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During
our Tibetan Sojourn we will try to give the students
a broader understanding of the Tibetan situation by
living in and learning about three distinct Tibetan
communities. The first, Bouddhnath in Kathmandu, Nepal,
is one of the oldest and largest Tibetan refugee communities.
The second is an ancient settlement of ethnically
and culturally Tibetan people in the high Himalaya;
finally, students will visit Tibet itself, both Lhasa
the capital, and smaller villages and towns.
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We
will begin in Bouddhnath, Kathmandu, Nepal. Boudha
is a large ancient Buddhist Stupa that became
a magnet for Tibetan refugees fleeing Tibet in
the sixties. Today it has become one of the largest
and most diverse Tibetan refugee communities in
the world. We will base ourselves in Boudha for
the first two weeks and live in homestays with
Tibetan families. |
While
in Boudha we will take a short course in basic spoken
Tibetan. We will explore the Tibetan situation from
the point of view of those living in Kathmandu. Through
lectures and visits to the homes, monasteries and
workshops of local Tibetans there will also be time
to learn about the various aspects of Tibetan culture
that make it so unique. Tibetan Buddhism, medicine,
music and painting are a few of the many aspects of
this unique culture that we will explore.
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After
our time in Boudha we will move up into the Himalayan
region. We will not yet cross the border into
Tibet but remain just south and visit one of several
areas of ethnically and culturally Tibetan people
who were never directly affected by the Chinese.
We will trek into a high community and settle
briefly in a village. Village life is slow paced
and relaxed. We will visit the local monastery
and lamas and meet the people who inhabit the
high Himalaya, a tough breed mixing humor, common
sense, and kindness. It is interesting to hear
their perspective on the Tibetan situation and
get a glimpse of Tibetan culture untouched by
the massive changes which occured just a few miles
north in Tibet proper. |
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Finally
we will travel to Tibet, to the heart of the
culture we have been exploring. In Lhasa, the
most important city in Tibet, we will visit
the monasteries that once bustled with monks
and the Tibetans who remain. Tibetan life is
centered in the old part of Lhasa where we will
stay. We will visit many of the important monasteries
and temples in and around the city--the Potala,
the Jokhang, Sera and Drepung monasteries. Life
under the Chinese Government is difficult and
unsure for the Tibetans. Lhasa is growing very
quickly, its population bolstered by Chinese
immigrants. Here we will be able to clearly
witness the effect that the Chinese have had
on the country, her people, religion, and all
other aspects of Tibetan culture.
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From
Lhasa we will take a short excursion out of the
city to witness rural and nomadic Tibetan life.
From the huge lakes to the hidden monasteries,
the Tibetan landscape is vast and awe inspiring.
After our excursion we will depart overland from
Lhasa back to Kathmandu. This journey will give
us the chance to visit some of Tibet's smaller
cities such as Gyantse, Shigatse and Sakya. From
there it is an amazing ride down off the Tibetan
plateau through the Himalayas and back to Kathmandu.
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In Kathmandu we will spend our last few days in Boudha
completing our Tibetan Sojourn. |
