Revised Tibetan Buddhists constitution says no to separatism

"Monks should love their country and be loyal to their religion," said Chubakang Tubdain Kaizhub, TBBAC chairman, adding that to strictly follow Buddhist doctrines is to abide by law.

About 250 living Buddhas, monks and nuns from different sects of Tibetan Buddhism attended the congress, which started with a half-hour sutra-reciting ceremony Monday morning at the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa.

Also on Wednesday, 36 monks and nuns and 10 monasteries including the Zhaxilunbo Monastery in Xigaze were awarded the title of "patriotic and law-abiding" models by the Tibet Autonomous Regional Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee.

"The monks and nuns and monasteries have safeguarded the unity of the country and contributed to the promotion of social stability over the past years, especially during the March 14 riot in 2008 in Lhasa," said Tenzin, a senior official with the committee, on the award-presenting ceremony.

Editor:Liu Anqi