Preliminary examination for Geshe Lharampa held in Lhasa, China's Xizang

A preliminary examination for the Geshe Lharampa is held at the Ganden Monastery in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, July 15, 2025. A total of 13 monks from multiple monasteries are in the process of completing a preliminary examination for the Geshe Lharampa, the highest academic degree in the exoteric teachings of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Geshe Lharampa, which means "intellectual" in the Tibetan language, is the equivalent of a doctoral degree in modern education. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

A preliminary examination for the Geshe Lharampa is held at the Ganden Monastery in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, July 15, 2025. A total of 13 monks from multiple monasteries are in the process of completing a preliminary examination for the Geshe Lharampa, the highest academic degree in the exoteric teachings of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Geshe Lharampa, which means "intellectual" in the Tibetan language, is the equivalent of a doctoral degree in modern education. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

A preliminary examination for the Geshe Lharampa is held at the Ganden Monastery in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, July 15, 2025. A total of 13 monks from multiple monasteries are in the process of completing a preliminary examination for the Geshe Lharampa, the highest academic degree in the exoteric teachings of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Geshe Lharampa, which means "intellectual" in the Tibetan language, is the equivalent of a doctoral degree in modern education. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

A preliminary examination for the Geshe Lharampa is held at the Ganden Monastery in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, July 15, 2025. A total of 13 monks from multiple monasteries are in the process of completing a preliminary examination for the Geshe Lharampa, the highest academic degree in the exoteric teachings of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Geshe Lharampa, which means "intellectual" in the Tibetan language, is the equivalent of a doctoral degree in modern education. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)

This photo taken on July 15, 2025 shows a view of the Ganden Monastery, where a preliminary examination for the Geshe Lharampa is held, in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, July 15, 2025. A total of 13 monks from multiple monasteries are in the process of completing a preliminary examination for the Geshe Lharampa, the highest academic degree in the exoteric teachings of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Geshe Lharampa, which means "intellectual" in the Tibetan language, is the equivalent of a doctoral degree in modern education. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje)