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Inside the lives of Mongolia's 'millennial monks,' who play basketball, pray for 12 hours a day, and hold the fate of their religion in their hands

Inside the lives of Mongolia's 'millennial monks,' who play basketball, pray for 12 hours a day, and hold the fate of their religion in their hands

The millennial generation of monks in Mongolia is the first generation to come of age since democracy came to the country in 1990. Before, under communist leadership, Mongolia lost thousands of monks to bloody purges.

Religious centers like the Amarbayasgalant Monastery are shells of what they once were. Before the purges, 800 monks resided at the monastery. Just 40 live there today.

Source: Reuters

Located in the seemingly endless grasslands of northern Mongolia, the monastery is struggling to attract and retain students.

Source: Reuters

29-year-old Lobsang Tayang is four years into his studies, but has already been tasked with teaching two younger students — a role that generally requires two decades of experience.

Source: Reuters

"I felt like I hadn't gained enough knowledge yet," Tayang told Reuters. "I was thinking, 'Is it right for others to call me teacher when I myself am still learning?'"

Source: Reuters

Tayang wakes up his students at 7 a.m. every day to test their memory of their scriptures, a task that takes the entire morning to complete.

Source: Reuters

In the afternoon, students learn secular topics like math or literature, but there are hardly enough teachers to go around.

$In the afternoon, students learn secular topics like math or literature, but there are hardly enough teachers to go around.$

Source: Reuters

Monks at the monastery wind down by playing basketball at sunset …

Source: Reuters

And they play with dogs after their evening prayers have concluded.

Source: Reuters

Finding young people to become students at the monastery can be an arduous task.

Source: Reuters

For one thing, monks are only allowed to visit the outside world twice a year.

Source: Reuters

As for cellphone use, that's restricted to those over the age of 25.

Source: Reuters

"Nowadays it's very rare to find monks who can remain faithful to their vows," Lobsang Tayang told Reuters.

Source: Reuters

The leaders of the monastery hope their students can overcome these modern challenges.

Source: Reuters

"It's easy to chop down a forest, right?" Lobsang Rabten, the monastery's second-in-command, told Reuters. "But it takes a long time for new trees to grow back."

Here's how much the typical millennial, Gen X, and baby boomer worker earns i…

Inside the lives of Mongolia's 'millennial monks,' who play basketball, pray for 12 hours a day, and hold the fate of their religion in their hands

The millennial generation of monks in Mongolia is the first generation to come of age since democracy came to the country in 1990. Before, under communist leadership, Mongolia lost thousands of monks to bloody purges.

Religious centers like the Amarbayasgalant Monastery are shells of what they once were. Before the purges, 800 monks resided at the monastery. Just 40 live there today.

Located in the seemingly endless grasslands of northern Mongolia, the monastery is struggling to attract and retain students.

29-year-old Lobsang Tayang is four years into his studies, but has already been tasked with teaching two younger students — a role that generally requires two decades of experience.

"I felt like I hadn't gained enough knowledge yet," Tayang told Reuters. "I was thinking, 'Is it right for others to call me teacher when I myself am still learning?'"

Tayang wakes up his students at 7 a.m. every day to test their memory of their scriptures, a task that takes the entire morning to complete.

In the afternoon, students learn secular topics like math or literature, but there are hardly enough teachers to go around.

Monks at the monastery wind down by playing basketball at sunset …

And they play with dogs after their evening prayers have concluded.

Finding young people to become students at the monastery can be an arduous task.

For one thing, monks are only allowed to visit the outside world twice a year.

As for cellphone use, that's restricted to those over the age of 25.

"Nowadays it's very rare to find monks who can remain faithful to their vows," Lobsang Tayang told Reuters.

The leaders of the monastery hope their students can overcome these modern challenges.

"It's easy to chop down a forest, right?" Lobsang Rabten, the monastery's second-in-command, told Reuters. "But it takes a long time for new trees to grow back."

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