40 Tibetan monks receive senior academic title

BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) -- A group of 40 Tibetan monks received the senior academic title of Tibetan Buddhism at a degree awarding ceremony held by the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China in Beijing Monday.

The ceremony was the 15th of its kind to award the "Tho Ram Pa" degree, one of the highest academic degrees in Tibetan Buddhism.

All of the monks awarded the degree have passed an eligibility test, an examination and a thesis defense.

They worshipped the 11th Panchen Lama Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, also vice president of the Buddhist Association of China, on Tuesday.

A total of 208 monks have received the "Tho Ram Pa" degree so far.