Eleven Tibetan Buddhist monks have earned their academic titles as a result of their outstanding study in Buddhism.

A ceremony was held at a temple in Beijing on Monday to honor the monks. They attended a year-long program on Buddhism study in the High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China. They also passed a six-day debate and exam on Buddhist sutras before gaining their academic title.

The 11th Panchen Lama Gyaincain Norbu, one of Tibet's most senior living Buddhas, was present to bless the monks and judges. About three-hundred other monks and believers attended the ceremony as well.

(CCTV November 19, 2008)