On the Friday the opening ceremonies were held for the new Tibetan Research Center at the Palace Museum. The location was what seemed like a remote location on the grounds behind a temple built by Emperor Chenlung. The temple is quite unique in that the outer architecture is completely Chinese but inside the four floors are decorated with murals depicting the iconography of the four classes of Tantra (based on the instructions of Rolpai Dorje). The four Tantra Classee are Kriya, Charya, Yoga and Anuttarayoga. Unfortunately we were not able to go inside the temple on this trip. The new Research Center is past this Chenlung temple and through a courtyard with a clutter of small buildings behind, in all shapes and sizes. All of these buildings, except the first temple built by Chenlung, are brand
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