Reported By Palden
Translated By TenGyal
The Chinese government has issued directives barring all monastics whose residences were recently demolished from remaining at Serthar Larung Gar, ordering them to return to their native monasteries. Authorities have been forcibly deporting these monastics back to their hometowns.
Since July 13, the Chinese government has been demolishing monastic residences at Larung Gar, citing safety risks from overcrowded housing and an excessive population of monks and nuns. Under the current plan to tear down 1,060 residences at the sprawling religious centre, the government recently issued a directive ordering monks whose quarters have been demolished to return to their homes or local monasteries, strictly barring them from staying at Larung Gar in Serthar. Furthermore, tight restrictions are currently imposed on the local monks, nuns, and residents, while pilgrims from other regions are heavily restricted from passing through freely.
According to a reliable source providing information to our correspondent, “The Chinese government had initially decided to demolish the area surrounding the Gyutrul Temple at Serthar Larung Gar. However, after monastery representatives repeatedly submitted appeals warning that demolishing that sector would damage the temple, main shrine hall, and circumambulating path, authorities ultimately decided instead to tear down the residences of the monk and nun practitioners located between the monastic and lay practitioners’ quarters. Consequently, over 1,000 dwellings along that stretch are currently being demolished.”
The source further stated, “The Chinese government issued a directive strictly forbidding monks and nuns whose residences have been torn down from remaining at Serthar Larung Gar under any circumstances. Those hailing from other areas are required to return to their family homes or native monasteries, and monastics are currently being forcibly deported back to their hometowns one after another. Likewise, even monks and nuns from Serthar itself are prohibited from staying at Larung Gar and have been ordered to return to their respective local townships and village monasteries.”
In 2001, 2016, and 2019, the Chinese government demolished numerous monastic residences at Larung Gar, using pretexts such as overcrowded housing and a lack of legal permits. Over time, authorities have repeatedly imposed caps on the number of monks and nuns and forcibly deported many monastics from other regions back to their hometowns. Amidst these ongoing crackdowns, during the 2019 demolitions at Larung Gar, a nun named Tsering Dolma committed suicide, leaving behind a testament describing how she had been pushed to desperation under the Chinese government’s unlawful oppression.
