I. TIBETAN BUDDHISM IN INDIA: THE BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF A TIBETAN REFUGEE COMMUNITY
II. In the next several months I will be examining the Tibetan Buddhist lay community of refugees in Dharamsala. The main questions I will address are: What role does Buddhism play in the daily life of Tibetan refugees? Does the existence of an extensive lay community allow the refugees to continue their culture in a foreign environment? To what extent does the laity understand the philosophical intricacies of Buddhism? How is knowledge acquired and passed between generations?
I will be living in the Tibetan community of McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala. As the home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile, this is the perfect location to analyze the lives of Tibetan Buddhist laity. I will attend Dharma classes and utilize resources at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives. The entire community will be my field of research, a wealth of knowledge, tradition and friendship.
My work will primarily be in written, thesis format. I will add a touch of visuals to the document by utilizing photography for certain topics such as the iconography and Losar sections of the thesis.
III. This thesis is the culmination of the past three years of my university career. I began my Bachelor studies at the University of Iowa as an anthropology major. Since then I have switched my focus to religion but have never lost the anthropological angle nor my interest in ethnology. In Japan, I studied Zen Buddhism and briefly visited a Zen monastery. My studies of Buddhism were continued in India while also discovering Hinduism and the native cultures. During the spring of year 2000 I lived in Dharamsala, studying Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and the situation of Tibetan refugees. That term was the base for my thesis, allowing me to conceive my future goals and make important contacts. Later, in the summer and fall I lived in the Middle East. By learning of the situation of Palestinian refugees I was able to understand the unique problems that refugees face in continuing their cultural lives. I also studied Israeli and Palestinian Identity. All four topics of study, anthropological analysis, religious philosophy, the culture of refugees, and cultural identity are primary components of my thesis.
IV. In the last five terms of study with Friends World I have mainly worked in the field. I have gathered information through observing situations, participating in events, and through informal encounters. For my thesis I will need to improve my formal interview techniques and learn how to distance myself from the environment to gain perspective. Fieldwork and interviews will be supplemented by information gathered by library research. I will be dealing with multiple sources and will need to remember to not become lost in the sea of facts, forgetting my focal point.
V. I will seek answers to my questions through participant observation, interviews, and library research. By frequently going to the temples of the Dharamsala area, attending Dharma classes at the Library, and talking to people, I will observe the religious life of refugees. I will select interviews of people from a wide variety of categories; different age groups, socio-economic backgrounds, and people who have resided in India for different amounts of time. Photography will be used to aid my description of Losar, material culture, and lifestyles of the Tibetan community. I will apply information gathered from various texts and integrate this into my analysis.
VI. To discuss the significance of my thesis I need to peel back the layers of topics and look how they are relevant and important to the world. First, religion and faiths are a significant part of the philosophical, as well as the common, world community. In the uniformity of the primarily secular Christian West it is difficult to understand the degree to which religious beliefs affect our lives. From this general stance, any and all religions are significant and worthy of study.
Second, is the unique situation of Tibetans. As a culture that had remained almost completely isolated for centuries, Tibet and its people have experienced major changes in the last fifty years. The Buddhist religion is the main unifying force of Tibetans and has also experienced changes after the Chinese occupation. I have seen many books and articles on Tibetan Buddhist practice in monasteries but have seen few on the practice of the laity and none regarding the lay community of refugees in India. While monks and nuns may be the heart of the religious community the lay practitioners are the body which will carry the religion into the future. One could say that the laity will determine whether the religion dies or survives.
This brings us to my
third issue, the survival of a culture. The Tibetans in India are
separated from their homeland, their families, and their past.
The refugees are not only concerned with their personal survival
but the survival of the Tibetan culture, their collective
identity. As I stated previously, Buddhism has always been a
unifying force for Tibetans and it continues to hold this role
for the refugees. It is my goal to discover how Tibetan Buddhism
has held up in exile and if the faith of the people is strong
enough to unify them away from their native land.
Lobsang Ningma - male -
78 years old
How often do you pray?
I live at the center for elderly and have no business except Dharma practice. I walk around His Holiness residence about three or four times a day. Every time I walk around I also go to the temple and walk around it three times, meaning I walk around the temple nine or twelve times a day.
From whom have you learned Dharma practice?
As a child in Tibet my parents were always telling me about Dharma and Buddhism and I would watch them in there religious activities. Since I came to Dharamsala I attend all of His Holiness’ teachings.
What do you pray for?
I pray for the long life of His Holiness and for the end of all beings’ suffering. I pray that all fighting and strife in the world will end.
What people or deities do you pray to in your home?
I pray to Shakyamuni
Buddha, Chenrezig, His Holiness, the Panchen Lama, and Ling
Rinpoche(teacher of His Holiness and the highest lama of the
Gelukpa sect).
Airkar - male - 19 years
old
How often have you been practicing while you have been in Dharamsala?
I stay at the reception center but I spend most of my time walking around His Holiness’ residence and at the temple.
How did you learn the Dharma?
As a child my parents would constantly talk to me about Dharma and Buddhist practice. I also learned from my Rinpoche.
What kind of offerings do you make?
In Dharamsala I don’t have much but everyday I do prostrations.
What individuals and deities to you usually pray to?
I always pray to His Holiness, the Panchen Lama, Palden Lhamo, Guru Rinpoche and Buddha.
What do you pray for?
I pray for the long life of His Holiness and for the future in general.
Do you meditate?
I do not meditate but I
study Tibetan astrology and philosophy. These topics are
important for my Dharma practice and Tibetan culture.
Pema - female - 20 years
old - born in Dharamsala, family from Kham
How often do you visit the temple?
I visit the temple for all the festivals and events, especially when His Holiness will be appearing.
How often do you pray and make offerings?
Everyday I make offerings of water and in the evenings I remove the bowels. At this time I also pray.
Do you meditate?
No, I have never actually meditated.
Where have you learned the Dharma?
My parents have always told me how to act according to the Dharma. We also learn about Buddhism in the TCV school and I have attended many of His Holiness’ teachings.
Are there special people or deities that you pray to?
In my room I have pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Lama and the Karmapa Lama. I make special prayers to His Holiness and his protector Palden Lhamo.
What do you pray for?
I pray for the long life
of His Holiness and for the end of suffering for all beings.
Tsering Palmo - female -
26 years old - born in Ley, family from Lhasa
How often do you go to the temple?
I go to the temple as often as I can. Sometimes I am not very busy and I go everyday, other times I am more busy and can only manage to go twice a week.
How often do you pray and make offerings?
I don’t make offerings everyday in my home. If I do make an offering it is usually just incense. I often stay with my friends and if one cannot make offerings everyday it is better to mot do it at all, it is not good to leave an old offering on the altar.
Where have you learned the Dharma?
When I was young I never attended any real teachings by lamas. I learned Dharma naturally from my parents. I would watch them practice and they would tell me how to behave according to Buddha’s teachings. Now that I live in Dharamsala I attend His Holiness’ teachings when possible. This year I could only attend the special days like the day of the White Tara Long Life Empowerment.
Are there special people or deities you pray to?
I make special prayers to
the twenty-one Taras, Palden Lhamo, and other protectors of His
Holiness. In my home I have pictures of His Holiness, Green Tara
and Guru Rinpoche. When I pray to the Taras I pray for fortune
and health for myself and all beings.
Pentsang Dalkar - female
- 32 years old - Lhasa - 8 years
How often do you go to the temple?
I visit the temple everyday and pray for His Holiness and for Tibetan freedom.
What offerings do you make?
Everyday I make offerings of water, butter lamps, and prostrations in my home.
Where did you learn about Buddhist thought and practice?
From my parents I learned the daily religious activities, such as praying and making offerings and how to behave in life. Since I have lived in Dharamsala I have attended the teachings by His Holiness and have learned more about Buddhist thought.
What do you pray for?
I do not pray for the benefit of myself, to become rich or anything, this is wrong thought. I pray for everyone. If I am sick I pray that everyone will be able to avoid illness.
What individuals and deities do you pray to?
I have a statue of Guru
Rinpoche, pictures of Chenrezig and Palden Lhamo, and photographs
of His Holiness.
Dolma Bam - male - 33
years old
How often do you visit the temple?
I used to go to the temple to pray but I now I cannot because I am too busy.
How often do you pray and make offerings?
In the restaurant I work and sleep in, there is a large picture of His Holiness. Before I go to sleep I make prostrations to him and when I awake I also do prostrations. I cannot really make much offerings as it is not my home but prostrations are good offerings.
From where did you learn Dharma?
As a child I learned from my parents who are very strong Buddhists with good practice. They taught me how to behave according to the Dharma and how to make offerings and pray. I also learn from my Rinpoche and teachings of His Holiness.
Are there special individuals or deities you pray to?
I usually pray to His Holiness, Chenrezig and Tara (Dolma).
What do you pray for?
I pray for the long life
of His Holiness and for the release of the Panchen Lama. In this
way I am praying for the benefit of all beings because these are
such wonderful people that can help the world.
Appendix III: Losar
Interview
Pasang, 27 yr. old,
female, 6 yr. in India, from area close to Lhasa
What did you do on Losar this year?
For six days I did not go to work and mostly stayed home and spent time with friends. On the morning of the 24th I woke up very early, about 4AM, bathed and cleaned my room. Then I cooked chang and put them in small cups to chill. Then ate rice and drank chang and tea. Around 6AM I went to the temple wearing my new clothes to listen to H. H. the Dalai Lama. He spoke for a short time, giving good advice to all Tibetans. Then I went to a friends home. Food was basically the most important aspect of Losar. For lunch I ate chicken and rice with my friends. Then, with friends from my village we stayed up late, till 3Am, singing Tibetan songs. The next day I went visiting many people but I was tired. Everyone had momos to eat. In the middle of the day I took a nap. Afterwards I went to the Library and the monastery complex.
How does Losar in India compare with Losar in Tibet?
In Tibet I spent time with my family. We ate more food, the meat was better an there was more variety. We would also make trips to family in other parts of Tibet. For 15 days we would celebrate the new year.
Which do you prefer?
I liked Losar in Tibet
much more because I was with my family. Now my parents and sister
are dead and my brother is married. So much has changed in Tibet
that I don’t know if I can return. Even if I wanted to
return it is dangerous to do so. I was happy on Losar but I
missed my family and was reminded of my loss.
Nagwang, 72 yr. old,
male, 42 yr. in India, Lhasa
What did you do on Losar this year?
Before Losar I cleaned my room. I spent Losar with the people in the home for the elderly , the government supplied us with food. During three days I spent time with my friends and prayed, especially for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
How does Losar in India compare with Losar in Tibet?
In Tibet I was a monk and
on Losar we were very busy doing many wonderful activities. I
came to India in 1959 and joined the Indian Military for sixteen
years. My life in India is so different to my life in Tibet that
it is difficult to compare the two. I remember that Losar in
Tibet lasted for a long amount of time. Everyone in the country
was celebrating for at least fifteen days. Here in India people
can only stop working for three days. I am an old man and Losar
brings many memories. Sometimes this makes me very sad.
Kartos, 57 yr. old,
female, 24.2.2001, Amdo
What did you do on Losar this year?
During Losar I was staying at the Tibetan Reception Center. We all gathered together and ate food. I was not interested in the festivities, though. This is my first time beings close to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and this is my main concern. I am becoming old and most of Losar I walked around the temple and prayed. Everyone prays for the long life of His Holiness.
How does Losar in India compare with Losar in Tibet?
In Tibet I am a nomad.
Before Losar we clean the home and make food. In India the
facilities I was staying in was very poor and we had little food.
The Losar in Tibet is quite grand compared to Losar in India.
However, I am not interested in these issues, I would rather stay
here among His Holiness than eat wonderful food. I am old and
care only for my spiritual practice.
Tsem Tso, 18 yr. old,
female, 2 mo., Abba, Amdo
What did you do on Losar this year?
Losar was very happy. The first day we went to the temple early and prayed for the coming year. Then we went home and made momos from chicken and mutton. During Losar we ate a great deal of food and had many visitors. My English teacher visited me, which was very special.
How does Losar in India compare with Losar in Tibet?
In Tibet Losar is much
grander and traditional. The first day we spend only with the
family and do not go anywhere. There is a larger variety of food
in Tibet and I like the food much more. In Tibet we wear nicer
clothing, making special chupas for the festival. After
the first day we have many dances and parties for singing. On the
third day of Losar we go to visit the monasteries. Tibet is nicer
because I have more family and friends and we follow Tibetan
tradition. In India I have few family and friends. During Losar I
thought about my family in Tibet and wished I could be with them.
Karrar Gyaltos, 30 yr
old, male, 3.2.2001, Chemdo, Kham
What did you do on Losar
this year?
Ganden Gyaltso, 29 yr.
old, male (monk), 5 yr. in India, Amdo
What did you do on Losar this year?
During Losar this year I was in Bodhgaya. Most of my time in Bodhgaya I was praying, as it is a very sacred place. During Losar the monks make special prayers for the long life of His Holiness. I also performed special prayers for all human beings to have compassion to purify human suffering. I pray for the freedom that we will achieve as soon as the 11th Panchen Lama is released from the Chinese prison. Also during Losar the monks played many different games.
How is Losar in India compared with Losar in Tibet?
In Tibet monks are very
busy during Losar. Before Losar we all had many different duties
for preparation and during the festival we were also very busy.
Many people visit monasteries during Losar and there are many
different rituals. Here in India we had less duties and had time
to play games and enjoy ourselves. I prefer Losar in India
although I hope to someday return to Tibet.
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