Smartphones meet sutras at ancient monastery

"Those fake Living Buddhas have bad intentions. Their behavior has severely damaged the image of Tibetan Buddhism," he said, adding that people should carefully check the masters they intend to follow, such as establishing which monastery they come from and their teachers' names.

In January 2016, the government created an online database of legitimate Living Buddhas to help followers distinguish between real monks and fakes. The database contains information about 870 Living Buddhas nationwide, and more will be added as their status is confirmed.

The database was devised after an incident in 2015 in which a man who called himself Baima Aose sought to hold a Living Buddha enthronement ceremony for an actor. He was forced to issue an apology after it was revealed that he had never been certified as a Living Buddha.

Khyungpo said: "As a Living Buddha, I need to focus on improving myself so I can better influence others. I don't mean to convert people to Tibetan Buddhism, but to show how to be a good person."

As many people are showing an interest in Tibetan Buddhism, more knowledgeable masters and Living Buddhas are required to provide accurate guidance, he added.

"I've noticed that some interpretations in books are inaccurate. Many people are learning Tibetan so they can understand Tibetan Buddhism. With better language skills, I could learn more about Buddhism and the world," said Khyungpo, who wants to study English.

Personal choice

Young apprentices don't automatically become lamas when they arrive at the monastery. Instead, they study more than 100 pages of scripture, which may take one to two years.

During that time, they learn to respect their masters and other people, and more important, they can take time to decide if they truly wish to dedicate their lives to Tibetan Buddhism, Khyungpo added.

He said the system fully respects personal choice and ensures that those who choose to stay can commit to the tough journey ahead once they are allocated to one of the four schools.

The headmaster of the schools bears the Tibetan title Gexi, meaning "Master of Knowledge". To obtain the title, Gelug lamas, including Living Buddhas, must pass a series of exams and debates after completing their studies of the five theories.

Although a heated debate, where the challengers clap their hands while raising questions about theory, may look entertaining, it's an extremely serious business. Hesitation or a slow response means a lama will lose the debate.

Gexi Lharangba - equivalent to a doctorate - is the highest of the four Gexi levels. It is awarded in front of the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa after the applicants face challenges from top lamas who rapidly fire tough questions at them.