Summer Tibetan Study Program 2023

2023 Summer Tibetan Study Program

A Partnership Program of the Tibet Fund & The College for Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah

The Tibet Fund (TTF) in partnership with the College for Higher Tibetan Studies (CHTS), Sarah, undertaking of the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics (IBD) is happy to announce the 2023 Summer Tibetan Study Program (STSP) for young Tibetans born or brought up in west to learn and experience the culture, history and civilization of Tibet in Dharamsala, the cultural and intellectual capital of the Tibetan exile community. Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of their cultural heritage, tradition, community in exile and issues associated with Tibet. They will also experience and engage in the challenges and possibilities that confront the exile Tibetan community which is striving to preserve traditional cultural values and identity in the context of globalization. The summer program will offer rigorous academic work, language study, contemplative practice and cultural immersion incorporated by field trips to enable first-hand experience.

IBD, Dharamsala was established by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1973 and its branch the CHTS, Sarah is a prestigious higher learning center for advanced Tibetan studies and practice. IBD-CHTS, Sarah offers Tibetan Study Abroad Programs for undergraduate American students in partnership with Emory University, Georgia, Atlanta, Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana and Gustavus Adolphus College, Minnesota, USA.

The Tibet Fund and IBD has been facilitating the program since 2014 and over 100 students have participated in the STSP from, United States, Canada and Europe. TTF will facilitate the Program for young Tibetan in the West whereas IBD-CHTS, Sarah will provide teachers and lecturers for the program. Students attend classes at the CHTS, Sarah campus of IBD and will have an opportunity to experience the daily life of the Tibetan community in Dharamsala.

Duration (Saturday July 1 to Saturday August 5, 2023)

Participants must report to CHTS, Sarah campus between June 29-30, 2023 and plan to leave on or after August 5, 2023. If you are taking an overnight bus from Delhi to Dharamsala, we recommend you get off at Gaggal (10-minute drive from Kangra town and 30 minutes before lower Dharamsala) instead of driving all the way to Dharamsala or McLeod Ganj. We will arrange your pick up from Gaggal, if prior arrival information is provided to us.

Registration Deadline: This program will accept only 30 students on first-come first serve basis. Please apply immediately. The deadline for registration has been set for May 31, 2023.  Please scroll down for the registration form.

Eligibility Requirements: Any Tibetan student above 17 years of age and living abroad is qualified to apply for this course. The course instruction will be bilingual; English and Tibetan. This program is not suitable for a student below 17 years of age, parents are strongly recommended not to send your kids if they are below 17 years of age.

 Cost of the Program: Each student is required to pay highly discounted fee of US$525 for the program, which includes a decent accommodation, food and tuition fees. All other cost associated in getting to the college has to be borne by the applicant, which includes international airfares and domestic travels from Delhi to Dharamsala. Please note the payment should be made in favor of “The Tibet Fund” with a note IBD-TTF Summer Program. 

1) Double room: Two students share a room furnished with A.C. & attached bathroom and Wi-Fi connectivity from the college library.  

 2) Food in the common kitchen: Except for 2 lunches all the meals are served in a separate cafeteria exclusively for the visiting students.

3) Tuition and field trips: A trip to Tsuglagkhang, Mcleodganj on 6^th July, H.H. the Birthday Celebration, Norbulingka Institute, the center for the preservation of Tibetan culture, Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA), Central Tibetan Administration at Gangchen Kyishong will be a part of the program.

Program Fee Refund Policy:

Once the application is submitted, the Tibet Fund will adhere to the following refund policy:

• Application withdrawn before deadline of May 31, 2023, we will give you full refund.
• Application withdrawn after the deadline to June 15, 2023, only 50% will be refunded.
• Application withdrawn after June 15, 2023, there will be no refund at all.

Weekend Pilgrimage (Thursday July 27 – Sunday July 30, 2020)

A mandatory weekend pilgrimage to Tashi Jong, Palpung Sherabling monastery (July 27), Bir Settlement and Chauntra and (July 28) Tso Pema (July 29-30) will be organized by the college. Students will share transportation cost, room charges and food during the tour. The expected cost for the entire tour is US$75 per head. This is not included in the US $525 payment. Our program coordinator will lead the tour and make all the arrangements.

Travel Assistance:

The participants are required to make your own arrangements for your travel and visa. We do organize arrangements for a group pick-up service at Delhi Airport and drop the participants to the school in Dharamsala at the cost of $125.  This fee includes following services, transportation from Delhi Airport to Majnu Ka Tilla (MT); One night stay in a hotel in MT (shared room); Bus Fare from Delhi to Gaggal; transportation from Gaggal to IBD Sarah College.  If you like to use this service, the participants must reach Delhi by June 28, 2023 to be picked up from Delhi airport. The group will leave for Dharamsala on June 29, 2023 on an overnight bus to Dharamsala from Delhi.

Please note that, we do not have group departure from Dharamsala once the summer program finishes at CHTS, Sarah. The parents and guardians are required to make their own arrangements for your child’s travel plan.

2023 Summer Tibet Study Program Curriculum:

1. Meditation Course – Instructor: Geshe Tenzin Dhamchoe

Reference Material: Gen Lamrinpa, Calming the Mind: Tibetan Buddhist Teachings on the Cultivation of Meditative Quiescence, Snow Lion Publications (recommended buying)

The primary focus of this course will be how one can achieve a deeper level of mental peace, tranquility and stability through the implementation of tools and methods which are found in Tibetan Buddhism. The class will also discuss traditional methods on how one can enhance loving kindness, compassion and warm heartedness feeling which are basic source of joy for oneself and for the others at large. As such in each session, in addition to lectures by and discussion sessions with visiting faculty, there will be short guided meditation.

2. Tibetan Language for Beginners and Intermediate– Instructor: Mrs. Wang Bhomo, Ms. Dhondup Dolma and Ven. Thinley Tharchin.

Reference Material: Tibetan Language for beginners, CHTS, Sarah publications (sold at you CHTS, Sarah)

This course is intended as an introduction/intermediate level on spoken and written Tibetan. The course will meet 2 hours daily and will include Tibetan grammar, reading, writing, speaking and oral comprehension. Students intending to join intermediate program will have to sit for a placement test.

3. Tibetan Culture and Civilization– Instructor: Mr. Passang Tsering

Reading Materials: Buy The Tibetan by Mathew T. Kapstein, Blackwell publishing and Compilation of articles and text books (sold to you at CHTS, Sarah).

This course comprises a study of the Tibetan civilization, history, politics, religious traditions, artistic practices, and social institutions of contemporary Tibetans.  However, in order to contextualize this material, historical background, cultural practices, and institutions of Tibet (both before and after the Chinese government established the Tibetan Autonomous Region) will be studied as well. In addition to lectures by CHTS faculty, fieldtrips to local sites and organizations, as well as participation in important religious holidays, pilgrimage activities, artistic performances, and cultural events will also be an integral part of this course.

4. Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy and Practice – Instructor: Geshe Tenzin Tselek

Reading Materials: Compilation of text (sold to you at CHTS, Sarah)

The Buddhist tradition has evolved a profound understanding of the inner world of mind and ways to transform it, science has developed sophisticated understanding of the material world. Both science and Buddhism share as a fundamental aim the contribution they can make to humanity’s well-being. Reference book will be ’The Universe in a Single Atom’ by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

 Identity, Action, Reflection:

Reading Materials: Compilation of reading materials (sold to you at CHTS, Sarah)

This course is designed to be a forum to assist the students in processing the experiences of living and studying in Dharamsala community and reconnecting with their culture. Through discussion, meditation, interaction with CHTS, Sarah student community, readings and guest speakers’ students will reflect upon their own identity and place in the world.

For more information, please feel free to contact the following:

Registration Form and Program Fee to mailed to:

The Tibet Fund

(IBD -TTF Summer Tibetan Study Program)

Attn: Tenzing Choephel, Program Director

241 East, 32 Street

New York, NY 10016

Note: Online Payments can be made at www.tibetfund.org and digital copy of application should be e-mailed to tchoephel@tibetfund.org (Online payments via Paypal and Credit Card, please include an additional $25 administrative fee over the program fee.) Should you have any questions regarding the payments, please call the Tibet Fund at 212-213-5011.

**Please download to access the 2023 Summer Tibetan Study Program Registration Form**

2023 Registration Form