Buddhist revival in Mongolia

Cambridge anthropologist David Sneath is in Mongolia to find out how Buddhism continues to make a comeback after years of persecution under Communism.

David tells the remarkable story of how a young Mongolian boy has recently been recognised as the new reincarnation in a lineage of major Buddhist leaders, once known in the country as ‘Holy Emperor’. The 10-year-old boy will, when formally enthroned, be considered the 10th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu.

The Jebtsundamba Khutughtu (widely known to Mongolians as the 'Bogd') is a leader of the Gelugpa School within the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, and the young boy was officially recognised by the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan religious leader.

David meets a variety of people with various opinions. He meets the boy’s mother, religious leaders and leading cultural figures to find out what’s in store for the young Bogd.