Tibet

Traveling monks work on a sand mandala at Lake Street Church in Evanston, Illinois.

Tibetan monks on tour in US as China continues to restrict religion in Tibet

Sacred Nation

A group of Tibetan Buddhist monks, living in exile in India, are doing a “sacred arts tour” this month in the US. They’re demonstrating an ancient artistic and spiritual practice, creating big, colorful sand mandalas. They say Buddhist traditions like this are under threat because of Chinese government policies in their historic homeland of Tibet.

Exile Tibetan booth officials look at a green book, a necessary document for Tibetans to vote, during the second and final round of voting to elect their parliamentarians and the leader of the Central Tibetan Administration

Tibetans in exile elect a new president

Elections

The US draws a red line, saying China cannot name Tibetan Buddhism’s next leader

China's red flag is show flying on a pole with the large white facade of the Potala Palace in the distance.

China sharply expands mass labor program in Tibet

Conflict & Justice
A white woman holds up a drawing of a plant next to a Chinese woman sitting at a table together

Confucius Institutes push back against Pompeo’s assertion they should close

US-China relations
A woman stands at a podium. Behind her is a sign that says "Tibet will be free."

On the 60th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising, activists say the ‘resistance spirit’ is still alive

It’s been 60 years since the Tibetan uprising in Lhasa prompted the Dalai Lama to flee his palace.

Padma Angdu was anointed as a Tibetan Buddhist rinpoche, or enlightened being, in 2010. He was 6 years old at the time.

Reincarnating as an enlightened being isn’t easy. Especially when you’re 6 years old.

Belief

After death comes for a rinpoche — a Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, imbued with supernatural powers — he or she may choose to reincarnate as an infant. Such was the extraordinary fate of a child named Padma Angdu, identified as a rinpoche in 2010. He was only 6 years old. A new documentary follows him as he grows into his destiny.

Kilian Jornet climbing Mount Everest

Catalan climber tops Mount Everest twice in one week

Sports

Kilian Jornet says his second climb in a week “opens up a new realm of possibilities in alpinism and I’m really happy to have done it.”

Young boy holds Tibet flag at independence protest.

Policy or discrimination? UMass Amherst student prevented from carrying Tibetan flag at graduation.

Education

A Tibetan student won’t be allowed to carry her country’s flag in a graduation ceremony’s parade of flags. UMass Amherst says it’s policy. Kalsang Nangpa says it’s discrimination.

‘The new student is the Dalai Lama!’ by Nana (koadenium).

Do blondes have better karma? Dalai Lama reimagines himself as ‘mischievous blonde.’ Really.

Culture

Comic artists in Taiwan and Hong Kong started a Facebook page, the Blonde Dalai Lama, after the Tibetan Buddhist leader’s comments that he may be reincarnated as an attractive, “mischievous blonde woman.”