Buddhist classroom

 

During the 1920ies Buddhist Mongolia went through a period of so called "religious cleaning", in that time most monasteries were burned down and monks were killed. With the political changes of the 1990ies religious freedom was brought back and the Buddhist religion awake again. Since then, there is a reformed Buddhism established in the country. Monks (and nuns) are allowed to marry, have kids and lead an earthly life. The question, why young people chose a religious way of life made me spend some time with them in the biggest religious educational center at the Gandan monastery in the capitol Ulaanbaatar.