‘Celebration of Tibetan Culture’ in Aspen Kicks off
Saturday, 26 July 2008, 3:30 p.m.
 Tibetan prayer flags flutter at the Aspen Institute in Colorado, which is hosting a three-day symposium on the celebration of Tibetan culture |
Aspen, Colo,: His Holiness the
Dalai Lama arrived in Aspen, Colorado, from Madison, Wisconsin, late
Friday morning to participate in the program “A Celebration of Tibetan
Culture”, organized by the Aspen Institute in coordination with the
Conservancy of Tibetan Art & Culture.
The three-day program began on 24 July and brings together
eminent scholars, teachers, practitioners, and tradition-bearers from
around the globe to shed light on the rich historical and philosophical
significance of Tibet and its impact on global issues today.
Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche, Special Envoy Lodi Gyari, Arjia
Rinpoche, Sogyal Rinpoche, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche and Geshe Lobsang
Tenzin Negi are some of the Tibetan experts participating in the
discussions.
Non-Tibetan experts include Matthieu Ricard, Jeffrey Bader,
Orville Schell, Bob Thurman, Pico Iyer, Matthew Kapstein, Michael van
Walt, Hemanta Raj Mishra, Isabel Hilton, etc. A scholar from China, Shi
Yinhong, is also participating in the programs.
On the first day, His Holiness participated in a discussion led
by Mr. Waltern Isaacson, president of the Institute, and Mr. Pico Iyer,
noted writer. It was attended by members of the Institute, including
the former Secretary of State Madeliene Albright.
His Holiness began by responding to a question about the
rational behind his effort at dialogue between Buddhists and
scientists. He said both Buddhism and science had things to learn from
each other. He talked about his own curiosity as a child that led him
to observe the changes in nature and to explore the moon through a
strong telescope while he resided in the Potala. He said this enabled
him to alter some of the conventional belief among Tibetan Buddhists,
including the feeling that the moon had its own light source.
When Mr. Isaacson opened the floor for questions from the
audience and invited Secretary Albright to ask the first question, His
Holiness rose up from his seat to greet her. Secretary Albright asked
His Holiness how important it was to speak out on the issue of Tibet
considering how the Chinese were accusing him of a cabal.
His Holiness responded by saying it was important to know the
reality by doing thorough investigations on issues such as the Tibetan
and other struggles. He said basically the Tibetan struggle was
truthful and just. Sometimes, in the process he said force gets the
upper hand. Therefore, he said we need support from the people.
His Holiness said “elder statesmen” like Secretary Albright
could help in educating the Chinese people to know what is really going
on in Tibet. He said heavy censorship in China is making the Chinese
people ignorant while the rest of the world had the ability to get the
truth from different sources.
Looking at Secretary Albright, who was sitting in the front
row, His Holiness said, “You know we are not seeking separation.” He
said it was in the Tibetan people’s own interest to seek a solution
within China provided our culture, language and delicate environment
can be preserved.
His Holiness referred to President Hu Jintao’s initiative for a
harmonious society and said he fully supported it. He said in order to
have a harmonious society trust was a key factor. However, he said the
use of force and heavy-handed suppression was destroying the trust.
His Holiness said China was aspiring to be a superpower and
deserved it. It is the most populated country with an ancient
civilization. However, superpower status cannot be achieved through
nuclear weapons or a powerful army and there is the need of a moral
authority, His Holiness added.
On another question about the Olympics and this being a last
opportunity for His Holiness to make a statement, he said he had been
supportive of Olympics for China even before it was formally awarded.
When asked about his feelings about the 21st century His
Holiness felt in general the picture is much better in the 21st century
compared to the 20th century. He said, overall, there is a desire for
peace and the idea of nonviolence was increasing. He talked about
popular movements and the spirit of forgiveness that is there whether
in Japan (by the Japanese toward Americans after the Atom bombs) or
between the French and the Germans.
The Chairman of the Aspen Institute presented His Holiness with an award.
Participants witnessed monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery
constructing an elaborate sand mandala on campus and Tibetan artist
Sonam Dhargye sculpting, in ancient Tibetan Buddhist method and
tradition, vibrant and stunning works made out of colorful yak butter.
Traditional Tibetan prayer flags decorate the campus, and
throughout the week, interactive demonstrations of ancient Tibetan and
Himalayan arts will continue to provide opportunities for
tradition-bearers and program participants to meet in an intimate
environment.
On Saturday, 26 July, His Holiness will give a public talk on
“Values based leadership and Universal Responsibility.” The event is
sold out and will be web cast live on www.aspeninstitute.org.
Symposium highlights from Thursday, 24 July:
* Sogyal Rinpoche, world renowned Tibetan Buddhist spiritual
leader and author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, led the
audience in a meditative exercise, drawing on the following ancient
Tibetan phrase, translated into English: “Water, if you don’t stir it,
will become clear,” and explaining: “The mind, left unaltered, will
find peace,” he said.
* Buddhist monk and author Matthieu Ricard spoke about the
scientific findings of studies on what creates happiness ? and what
does not. “Can marriage create happiness?” he says. “There is a peak in
happiness the year you get married, and then five years later, you come
back to where you were five years before the marriage.”
* 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.
* Eminent Tibetan musician, composer, and Grammy nominee
Nawang Kechog performs the wood flute (prior to the conversation with
His Holiness).
* Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi begins the morning of programming
with a guided group meditation session in an idyllic meadow on campus.
* Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche advises on how to transform
difficulty into happiness using 20th century Tibetan texts, Buddhist
psychology, and practical wisdom.
* A panel of expert scholars discusses China and Mongolia’s
surprising patronage of Tibetan Buddhism and the historical legacy that
precedes it.
* Dr. Pratapaditya Pal, one of the world’s foremost experts on
Tibetan, Himalayan, and South Asian art, explains the intrinsic
connection between art and religion in Tibet, and how art is critical
to enlightenment, showing key pieces from the Pritzker collection.
* A distinguished panel, moderated by acclaimed author and
psychologist Daniel Goleman, explores what Buddhist theory and practice
have to offer to scientific understanding in psychology, cognitive
science, and neuroscience.
* History’s closest observers of His Holiness the 14th Dalai
Lama’s author and journalist Pico Iyer, Samdhong Rinpoche, Kalon Tripa
Samdhong Rinpoche, Lodi Gyari, special envoy of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama and chief interlocutor with the Chinese government, explain and
comment on the mind, the personality, the leadership, and the decisions
of this man, the world’s most famous refugee.
* The sand mandala created by Tibetan Buddhist monks is
completed and open for viewing before its ceremonial dissolution on
Saturday.
–Report prepared by Mr Bhuchung K Tsering. Editing by Lobsang CHOEDAK
