The offering of dharma-centered events, such as public teachings by recognized spiritual leaders, for the benefit of lay and monastic audiences, is a vital and enduring element of Tibetan culture. Such teachings often include readings of traditional Buddhist texts, along with commentary and explanations, to ensure that both the meaning, and the actual words of the text, are passed down accurately.
To aid Tibetans in their efforts to ensure this essential aspect of their culture continues to thrive in exile — and to help support the contribution of Tibetan culture’s treasury of wisdom to the modern world — the Conservancy for Tibetan Art & Culture has worked to help organize, host and support a range of community-based cultural events and traditional teachings for Tibetan Buddhists, such as the Kalachakra initiation — as well as other large, public events for Tibetan refugees and Western attendees, such as the Monlam Chenmo (the traditional Tibetan “Great Prayer Festival”) and public talk by His Holiness the Dalai Lama attended by 50,000 people at the Conservancy’s “Tibetan Culture Beyond the Land of Snow” exhibition at the Smithsonian’s 34th Folklife Festival.
The Conservancy has also organized and supported public teachings and public talks held in more modern, secular and academic settings — augmented with follow-up discussion forums and symposia with scholars in different fields, along with, when appropriate, traditional Tibetan cultural elements such as the offering of prayers, sacred music and the creation of Tibetan sand mandalas.
Examples of public teachings and talks organized by the Conservancy include these special events:
“A Celebration of Tibetan Culture” — a Conference and Symposium at the Aspen Institute
In collaboration with the Conservancy for Tibetan Art and Culture, the Aspen Institute presented a three-day Celebration of Tibetan Culture at in Aspen, Colorado. This celebration — featuring His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the keynote speaker — brought together an extraordinary number of eminent scholars, teachers, practitioners and tradition-bearers from around the globe to shed light on the rich historical and philosophical significance of Tibetan culture, and its impact on global issues today.
This special symposium, focused on Tibetan culture, its long history and spiritual practices, and its unique contributions to art, science and medicine, included panel discussions, presentations, and breakout sessions, exploring many different topics — ranging from the intrinsic connection between art and religion in Tibet, and the implications of China’s and Mongolia’s historical patronage of Tibetan Buddhism — to the fascinating research collaborations between Tibetan Buddhist meditation practitioners and neuroscientists, and the increasingly dangerous effects of global climate change on the Tibetan Plateau.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the “Celebration of Tibetan Culture” conference hosted by the Aspen Institute and the Conservancy for TIbetan Art and Culture
Candid conversations and multi-disciplinary presentations
On the second day of the conference, a candid conversation with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, journalist and author Pico Iyer, and Aspen Institute President and CEO Walter Isaacson, began with Mr. Isaacson asking the Dalai Lama why he was so interested in neuroscience.
“That is a good beginning,” His Holiness said, laughing.
Science and Buddhism go hand in hand, he said. “There is no contradiction,” the Dalai Lama said. “Reason is more important than faith.”
Buddhists are learning much from scientists, and vice-versa, His Holiness said, as neurosurgeons get a stronger grasp on the relationship between neurons and emotions, and doctors appreciate the importance of mental health and inner peace.
“Inner tranquility is very important,” the Dalai Lama said, and it is something that cannot be bought or made by machines.
In addition to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, other presenters and moderators at the Conference included:
• Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile
• Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, Special Envoy of the Dalai Lama
• Ambassador Jeffrey A. Bader, Director of the John L. Thornton China Center and senior fellow of the Brookings Institution
• Richard Blum, chairman and founder of the apolitical American Himalayan Foundation, Symposium co-chair
• Walter Isaacson, President and CEO of the Aspen Institute
• Margot Pritzker, Chair of the Aspen Institute Board of Trustees,Symposium co-chair
• Orville Schell, professor and Dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California
• Robert Thurman, Jey Tsongkhapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies, Columbia University
• Gray Tuttle, Leila Hadley Luce Professor of Modern Tibetan Studies, Columbia University
• Shi Yinhong
• Michael Zhao
Conference speakers Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, His Holiness the Dalai Lama with conference co-chair Margot Pritzker, and co-chair Richard Blum were featured at the “Celebration of Tibetan Culture” conference hosted by the Aspen Institute and the Conservancy for TIbetan Art and Culture.
A moving evening session, moderated by Amb. Jeffrey A. Bader — focused on how it might be possible to to focus on the future of Tibet, “rather than argue about the past” — included panelists Special Envoy Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, Richard Blum, Pico Iyer, Margot Pritzker, Orville Schell, and Professor of International Relations Shi Yinhong, Director of the Center for American Studies at Renmin University of China in Beijing.
“It is important to understand what China thinks about it. We can’t be dismissive… But unfortunately, I think the Chinese government and also some of our Chinese brothers and sisters are looking back to the past for solutions.
“If I look back to my own personal experience, and this is not about Tibetan and Chinese history, this is about myself as a human being, there is nothing I will remember that won’t resurface this tragedy. There is not a single Tibetan who has not suffered from the tragedy. I have lost two of my brothers, not in a natural death, and grandparents. And I grew up as a monk — this is what happened in my own monastery. Looking back will not give us answers we are looking for.” — Lodi Gyari
Presentations at the Conference included:
• A distinguished panel, moderated by acclaimed author and psychologist Daniel Goleman, explored how Buddhist theory and practice is bringing new insights to the scientific understanding in psychology, cognitive science and neuroscience, and the intricate connections between the human body and the mind.
• Sogyal Rinpoche, Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader and author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, and Robert Thurman, Jey Tsongkhapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University, shared their insights while leading a lively discussion on “Tibet’s unique Buddhist heritage.”
“Tibet has a unique cultural heritage that is part of the cultural heritage of the world… We will all be immeasurably impoverished if it is lost.” — Sogyal Rinpoche
• Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered advice on how to transform difficulty into happiness using 20th century Tibetan texts, Buddhist psychology, and practical wisdom.
• Buddhist monk and author Ven. Matthieu Ricard spoke about the scientific findings of studies on what creates happiness — and what does not.
• IMAX filmmaker and mountaineer David Breashears presented a photography show that exhibited and documented the rise of modernity in Tibet and the shrinking of glaciers there.
• A panel featuring columnist Isabel Hilton, conservationist Michael Zhao, and sinologist Orville Schell discuss the Tibetan Plateau’s fragile environment and the effects of climate change on it.
• Dr. Pratapaditya Pal, one of the world’s foremost experts on Tibetan, Himalayan, and South Asian art, explained the intrinsic connection between art and religion in Tibet, and how art is critical to enlightenment.
“For the Tibetan people — Buddhism isn’t just a little piece of life, it’s their will and their spirit.” — David Breashears
The conference concluded with a public talk on global responsibility and leadership by His Holiness the Dalai Lama before an audience of 4,000 at the Benedick Music Tent.
In his talk, the Dalai Lama called the 20th century a “century of bloodshed,” and said the 21st must be a “century of dialogue.”
“We must look at the entire world as part of yourself. Destruction of your neighbor is destruction of yourself.”
And any vision of peace starts with the individual, in a process of “inner disarmament. I think peace must come through inner peace.”
Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling monastery performing sacred music and dance at the “Celebration of Tibetan Culture” conference hosted by the Aspen Institute and the Conservancy for TIbetan Art and Culture.
The week-long celebration also featured demonstrations of ancient Tibetan and Himalayan arts by tradition-bearers — including monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery who performed ancient Tibetan dances and multiphonic chants for an audience of 2,200, and constructed an elaborate sand mandala on campus — as well as Tibetan artist Sonam Dhargye who used traditional Tibetan Buddhist methods to create sculptures made out of colorful yak butter, and Tibetan musician, composer, and Grammy nominee Nawang Kechog performing on the wood flute prior to the conversation with His Holiness.
“Training the Mind: A Teaching by the Dalai Lama”
At the first public teaching hosted by the Conservancy for Tibetan Art & Culture in 1998, His Holiness the Dalai Lama guided an audience of 5,000 in American University’s Bender Arena, through the Eight Verses for Training the Mind, an 11th century Tibetan text which teaches compassion toward others — reading the text, offering his own view of the verses and explaining how one could apply the principles. This classic text is the only teaching to be featured on His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s website.
The book Eight Verses for Training the Mind, published by the Conservancy for Tibetan Art & Culture, based on this public teaching by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
“Some of you may have actually heard the remark, which I make quite often, that in some sense the bodhisattvas, the compassionate practitioners of the Buddhist path, are wisely selfish people, whereas people like ourselves are the foolishly selfish.
“We think of ourselves and disregard others, and the result is that we always remain unhappy and have a miserable time. The time has come to think more wisely, hasn’t it? This is my belief.
“At some point the question comes up, “Can we really change our attitude?” My answer on the basis of my little experience is, without hesitation, “Yes!” This is quite clear to me.
“The thing that we call “mind” is quite peculiar. Sometimes it is very stubborn and very difficult to change. But with continuous effort and with conviction based on reason, our minds are sometimes quite honest. When we really feel that there is some need to change, then our minds can change. Wishing and praying alone will not transform your mind, but with conviction and reason, reason based ultimately on your own experience, you can transform your mind.”
— from Eight Verses for Training the Mind, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s commentary on the first verse of the text:
With a determination to achieve the highest aim
For the benefit of all sentient beings
Which surpasses even the wish-fulfilling gem,
May I hold them dear at all times.
“The Heart of Change”
4,400 guests — including monastics, scholars, and enthusiastic students — welcomed His Holiness the Dalai Lama for “The Heart of Change,” a day-long exploration of the transformative power of wisdom and compassionate action, hosted by the Conservancy for Tibetan Art & Culture.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama leading “The Heart of Change” teaching hosted by the Conservancy for Tibetan Art & Culture.
The day — divided into two parts: a morning teaching by His Holiness entitled “Finding Wisdom in the Modern World,” and an afternoon forum entitled “Using Wisdom as the Heart of Change” — began with arriving guests being greeted by the chanting of prayers from Zen, Theravadin, and Tibetan monks gathered for the teaching.
Prayers of Theravadin and Zen monks opening “The Heart of Change” teaching hosted by the Conservancy for Tibetan Art & Culture.
After outlining the basic tenets of Buddhism and the principle of bodhicitta at the heart of Buddhist practice, His Holiness focused on the importance of religious diversity, and how diversity serves the different dispositions and needs of diverse human beings. His Holiness stressed that having faith in one’s own religion does not in any way preclude respect for the religious beliefs of others.
Presenters Khandro Rinpoche and Ani Tenzin Lhamo (above), and Robert Thurman and Tsoknyi Rinpoche (below), discussing the morning teaching by His Holiness the Dalai Lama at “The Heart of Change” hosted by the Conservancy for Tibetan Art & Culture.
The afternoon forum featured a panel of distinguished speakers — an array of spiritual leaders, scientists, philosophers and professors, that included Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Khandro Rinpoche, professor Robert Thurman, Geshe Thupten Jinpa, professor Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, professor Deborah Rozelle, professor Charles Raison and moderator Ani Tenzin Lhamo — who “unpacked” His Holiness’ morning teaching, and discussed it from a variety of perspectives.
“The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones” a 19th century text by Tibetan teacher Patrul Rinpoche — published by the Conservancy for Tibetan Art & Culture, in partnership with the Lotus Garden Retreat Center, as part of “The Heart of Change” teachings.
The Dharmashri Translation Committee, based at Lotus Garden, also provided a translation of “The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones” by Patrul Rinpoche, copies of which were distributed as an offering to all those attending.
Subtitled “The Discourse on Cultivating View, Meditation and Action which is Virtuous at the Beginning, Middle and End,” the root text was written in the 19th century by Patrul Rinpoche, a masterful teacher of his day who, in the words of Khandro Rinpoche’s introduction to the text “stressed view as the generation of revulsion of ignorance, the cause of all suffering; meditation as selfless compassion; and action as being true to one’s nature.”
Helping make the “The Heart of Change” possible were volunteers from more than twenty local groups — including members of the Capital Area Tibetan Association, Lotus Gardens, the Shambhala Centers of Baltimore and Washington, DC, members of the local Vietnamese Buddhist community, Friends of Tibet from the Conservancy, and students from American University and other local schools.