This is from a series of films by Global Television shot all over world, giving well photographed introductions to various places, of which we will be focusing on the ones of interest to Buddhists.
The films are quite light introductions to their subjects, mainly good photography, well chosen soundtracks, and a reasonable, but sometimes inaccurate, narration giving a cultural and historical introduction to its subject.
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This week we start a series of short films about Tibet. The first looks at the great Gelug university at the foot of Mt. Gephel, the Drepung Gomba (Gompa, or monastery), which was founded in the 15th century. It was one of the largest monasteries in Tibet, and housed around 10,000 monastics at the time of the Chinese annexation.
Historically it played a very significant role in both the spiritual and political life of the country, and many famous teachers and saints studied there, including the Dalai Lamas.
Besides the monastery itself we also see the approach road with its rock paintings, and get an idea of the remote and rocky setting in the rugged mountains of southern Tibet.