The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-01-30
1000 LANNS OF kUMBUM
Light Oh tn Mysterious De
voices of Tibet.
HAVE RIGID DISCIPLINE

of Priests MAY Enter at IS Years
Of Age.
More than 1000 men make their
home IN the Tibetan monastery of
Kumbum. From early life till mid
die age they are in religious pris-
on, walled in from the rest OF the
world. They may be sent far away on
missions. they may climb the hills
outside when religious fetes are cele-
bfated, but they are tied to the great
clCister.
Lieut.. W. Filchner OF the German
army, went to Kumbum some time
ago, equipped with pass from the
Cninese resident minister in Tibet,
which enabled his wife and himself
to remain there long enough to make
careful study of one of the most cell
ebrated OF Tibetan lamaseries and its
inmates.
most of these lamas do not like
foreigners and they gave Filchner a
curious specimen of their logic They
said that the Japanese, after thrash
ing the Chinese. had given the Rus
slams n still worse thrashing. This
was sufficient proof, they said. that
foreign devils are no match for the
Chinese and undoubtedly the Chinese
will some day wipe them out
Among the numerous ceremonies
which occupy much Of the time of the
lamas perhaps the most childish is
that occurring on the 25th of each
month and dedicated to travellers of
the whole world" Hundreds of the
pr asts go to the top of a mountain
tn. ee hours walk from Kumbum,
where they offer prayers and strew to
the wind many little packages con-
tanning the figures of galloping horses
cut out OF paper The supposition is
that through the power of Buddna
these paper horses will be transform
ed into living animals that will be
se"t to the succor of suffering pill
grims wherever they may be-
OF the thousands of priests three
foLrtls are Tibetans, and nearly all
the others are Mongols, with just a
sprinkling Of Chinese.
Most of the lamas are between Is
and 40 years of age. The Oldest
among them often have snow white
hair and are held in much respect.
Nearly all Of them shave their heads
preserving only the scalp lock, and
wear no boards.
Their coarse yellow underskirts are
covered by a red robe coming down
tc their feet, but leaving one arm
and shoulder bare, so that they have n
nttle Of the effect of the Roman to-
ga. though they are belted around
tho waist. NO hose are permitted furs
are strictly forbidden and the priests
have to iLure themselves to the rig
ors Of winter with clothing that is
really inadequate But they are per-
mitted to wear stockings when sent
on w.-ter journeys across the plains
of Mongolia.
The lower priests are always bare
headed, but the higher lamas have
head covering. One would think there
ing purposes, for all the priests with
out exception are encrusted with dirt
and their dingy visages contrast
strongly with the prevailing, white
ness of the walls and houses.
kumbum is really a small city COW
ering a large area with many temples,
pirate chapels. halls OF instruction
deDositories Of sacred literature and
dwellings. The poorest lamas are
he"ded together in living rooms pro-
vided by the monastery, but they
must pay small fee for their accom-
modations.
Filchner says that the general air
of the priests is that of Incidence
That not a few of them look like out
laws and criminals and that others
have the bearing of dudes. But an
enormous amount of labor must be
performed by these 1000 priests.
They are dirty in their persons, but
1t Is their charge that the streets and
the temples and other public build
lngs are kept immaculate. The al
tar service requires the attendance
OF hundreds of men. The butter
lamps must glisten and the melted
butter in which the floating wicks are
ever blazing must never run short.
There is almost no end OF the rules
of religion and conduct that are en-
Joined upon all. A priest is not or
dained until he is Is, but he enters
tho monastery when a mere child and
the chief rules imposed upon him In
the preparatory stage are that he must
not lie or steal, drink any,.hng in
toxicating or kill anything that has
life There are many minor rules
that forbid him, for example, to eat
after midday, to sing or dance. to
make music on any instrument. TO
use peridmery or adorn himself with
ribbons or flowers
TIE violation Of many rules NAV
be forgiven, but woe to the monk who
is caught stealing. He is led through
the cloister In white robe, the en-
blem Of mourning, and outside the
walls is beaten with sticks and turn
ed away, a priest no longer.