T/I: 11:15:03

Life in Lhasa literally revolves around the now empty Potala Palace, the former residence of the 14th Dalai Lama who lives in exile in Darmsala, India. In the morning, as is their custom, huge numbers of people take to the streets to walk around the Potala and other religious sites with their family members and offer respect, praying and prostrating in the hope that their faith will be recognized by the deities. At Sera Monastery, what once was a powerful monastic city of several thousand monks and nuns on the outskirts of Lhasa is now limited by the central Chinese government to only about 550 monks. As the monks engage in animated debate over the meaning of life and death, the abbot admits that times are changing for Tibetan Buddhism. In a society with more religious controls, fewer monks may be needed. The question on everyone's mind here is whether the Dalai Lama will return.

Inside the Potala Palace, what was a thriving religious and political complex is quiet and subdued. Priceless artifacts and religious treasures are locked away in the shadowy halls.

SHOWS:

POTALA PALACE MUSEUM, LHASA TIBET, RECENT

00.00 ws sunrise

00.04 ms old woman with spinning prayer wheel walking along

00.07 ms person praying, dog beside him

00.12 cu old man walking along spinning prayer wheels as he goes

SERA MONASTERY, OUTSKIRTS LHASA, TIBET, RECENT

00.15 ws monastery (UPSOT)

00.16 ms ornamental bell tower seen from below (UPSOT)

00.17 pull from mouth of monster (UPSOT)

00.24 ms monks whipping each other

00.30 cu monk sitting, gesticulating

00.33 ms man standing under tree

00.36 ms two monks - one standing, one sitting talking to him

00.38 SOT Lopsang Abot of Sera Minastery (Tibetan):"I think there is hope that the two sides can get..

00.50 ms monks saying mantra, seated

00.53 cu monk chanting

00.56 ms different monk chanting

POTALA PALACE MUSEUM, LHASA, TIBET. RECENT

00.59 cu candles - pulls out to reveal cabinet full of artefacts

01.04 cu picture of Dalai Lama

01.07 cu headed female buddha

01.10 ws ext palace -used to be Dalai Lama's bedroom

01.13 ms pan across from roof (Dalai's bedroom) to public square

01.22 Vision Ends

T/I: 11:15:03

Life in Lhasa literally revolves around the now empty Potala Palace, the former residence of the 14th Dalai Lama who lives in exile in Darmsala, India. In the morning, as is their custom, huge numbers of people take to the streets to walk around the Potala and other religious sites with their family members and offer respect, praying and prostrating in the hope that their faith will be recognized by the deities. At Sera Monastery, what once was a powerful monastic city of several thousand monks and nuns on the outskirts of Lhasa is now limited by the central Chinese government to only about 550 monks. As the monks engage in animated debate over the meaning of life and death, the abbot admits that times are changing for Tibetan Buddhism. In a society with more religious controls, fewer monks may be needed. The question on everyone's mind here is whether the Dalai Lama will return.

Inside the Potala Palace, what was a thriving religious and political complex is quiet and subdued. Priceless artifacts and religious treasures are locked away in the shadowy halls.

SHOWS:

POTALA PALACE MUSEUM, LHASA TIBET, RECENT

00.00 ws sunrise

00.04 ms old woman with spinning prayer wheel walking along

00.07 ms person praying, dog beside him

00.12 cu old man walking along spinning prayer wheels as he goes

SERA MONASTERY, OUTSKIRTS LHASA, TIBET, RECENT

00.15 ws monastery (UPSOT)

00.16 ms ornamental bell tower seen from below (UPSOT)

00.17 pull from mouth of monster (UPSOT)

00.24 ms monks whipping each other

00.30 cu monk sitting, gesticulating

00.33 ms man standing under tree

00.36 ms two monks - one standing, one sitting talking to him

00.38 SOT Lopsang Abot of Sera Minastery (Tibetan):"I think there is hope that the two sides can get..

00.50 ms monks saying mantra, seated

00.53 cu monk chanting

00.56 ms different monk chanting

POTALA PALACE MUSEUM, LHASA, TIBET. RECENT

00.59 cu candles - pulls out to reveal cabinet full of artefacts

01.04 cu picture of Dalai Lama

01.07 cu headed female buddha

01.10 ws ext palace -used to be Dalai Lama's bedroom

01.13 ms pan across from roof (Dalai's bedroom) to public square

01.22 Vision Ends