It was home to around 800 monks before the Soviet era. After the purges began, half the monastery’s monks fled, while most of those who remained were killed. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 07, 2018 11:04 AM

The monastery is a sprawling complex deep in the endless grasslands, 35 kilometers from the nearest road. It was home to around 800 monks before the Soviet era. After the purges began, half the monastery’s monks fled, while most of those who remained were killed. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

4/13

Temuulen and Batkhan Tuul look at birds nesting under the roof of the main temple. The young monks are struggling to maintain crumbling monastery buildings that date from the 18th century, and are a UNESCO world heritage site. Today just 28 of over 40 original temples remain. Flocks of nesting pigeons stain the walls with faeces and leave the monks, whose religion forbids killing, in despair. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 07, 2018 11:04 AM

Temuulen and Batkhan Tuul look at birds nesting under the roof of the main temple. The young monks are struggling to maintain crumbling monastery buildings that date from the 18th century, and are a UNESCO world heritage site. Today just 28 of over 40 original temples remain. Flocks of nesting pigeons stain the walls with faeces and leave the monks, whose religion forbids killing, in despair. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

5/13

Just four years into his own studies, 29-year-old Lobsang is already teaching two young monks, a position he would normally attain only after 20 years. “I felt like I hadn’t gained enough knowledge yet,” he said. “I was thinking, ‘Is it right for others to call me teacher when I myself am still learning?’” (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 07, 2018 11:04 AM

Just four years into his own studies, 29-year-old Lobsang is already teaching two young monks, a position he would normally attain only after 20 years. “I felt like I hadn’t gained enough knowledge yet,” he said. “I was thinking, ‘Is it right for others to call me teacher when I myself am still learning?’” (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

6/13

Young monk Temuulen gets dressed after waking up at in his room at the monastery. After democracy came to Mongolia in 1990, monasteries and schools were re-established by survivors, many already then in their 70s. Now fewer than 40 are left, and the oldest, the head of the monastery, is just 35. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 07, 2018 11:04 AM

Young monk Temuulen gets dressed after waking up at in his room at the monastery. After democracy came to Mongolia in 1990, monasteries and schools were re-established by survivors, many already then in their 70s. Now fewer than 40 are left, and the oldest, the head of the monastery, is just 35. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

7/13

Lobsang Tayang wakes his students, 10-year-old Batkhan Tuul and 11-year-old Temuulen, at around seven to test their memory of the scriptures and chanting which fills the rest of the morning. In the afternoon, the younger monks can study topics such as mathematics and literature - if a teacher can be found. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 07, 2018 11:04 AM

Lobsang Tayang wakes his students, 10-year-old Batkhan Tuul and 11-year-old Temuulen, at around seven to test their memory of the scriptures and chanting which fills the rest of the morning. In the afternoon, the younger monks can study topics such as mathematics and literature - if a teacher can be found. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

8/13

The life of a typical Buddhist monk involves detachment from chaotic modernity, spent primarily in monasteries in the mountains. Revolving largely around the idea of Karma, Buddhism teaches that life is suffering and that desires and attachments beckon suffering which can only be avoided if one follows a lifestyle laid out by Buddha. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 07, 2018 11:04 AM

The life of a typical Buddhist monk involves detachment from chaotic modernity, spent primarily in monasteries in the mountains. Revolving largely around the idea of Karma, Buddhism teaches that life is suffering and that desires and attachments beckon suffering which can only be avoided if one follows a lifestyle laid out by Buddha. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

9/13

Temuulen watches a fellow monk blow a seashell as a call to prayers. Such a choice of career which involves a strict lifestyle devoid of earthly attachments is unusual in the modern world, and finding children willing to sign up can be tricky. The choice is often made as much by parents as their children, and is rarely a straightforward task. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 07, 2018 11:04 AM

Temuulen watches a fellow monk blow a seashell as a call to prayers. Such a choice of career which involves a strict lifestyle devoid of earthly attachments is unusual in the modern world, and finding children willing to sign up can be tricky. The choice is often made as much by parents as their children, and is rarely a straightforward task. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

10/13

Monks perform a prayer ritual in the monastery courtyard. Temuulen’s mother Badamkhand Dambii said that he did not like the idea of monkhood because he was afraid of the paintings and altars of the deity. Recalling her son’s reaction the first time she broached the topic, she said “He said they were frightening... It took him a while to come round.” (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 07, 2018 11:04 AM

Monks perform a prayer ritual in the monastery courtyard. Temuulen’s mother Badamkhand Dambii said that he did not like the idea of monkhood because he was afraid of the paintings and altars of the deity. Recalling her son’s reaction the first time she broached the topic, she said “He said they were frightening... It took him a while to come round.” (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

11/13

Many monks who grow up at the monastery yearn for the outside world, which they are only allowed to visit twice a year for two weeks. The monastery has 3G internet access, but mobile telephones are restricted to those older than 25. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 07, 2018 11:04 AM

Many monks who grow up at the monastery yearn for the outside world, which they are only allowed to visit twice a year for two weeks. The monastery has 3G internet access, but mobile telephones are restricted to those older than 25. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

12/13

Lobsang Rabten oversees an evening prayer recital session. “It’s easy to chop down a forest, right?” Lobsang Rabten, the monastery’s second-in-command said. “But it takes a long time for new trees to grow back.” He hopes to return the monastery one day to its former glory. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 07, 2018 11:04 AM

Lobsang Rabten oversees an evening prayer recital session. “It’s easy to chop down a forest, right?” Lobsang Rabten, the monastery’s second-in-command said. “But it takes a long time for new trees to grow back.” He hopes to return the monastery one day to its former glory. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

13/13

Lobsang Tayang steps out onto the terrace of the main temple. While Lobsang reconciles between being a student and teacher, the younger generation of monks like Temuulen is committed to the future of the monastery so that more children come and join in the journey of its rejuvenation. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

Updated on Jun 07, 2018 11:04 AM

Lobsang Tayang steps out onto the terrace of the main temple. While Lobsang reconciles between being a student and teacher, the younger generation of monks like Temuulen is committed to the future of the monastery so that more children come and join in the journey of its rejuvenation. (Thomas Peter / REUTERS)

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