The Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) organized a two-day Special Lecture series on the theme, “Revisiting the Status of Tibet During the Ganden Phodrang Period.” Three esteemed speakers, Sonam Gyaltsen, Topla, and Nyethar, were invited to deliver the lectures . The event was held at the TCRC Hall, CTA on from 14-15th September 2023.
The Chief Guest, Kalon Norzin Dolma of the Department of Information and International Relations, inaugurated the Lecture Series by lighting a butter lamp in front of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s portrait. Following the inauguration, she and Mr. Dawa Tsering, the Director of TPI, released a book titled, “Essays on the Tibetan Tradition of Reincarnation” which was edited and compiled by the TPI.
The Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) organized a two-day Special Lecture series on the theme, “Revisiting the Status of Tibet During the Ganden Phodrang Period.”
The event formally began with the welcome address delivered by Mr. Dawa Tsering, who briefly introduced the book on the reincarnation system. He explained that the Chinese viewpoint on the reincarnation system was based on the theory of ‘golden Urn’ and that it aggressively promotes its understanding of the system despite their lack of knowledge and respect for the Tibetan Buddhist tradition attached to reincarnation.
Tsering Samdup, a Research Fellow at TPI and the editor of the book, “Essays on the Tibetan Tradition of Reincarnation”, gave a brief outline of the book and the research papers included in the volume.The Welcome Address was followed by the first speaker of the Special Lecture series, Mr. Sonam Gyaltsen. He is the Senior Lecturer of Tibetan Linguistics at the College for Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah. He spoke on the theme “Revisiting the Two Instances of Exilehood of the 13th Dalai Lama”.
In the afternoon of the first day, Mr Topla gave his lecture on the relations between the Ganden Phodrang Government and Khoshut Khanate. Both the lectures was followed by questions from the audience.
The third lecturer of the series in Mr Nyenthar. He is the lecturer at the Dalai Lama Institute for Higher Education. His lecture is an exposition of spread of Gelug monasteries during the Ganden Phodrang Period of Tibetan History.
The lecture series concluded with a presentation of mementos to the three lecturers. Dr Tenzin Desal of the Tibet Policy Institute gave the concluding remarks and offered vote of thanks.
The lectures was well attended with audience drawn from the staff of the Central Tibetan Administration and students from academic institutions around Dharamshala. Over 60 members attended the whole of the lecture series.