Buddhist nuns and monks walking through Seda Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist school in the world, with up to 40,000 monks and nuns in residence for some parts of the year. (AFP)Seda Monastery: The World's largest Tibetan Buddhist school
28 Apr, 2013
Buddhist nuns and monks walking through Seda Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist school in the world, with up to 40,000 monks and nuns in residence for some parts of the year. Seda, known to Tibetans as Serthar is located in Ganzi prefecture in the west of China's Sichuan province and has become a hotbed of protests and violence since the Tibetan uprisings of March 2008.
More than 110 Tibetans have set themselves alight since 2009, with most dying of their injuries, in demonstrations against what they view as Chinese oppression which Beijing rejects pointing to substantial investment in Tibet and other regions with large Tibetan populations, although critics say economic development has brought an influx of ethnic Han Chinese and eroded traditional Tibetan culture.
Apprentice Buddhist monks debate in Seda Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist school in the world, with up to 40,000 monks and nuns in residence for some parts of the year. (AFP)
Apprentice Buddhist monks leaving their shoes outside before a debating session in Seda Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist school in the world, with up to 40,000 monks and nuns in residence for some parts of the year. 
Apprentice Buddhist monks debate in Seda Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist school in the world, with up to 40,000 monks and nuns in residence for some parts of the year. (AFP)
Apprentice Buddhist monks debating in Seda Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist school in the world. Seda has seen demonstrations against what they view as Chinese oppression which Beijing rejects pointing to substantial investment in Tibet and other regions with large Tibetan populations, although critics say economic development has brought an influx of ethnic Han Chinese and eroded traditional Tibetan culture. 
Buddhist monks pass a yak in Seda Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist school in the world, with up to 40,000 monks and nuns in residence for some parts of the year. (AFP)
Buddhist monks walk in front of the thousands of small houses where they live at Seda Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist school in the world, with up to 40,000 monks and nuns in residence for some parts of the year. (AFP)
Tibetans who made a pilgramage to Seda Monastery offer prayers at the largest Tibetan Buddhist school in the world, with up to 40,000 monks and nuns in residence for some parts of the year. (AFP)
Buddhist monks collect leaflets at Seda Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist school in the world, with up to 40,000 monks and nuns in residence for some parts of the year. (AFP)
A Tibetan man washes his hands using a ladle at Seda Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist school in the world, with up to 40,000 monks and nuns in residence for some parts of the year. (AFP)
There are hundreds of small houses where monks and nuns live at Seda Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist school in the world, with up to 40,000 monks and nuns in residence for some parts of the year. (AFP)
There are hundreds of small houses where monks and nuns live at Seda Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist school in the world, with up to 40,000 monks and nuns in residence for some parts of the year. (AFP)
A Buddhist nun sitting, reading under a sign that reads "the campus is our home, maintaining hygiene is everyone's responisbility", in Seda Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist school in the world, with up to 40,000 monks and nuns in residence for some parts of the year. (AFP)
Buddhist nuns and monks walk through Seda Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist school in the world.Located in Ganzi prefecture in the west of China's Sichuan province it has become a hotbed of protests and violence since the Tibetan uprisings of March 2008. (AFP)
Buddhist nuns and monks walk through Seda Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist school in the world, with up to 40,000 monks and nuns in residence for some parts of the year. (AFP)
Buddhist monks sitting on logs chatting, in Seda Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist school in the world. Seda has seen demonstrations against what they view as Chinese oppression which Beijing rejects pointing to substantial investment in Tibet and other regions with large Tibetan populations, although critics say economic development has brought an influx of ethnic Han Chinese and eroded traditional Tibetan culture. 
Buddhist monk waving a cleaver whilst chopping vegetables in Seda Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist school in the world. Seda has become a hotbed of protests and violence since the Tibetan uprisings of March 2008. More than 110 Tibetans have set themselves alight since 2009, with most dying of their injuries. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/nation-world/seda-monastery-the-worlds-largest-tibetan-buddhist-school/slideshow/19766910.cms