All posts by Christiane Delaine

10th Tibetan Cultural Festival press release (fr)

10ème FESTIVAL CULTUREL DU TIBET

Du 14 au 24 septembre 2019
Dharma City (Florennes)
Entrée gratuite


Poster Festival Cultural Tibet 2019
Bienvenus au Festival Culturel du Tibet 2019! Pour la 10ème fois consécutive, l’asbl Zangdok Palri Lotus aura le plaisir d’accueillir petits et grands dans le cadre magnifique de Dharma City pour des journées exceptionnelles de rencontres et de découvertes.


Le bénéfice est destiné à ses projets éducatifs et culturels menés au Tibet et au profit des enfants tibétains.


Laissez-vous fasciner par des contes tibétains racontés sous tente… Faites connaissance avec les racines culturelles et les traditions du Tibet à travers des conférences, des chants et des danses, et initiez-vous au yoga tibétain réputé pour ses bienfaits… Savourez des spécialités culinaires tibétaines… Prenez le thé sous une tente de nomades… Explorez le marché d’artisanat local et équitable…


Et beaucoup plus encore !


Pour votre agenda, voici déjà les points d’orgue du Festival:

  • Samedi 14/09 à 11h : Discours de bienvenue par Patrul Rinpoche, enseignant bouddhiste tibétain et fondateur de Dharma City.
  • Week-end du 14 et 15/09 : Marché artisanal local et équitable, restauration avec spécialités tibétaines, animations pour les enfants, contes tibétains sous la tente, initiation au yoga.
    Samedi : visite guidée du temple, confection et dégustation de momos (raviolis tibétains) sur inscription.
    Dimanche : danses traditionnelles par les enfants tibétains…
  • Du lundi 16/09 au vendredi 20/09 : la boutique d’artisanat est ouverte dès 9h30 au salon de thé ; chaque soirée une découverte, yoga, momos, concert…
    Les mardi 17 et jeudi 19, visite guidée du temple suivie à 19h d’une conférence sur le bouddhisme tibétain : “les bienfaits de la méditaion” et “La transmission du Bouddha” par les enseignants de Dharma City.
  • Week-end du 21 et 22/09 : stands d’artisanat équitable et restauration avec spécialités tibétaines, animations pour les enfants.
    Samedi : contes tibétains sous la tente, confection et dégustation de momos (inscription), découverte du Qi Gong, visite guidée du temple.
    Dimanche : découverte de la méditation, présentation de la calligraphie tibétaine, concerts de musiques du monde.

Le programme détaillé peut être téléchargé programme détaillé du festival


Venez nous retrouver pour cet événement haut en couleurs qui veut contribuer à la préservation de la culture tibétaine plusieurs fois millénaire.

Les bénéfices du Festival sont destinés aux projets éducatifs menés au Tibet et en Belgique par l’association Zangdok Palri Lotus  et à la préservation de la culture tibétaine (Institut Zangdok Palri).

L’entrée est libre et gratuite.


Du Samedi 14 au dimanche 22 septembre 2019
à Dharma City
300, rue de Mettet, 5620 Florennes


Contact:

Organisé par Zangdok Palri Lotus asbl

Losar 2019 press release (in FR)

Joyeux Losar !

NOUVEL AN TIBÉTAIN

Immergez-vous au cœur de la culture du Tibet lors du Losar
Samedi 23 et dimanche 24 février 2019

En février, les Tibétains sont entrés dans l’année 2146 qui sera l’année du Cochon de Terre. Venez vivre le Losar, la célébration du Nouvel An du Tibet en famille ou entre amis. Vous serez plongés dans la culture et les traditions tibétaines, et invités à déguster de délicieuses spécialités.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nous serons ravis de vous accueillir à Dharma City, 300, rue de Mettet, à 5620 Florennes.
 
 

Samedi 23 et dimanche 24 février

 
Dès 11h30, vous serez accueillis avec les traditionnels thé et riz de Nouvel An dans le cadre chaleureux du salon de thé où vous dégusterez un excellent repas suivi d’animations musicales, pendant que des animations seront proposées aux enfants.

La boutique d’artisanat d’art sera ouverte à tous pendant les deux journées. Une conférence sur la philosophie bouddhiste donnée par Patrul Rinpoche, une introduction à la méditation, un cours de Qi-Gong : découvrez le programme et le menu de ce weekend festif et familial sur http://www.zangdokpalri.net/losar-tibetan-new-year/

La réservation est obligatoire pour les repas uniquement: +32 494 79 47 87

 

Le bénéfice de cet événement est destiné aux projets éducatifs et culturels menés au Tibet et en Belgique par l’association Zangdok Palri Lotus.

 

Losar 2018 press release (in FR)

Joyeux Losar !

REPAS CARITATIF CONVIVIAL
POUR LE NOUVEL AN TIBETAIN

Dimanche 04 mars 2018 à la Cité du Dharma

 En ce mois de février, les Tibétains s’apprêtent à entrer dans l’année 2145 qui sera l’année du Chien de Terre. C’est avec une très grande joie que l’asbl Zangdok Palri Lotus vous convie à la célébration de cet événement festif, en présence de Patrul Rinpoche et des Lopöns Tsering Gönpo et Jampa Norgyal.

 

Ce sera une occasion unique de découvrir, en famille, entre amis, la culture et les traditions du Tibet et de déguster de délicieuses spécialités tibétaines. Le bénéfice de cet événement est destiné aux projets éducatifs et culturels menés au Tibet par l’association Zangdok Palri Lotus.

 

Nous serons ravis de vous accueillir à Dharma City, 300, rue de Mettet, à 5620 Florennes, et de vous proposer deux parcours au choix :

 

Parcours 1 : gustatif et musical (25 € adulte, 10 € enfant)

  • A 11h30, accueil avec les traditionnels thé et riz de Nouvel An;
  • Repas ponctué d’interventions musicales à la Tibetan Convention Tea House
  • Présentations par les Lopöns : ‘La signification du Losar’ par Jampa Norgyal, et ‘Introduction à la méditation’ par Tsering Gönpo

Parcours 2 : découverte culturelle (8 € adulte, 4 € enfant)

  • A 13h, accueil avec les traditionnels thé et riz de Nouvel An dans la salle de méditation
  • Visite guidée du centre
  • Présentations par les Lopöns : ‘La signification du Losar’ par Jampa Norgyal, et ‘Introduction à la méditation’ par Tsering Gönpo

Le menu du repas est à découvrir sur notre site. Le nombre de participants étant limité pour les deux parcours, la réservation est obligatoire, ouverte en ligne jusqu’au 1er mars : formulaire de réservation.

En cas de difficulté, réservation possible par téléphone au 0494 79 47 87.

De 12h à 16h30, l’exposition et la vente d’objets d’artisanats équitable au profit de l’asbl Zangdok Palri Lotus et des animations pour enfants sont ouvertes à tous les participants.

Les visiteurs pourront également voir deux films courts sur les retraites guidées par Patrul Rinpoche à l’Institut Zangdok Palri au Tibet en 2016. La Tea House restera ouverte jusqu’à 17h.

 

Le bénéfice de cet événement est destiné aux projets éducatifs et culturels menés au Tibet par l’association Zangdok Palri Lotus.

 

8th TIBETAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL – press release

8th Tibetan Cultural Festival – press release

Saturday and Sunday September 23rd and 24th 2017
Parc Georges-Henri
Woluwe-Saint-Lambert

Poster Festival Cultural Tibet 2017

Considered a mythical land for centuries, it has only been recently that Tibet, Land of Snows, opened itself to the outside world, showing an extraordinary cultural and human wealth. Rituals and customs, artwork and worship objects: this 8th Tibetan Cultural Festival aims first of all at exploring Tibetan traditions and modern expression in order to contribute to the preservation of that so inspiring ancestral culture.

Organized by the Zangdok Palri Lotus non profit association in the presence of lama Patrul Rinpoche, the Festival will take place during the weekend of 23 & 24 September 2017, in the magnificent setting of the Georges-Henri Park in Brussels.

Throughout these two days, various musicians will offer their most beautiful melodies under the wooden kiosk, and you will be offered a program rich in entertainment for the whole family: traditional songs and dances, a fair-trade art market of the Himalayas, books on the Land of Snows and Tibetan Buddhism, creative workshops such as Tibetan calligraphy and activities for children. Not to forget the gastronomic pleasures with culinary specialties prepared by our Tibetan cooks, such as ‘momos’, ravioli stuffed and steamed …

All the activities will take place in the open air, in a large tent made of yak hair and in festive tents as they are still used today by Tibetan nomads during festive occasions.

We will be happy to welcome you for the Festival. The more the merrier!

 

Useful information :

  • free entrance.
  • The activities will take place all day, Saturday from 12:00 to 17:00, and Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00.
  • The culinary tastings, sold at a democratic price, are served from 12 :00 to 14 :00.
  • The benefits of the event are intended for educational projects conducted in Tibet by the association Zangdok Palri Lotus.
  • Everyone is welcome at all times!

Venue of the festival :

Parc Georges-Henri
1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert
(5 minutes by foot from the metro Tomberg)

 

Contact :

festival.culturel.tibetain@zangdokpalri.net
Phone: 0498 333 797
Organized by Zangdok Palri Lotus asbl
www.zangdokpalri.net

 

 

Zangdok Palri News No 31 September 2017

zp_logoZANGDOK PALRI ACTUALITES
Sambhota Primary School – Orphanage
No 31 – September 2017

Dear sponsors and donors,
 
This newsletter is a bit out of the ordinary, as it needs to inform you of some unexpected difficulties the school-orphanage faces today.

 

In the 15 years of the school’s existence, we have enjoyed a trusting relationship with its administrator. Today, he and his family are confronted with a degree of animosity that makes it impossible for him to continue running the school, and impossible for us to guarantee the students’ safety. We are very sad to report that we have had to close the school-orphanage for the time being to allow the situation to return to normal.

 

We have been able to ensure that all the children have either returned to their families or have been accommodated by relatives. We are of course ready to lend a hand whenever needed.

We ask you, therefore, to no longer make any donations. We will be sure to let you know as soon as we can resume our activities.
 
These temporary obstacles obviously do not call into question the raison d’être of our association and do not prevent us from continuing our support for the Zangdok Palri Institute.
 
We are immensely grateful to you for reading, supporting and encouraging us these many years. This project has only been possible thanks to you!
 
On behalf of the Dzogchen children, thank you.

 

the Zangdok Palri team

Dzogchen valley children’s travel notes

Child’s play

Once again we are happy to share with you some impressions from the daily life of Dzogchen’s school children, as witnessed and documented by Clotilde during her 2016 trip to Tibet…

 

After lunch break, the children play with their teachers, mostly in group games. They very often form big circles to dance and sing together. Dancing and singing are very common in Tibet, as they once were in our countrysides as well.

 

Even without television, however, a very un-indigenous sport has made its way into Tibet, perhaps via the Internet: football! High-energy matches mixing up all sizes and ages are quite frequent.
 
During our visit, we were able to witness some memorable and very giggly games indeed.

 

We were quite surprised to find that the teams changed all the time, depending on new players coming in and others leaving without warning… No discussions, no fixed memberships, only a shared sense of what it takes to form equally matched teams and have a good time. As a result, it was quite common to see a player switch sides in the thick of it and find yourself faced with an adversary who only a few minutes ago was still a trusty member of your own team!

 

In such a wild and unruly game, the very youngest children usually had a hard time getting to the ball, but this seemed not to upset them at all. Some simply continued running after the ball, others went off and did something else without any apparent frustration…

 

In Tibetan pedagogy, failure is part of the learning process. What’s more, failures are regarded as accurate indications of a child’s level and learning needs (for example, learning to wait patiently to become one of the big kids!). In the West, we would tend to let the smallest children have the ball once in a while in order to ‘include’ them. Not so in Tibet. Reality is allowed to play out here, without pity or seeking to change the natural course of things. If a child is sad, it is not scolded or sermoned. Rather, it is offered a way to change its mind. Whenever there’s a sad child on the sidelines keeping to itself, someone might produce a little foam ball from their pocket. Presented with a solution, the child is invited to change its disposition by itself.

 

As a rule, Tibetans teach through example and experience rather than top-down instruction. Life lessons are mostly left for later, more collective contexts, where each is invited to draw from the situation what he or she is ready for at the time.

 

But make no mistake: a child whose behaviour goes against the common good can be corrected quite sternly. Respect for others is not to be trifled with!
 

A heartfelt thank you to

  • the Comité d’Actions sans Frontières of Luxemburg’s European Schools for generously sponsoring the purchase of students’ clothes;
  • and of course all our donors and sponsors who have kept this project alive for so many years!

Zangdok Palri News No 30 April 2017

zp_logoZANGDOK PALRI NEWS
Sambhota Primary School – Orphanage
No 30 – April 2017

 

 

At the Dzogchen school

The school year is going by peacefully… There were some changes in the student groups at the beginning of the year. This happens frequently, as youngsters in this region are often called upon by their nomad families to help out. As always, their places in school were swiftly taken by new children, who integrated very easily into the school community, sure sign of a remarkable sense of solidarity.

 

This year, we have also participated in the construction of a multifunctional building in the Dzogchen valley. Its purpose is to shelter students for the duration of the reconstruction work to their school and dorms, to host extra-curricular activities, and in the long term, fitted with a restaurant and a coffee shop, to host travelers and visitors to Dzogchen in order to generate some income for the school.

 

An impression of the Sambhota school children in eastern Tibet

Matthieu spent quite some time in Dzogchen in 2016 and connected with the children and the headmaster there. Here are his thoughts on the school-orphanage :

 

Traveling to Tibet and getting close to Tibetan children, you are always struck by their joy and their lust for life. And whenever there’s an event somehow connected to their culture—a horse race, Tibetan song and dance, helping out at the monastery—their energy is doubled and their eyes sparkle.

Of course, if you know Tibetan, it is much easier to get close to them and enter into a truly gratifying encounter and exchange… You can’t but notice, however, how the influence of modernity grows ever stronger, raising the stakes when it comes to preserving one’s identity. The obvious question is how this new generation of Tibetans will be able to maintain its identity, all the while evolving within a China developing at top speed. The only valid answer seems to be… through education, in their habitat which is the Tibetan plateau: a modern education, yet respectful of Tibetan culture so deeply infused with the buddhist values of wisdom and compassion.

 

 

 

This is the challenge accepted by the Zangdok Palri association over fifteen years ago, when it created a school-orphanage in Kham province, in Dzogchen. And a considerable challenge it is: the harsh climate, the costs of student infrastructure, the difficulty in finding skilled and reliable teachers, the logistics of sheltering, feeding and clothing 30 to 40 people… all this at an altitude of 4,000m. And of course, one or two trusted people are needed to manage the entire operation throughout the year.

 

Back to the children… During our last visit to Dzogchen this summer, what surprised us most was the children’s eagerness to study right there in their native country in order to preserve their culture. The elder students especially demonstrate a deep sense of belonging when it comes to their school; they are very much aware that they are on a common adventure and wish to see every single student succeed. In other words, each student seems genuinely invested in his studies, each according to his abilities, of course.

 

We might ask ourselves whether there is a real need for this school, as there is also a local Chinese school. There is of course the fact that this Chinese school doesn’t have the necessary infrastructure to provide the indispensable lodging for children from nomad families. On top of that, however, just like here in Europe, each school has its own character, defined by its vision, the human qualities of its teachers, its social setting, the values instilled through its curriculum… We have come to the conclusion that tomorrow’s Tibet absolutely needs a school-orphanage of this type.

Po Cha: Tibetan butter tea

Salted butter tea, Tibet’s traditional tea, is perfectly suited to the harsh living conditions in the Himalayan high plateau. It nourishes, energises, and fights altitude dehydration thanks to the added salt. The nomads consume it in great quantities, both as a drink and mixed with tsampa, the grilled barley flour which is their staple food.

 

In Tibet, butter tea is prepared using milk from the dri, the female yak. This milk has a much stronger taste to it than our cow’s milk.

 

Should you feel like trying it, here is the slightly westernised recipe for butter tea…

 

To serve 4, use 75 cl of water, 1 bag or knob of black Darjeeling tea, 1 tablespoon of cow’s butter, 25 cl of full-cream milk, and some salt. Bring a pot of water to the boil, add the bag or knob of tea and bring to the boil again. Remove the tea, add salt, butter and milk, and mix until perfectly blended.

Drink piping hot.

Our heartfelt thanks go to

  • all the managers and workers at Bazar International who have supported us most generously this year, for the third time already, and
  • all our sponsors and patrons who have supported the school-orphanage

With your help we are able to further develop this project of hope!

 

 

 

Zangdok Palri News No 29 October 2016

zp_logoZANGDOK PALRI NEWS
Sambhota Primary School – Orphanage
No 29 – October 2016

 

ZPNews 29 cover

 

Trip to Dzogchen

 

Last summer, a number of students of Patrul Rinpoche, the buddhist master who founded the school-orphanage in Dzogchen, once again traveled to Tibet for meditation retreats, and this was of course a long-awaited opportunity for the Tibetan and western responsibles of the school to meet each other on site, to size up the situation and review together the work at hand and the improvements to be realised: finding a new teacher of Chinese as soon as possible, waterproofing the dorm building, raising the annual budget…

 

These meetings were also an opportunity to highlight many positive things: every time students of the school-orphanage pass an entrance exam for institutes of secondary education in the region, they come out with exceptionally high marks and take first place. Most importantly, in spite of everyday worries, the children are all smiles and enthusiasm when questioned about ‘their’ school.

 

Our trip also enabled us to communicate more deeply with the principal teacher, Lekshe: a young man who commands respect and maintains firm discipline in his classroom. Sadly, the second teacher was absent during our stay.

 

School days start early with reciting and reading from 6 to 7, and teaching continues into the evening, interrupted only for meals and short breaks. The two groups are taught writing, grammar, poetry, and calligraphy, as well as buddhist texts promoting the values of compassion and helpfulness. Lekshe points out that his students have an energy all of their own: “Because they all come from families in great difficulty, these children show more courage and greater motivation to study than you see in other schools.”

 

But he is also aware of future challenges: to continuously improve the quality of education, to offer training as broad and complete as possible to provide students with as much knowledge and skills as possible with an eye to their futures.

 

Travel journal with the Dzogchen valley children

 

Clotilde went along on this trip and shares her impressions:

“Visiting Dzogchen in the summer of 2016, we could see with our own eyes the lives lead by the students we support. The children of Dzogchen are happy and proud to go to school, and they appreciate the benefits. Even though many of them take boarding at school, far from home, they are happy at heart to have the opportunity to study. As used to be case in Europe, the students show sincere admiration for their teachers.

 

In Tibet, it is much more valued to be of service than to be the best. The point is to become a good person rather than a brilliant one. These children do give it their all to perform and succeed, but only to benefit their families and society at large… There seems to be no desire to be the best, to show off achievement or cover up failure. As a result, the children have no difficulty teasing each other without anyone ever feeling offended. Whenever anyone fails at something, there is a burst of shared laughter and that is that. Failure actually has no air of humiliation about it, quite the opposite: they are rather amused by the fact that the actual outcome of their efforts is so different from what they were aiming for. It’s all a strange joke somehow! They feel encouraged to retry until they get things right.

Happy, spirited and smiling, they seem to do what needs to be done with a light heart and a mischievous mind, and continue like this into adulthood. Life seems a joyful game to Tibetans…

 

Our trip has left us with wonderful and precious memories of our time with the Dzogchen school children. We arrived sponsoring their education, and left again transformed, wishing well to the entire universe and beyond if that were possible.

 

What happiness it would be if future generations of youngsters in Dzogchen, in Tibet and anywhere around the world could develop more and more this open mind free from divisive competition and imbued with mutual help and goodwill. Now that even the sciences are starting to demonstrate the benefits of altruism for individuals and society as a whole, I find myself dreaming of a better world… Thank you, Tibet, thank you, children…”

 

(more testimonials in our spring issue!)

 

a heartfelt thank you to

  • the teachers and students of the Weiler-la-Tour school,
  • the Lions Amitié for their generous donation,
  • the teachers of Walferdange who donated the proceedings of their school party,
  • and Mr Jean Schmit, who has supported us throughout the years and whom we wish a happy retirement!

 

7e Festival Culturel du Tibet communiqué de presse (in FR)

7e FESTIVAL CULTUREL DU TIBET

Samedi 24 et dimanche 25 septembre 2016
Parc Georges-Henri (Woluwe-Saint-Lambert)
Entrée gratuite

Poster Festival Cultural Tibet 2015

Bienvenus au Festival Culturel du Tibet 2016 ! Pour la 7e fois consécutive, l’asbl Zangdok Palri Lotus a le plaisir de vous inviter à cet événement haut en couleurs dont le bénéfice est destiné à ses projets éducatifs et culturels menés au Tibet.
Dans le cadre du magnifique parc Georges-Henri, cette journée conviviale vous permettra de déguster des spécialités culinaires préparées par nos cuisiniers tibétains, tels que les « momos », raviolis farcis et cuits à la vapeur, et d’autres plats qui raviront grands et petits. Vous pourrez également découvrir ou vivre les traditions du Tibet à travers des chants et des danses, un marché d’artisanat équitable de l’Himalaya et un espace de calligraphie tibétaine. Des jeux et des ateliers créatifs seront proposés aux enfants. Ce sera aussi l’occasion de vous laisser tenter par une bonne tasse de thé dans une grande tente de nomades, en poils de yak, et d’y assister à un rituel bouddhiste.
Toutes les activités se dérouleront en plein air, aux abords d’une grande plaine de jeux pour les plus jeunes. Venez nombreux pour une journée exceptionnelle!

 

 

Informations pratiques:

  • L’entrée est libre et gratuite.
  • Les animations se dérouleront le samedi de 12 à 17 heures, et le dimanche de 11 à 17 heures.
  • Tout le monde est bienvenu à toute heure !
  • Des gâteaux et boissons seront proposés tout au long des deux journées. Les spécialités culinaires seront servies de 12 à 14 heures.
  • Le bénéfice des ventes est destiné aux projets éducatifs menés au Tibet par l’association Zangdok Palri Lotus (école primaire-orphelinat Sambhota à Dzogchen) et à la préservation de la culture tibétaine (Institut Zangdok Palri).

 

Lieu du festival:

Parc Georges-Henri
1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert
(5 minutes à pied du métro Tomberg)

 

Contact: festival.culturel.tibetain@zangdokpalri.net
Tél: 0494 794 787
Organisé par Zangdok Palri Lotus asbl
www.zangdokpalri.net

 

Losar 2016 press release (in FR)

REPAS-SPECTACLE POUR LE NOUVEL AN TIBETAIN

DIMANCHE 28 février à la Cité du Dharma

A l’occasion du Losar, le Nouvel An tibétain, rejoignez-nous pour cet événement festif !

Pour bien commencer l’année tibétaine 2143 – année du singe de feu, de nombreuses animations et activités pour les grands et les plus jeunes vous attendent lors d’une journée conviviale de découverte en famille ou entre amis.

C’est une occasion unique de découvrir la culture et les traditions du Tibet, en présence de Ranyak Patrul Rinpoche et de Khenpo Thubten Lodrö Nyima.

 

Culture fascinante …

Vous pourrez assister à une représentation théâtrale d’un épisode de la vie du légendaire héros Guésar de Ling; nous aurons aussi le plaisir d’accueillir la chanteuse japonaise Yuka Kawabe qui partagera avec nous sa passion pour la musique et les instruments traditionnels tibétains.

Traditions culinaires …

Ce sera l’occasion de déguster de délicieuses spécialités tibétaines ; le menu est à découvrir sur notre site.

Et aussi …

des danses indiennes d’Odissi, l’ensemble vocal Terre et Soleil, une boutique d’artisanat d’art équitable et bien d’autres petites révélations qui vous rendront cette culture plus proche et plus accessible. Les plus jeunes seront ravis de participer aux animations pour enfants tout au long de l’après-midi (peinture, dessin, mandala de sable, grimage…)

Si vous le souhaitez, nous vous invitons à participer activement (poème, lecture, ou…) Dans ce cas, merci de nous le faire savoir.

 

Le bénéfice de cet événement est destiné aux projets éducatifs et culturels menés au Tibet par l’association Zangdok Palri Lotus.

 

Venez nombreux, nous nous réjouissons de vous accueillir à la Cité du Dharma!

 

Dimanche 28 février 2016, de 11h00 à 16h00
300, rue de Mettet, 5620 Florennes

 

Réservations et informations : 0494 79 47 87
http://www.zangdokpalri.net/losar-tibetan-new-year/losar-reservations/

Les tarifs pour les repas et le spectacle sont 20€ (adultes) et 10€ pour les enfants jusqu’à 12 ans.

Le bar est ouvert pour les boissons supplémentaires et le dessert.

 

Le nombre de places étant limité, il est conseillé de réserver.

 

Télécharger le communiqué au format PDF: http://www.zangdokpalri.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Losar-2016-communiqué-de-presse.pdf

 

 

 

Zangdok Palri News No 28 February 2016

zp_logoZANGDOK PALRI ACTUALITES
Sambhota Primary School – Orphanage
No 28 – February 2016

 

ZP News 28 cover

 

Our priority: the school-orphanage

 

In Tibet, sending a child off to school is not always an easy choice: there is always plenty of work to do in a nomad community, and letting go of a pair of helping hands can lead the family into financial difficulties.

 

That is why our three secondary school students in Chengdu have answered their parents’ calls and have returned home, interrupting their training for the time being. We have faith in their accomplishments, though: their thorough knowledge of Tibetan and Chinese and their notions of English and ICT are assets that will prove very useful in the future.

 

Because there are no primary school students ready to take over from them yet, our secondary school is put on hold for the time being, and we focus all our efforts on the school-orphanage, which continues to serve its 35 students, most of them in boarding school.

 

Around Dzogchen, the effects of this training sometimes come very quickly: several girls who have finished primary school and have started their own families now give literacy courses to the villagers in their region, securing a modest income for themselves. We are naturally very happy with this indirect transmission of knowledge!

 

Tibetan culture: Pilgrimages, the quest for the sacred

A cultural tradition as much as a religious one, a pilgrimage is called né kor in Tibetan, literally to circle a (holy) place, because Tibetan Buddhists walk around sacred buildings and places clockwise as a sign of respect and devotion.

 

These holy places can be manmade sites like monasteries, temples or hermitages; in Lhasa, such sites include the Potala (once the primary residence of the Dalai Lamas) and the Jokhang temple, a high-ranking spiritual site containing a famous Buddha statue.

 

Other pilgrim destinations include holy natural sites like mountains, lakes, caves and springs, one of the most visited being Mount Kailash in western Tibet. The koras (circumambulations) of these sites sometimes turn into arduous long-distance hikes over hills and rough terrain.

 

The pilgrimage is often an opportunity to live an adventure. But it is above all a spiritual quest, a period during which the pilgrim focuses on meditation, on reflection, on the development of human qualities.
Throughout the journey, Tibetans offer hospitality to the pilgrims as they feel honoured by their presence.

 

Some pilgrims complete the journey doing prostrations, making their trip last several months or even years, depending on their destination. The pilgrim prostrates by first joining his hands above his head, then level with his throat and heart. Then he stretches out on the ground, belly down, arms outstretched. Putting down a pebble at the end of his outstretched fingers, he rises, moves forward right up to where the pebble is, and repeats the practice. Circling Kailash prostrating like this takes at least four weeks.

 

Colin Thubron has left a colourful description of a group of Tibetan pilgrims circumambulating Kailash:

 

“The Tibetans set off cheerfully round the mountain as if it were a plateau. They twirled prayer-wheels and murmured  mantras. Some carried babies on their backs, others shepherded little children. Their faith was practical and sensuous. Every rock formation was a god to them, or commemorated some mythic action. The earth itself was holy: the herbs it grew, even its dust. At the four little monasteries that staked out the cardinal points of the mountain, they offered incense or barley to a pantheon of deities. They prayed for better fortune – a son, another yak (…). Hindus and westerners may take four days to complete the circuit. A Tibetan can do it in less than 36 hours.”

(Colin Thubron: To a Mountain in Tibet, Ed. Chatto & Windus)

 

And then…

 

a few popular sayings, examples of Tibetan common sense and sense of humour both. Some of these are even quite similar to our sayings!

 

  • It is easier to cover one’s feet in leather than to cover the entire earth in leather.
  • Before changing the world, we need to change ourselves.
    If you drink the valley’s water, respect the valley’s laws.
  • When the cat is away, the mice celebrate New Year.
  • It is easy to spot the flea in another’s hair and ignore the yak on one’s own nose.
  • Watery mouth before the meal, watery eyes when the bill arrives.
  • Thieves never steal bells.
  • If it works, it’s yoghurt, if it doesn’t, it’s curd!