Buddhist monks affiliated with the Drepung Loseling Monastery and the Loseling Institute of Atlanta, Georgia have been touring cities as part of their sixth world tour sponsored by actor Richard Gere. During September, 1998 the monks visited Moab, Utah and during October, 1998 the monks visited Salt Lake City. In both venues sponsors of the monks visits arranged for the monks to engage in devotional activities in public schools during school hours. This report documents conduct of the monks, their sponsors and school districts and considers resulting violations of constitutional, statutory, regulatory and case law.

Although the evidence is overwhelming that the presentations in Moab and Salt Lake City were in fact Tantric Buddhist devotional ceremonies, school and municipal officials chose to ignore the obvious, erroneously assuming that if religion is sufficiently labeled as, or intertwined with, "culture," it is no longer "religion." Lest it be forgotten, Tibetan Buddhism, like other religions in China, was mercilessly attacked by the Communist Chinese precisely as part of the communists' brutal plan to eliminate religion. Suppression of Tibetan Buddhism resulted in concurrent suppression of the culture of Tibetans who adhered to this religion. Tibetan Buddhists in their six world tours and otherwise have called for the return of the Dalai Lama to, and for the free exercise of their religion in, Tibet. However, by repeatedly choosing to perform their devotional rituals for public school students, and to display and sell their sacred music and literature in public schools, the Buddhists are witnessing their faith to young captive audiences in violation of law. This report documents a few of an increasing number of incidents where public officials are failing to adhere to the Establishment Clause when confronted with religion masquerading as "culture," "art," "ethics," "philosophy," "spirituality" or other label.

The report contains five sections. The first section sets forth the monks' literature, with emphasis added, concerning the monks, their tour, and the devotional programs associated with their tour. Certain emphasized words such as "Tibetan Buddhist arts and sciences," "ancient heritage," and "artistic culture" obfuscate the religious nature of the monks' tour and programs, as does the monks' complete avoidance of the word "religion" in their literature. However, other emphasized words or phrases clearly show that Buddhist religion is the true subject at hand. Only when discussing the Loseling Institute, do the monks necessarily concede that such institute is incorporated as a non-profit religious and educational organization."

The second section documents the monks' visits to Moab and Salt Lake City and their presentation of devotional programs at Grand County High School and West High School. The third section sets forth applicable constitutional, statutory and regulatory provision of law implicated by the monks' visits. The fourth section contains an analysis of the devotional nature of the monks activities in the schools, summarizes violations of establishment law and sets forth specific legal principles and violations of those principles which occurred during the monks' visits. The fifth section sets forth concerns and recommendations to prevent similar violations from occurring in the future. The legal authority set forth in the third section is advisedly so situated, rather than in the appendix, to encourage the reader to familiarize herself with basic law before proceeding to the analysis which follows.

The Jefferson 21st Century Institute ("the Institute") is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to the separation of religion and government. The Institute, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, serves to inform and educate the public and public officials regarding issues related to the separation of religion and government. The Institute is not directly or indirectly affiliated with or sponsored by any religious or political organization. See: About The Institute