Dharamsala hosts International Conference on Tibetan and Himalayan Studies[Friday, 4 September 2009, 5:19 p.m.]

Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche (L) speaks while Geshe Lhakdor (R) director,  Library of Tibetan works and Archives, look on during the inaugural day of the  international conference on Tibetan and Himalayan studies, in  Dharamsala, India, on 3 September 2009

Dharamshala: A galaxy of
luminaries have gathered in Dharamsala to take part in the
‘International Conference on Tibetan and Himalayan Studies’ organised
the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA). The three-day
educational symposium is part of the year-long commemoration of the
50th anniversary of the Tibetans in exile.The participants are
scholars and professors from various universities and institutions
around the world such as Leiden University; Cambridge University,
University of California, Shantiniketan University, Central Tibetan
University in Varanasi, India; Bonn University; Jammu and Kashmir
Academy; Bloomington University; Warsaw University; Vienna University;
Monash University; Himachal Pradesh University, Education Department of the
Central Tibetan Administration; Amne Machen Institute and Tubingen
University.The participants exchange views and hold discussions
on a wide-range of topics, including ‘Buddhist masters and religion;
Tibet and the noble land; material culture and Tibet in the later
period (History and Linguistics) .In his opening remarks, Geshe
Lhakdor, the director the Library of Tibetans Works and Archives,
briefed the participants on the mission of establishing the library for
the preservation, promotion and dissemination of the Tibetan cultural
and religious heritage.Geshe Lhakdor, an eminent Buddhist
scholar and former translator of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, expressed
gratitude on behalf of the Tibetan people to the Indian government for
its continuous support since the library was first established on 1
November 1971.

The Library of Tibetan Works and
Archives, set up under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, has
today become a repository for significant collections of Tibetan
artifacts, manuscripts and other records, while also serving as a
centre for language and cultural education. The library draws an
increasing number of visitors, researchers and students to provide them
with an educational and cultural experience hard to avail elsewhere in
the world.In his address, Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong
Rinpoche described the Tibetan studies as an offshoot of subjects
taught at the University of Nalanda, which was one of most important
centre of learning in ancient India.  The University of
Nalanda was founded in the 5th century by the Gupta emperors. There
were thousands of students and teachers. The subjects taught at Nalanda
University covered every field of learning. The courses offered at
Nalanda included the study of scriptures of Mahayana and Hinayana
Schools of Buddhism, Brahminical vedic texts, Philosophy, logic
theology, grammer, astronomy, mathematics and medicine. Its importance
as a monastic university continued until the end of the 12th century.