Seeking the Dalai Lama’s Blessing, a Tibetan Monk Sets Out to Flee China

Seeking the Dalai Lama’s Blessing, a Tibetan Monk Sets Out to Flee China

Twenty-four-year-old monk Jamyang Monlam felt suffocated by Chinese restrictions on Tibetan Buddhism—where even possessing the Dalai Lama’s photo could mean expulsion or detention. With the Dalai Lama aging in exile, Monlam and two fellow monks planned a perilous escape in February 2024, disguising their intent as a pilgrimage. They crossed from Lhasa into Nepal on foot, hiding from Chinese border patrols. In April 2024, they received blessings …