Sikyong Expresses Concern Over Decreasing Number of Monks in Exile

Sikyong Penpa Tsering has voiced concern over the decreasing number of monks in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in exile. Speaking in Lingtsang Tibetan settlement he noted that most current monks come from Himalayan communities and urged Tibetan youth to engage more deeply with Buddhism, a core part of Tibetan identity. According to the Tibetan government's Department of Religion and Culture, the number of monks has fallen over the past three years. He also stressed the importance of preserving Tibetan language and culture, particularly through digitizing Buddhist texts.