Broader horizons

Watching monks debate the scriptures at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery is awe-inspiring, and at times it reminds one of the purity of the monks' lives.

That was my shallow first impression as I watched a scriptural debate, which serves as the ultimate test for monks applying for qualifications, equal to doctorates or graduate degrees, at the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College in Beijing in May.

As a religious affairs reporter, one of my major challenges is that there is so much to learn.