Introduction

Department of Religion and Culture (DoRC) is one of the seven departments under the auspices of Kashag (Cabinet). It is a branch of executive whose primary function and responsibility is to implement religious and cultural policies of Tibetan government, and to coordinate the works of preservation, protection, and promotion of unique Tibetan religious and cultural traditions.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama first established this department as Council for Religious Affairs on 27th April 1959, in Musoorie. When His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his entourage moved to Dharamsala in 1960, the Tibetan government in exile also shifted the base here. On 12th September 1960, after the adoption of democratic system, the council was reorganized as Department of Religion and Culture under the institution of Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). Since then the DoRC remained an important department or ministry under CTA.

DoRC coordinates with the office of religious leaders of four greater religious schools of Tibetan Buddhism and of Bon; and with important non-monastic institutions like Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, Tibet House, and Norbulingka Institute to oversee the works in upholding Tibet's unique heritages. It represents the religious community and relate with other Buddhist and Non-Buddhist religious organization around the world.

Under the leadership of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, since March 1959 this department played significant roles in promoting monasteries, nunneries, and cultural institutions in exile communities. There are approximately around 230 institutions. Some of the widely acclaimed non-monastic institutions promoted in exile community are Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Tibet House Society, Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, and Norbulingka Institute.

Reorganization of philosophical education system remained a greatest concern for our leaders in the newly established monastic education. With support from DoRC many hardworking religious leaders and sanghas have worked hard in constructing institutions and to organize education system in it. Presently, almost all the institutions have well-established system of education and many have even developed modern schools. In order to further develop the education system and to benefit world people, monasteries and nunneries are now encouraged to study Chinese language and modern scientific studies.

The DoRC has been helping monks and nuns escaping from Tibet to relocate in monasteries and nunneries ever since 1959. Tibetans come to exile unabated due to ongoing religious persecution implemented by the Chinese regime. As of 2002, there are around 32,000 sangha in the community. For the welfare of sangha order, DoRC runs some support programs. It has programs like scholarship to newly escaped Tibetan sangha, support to destitute sangha, small grants for monasteries and temples, stipend to teachers of smaller institutions and caretaker of temples, and special allowance to hermits.

Whenever an issue related to religious and cultural affairs had to be researched, DoRC conducts or patronize research works. The research on "Availability of Bhikshuni Ordination in Tibetan Monastic System" is the ongoing work. It has been going on for a decades and still Tibetan Vinaya masters have not come to a consensus. Several books are published and some conferences are held upon it.

The promotion of Archives of Central Tibetan Administration is an important non-religious task of the department. The aim of the section is to construct and maintain an archive for CTA. Although there is no technical specific Archive building yet, the works of assorting documents is undergoing in a makeshift office adjacent to Department of Education.