Seven lamas have been honored with the Tibetan Buddhism's highest degree, the Gexe Lharampa in Lhasa, capital of China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Wednesday.

The Gexe Lharampa is similar to a doctorate in religious studies and bestowed on people who have made the study of Buddhism a life-long pursuit. It is the highest of the four ranks in the Gexe system from the yellow sect or Gelugba school of Tibetan Buddhism.

The seven laureates, with an average age of 44, received the title after they defended their dissertations before a 16-member panel, composed of high-ranking lamas from different monasteries and Tibetan Buddhism experts, at the Monlam Qemo, or the Grand Summoning Ceremony, held in the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa.

"Today's final examination was based on the historical routine and religious tradition, but we also adopted some new content," said Zhukang Tubdain Kaizhub, head of the Tibetan branch of the Buddhist Association of China and also chair of the exam panel.

The ceremony was first introduced by Zongkaba, the founder of the Gelugba sect, in 1409. Individual monasteries can grant the first three ranks of Gexe to their own monks but the top rank, the Lharampa, can only be bestowed by the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa.

"The examinations will be held every year in the future," said Zhukang Tubdain Kaizhub.

In addition to the traditional dissertation, a candidate for the Gexe degree now also has to pass a test of general knowledge.

"The Gexe examinations will not only inspire us in our Buddhism studies but also help us to better spread the spirit of the Tibetan Buddhism," said Ngagwang Qoipag, one of the seven Lharampa holders.

The competition for the honor will become more fierce in the future, as "it is not only a test of religious learning among lamas but also a contest between temples to produce qualified candidates," said Zhukang Tubdain Kaizhub.

Source: Xinhua