Academy of Tibetan Culture
About Norbulingka
Norbulingka Institute promotes the traditional arts and literary studies of Tibet. It was founded in 1988 as part of the the Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration. Th inspiration for this project came from by Kim and Kelsang Yeshi who recognized the need for an institute which was actively concerned with the preservation of Tibetan culture.The Institute is situated in the valley below Dharamsala, 6 kms from the offices of the Central Tibetan Administration. It is surrounded by the green fields of the Kangra Valley, and stands against the backdrop of the towering Dhauladhar mountains of the outer Himalayan range.
Norbulingka comprises the following sections: The Centre for Arts; The Academy of Tibetan Culture (see separate section); and The Literary and Cultural Research Centre.
The Centre for Arts
This is a unique institution that combines training in the arts with the production of high quality art objects. The skills preserved and passed on at Norbulingka include statue making, thangka painting, applique and tailoring, woodcarving and carpentry. The masters teaching these arts are true artists intent primarily on preserving their heritage and passing it on to a new generation of artists. The Norbulingka Institute is devoted to making high quality works of art available to the public.
The Literary and Cultural Research Center
In 1997 the Centre was established with a team of ten writers and researchers preparing a wide range of research material. These include regular Tibetan publications as well as larger projects. The Research Department houses the team compiling the official biography of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a project expected to take several years to complete. Other projects include the compilation of a Tibetan encyclopedia, an undertaking which has so far gathered thousands of entries and which will also take a number of years to complete.
Community
Norbulingka provides people newly arrived from Tibet with on-the-job training in such fields as administration, production, marketing and computer skills, besides apprenticeships in traditional artistic domains. We incorporate their emerging skills into the infrastructure needed to run the Institute, and encourage self reliance and a positive work ethic. These principles, based on Buddhist values, were prevalent in old Tibet, but have been overwhelmed by the upheavals that have taken place there over the last few decades.
There are more than 400 people working, studying and living at Norbulingka: artists, craftsmen with their apprentices, scholars, students and administrators and their families. They come from all backgrounds and areas of Tibet. Some were in born in India, but most are refugees who arrived from Tibet in the last few years. We have established a creche, afterschool club and clinic for the employees, most of whom live on the site.
This is a unique institution that combines training in the arts with the production of high quality art objects. The skills preserved and passed on at Norbulingka include statue making, thangka painting, applique and tailoring, woodcarving and carpentry. The masters teaching these arts are true artists intent primarily on preserving their heritage and passing it on to a new generation of artists. The Norbulingka Institute is devoted to making high quality works of art available to the public.
The Literary and Cultural Research Center
In 1997 the Centre was established with a team of ten writers and researchers preparing a wide range of research material. These include regular Tibetan publications as well as larger projects. The Research Department houses the team compiling the official biography of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a project expected to take several years to complete. Other projects include the compilation of a Tibetan encyclopedia, an undertaking which has so far gathered thousands of entries and which will also take a number of years to complete.
Community
Norbulingka provides people newly arrived from Tibet with on-the-job training in such fields as administration, production, marketing and computer skills, besides apprenticeships in traditional artistic domains. We incorporate their emerging skills into the infrastructure needed to run the Institute, and encourage self reliance and a positive work ethic. These principles, based on Buddhist values, were prevalent in old Tibet, but have been overwhelmed by the upheavals that have taken place there over the last few decades.
There are more than 400 people working, studying and living at Norbulingka: artists, craftsmen with their apprentices, scholars, students and administrators and their families. They come from all backgrounds and areas of Tibet. Some were in born in India, but most are refugees who arrived from Tibet in the last few years. We have established a creche, afterschool club and clinic for the employees, most of whom live on the site.
The Temple
The visual focal point and spiritual center of Norbulingka Institute is the Deden Tsuglagkhang temple. The gilded copper statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, made by Norbulingka Institute statue making master Pemba Dorjee, is the largest of its kind in exile. Above the temple there is a library housing Tibetan scriptures, also both Tibetan and English reference books. Tibetans in exile have no national museum, but at Norbulingka we have established the Losel Doll Museum with more than one hundred and sixty dolls representing traditional Tibetan costume.
Facilities
Visitors to Norbulingka can stay at the Norling guesthouse, or at Chonor House in McLeod Ganj. Both offer guests modern comfort in a rich Tibetan decor. There is also a Cafe at Norbulingka.
For more information about Norbulingka, or if you would like to plan a visit to see it for yourself, please go to the website: www. norbulingka.org
The visual focal point and spiritual center of Norbulingka Institute is the Deden Tsuglagkhang temple. The gilded copper statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, made by Norbulingka Institute statue making master Pemba Dorjee, is the largest of its kind in exile. Above the temple there is a library housing Tibetan scriptures, also both Tibetan and English reference books. Tibetans in exile have no national museum, but at Norbulingka we have established the Losel Doll Museum with more than one hundred and sixty dolls representing traditional Tibetan costume.
Facilities
Visitors to Norbulingka can stay at the Norling guesthouse, or at Chonor House in McLeod Ganj. Both offer guests modern comfort in a rich Tibetan decor. There is also a Cafe at Norbulingka.
For more information about Norbulingka, or if you would like to plan a visit to see it for yourself, please go to the website: www. norbulingka.org
