I haven’t been to Sera Monastery ten years ago - A ten-year appointment in Tibet (3)

After arriving in Lhasa for two or three days, I found that most of the scenic spots were actually closed. Feeling like I have nowhere to go, I heard someone said that the Sera Monastery might be open. So I wanted to try my luck. If it doesn't open and I can't get a taxi, I'll take a taxi back. I took a taxi to the entrance of Sera Monastery and found that there were quite a few people there, mostly local Tibetans. I thought it must have been open, otherwise the entrance would not be so lively. Get out of the car steadily. Because of the epidemic, it is still relatively strict. In addition to needing to swipe your ID card, you also need to take your temperature and show a green code. The ticket price seemed to be 50. There were quite a lot of people, but there were very few tourists. I was the only one who needed to buy a ticket at that time...

It was around noon when I went there, and sutras were being chanted in the main hall of Sera Monastery. The scene is a bit like a class or a meeting. First, there are lamas like abbots chanting sutras on the top. There are lamas below, of all ages, young and old. Some were eating, some were chatting, and some were reading scriptures seriously. After the abbot finished reciting, everyone recited the sutra together, and the situation was similar. I feel that this is actually a process of cultivation. Some people can endure the so-called loneliness, while others cannot. It has nothing to do with your age, it has to do with your inner concentration. There are several rooms inside the main hall opposite the main door. There are many Buddhas inside when you go up the steps. Tibetans will donate money inside. But there is a very special place in the Lama Temple, that is, in every room, there is a lama sitting, counting the money on the plate. Then if someone wants to change money, just go and change the money yourself on the plate. Speaking of the money on the plate, the lowest face value is 10 cents, and there are also 50 cents. These currencies are rarely seen in the mainland, but there are many in Tibetan temples. Because there are many Buddhas in each temple, a large donation is required. The low face value also reduces the financial burden on those who come to worship, which is very considerate. Halfway through the chanting, money began to be distributed. A lama handed out stacks of money to the sitting lamas one by one. Some had a face value of 100, but also had various denominations of 10 yuan, 5 yuan, and 1 yuan. I walked to the left hand side of the entrance. There was a very steep wooden staircase to go up. There was a terrace. The middle of the terrace was empty and you could see into the main hall below. There were also rooms for Buddhas around it. They were also in the same configuration. There were many Buddhas and a Sitting lama. Photography is not allowed in the temple. Although I saw some Tibetan women taking pictures with their mobile phones, I still didn’t dare to take pictures. After all, I am a foreigner. Only on the terrace, where there was no sign that photography was prohibited, I quietly took three photos from a distance. In fact, the lamas are very nice people. Generally, as long as you don’t take pictures too directly at them, they won’t be too offended. However, I always feel that if I keep taking pictures of people with my camera, they may not be comfortable with them, so I don’t take many pictures. From the front, I took a lot of photos of their clothes.

The entrance to the main hall of Sera Monastery

On the second floor terrace

Puppy at the door of the main hall

Tibetans coming to worship

Red Lamas

The clouds were particularly beautiful that day

I heard that there is a famous Buddhist debate in Sera Monastery, but I didn’t wait until that time, and I don’t know if there will be one on that day. Mainly, I felt like I couldn’t understand it, and I felt a little tired. I took a taxi back to the hotel. When we arrived at Sera Monastery, it was actually our third day in Lhasa, and I felt like I wasn’t in the mood for travel yet. But finally a temple opened, the weather seemed to be getting better and better, and the mood gradually became brighter.