The Department of Sociology
organized a Guest Lecture on Tibetan Culture on September 6, 2014, between
11 am and 12 noon, in Christ University. The resource person was Ven. Geshe Dorji
Damdul. The program began with a welcome speech by Margret, wherein she gave a
brief profile about the resource person. Ven. Damdul has served as the official
interpreter to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for several years. In March 2011 he
was appointed as the Director of Tibet House, Cultural Center of His Holiness
the Dalai Lama, New Delhi, where he has been giving extensive teachings on
Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, psychology and logic.
Ven. Geshe Dorji Damdul
began his lecture on Tibetan Culture by narrating the history of Tibet.
The history can be divided into two phases, pre 7th century
AD, which was dominated by the Culture of Bon, and post 7th century
AD. In this he dealt with the influence of the Culture of India and Buddhism.
He mentioned how they adopted some elements of culture from their neighboring
regions like, the food from Chinese cuisine, dress from Mongolians and
spirituality from India. He classified his exposition on Tibetan
Culture into two parts, namely Expressions of culture and the
Contents of the culture. He also spoke about the invention of Tibetan
Script.
He also mentioned large
scale social service conceptualized by Saint Drupthop Thangthong Gyalpo (1385–1464 AD. He also explained about the Lineage of Dalai Lamas
in the political scenario of Tibet, wherein the temporal rule of Tibet was
handed over to the Great V Dalai Lama by Mongolian Emperor Gushri Tenzin
Choegyal . He added how the XIV Dalai Lama of Tibet was the
Last Dalai Lama in the Political Scenario of Tibet, who received the Noble
Peace Prize in 1989. He also talked about how His Holiness, encourages Secular
Ethics along women’s education. After the lecture there was a
session for questions and answers.
Vote of thanks was given by
Annie Chirayath who thanked Ven. Geshe Dorji Damdul, Dhandup
(Director, Tibetan Youth Hostel), Dr.Victor Paul, Dr.Pritha Dasgupta
, Suparna Majumdar Kar, other faculties’, students and supporting staff. As a
token of gratitude, mementos were gifted by Dr. Victor to
Geshe Dorji Damdul and to Dhandup by Suparna Majumdar Kar. The master of the
ceremony was Meghana, the photographer was Soumya, and the report was prepared by Ann
Tresa.