Attending the 2024 Wutai International Intensive Program on Buddhist Studies
Tenzing Tamang, a student in the Master of Arts in Buddhist Studies program, was selected from many applicants for the 2024 Wutai International and Intensive Program on Buddhist Studies. Below is a reflection on his experience.
In August 2024, I was honored to be selected for the 2024 Wutai International and Intensive Program on Buddhist Studies at Mount Wutai in Shanxi, China. Organized by the Wutai Shan Institute of Buddhism and East Asian Culture, in collaboration with the From the Ground Up project at the University of British Columbia and the Institute for Ethics and Religious Studies at Tsinghua University, the program brought together students specializing in East Asian religions from universities worldwide, with a focus on Chinese Buddhism. Although my research does not primarily focus on Chinese Buddhism, my main motivation for applying was to engage with students of Buddhist Studies from various universities and to explore their research interests. Graciously hosted by the Great Sage Bamboo Monastery, the experience not only provided an opportunity to connect with fellow scholars and engage with a diverse range of Buddhist research topics but also allowed me to immerse myself in the spiritual atmosphere of Wutaishan, the sacred abode of Mañjuśrī.
To begin with, Wutaishan, known as the sacred abode of Mañjuśrī, was an experience beyond words. Waking up each morning and realizing I was in Wutaishan—a place believed to be blessed by the wisdom of Mañjuśrī—was truly special. The program itself was intensive, running daily from 8:30–9:00 AM until 8:00–9:00 PM. While the morning prayer sessions were optional, I made it a point to attend them. Led by the Pure Land monks of the Great Sage Bamboo Monastery, these sessions filled the temple with fervent chants to Amitābha. The gong for morning prayers would sound at 3:30 AM, and by 4:00 AM, everyone had gathered in the main shrine hall, chanting and praying until 5:00 AM. This was followed by a silent yet disciplined, almost Zen-like breakfast with the monks and devotees—a simple yet profound experience that I will never forget.
Beyond the monastery, the entire atmosphere of Wutaishan felt surreal. Partly, this was because of everything I had read and watched about its sacredness, but mainly, it was simply the experience of being there. Soft drizzles in the mornings, with moving clouds drifting over the hills, and rolling green mountains wrapped in mist created an ever-changing landscape that felt both serene and otherworldly—truly living up to Wutaishan’s name as the “Cool and Clear Mountain.”
What made this experience academically enriching was the opportunity to engage with students whose research spanned an astonishing range of topics within Buddhist Studies. Some were conducting fieldwork on local Buddhist minority groups, studying their unique rites and rituals, while others were researching the Dunhuang caves, deciphering the rich textual and artistic history embedded within them. Conversations about the Ratnagotravibhāga—a text I had encountered in my own studies—offered fresh perspectives on its interpretation. At the same time, discussions on the digitalization of Buddhist texts highlighted how modern technology is reshaping our engagement with historical Buddhist literature.
More than anything, the friendships and connections I made during the program have stayed with me. Even now, I continue to exchange ideas with the people I met there, receiving valuable feedback for my ongoing MA research and academic journey.
