Tibet Center

The UVa Tibet Center, the UVa Contemplative Sciences Center, and the UVa East Asia Center, are hosting Khenpo Tsultrim Lodro in a visit to UVa grounds the week of April 15-21. During his time at UVa Khenpo will give two public talks.

Public Talk #1

“Tibetan Environmental and Cultural Preservation”
Thursday, April 16th,  3:30-5:00pm
Wilson Hall 301 at the University of Virginia
Khenpo will speak in Tibetan, which will be translated into English.

Registration not required. PLEASE NOTE PREVIOUS DATE POSTE OF APRIL 17TH WAS INCORRECT – IT IS APRIL 16TH

Public Talk #2

“Buddhist Contemplation, Science, and Secular Society: A Dialog wth Khenpo Tsultrim Lodro”. The dialog will be in conversation with Professor David Germano, director of CSC.
Monday, April 20th, 5:30-7:00 pm
Minor Hall 125 at the University of Virginia
Khenpo will speak in Tibetan, which will be translated into English.

REGISTER HERE for the April 20th talk

Biography

Khenpo Tsultrim Lodrö was born in 1962 in Drango County in Sichuan Province’s Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. In 1984 he received monastic ordination at the world-renowned Larung Five Sciences Buddhist Institute (Larung Gar) in Serthar, becoming a disciple of the preeminent spiritual master, Chogyel Yeshe Norbu Jigme Phunstok.  After many years dedicated to the study of the five main sutric treatises and tantric scripture, he was awarded the title of Khenpo in recognition of his scholarship.

For more than twenty years he has overseen monastic education at Larung Gar, producing successive generations of accomplished students. During the 1990s, he gave a series of dharma teachings in Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan. Over the past decade, Khenpo has concentrated efforts in Tibetan areas, promoting environmental awareness, education, vegetarianism, and the importance of protecting living beings and abstaining from taking life.  At the same time, he has sought to deepen the broader Tibetan community’s understanding of basic dharma, and to this end has travelled widely giving teachings to lay audiences.  Placing great importance on the promotion of Tibetan culture, Khenpo has founded libraries and schools.  Notably, he has also coordinated a team of language specialists and scholars representing all Tibetan regions to collaborate on the compilation of a trilingual (Tibetan-Chinese-English) dictionary of new vocabulary terms.

Two volumes have been published in the past five years:
Chinese-Tibetan-English Illustrated Dictionary of New Daily Vocabulary
Chinese-Tibetan-English Dictionary of New Daily Vocabulary

Over the last ten years, Khenpo has been committed to deepening his understanding of western science and philosophy, and is utilising contemporary methods to disseminate Buddhist culture.   Khenpo has published extensively on Buddhism in both Tibetan and Chinese languages. His Tibetan publications include four volumes of collected writings, and his Chinese monographs include the Wisdom Light series, Stories of Transmigration, Buddhism: Superstition or Wisdom?, The Secret Code for Unlocking Tibetan Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism: Lifting the Veil of Mystery.

The overall visit to the US is supported by The Khyentse Lectureship, the HBH Fund, the Helen Clay Frick Foundation, and William P. T. Lee & Jason J. Lee.

Speaker Geshe Lama Phuntsho
talks about Karma and Reincarnation

Geshe Lama Phuntsho was born in 1998 in Thimpu, Bhutan. In 1990 he enrolled at Gaden Shartse Monastery where he received his Geshe degree in 2005. After that he was assigned to Malaysia as a resident teacher for two years. He has travelled extensively working as an interpreter for many renowned and respected Rinpoche’s and Geshe’s.

He has previously travelled to the U.S. and visited Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia as a Dharma translator. We are now honored to have him here at UVA to deliver a teaching to us.

Ms. Rigzen Dolma will be sharing her intoxicating voice and lyrics with the UVA community, as well as the residents of Charlottesville on Friday.

When: 6:30PM on Friday, April 20

Where: McKim Hall Auditorium at UVA

The Tibet Center, the East Asia Center and the Department of South Asian Studies are pleased to announce that the Tibetan performer Ms. Rigzen Dolma, one of the most well-known pop stars in Tibet, is visiting UVA.

In addition to her popularity as a musician, Rigzen Dolma is a well-respected social entrepreneur. The Tibetan language program that Ms. Rigzen Dolma initiated for the village children in the Palree region of Tibet has provided great hope and inspiration for the local community.

Rigzen Dolma’s passion is creating opportunities for Tibetan village children to receive a modern education that values Tibetan language. Rigzen Dolma relies on the generosity of her supporters and to help ensure the future well being of the students of the Tibetan language program in Palree. Please help support this program with your presence and with a donation at the event!

UVa Directions/Map to: McKim Hall – Health System, McKim Auditorium

A Glimpse into the Unique Culture and Music of Tibetan Monastic Life, Presented by the monks of the Gomang Monastery

Invited and Sponsored by Tibet Center and UVa’s Asia Institute, a group of eight Tibetan Buddhist monks will be arriving in Charlottesville to bring the spirits of their ancient monastic life to the UVa campus.

Admission is free. All are welcome!

This group of Tibetan monks will offer the UVa community and local residents of Charlottesville a glimpse into the unique culture and music of Tibetan monastic life. Both the group of monks and the organizers of the event warmly invite all to share the spiritual melodies of the Drepung Gomang Monks of Gelukpa order of the Tibetan Buddhism.

The Drepung Gomang Monastery was founded in 1416 near Lhasa. Prior to 1959, the Drepung Gomang monastery had more than 5,000 monks and was known for producing eminent Buddhist scholars and practitioners. Today, approximately 2,000 monks study and live at the Drepung Gomang monastery that was constructed in Mongod, south India starting in 1969.

The event is free, however donations to benefit the monks are gratefully accepted.

For more information call: Tenzin at 434-466-7569 or visit www.uvatibetcenter.org

Friday, July 29th at 6:30PM

– UVA Campus: McKim Hall, Auditorium

Public Talk with Arthur Holcombe, Founder The Poverty Alleviation Fund

The Tibet Center at UVa invites you attend a public talk entitled “China’s Approaches to Poverty Reduction–Role of The Poverty Fund in Tibetan Townships” by Arthur Holcombe the founder of the Tibet Poverty Alleviation Fund (Now The Poverty Alleviation Fund).

Monday, April 4, 2011
3:00 – 4:00pm, NAU Hall, Room 342

Arthur Holcombe was Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme and Resident Coordinator of UN Operational Activities in China during 1992-1998, and during this period was also accredited to the People’s Republic of China as the UN Resident Coordinator and representative of the UN Secretary General. During 1992-1998, Mr. Holcombe initiated many programs and workshops to promote poverty reduction, employment, environmental protection, improved basic health and education and increased HIV/AIDS awareness.

Prior to 1992, Arthur Holcombe served in many postings with UNDP, including as Deputy and Acting Resident Representative in Afghanistan (1975-79); as Deputy Resident Representative in Pakistan (1979); as Resident Representative of UNDP in the South Pacific based in Fiji (1980-1984); and as Resident Representative in the Sudan (1984-1985). During 1989-91 he was Deputy Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and Pacific of UNDP at its headquarters in New York.

In 1998 Arthur Holcombe established the Tibet Poverty Alleviation Fund to promote Tibetan livelihoods and well being in rural areas of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Main project activities included employable skills training, township and village enterprise development, rural micro credit, milk production and dairy development in rural Nomad areas and Tibetan artisan products development and sales.

Since 2000, Dr. Holcombe has also given lectures on various development and aid strategy topics at the Brandeis University Heller School of Social Policy and at Beijing Normal University.

Arthur Holcombe has an A.B. from Harvard College (Government), an M.P.I.A. from the University of Pittsburgh (Economic and Social Development) and a Ph. D. from New York University (Economics).

– UVA Campus: Nau Hall 342 at 3-4pm on Monday, April 4, 2011

Public Talk with Visiting Fellows: Tashi Phuntsok & Drolma Kyab

The Tibet Center at UVa and the Curry School of Education co-sponsored Education to Employment Program (E2E) invites you to the next set of lectures in the brown bag lunch seminar series.  Visiting fellows Tashi Phunstok and Drolma Kyab will share about their current work and their future aspirations, as well as take questions from the audience.   Bring your lunch, and enjoy the next talks in this important series.

Tashi Phuntsok
Founder, Travel Wild Tibet

Monday, March 21
12:00 – 12:45pm, Ruffner Hall (Curry School), Room G004B

Tashi Phuntsok is the founder of TRAVEL WILD TIBET travel company that mostly specializes all kind of tours throughout Amdo and Kham regions of Tibet. He is also an intellectual with a passion for Tibetan life and culture, he is well versed in  the history of the Tibetan plateau, Tibetan musical traditions, and the ancient and modern culture of all Tibetan regions.  In addition, he is an experienced photographer and videographer, and has documented the daily life of Tibetans as well as remote landscapes on video and film.  He has worked as a travel agent, tour guide, and agency manager since 1999.  He has organized and guided the trips of researchers, filmmakers, photographers, explorers and backpackers throughout the Tibetan world.

Drolma Kyab
Tibet Namchen Travel Agency

Monday, March 21
1:00-1:45pm, Ruffner Hall (Curry School), Room G004B

Drolma Kyab exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit. After starting his career as a rickshaw driver in Lhasa, Drolma Kyab worked his way up in travel companies for eight years before striking out on his own and establishing the Tibet Namchen Travel Agency and Hotel Services Company.  Tibet Namchen has been operating for the last six years and employs over twenty people. Drolma Kyab is committed to the advancement and enrichment of his staff and other Tibetans interested in tourism–the largest industry in Tibetan areas of China. This commitment to creating training opportunities for local Tibetans to improve their competitiveness in the tourism industry in central Tibet made Drolma Kyab an excellent choice for the TEEI fellowship program. Through the TEEI fellowship Drolma Kyab would like to connect with institutions and organizations that can help him to create a curriculum centered on practical skills development for Tibetans interested in entering the tourism industry or for those already in the field who seek to advance their careers.

Public Talk With Visiting Fellows: Lhamo Deva and Tashi Tsering

E2E Invites you to attend: Tuesday, March 1 – Nau Hall 342

The Tibet Center at UVa and the Curry School of Education co-sponsored Education to Employment Initiative invites you to hear two speakers as part of our brown bag lunch seminar series.  Visiting fellows Lhamo Deva and Tashi Tsering will share about their current work and their future aspirations, as well as take questions from the audience.  Bring your lunch, and enjoy hearing from two participants in this important program.

Lhamo Deva: 11:30am – 12:15pm
Operations Manager, Winrock International

Tashi Tsering: 12:30pm – 1:15pm
Eastern Tibet Training Institute

Lhamo Deva has been the central Tibetan in Winrock International as its operations manager.

Winrock International is one of two primary recipients of USAID funding for work with Tibetan communities, and at present is of the main international NGOs working with Tibetans in China on a full spectrum of activities. Its three main areas are livelihoods, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation. As the operations manager in the home office in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Lhamodeva plays a key role in all aspects of the work across all three areas and has a broad understanding of the work of Winrock and its diverse partners.

In her talk, Lhamo will introduce one of Winrock’s current projects in Kham and Amdo under the TSERING project.

Tashi Tsering
Eastern Tibet Training Institute

Tuesday, March 1
12:30-1:15pm, Nau Hall 342

Tashi Tsering is a new member of Eastern Tibet Training Institute (www.etti.org). ETTI was founded in 2004 as a not-for-profit community school working to improve the livelihoods of remote communities in China’s southwest through training-based poverty alleviation programs. ETTI’s flagship program is the Youth Pre-Employment Training Program. This program is designed to help unemployed rural youth find their first job. Participants receive training in languages, computer literacy, basic accounting, customer service and life skills. It also includes an on-the-job training component delivered in partnership with local enterprise. ETTI is located in Shangri-la, formerly Zhongdian, in Yunnan province. To date, more than 200 young people have graduated from the Youth Pre-Employment Training Program, with more than 90 per cent securing jobs before or soon after graduating. Graduates have found jobs in a variety of local enterprises. Some graduates have gone on to develop small businesses and tourism-related projects in their home villages.
Another part of Tsering’s work is a tourism company that he started with two other Tibetans in Beijing, China.  High-end tourism is a growing area of China’s economy, but there was a lack of tour guides able to meet the growing demand. Tsering came up with the idea to train some Tibetans as high-end tour guides on the platform of ETTI.

• location: <strong>UVa Directions/Map to:</strong> <a onclick="detailRight('http://www.virginia.edu/webmap/popPages/201-NauHall.html','pop',675,550)" href="http://www.virginia.edu/webmap/ACentralGrounds.html" target="_blank">Nau Hall - New South Lawn Building</a>

Minorities Studies and Tibet Research in the PRC

A Seminar on Minzuxue with Professor Liu Zhiyang

On January 28, Visiting Professor Liu Zhiyang led a seminar on minorities studies and Tibet research in the PRC. The seminar provided UVa students and faculty a opportunity to learn about a research and scholarly field that has undergone a significant transition over the past generation.

A professor at Zhongshan University in Guangzhou, Liu Zhiyang himself specializes in Tibetan studies and has conducted extensive field research, both in Lhasa and in the Tibetan-Yi corridor of Pingwu county and elsewhere on the Sino-Tibetan frontier. He has been resident at the University of Virginia through the Tibet Center over the past academic year.

In his seminar, Professor Liu discussed the meaning and direction of minzu xue in China. He also spoke on the direction that China’s Tibetan studies (zang xue) are heading. In particularly, he discussed the complexity of the term minzu. The concept has denoted different meanings at different times. Its translation into English has, correspondingly, led to some confusion. Today, according to Professor Liu, it is a politicized concept.

Liu Zhiyang contrasted the development of minorities studies with the discipline of anthropology (renleixue). Considered politically suspect, anthropology was eliminated as a field of study in China in favor of minorities studies. Today, the two fields have converged, with the one clear distinction that Chinese anthropology also includes within its purview the study of cultural difference among the “Han” nationality, while minorities studies does not.

Professor Liu recently returned to Guangzhou where he will continue teaching anthropology, minorities studies and Tibetan studies.

Tsewang Norbu (Co-Director, Tibetan Culture Promotion Association) and Sonam Dondrup (Field Director, Machik) will be visiting UVa as part of their tour of the US to learn about strategies for using the Internet as a tool for cultural preservation and grassroots organizing. UVa faculty and staff will be showing them work in this area done by UVa and its partners, and in the evening they will be meeting with local Tibetan residents.