Library of Tibetan Works and Archives - The past projects and activities
- A States Visit Report by Director
- Tibetan typewriter
- Retranslation Project
- Lectures, Seminars and Slide Shows
- Quenching Cultural Curiosity
- Deputation of Tibetan Lama Scholars Abroad
- Mongolian Delegation Visit LTWA
- Wood Carving School History
- Thangka Painting School
- Field Activities
- Second World Boor Fair
A Report by Gyatsho Tshering, Director
VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Mr. Richard S. Lenier, Director, JDR III Fund, New York, suggested that I extend and utilise my training sojourn, visiting museums, libraries, universities and other cultural centres in the States which would give me the opportunity to meet with American Tibetan specialists and provide an overall idea of the Tibetan collections and Tibetan area of studies in the States. In consultation %ith Mr. Tenzin N. Tethong, Representative, The Office of Tibet, New York, JDR III Fund chalked out an itinerary, arranged various appointments and also provided me with grants to visit these different institutions.
Newark Museum, Newark, N.J.(16th June,1977)
I visited the Museum along with Mr.Tenzin N.Tethong. Miss Valrae Reynolds, Curator of Oriental Arts, showed us around. The Tibetan collections-mostly objects d'art and Tliangka paintings, and a few artefacts of secular and religious themes-is impressive. Most of these objects date back to the 15th century A.D., and were acquired from Tibet in the beginning of the 20th century. The Thangkas depicting the life history of rJe Tsonakhapa, the founder of Gelug Tradition of Tibetan Bud 'hism, are of admirable beauty. A collection of to original letters between His Holiness the Thirteenth Dalai Lama and the late Mr. Suydam Cutting makes the repository all the richer.
Miss Reynolds agreed to my request to make available to the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives transparent slides of their T'hangka painting collections and photostat copies of the 60 documents relating to the correspondence between the Thirteenth Dalai Lama and Mr. Cutting. In return, I assured her of our co-operation and help in iconography expert;se services besides sending our Museum publications.
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. (20th June, i 977)
Dr. Eugene Knez, Curator of Asian Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution, conducted me on a tour of the Tibetan collection of the Institution. A large part of the artefacts comprise of votive objects, dresses, jewellery including some rare Thangka paintings and bronze images of the Rockbill collections. A section of the exhibition gallery displayed representative objects of Tibetan art. The Museum seems to concentrate on acquirement of folk artefacts.
Dr. Knez in collaboration with Dr. Franz Michael of the American University has initiated and prepared a project for the establishment of a Tibetan Studies Programme. He gave me a copy of the project, and asked me to send my comments from Dbaramsala. A cursory study of the project convinced me that it would be a highly profitable project to pursue. I also uggested that Dr. Knez should maintain a close rapport with the Tibet Society Chapter of Washington, D.C. Later I introduced Dr. R. J. Taylor of the Tibet Society to him.
Dr. Knez promised to make available to the Library slide prints of the Thangka collections of his museum. He also took me on a visit to the imposing Library of the Smithsonian Institution. The Library authorities are keen on establishing a publication exchange programme with us. As our Library specialises only in the publications cf Tibetan and Himalayan civilisations, the publications offered by the Institution not be of much use to us. woulcl
Library of Congress, Washington D C. (21st June, 1977)
Dr. Hazel Griffin of the Department of South Asian Language explained to me in great detail the working of the Library of Congress, and showed me the collection of the Tibetan books and manuscripts. Card cataloguing of the Tibetan books acquired through the Procurement Centre of American Librarv of Congress under the PL 480 Plan is up to date. [TOP]
In September 1975, the Ministry of Industry, Government of India, finally sanctioned foreign exchange for the import of 300 sets of Tibetan types from Germany.
The LTWA had originally obtained German typeface worth Rs.8,200 from a German firm. On the insistence of Mr. S. T. Rinchen, Trustee of the Charitable Trust of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Calcutta, Remington Rand of India agreed to supply the first batch of 100 Tibetan typewriters by December 1977 on an advance payment of Rs. 2,38,000.00 which has already been paid by the Charitable Trust of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. But the supply of 100 typewriters was further delayed.
The LTWA has widely publicised the Tibetan typewriters and collected about 50 orders including some from overseas. The entire project is financed by the Private Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We acknowledge our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Sadhutshang T. Rinchen who has been of very great help in the Tibetan typewriter project. Through his kind efforts, Remington Rand of India has supplied the typewriters. Prof. Nagwang Thondup Narkyid has innovated the Tibetan Typewtier keyboard. [TOP]
Sacred Buddhist text, originally available in Sanskrit, have been lost through the ravges of time. But their Tibetan translations have survived and are still extant today.
A proposal to re-transalate them into Sanskrit has been submitted to the Government of India for consideration. In response, the Government of India has instituted a three-member Re-transalation Committee consisting of: Dr. V.Raghavan, 7 Sirikrishnapura Street, Royapettah, Madras; Prof. Biswa Nath Bhattacharya, Vishva Bharti University, Santiniketan, Calcutta; Shri. anant Lan Thakar, Director, K.P. Jaiswal Institute, Patna.
They wared visited the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala, on 3rd and 4th December, 1976. After making a preliminary survey of the Tibetan manuscripts preserved in the Library for possible re-translation into Sanskrit, they held discussions with the Library scholars about the project. On the 4th, the Expert Committee was granted an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama who made available His valuable suggestions and counsel on the scheme. The Expert Committee has now forwarded a detailed report and programme on the re-translation scheme to the Government of India. The report is under the consideration of the Department of Culture, Ministry of Education, Government of India.
This project will be a significant Tibetan contribution to the cultural heritage of India. News about the project was given the widest publicity possible in almost all the Newspapers of India. Reproduced below is the News Report which appeared in THE HINDUSTAN TIMES dated 29 December, 1976.
Datelined Madras, December 28, 1976 (Samachar)-
"The Dalai Lama has assured Indian Sanskrit scholars of his full co-operation in restoring to Sanskrit the works, which now exist only in Tibetan translations.
Dr. V. Raghavan, President of the International Sanskrit Association, Prof. Anantlal Thakur of Patna and Dr. Biswanath of Visva-Bharati University met the Dalai Lama recently and held discussions with the Buddhist leaders on the Union Education Ministry's project of restoring to Sanskrit the works available in Tibetan translations. The original Sanskrit works have been lost.
Many of these works are now preserved at Dharamsala in the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives.
Dr. Raghavan said yesterday the Dalai Lama was well versed in literature and showed keen interest in the project. He said the Dalai Lama requested the Sanskrit scholars to make available full texts which have been translated into Tibetan partly, so that full Tibetan translations of these works would be available to Tibetans.
The Dalai Lama also wanted Indian Sanskrit scholars to make available to Tibetans the manuscripts of Sanskrit works, which were now in the form of quotations in Tibetan translations.
The Dalai Lama suggested that Tibetans. who were new studying Sanskrit at the Sanskrit University at Varanasi, be associated with the Project making it a kind of an Indo-Tibetan project.
Dr. Raghavan said he was preparing the blue-print of the project. He said hitherto stray Tibetan translations were being restored to Sanskrit mostly by Western scholars. A few Indian scholars had now equipped themselves for this work. What was now contemplated was an arrangement for systematic restoration work.
He said the Sanskrit texts translated into Tibetan included not only works of Buddhist religion and philosophy but also secular subjects like ayurveda, poetry, drama, lexicons and the like.
The Tibetan works were now contained largely in two collections, known as "Kagyur" and Tengyur". while the former had 104 volumes the later cosisted of 255 volumes. Title wise, there were about 4,000 works". [TOP]
Lectures, Seminars and Slide Shows
Lectures and Seminars have been one of the most interesting and educative moment in the life the Library in these past years. Eminent sholars, Benedictine abbots, Psychologists and high incarnate Lamas have all graced and blessed these proceedings with on penetrating and thought-provoking viewpoints due the occasion. During those year, we have been able to organise lectures by eminent Tibetan personalities, India and foreign scholars. All the lectures organised, evoked wide response and were well attended.
Gyalwa Karmapa Rinpoche, Head of Kagyud School of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism, spoke on the "need for religion in the present age".
Sakya Tricben Rinpoche, Head of the Sakya School of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism, spoke on the "practice of Dharma and the need for sectarian harmony among Tibetans as well as the Western Buddhists."
Khetsun Sangpo Rinpoche, Cultural Officer of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives and a noted Nyingmapa Tantric Lama scholar, spoke on "Buddhism: A Way of Life". Silananda Brahmachari, Editor, Prajna Magazine and Vice-President of the Bengal Buddhist Association, conducted a week-long lecture course on "Meditation according to Theravada Buddhism".
Mr. Alf Vial a Buddhist scholar from England, spoke on the "Three Refuges".
The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives organised a special two-week lecture and seminar for the benefit of a group of American psychologists and doctors. Participants in the seminar and lecture course were:-
Rev. L. T. Doboom Tulku, Acarya and the then Librarian of Tibetan Books and Manuscripts Department of the Library on Mind in Buddhist Psychology.
Khetsuii Sangpo Rinpoche, Cultural Officer and scholar of the Library on Development of Mind.
Dr. Yeshey Dhonden, Personal Physician to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the ffealing Science of Tibet.
1977 has been an interesting year for the students and staff-members of the LTWA chiefly because a number of lectures, seminars and slide shows were organised for the intellectual benefit and educational development.
The lecture topics ranged from Tibetan Medicine in relation to the Dharma to the concept of Emptiness and the need for spiritual parctice in our time. Slide shows on Kalacakra Ceremony in Ladakh and scenes of Afghanistan, His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to Tibetan camps and settlements in South India etc. were welcomed by house-packed audiences during all the shows.
Among others, the lectures given include the following authorities on Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and medicine.
(1) Geshey Lobsang Tharchin, a noted Buddhist scholar from Sera Monastic University who guides a number of Western spiritual students at Kaimuk Buddhist Temple in USA, spoke on Buddhist Logic and the Concept of Emptiness in the Buddhist Philosophy Class.
(2) Dr. Yeshey Dhonden, Personal Physician to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, spoke on Tibetan Medicine in relation to the Dharma for the benefit of the Western students who are showing an increasing interest in Tibetan Medicine.
(3) Lati Rimpoche, a scholar of excellent repute and an authority on Buddhist Logic (Pramana) from Gaden Monastic University of Lhasa, spoke on The Need for Spiritual Practice.
(4) Jamyang Kyentze (Biru Chentzi) Rimpoche, a meditation master and teacher of the Karma Kagyud Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, delivered a talk on the Mahamudra Approach to Meditation. [TOP]
Another not very widely known but nevertheless important and time-consuming work in which the Library is constantly engaged is the numerous intelligent, penetrating, absurd and comical questions which foreigners ask through letters on almost every known and little-known features of Tibetan culture and Buddhist philosophy.
Regardless of the nature of the questions, the Library tries to have every letter attended to and every question answered, to dispel doubts, clarify obscure points and guide the interested person or institution to have an authentic appreciation and grasp of Tibetan culture. What can be answered we answer and what cannot be answered we show how it cannot be answered.
Because of the fact that the whole Tibetan civilisation remained in partial isolation till very late, many phases of Tibetan spiritual and cultural life have become fascinating intellectual enigmas to the world at large. The streams of letters that pour in every year asking for interprctation, clarification and guidance in the study of Tibetan religion and culture is indicative of this. The Research and Translation Section of the LTWA attends to every letter.
In cases of identiftcation of mandalas, details of Tibetan flora and fauna and location of esoteric Buddhist texts etc, the LTWA has sought to co-ordinate the views of different scholars on the subjects concerned before making a final reply to the query.
Questions received in 1977 include identification ard interpretation of mandalas, types of 'I'ibctan bells, information on Jesus Christ's years of travels and studies in Tibet, guidance in the study of Tibetan legal systems and Buddhist concept of Enlightenment and it' value to American society etc. All the questions have been answered with the aim to present an authentic picture of Tibet. Where the nature of the questions seemed alien to Tibetan civilisation, the LTWA has confessed straightaway itb ignorance on the subject. [TOP]
Deputation of Tibetan Lama Scholars Abroad
On instruction from the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the LTWA has arranged to depute two Tibetan lama scholars and two translators for the Alexander Ddvid-Neel Foundation, Digne, France.
The two lama scholars are Lharampa Geshe Longri Namgyal from Gaden Monastic University of Lhasa and Lharampa Geslie Ngawang Kehnrab of Drepung Monastic University of Lhasa. Both of them have obtained Acharya degrees from the Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varanasi sanskrit University.
The wto translators are Namyal Dorjee, a graduate from St. Joseph's College, Darjeeling, and Tashi, an Acharya degree-holder from the Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varanasi sanskrit University. While in France they will be engaged in scholarly and translation works. [TOP]
Mongolian Delegation Visit LTWA
Afour-member religious delegation along with an interpreter, from Ulan Bator, Mongolia, arrived in Dharamsala in November and visited the Library.
The delegation was most happy to see the collection of Tibetan manuscripts at the Library's Tibetan Manuscripts Department. They acquainted themselves with the various facets of the Library's educational and cultural activities. The delegation conveyed to the director, Mr. Gyatsho Tshering, as well as to the Dalai Lama their desire to send a number of young Mongolian students to attend classes in the Library. The LTWA wholeheartedly welcomed the idea and agreed to extend all facilities, including provision of Mongolianspeaking Tibetan interpreters and teachers. In return, the LTWA hopes to borrow a number of Buddhist texts available only in the Ganden Monastery Library, National Academy of Science and the State Library at Ulan Bator, Mongolia. [TOP]
Craftmanship in wood is one of the finest traditional skill practised in Tibet from immemorial times. The tradition has a unique character of its own and has achieved such a high degree of perfection that any civilisation can be proud of it. For our master craftsman of old, time was of no consideration. They created works of art in leisure without any concern for the time factor involved and invariably their products were of marvellous beauty and splendour. As His Holiness the Dalai Lama has rightly pointed: It is most important for our craftsman to put emphasis on the creation of a work of real, good quality, and execute the work unhurriedly. Before, in Tibet, the handicrafts made by our craftsmen were of exquisite quality, things which evoked perennial admiration. This they achieved by not working in a hurry. Months and years of loving devotion and care went into the creation of a product. If concerned with the high expense involved in creating a product in leisure one were to hurry with the execution, the quality of craftsmanship will naturally deteriorate. Nobody will-want to have an object of inferior quality. The value of the product will also diminish. Therefore, the tendency to complete a work of art in hurry should not be encouraged.
Preservation and perpetuation of this distinct skill inherited' from our forefathers is of national importance, besides being of functional value. Individuals and society will both stand to gain. Sustained practice and, continued activity will ensure the preservation of this craft skill and, at the same time, provide material benefit for the individual craftsman.
Tibetan culture is gaining wide interest and the traditional crafts and skill of the Tibetans are finding an increasingly appreciative audience in all parts of the world. Work of really good craftsmanship is in great demand. Within the Tibetan society also (including the areas of Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal Ladakh, Lahul, Spiti and (Kinnaur) the demand for woodwork products is on the increase by organisations, institutions, and lay homes.
History tells us that many of the famed Lama scholars of Tibet took up craftskilis as a side work. They were inspired by the acknowledged belief that all crafts should be learnt in order to serve humanity and not for the fulfilment of an egoistic design. This indicates the level of Tibetan society's esteem for craftswork.
To the Tibetans, a supreme work of art is enlightenment itself. Master craftsman of real capacity first meditate in order to become vividly aware of the object to be created. Such an artist infuses his creation with ethereal beauty that transcends mere technical skill. However, these spiritually aesthetic qualities are an exception rather than the rule; what matters is the correctness of the form and its ability to invest the object with energy potency.
In the lives of the Tibetan people, works of art serve their practical needs and, at the same time, enrich them inwardly. The woodcarving craft is generally applied to making of household cbiects such as eating and drinking bowls made of fine figured woods, tables, chests, cupboards, furniture, woodblock prints, objects of worship like the exquisitely carved altar shrines with their very ornate and elaborate figures and compositions of low relief adorning the rectangular places of wood which are used to cover the sacred books. These reliefs show extraordinary technical skill.
The motifs and designs patterned on the wooden craft works are of great varieties, classified into two broad categories of secular and ecclesiastical. However, flowers, trees, birds and auspicious emblems etc. are common to both. Fine quality timbers like Deodar, Birch, Walnut and Sandal are the favourites of the woodcarvers.
Necessity:
Among the one hundred thousand or so Tibetans in exile, there are only a handful of master woodcraft artists who were able to escape from Tibet. What worries us most is that these surviving master craftsmen are all of advanced age and in a decade or so, will be no more. Therefore, if urgent measures for the training of a new generation of young Tibetans in this traditional skill are not taken, the result will be a tragic loss in a rich field of human knowledge. The world of culture will be a little poorer, a part of Tibetan culture will die and a part of the Tibetan spirit will vanish forever.
To reverse this sad trend, and as a step towards the preservation and continuation of the rich cultural heritage of woodcraft skill, the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives has undertaken to set up a centre for the study and training of young Tibetans in woodcarving.
Programme of Action:
Ngawang Chonjor, a monk woodcraft master artist from the Kham province of Tibet, will be the principal teacher. He is one of the finest master woodcraft artists from among the few surviving Tibetan artists in exile. He has, to his credit, some of the superb woodcraft creations which he did for the various Tibetan monasteries and the office and residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In 1 978-79, he was one of the craftsmen who created the exquisite three-dimensional Avaloketeshvara mandala in wood, which is now housed in the Museum of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, for all to see.
As a first step, the training programme will start with 3 to 5 young and promising Tibetan apprentices, who will be selected according to mental calibre and aptitude for woodwork.
Initially, the duration of the course will be for a period of three years. The first two years will be mainly a period of training (following the traditional method of teacherapprentice relationship), and in the remaining year the students will work on their own, but under the supervision of the master teacher, so as to bring them to a level of competence and perfection. The course will also include lectures on the theory and history of wood craft in Tibet,
Residential accommodation for the teacher and students will be provided by the Library of Tibetan Works and Archive within the Library campus. An airy and spacious room to serve as workshop for the teacher and students has been earmarked within the premises of Library of Tibetan Works and Arcives. The estimated cost of the scheme will be Rs.99,000/- as per details below
Estimated expendire for 3 years:
- Salary for one master woodcraft teacher at Rs.750/-per month, per year 9,000 /-for 3 years 27,000/-
- Scholarships for 5 students at Rs.275/- each per month, for a year 16,500/- for 3 years 49,500/-
- Materials: Timber, etc. per year 2,694/- for 3 years 8,085/-
- Tools and Implements 5,915/-
- 10 per cent contingency 9,050/-
- Total 99,550/-
As a small beginning towards this step, the LTWA started a school of woodcarving in January 1982 with a grant of Rs.13000/- so kindly provided by the Government of India. Ngawang Chojor has been appointed the teacher. There are five young Tibetan apprentices. Within a period of few months the students have shown a remarkable progress. Space for workshop and residential quarters for the teacher and students have been provided by the LTWA in the campus itself.
The Woodcarving school at the Library is the only one of its kind in the world imparting training in the unique Tibetan tradition of woodcarving. With only a few master woodcarvers still living, we recognised the urgent need to revive this art and consequently this school was started in 1983 with rive students under the tutorship of Ven. Ngawang Chojor. This first batch of five students completed their four-year course in December 1986 and were awarded certificates. One of these students, Tsering Dorjee, has been appointed assistant teacher. The others who completed the course are: Kelsang Topden, Sonam Dorjee, Kyadruk, Dhondup Dorjee and Sonam Choephel.
At present there are five new students, of whom three are sponsored by the Tibetan Children's Village, Dharamsala, one by O)dam (India) Trust, New Delhi, and on-e is a private candidate.
We are proud that over the years we have been inundated with requests for admission to both the Thangka Painting and Woodcarving schools, despite the fact that there are several institutions offering instruction in thangka painting. This is a sure sign of the appreciation of the high quality of training that is offered here. In order to accommodate the increasing number of requests for admission, we have increased the maximum number of students in the Thangka Painting School to twenty-four. [TOP]
Numerous requests continue to pour in from Tibetan communities and the various departments of the Tibetan Administration for admission of fresh students for study and training in the Thangka Painting School. The original plan to absorb only five students for the five year course had to be altered to accommodate more aspirants, bringing the total number of enrolled students to 1 3. This situation created an additional burden and financial pressure on the already depleted fund of the Library. Shortage of space for workshop and residential accommodation combined to make the situation more difficult. Besides, it became increasingly difficult for one single master teacher to cope with such a large number of students. Because of these pertinent factors, the LTWA decided not to accept any more fresh students until the first batch of senior students complete the course. Announcements to this effect were made through the Tibetan Freedom and the Sheja media.
Graduating from the most important phase of mastering the knowledge and skill Of linear measurement, drawings, geometrical pattern of motifs, linear portrayal of details and outlines of all aspects of Tibetan pantheon deities, five of the senior students have now moved on to the process of learning canvas preparation, mixing and application of colours and creation of the final product of Thangka Painting. Efforts are on to procure good quality earth and stone powder pigments from Bhutan and Nepal.
Commissioned by the private Office of H.H. the Dalai Lama, these five senior students prepared ten thangka paintings of Bodhisattava Amitayus needed in the longevity rites for H.H. the Dalai Lama. These were the first paintings done indepedently by the students.
The Ford Foundation, New Delhi, appreciating the importance of the continuation of this rich Tibetan tradition of fine arts, has provided a grant to i,neet the expenses on the salary of the master teacher and scholarships to five students.
The Narita san temple of Japan made a grant of Rs. 9,600.11-for the year 1932-83 to support the scholarships of another four Thangka studen'ts.
Jamyang Legdup and Tempa Gyatsho, two of the promising monk Thangka artists, sponsered by H.H. Sakya Dagtri Rinpoche, completed their one year intensive reorientation apprenticeship under LTWA's master artist Gen Sangay Yeshi, and returned to Sakya Settlement in December 1982. [TOP]
The large complex of Tibetan settlements in the Mysore areas of South India are representative of the different provinces of Tibet. Many old people live there, possessing rare and interesting aspects of Tibetan culture, e.g. folk-songs and tales, etc. , the collection and preservation of which is one of the primary aims of the Library. We have deputized persons to collect such cultural materials and objects on our behalf. In this connection, the assistance rendered by Mr. T. C. Tethong (former Representative) and Mr. Yangphel (former Present Representative of the Dalai Lama) at Mundgod is gratefully acknowledged. [TOP]
The Second World Book Fair held in New Delhi from the 16th to 25th January, 1976 was a major event that aroused a great deal of interest in the Library publications displayed at the fair. For this, we are chiefly grateful to Shri S. N. Verma, Director, Department of Language and Cultural Affairs, in the Government of Himachal Pradesh, who kindly displayed our publications in the Himachal Pradesh Stall, and also to our printer, Mr. R. K. Paul of Associated Publishing House, New Delhi, for displaying our publications in his own stall. An all-round interest has been aroused by these exhibitions.
Prof. Nurul Hassan, Minister of Education.Government of India, and the Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, showed interest in the Library publications, especially the Tibet ournal, during their visit to the Second rld Book Fair. [TOP]
For further information contact:
The secretary
Library of Tibetan Works and Archives
Dharamsala - 176215, H.P.
(INDIA)
Phone: +91-1892-22467
Fax:+91-1892-23723
E-mail: ltwa@ndf.vsnl.net.in
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