Tibet culture being debased by tourism

I went to Lhasa, Tibet, in June to honor the passing of my father. For an all-too-brief two-hour period, I experienced the heartfelt feelings described by Cherilyn Parsons in “Lhasa: Layer by Layer” [Oct. 9].

I had gone to the Jokang temple in the early afternoon when it was almost deserted. I sat there for more than half an hour.

No words can describe my experience, except to say that the Jokang is one of the most sacred places on Earth. (I am not a Buddhist.)

But here is where the story changes. Later that afternoon, the place filled with tourists. Suddenly the mood changed: cameras started flashing, cellphones were going off and tourists were clamoring for position around the monks. I felt sad at that moment. Would this happen in the Vatican?

The Chinese government is killing the golden goose by not preserving Tibetan cultural identity. Lhasa has so much potential. A sacred location is a terrible thing to waste.

JEROLD NODVIK

San Pedro