CHAPTER 7

7.1 Background

7.2 Sector Goals

7.3 Department of Religion and Culture

7.4 The Norbulingka Institute

7.5 The Tibetan Institute of PerformingArts

7.6 The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives

7.7 The Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies

7.8 Budget Summary

7.1 BACKGROUND

7.1.1 Introduction

The Communist regime in Tibet has undertaken to systematically destroy the Tibetan culture and heritage. Over 6000 monasteries were destroyed, their contents, consisting of religious images and statues, were either looted or destroyed, and millions of ancient books were burnt. Pursuit of the traditional Tibetan way of life and the practice of religion were prohibited. Monks and nuns were forced to disrobe and hundreds of Tibetan children were sent to China for Marxist education. Among the many who died were scholars, artists and craftsmen who had inherited the precious cultural traditions and should have passed them on. Due to the increased number of Chinese in Tibet as a result of the policy of population transfer and to the deliberate imposition of Chinese culture to overwhelm and dilute the traditional Tibetan way of life, Tibet's ancient culture and religion are fast becoming extinct in their own land.

As most of the monasteries and institutions were being destroyed in Tibet and there was a danger of the Tibetan religious and cultural heritage being wiped out in Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama established the Council for Religious and Cultural Affairs (now the Department of Religion and Culture) in 1960 to oversee the preservation of the religious and cultural heritage of Tibet. During the years in exile the Department of Religion and Culture has assisted in the re-establishment of almost 200 monasteries and nunneries in India, Nepal and Bhutan.

7.1.2 Monasteries and Nunneries

Life in the Monasteries: A Tibetan monk or nun traditionally enters the monastery or nunnery at an early age. He (or she) first meets the house master who introduces him to the room master, whose role is to look after the novice and find text masters for him. The monastic curriculum, as in the three great monasteries of Tibet, is divided into fifteen classes, each lasting for a number of years. The major Buddhist root texts studied in the monasteries and nunneries are largely the same although the commentaries to them differ.

The day of a monk lasts from 5 a.m. until midnight, and is devoted to reciting prayers, debating, attending classes with his master, memorizing texts and meditating. The subjects he studies consist of the preliminary collected topics, Perfection of Wisdom, Middle View, Vinaya, and Abhidharma. Unlike in the past in Tibet, it now takes less time (from 18 to 25 years) for a monk to receive his Geshe degree (the Gelugpa order's highest degree in Buddhist studies). In addition to his curricular studies a monk also has to receive many oral transmissions of Buddhist texts and teachings as well as learning all sorts of religious rites and rituals.

After taking the Geshe degree examination a monk can then join one of the tantric colleges. At this time some monks become abbots, writers, spiritual advisors, social workers and teachers in the monastic universities or elsewhere. Some renounce the worldly life, taking up meditation in distant caves, meeting no one except the people who occasionally bring them food.

The monasteries and nunneries act as cultural centers by preserving the major fields of study. In addition they provide essential spiritual guidance to all members of Tibetan society, who strongly depend on the monasteries as a source of advice, comfort and consolation.

At present there are 181 monasteries and 8 nunneries in India, Nepal and Bhutan established after 1959, representing all five traditions of Tibetan religion (see Table 7.1.2). The survey of the monasteries and nunneries undertaken for the second Integrated Development Plan and the records of the Department of Religion and Culture indicate that there are 17,376 monks and 549 nuns in these monasteries and nunneries.

Out of the above, the survey for the IDP covered 55 monasteries and 5 nunneries which together account for 72 percent of the monks and 71 percent of the nuns in India and Nepal. The results of the survey indicate that 61 percent of the current population of monks joined the monasteries since 1980, indicating a possible growth rate in the number of monks of around 7 percent a year. Thus the monastic population has more than doubled since 1980. From records of the new refugees fleeing Tibet it is clear that around 60 percent of this increase is due to new refugees: over 5000 monks have come from Tibet since 1980 and these monks now represent a third of the monastic population in exile. The remaining growth in population is due to the admission of new monks from among the Refugee Community. Due to the recent flight of many nuns from Tibet the population of nuns in exile has increased even more dramatically, by over four times since 1980.

7.1.3 Institutions

A number of other institutions were also founded to preserve and promote specific aspects of the Tibetan religious and cultural traditions, and these now operate independently under the auspices of the Department of Religion and Culture.

The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts , Dharamsala, was founded in 1959 to ensure the survival of Tibetan opera, song, dance and musical traditions (see 7.5 below).

Tibet House , New Delhi, was established in 1965 with a museum, library and emporium. Tibet House runs courses in Tibetan studies, holds conferences and seminars, undertakes research and translations, produces publications and stages exhibitions.

The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives , Dharamsala, was established in 1971 to preserve religious and cultural artifacts and documents which survived the destruction in Tibet; to preserve ancient Tibetan crafts; and to provide facilities for those who are interested in learning about Tibetan language, history and culture, and the history and philosophy of Buddhism (see 7.6 below). The Library has been recognized as "Center for Tibetan Studies" by the University of Himachal Pradesh.

The Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies , Varanasi, was established in 1967 to educate Tibetan students and others in the fields of higher Tibetan, Buddhist and Himalayan studies, and Sanskrit, as well as providing modern education in English (see 7.7 below). The Institute has been granted "Deemed to be University" status in India, and is funded by the Government of India.

The Norbulingka Institute , Dharamsala, was established by the Department of Religion and Culture in 1988 to provide an environment for the future development of Tibetan culture, both in its artistic and literary aspects. Thus it seeks to preserve and develop ancient Tibetan artistic traditions through its Center of Arts, as well as to preserve and develop Tibetan literary and scholarly traditions through its Institute for Tibetan Learning (see 7.4 below).

The Norbulingka Institute is directly managed by the Department of Religion and Culture. The others, while functioning as independent bodies, have an official affiliation to the Department.

7.2 SECTOR GOALS

7.2.1 Problem and Needs Assessment

Newly arrived monks and nuns. There are at present 181 monasteries and 8 nunneries in India, Nepal and Bhutan which were established after 1959; together they have a population of over 17,000 monks and nuns. Of these one third have arrived since 1980 as new refugees. This dramatic increase in the monastic population has led to serious overcrowding in many of the monasteries and nunneries, and 35 of the 60 monasteries and nunneries covered by the IDP survey indicated that they urgently need more hostel facilities.

The second greatest concern to the monasteries and nunneries was related to health in terms of drinking water, sanitation, medical services and nutrition (which were mentioned by 38 percent of the monasteries and nunneries). This is in accord with the poor health conditions which often prevail in the most overcrowded monasteries. The third area of concern (mentioned by 35 percent of the monasteries and nunneries) was education, both for the new refugees and the young monks who have been admitted. Thus the monasteries expressed the need for teachers, classrooms and textbooks.

Many of the monasteries undertake income-generating activities to supplement their income from community donations for religious services and from sponsorships and donations from abroad. Of the 55 monasteries covered by the IDP survey 30 undertake agricultural activities and 15 run handicraft centers. Other activities include animal husbandry (5 monasteries), shops (4), guest houses (4), restaurants (3), truck services (2) and milling (1). While 19 out of the 55 monasteries undertake more than one of such activities, a further 19 monasteries, as well as the five nunneries, rely entirely on donations for their income.

Thus the financial situation of many monasteries has been fragile; most are only barely self-supporting through community support, agriculture or small enterprises. When the new monks and nuns began to arrive in larger and larger numbers, without any resources, outside support thus became essential. The Department of Religion and Culture currently can only provide a minimal monthly stipend of Rs 50 for each new refugee and with the constant influx of new monks and nuns it has not been possible to raise this.

Endangered artistic and literary traditions. After the cultural genocide caused by the Chinese invasion and the Cultural Revolution, not only was much existing artwork destroyed, but the artists themselves were unable to continue to work or pass on their artistic tradition to a new generation. In exile there are few artists and in the initial years the need for art was often overlooked because of more immediate needs of rehabilitation. Few facilities existed to allow potential artists to develop their skills.

Though all Tibetan children attending Tibetan schools in India learn to read and write Tibetan adequately few go beyond that. Lay students conduct their higher education in English and have little knowledge of traditional literature. Monastic students study religious texts and have limited knowledge of the outside world. Neither manage to produce new written material that would contribute to developing Tibetan literature. Fragmented knowledge among different segments of the population creates situations unhealthy for the future organization and development of Tibetan culture and literature.

Moral and financial support is difficult to obtain without exchange and communication. Isolation from the world community can create a situation in which the Tibetans get little support due to lack of understanding of their situation. It is also important that the Tibetans gain a firm understanding of the outside world. It is essential that every effort be made to communicate the values of Tibetan culture and religion through exchanges, dialogue, publications and seminars.

7.2.2 Sector Goals

To address the above problems, the institutions of the religious and cultural affairs have established the following overall sector goals.

To preserve and develop Tibetan religion and culture in exile.

To support the Tibetan monastic institutions in exile.

To provide a basic stipend for all monks and nuns newly arrived from Tibet.

To educate the younger Tibetan generations in their cultural heritage.

To uplift the role of Tibetan women in Buddhism.

To secure the survival of specific disciplines (such as thanka painting and Tibetan opera) within the literary and artistic traditions of Tibet.

To preserve the Tibetan religious and cultural objects and texts which have escaped Chinese destruction.

To preserve, interpret and disseminate, through research, study, teachings, publications and other activities, the store of knowledge and wisdom accumulated in Tibetan religion and culture, both for Tibetans and non-Tibetans.

To promote research of Tibetan religion, culture, society and history, especially research by Tibetans themselves.

7.3 DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION AND CULTURE

7.3.1 Current Activities. The Department oversees and coordinates the activities of all the Tibetan religious institutions and helps maintain their traditional religious practices. It finds sponsors for needy Tibetan monks and nuns whatever monastery or nunnery they belong to. Thus the Department is providing a monthly allowance of Rs 50 each to over 5000 monks and nuns who have arrived as new refugees from Tibet since 1980. The Department also gives assistance to all newly arrived monks and nuns in finding a place to live and study. Many of these monks and nuns were active in the peaceful pro-independence demonstrations and have suffered torture and atrocities at the hands of the communist regime in Tibet.

In collaboration with the Tibetan Nuns Project the Department looks after 250 nuns who have recently fled Tibet in three newly established nunneries. The Nuns Project meets the nun's expenses for food, clothing, shelter, medicine and education.

To help educate younger monks the Department is paying over 100 teachers a monthly salary of Rs 400 each. However, the limited funds available to the Department make it difficult to give assistance to needy monks and nuns such as the sick, old and disabled. (For these activities of the Department to support monks and nuns, particularly new refugees, see further in Chapter 3A.)

The Department produces two regular publications in English as well as occasional books in Tibetan. The Department undertakes research in various cultural and religious fields, such as Vinaya, the history of ancient monasteries, and so on.

The Department maintains close ties with other Buddhist organizations, such as the World Buddhist Fellowship Conference (WBFC), the Asian Buddhist Conference (ABC), the Network of Western Buddhist Teachers Conference (NWBTC) and the Network of Engaged Buddhists, and sends delegations to their conferences. Thus the first NWBTC was organized at Dharamsala in early 1993. The Department itself organizes conferences, seminars and religious teachings which are important to the preservation and promotion of the Tibetan religious and cultural heritage.

The Department assists in organizing and holding important religious events, teachings and initiations by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other high lamas. The Department organized the Kalachakra Initiation by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Varanasi in 1991, where His Holiness gave preliminary teachings and initiation to about 200,000 people from the Tibetan Refugee Community, the Himalayan regions of India, Nepal and Bhutan, and from Tibet. The Department was similarly involved in the Kalachakra Initiations by His Holiness in Kinnaur in 1992 and in Sikkim in 1993. The Department was a co-sponsor of the celebration of the Centennial Parliament of World Religions in Chicago in 1993 and sent its representatives to attend it.

7.3.2 Future Programs and Projects

In the light of the overall sector goals, the Department has designed the following programs:

- Monastic Support Program

- Outreach Program

In addition other programs have been established through the Norbulingka Institute, for which see section 7.4.

7.3.2.1 Monastic Support Program

The plans to which the Department gives highest priority relate to the Monastic Support Program, which is primarily directed towards rehabilitating new refugees who are monks and nuns. They have thus been included in Chapter 3A on the rehabilitation of new refugees. The Monastic Support Program consists of the following projects:

- Monastic Hostels

- Stipend for New Refugees who are Monks and Nuns

- Teachers in Lay Subjects for the Monastic Schools

- Teachers of Traditional Philosophy

- Supply of Traditional Textbooks to Newly Arrived Monks and Nuns

- Support for Sick, Disabled and Elderly Monks and Nuns

- Tibetan Nun's Project

For further details on these projects see section 3A.4.4.

7.3.2.2 Outreach Program

Under the Outreach Program the Department is planning the following three sub-programs:

- Exchange Program, comprising three projects:

- Student Exchange Project

- Inter-Faith Dialogue

- Conferences and Seminars

- Publications Program

- Preservation of Rare Teachings Program

Sub-Program 1: Exchange Program

Program Objectives.

- To assist nations and republics like Mongolia, Kalmykia, Buryat, Aginsky, Tuva and others to revive and promote their traditional religion and culture.

- To share each others' knowledge and experience, and to promote a sincere feeling of brotherhood between Buddhists and non-buddhists.

- To make each others' religion and culture accessible to the those who are interested.

Project 1: Student Exchange Project

Background. In centuries past Tibetan Buddhism spread to the northern regions of Mongolia, Kalmykia, Buryat, Aginsky and Tuva, and the people from these areas still belong to the same school of Buddhism as the Tibetans. For centuries thousands of monks from these regions came to Tibet to study and many became great scholars who returned to their native land, composed important works and established monasteries. These ties were cut off in the 1920s with the advent of communism in these areas.

The late 1980s and early 1990s witnessed a religious revival and the rebuilding of many of the monasteries which had been razed by the communists. However, after a lapse of 70 years, there was hardly anyone left to teach and ordain new monks and it became essential to seek teachings from Tibetan religious masters and scholars again. As a result the Department has been receiving many requests from Buddhist students from these areas who wish to study in India but require financial assistance. Since 1980, after contacts first began again, the Department has received 55 students from the Russian Federation and Mongolia, 28 of whom came in 1993 alone. They are presently studying Buddhist philosophy, Tibetan language, medicine and astrology, and thanka painting. On completion of their studies they will return to their countries and serve as abbots, teachers and heads of institutions.

There are also many requests from these regions to send teachers in these subjects. In May 1993 the Department sent 15 teachers to St. Petersburg, Kalmykia, Aginsky and Buryat. Ten Tibetan students have also gone to these areas for studies in Russian and Mongolian language and medical studies.

Implementation. From 1995 an average of 20 students (15 for studies in Tibetan monasteries and 5 for studies in other Tibetan institutions) a year will come from regions like Mongolia, Buryat, Tuva, Kalmykia, Aginsky, and an average of five Tibetan teachers a year will be deputed to these regions.

Project 2: Inter-faith Dialogue

Background. Since the late 1970s the Department has been actively working on making Tibetan religion and culture accessible to the West as well as making western religious and monastic traditions accessible to Tibetans through inter-faith dialogue and inter-monastic exchange programs, international exchanges and so on. In 1986 Benedictine monks and nuns first visited Tibetan monasteries in India, and since then the Department has coordinated visits by Tibetan monks and nuns to Benedictine monasteries in the UK and the USA and visits by Benedictine monks and nuns from the UK, USA, Australia and from Madras in India. In 1990, in Dharamsala, the Department coordinated a dialogue program with eight rabbis and leaders of Jewish communities from the USA and Israel.

Implementation. The Department proposes to organize one such inter-faith dialogue or international monastic exchange, with an average of four delegates, each year. In the past each exchange has been funded on a case by case basis, but regular funding would facilitate planning of such exchanges and allow more groups to be involved.

Project 3: Conferences and Seminars

Background. The Department maintains close ties with other Buddhist organizations (as mentioned in 7.3.1 above). At least once a year the Department receives an invitation for one or two delegates to participate in a conference or seminar organized by one such organization. Participation in these international events is a chance for Tibetan delegates to express their views and widen understanding of Tibetan culture.

Since 1983 the Department has also organized a number of conferences, gatherings and seminars. These have included, for example, the Great Prayer Festival in Bodh Gaya, which brought together more than 10,000 monks and nuns from the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism according to the tradition begun in Lhasa in the 15th century; and the first international seminar on the five major Buddhist sciences in the Himalayan region. The Department also organizes monthly lectures by local or visiting scholars at Chonor House, the Department's Cultural Center in upper Dharamsala.

There need to be more conferences and seminars among the heads of the Tibetan spiritual traditions to discuss important topics, such as new approaches to the preservation and promotion of religion. In addition to the existence of many senior religious masters there are many scholarly young Tibetan Buddhist monks, belonging to all sects of Tibetan religion, who are enthusiastic to take part in religious conferences and seminars in order to make positive contributions to the preservation and promotion of the ancient religious and cultural heritage of Tibet. There are also many Tibetan nuns who are capable of promoting their role in religion. Compared to the role of men in Tibetan religion, the role of women has been relatively insignificant so far.

Implementation. The Department plans to send two delegates to one Buddhist conference or seminar each year. The Department also plans to organize the following conferences itself:

- An international conference inviting all the members of Tibet Houses around the world to come to Dharamsala and discuss ways to coordinate plans and ideas for more efficient dissemination of Tibetan culture.

- A Tibetan nuns conference on how to promote the role of Tibetan women in Buddhism and discuss ways of giving better opportunities and education to women wishing to lead a religious life.

- A conference on Buddhism and science to which scientists from all over the world will be invited to discuss and exchange ways of integrating Buddhist ideas in medicine and psychology.

In addition to the nuns conference the Department will organize one local conference each year.

Program Management. The Department will directly organize and manage all the exchange programs, conferences and seminars. The Secretary of the Department will keep in contact with the concerned countries, monastic communities and organizations through the Offices of Tibet abroad. A Deputy Secretary will take the main responsibility for organizing all exchanges and events, including monitoring costs incurred, the usefulness of exchange visits, and so on.

Within India monastic community halls are available for use as venues in both Tibetan Settlements in south India and Dharamsala. Chonor House Cultural Center and the Norbulingka Institute can also be used for such programs.

Program Financial Resources. With the opening of Central Asia and of Russia and as a result the ever increasing requests for exchanges, as well as with the development of these plans in greater detail, the budget estimated for this Program has increased significantly since the first IDP. The details are as follows.

Student Exchange Project. One student or teacher on the exchange program requires Rs 12,000 a year, as well as airfares to or from India (about Rs 50,000 each). However, students who come to India will be asked to fund their own airfares. Thus to receive 20 new students in India each year for study programs lasting seven to ten years, and to send five teachers abroad each year will cost Rs 5.2 million over the Plan period of five years.

Inter-faith Dialogue. For delegates visiting India the cost of travel and accommodation within India is Rs 35,000 each. The Department will ask such visitors to cover their own airfares. For Tibetans to visit countries abroad costs Rs 70,000 on average per person. For three delegations of four persons each to come to India and two Tibetan delegations of four persons to visit countries abroad over the Plan period will therefore cost Rs 980,000.

Conferences and Seminars. The costs for sending two delegates a year to conferences abroad are Rs 100,000 giving a total of Rs 500,000 over five years. While the delegates to the two international conferences planned under this projects will be asked to cover their own expenses, the Department of Religion and Culture is budgeting Rs 500,000 for each conference to cover its costs, including for a few special guests. For the nuns conference, and other local conferences, the Department will have to cover all expenses and is budgeting Rs 150,000 each year for one such conference. Thus the total costs of this project over five years are Rs 2.3 million.

Sub-Program 2: Publications

Publications. Cho-Yang (The Voice of Tibetan Religion and Culture) is an occasional publication which is issued about every 18 months. Since 1986 five issues of Cho-Yang have been published, one of which was a special issue to commemorate the International Year of Tibet. Cho-Yang includes essays on lesser known aspects of Tibetan religion, history and politics, arts, traditional sciences, ethnography and environment. It also features biographies, new translations and photo essays. A regular issue of Cho-Yang is 120 pages long, professionally designed with color and black and white photographs and printed in Malaysia.

Though distribution is often a problem, Cho-yang has been very well received by readers worldwide and the Department has been encouraged to pursue the publication. The Department also feels that it is essential to have a quality publication which presents Tibetan culture to non-Tibetans from a Tibetan viewpoint.

Melong is a bi-yearly to quarterly newsletter published since 1988, which reports events relevant to religious and cultural activities of the Tibetan Community in exile.

In addition to these existing publications the Department is also planning to reproduce copies of important and rare religious texts and biographies of leading lamas, and to publish translated works on Buddhism in Tibetan and English. The Department also needs to purchase relevant magazines, journals and other publications to acquaint itself with major religions of different parts of the world and their religious and cultural activities and to collect materials for publications and research.

Human Resources. The Department already has a Publications Section which has two experienced editors and an assistant, one circulation manager, two researchers and one computer operator, and has received occasional help from volunteers. The Section is headed by a Deputy Secretary who manages and monitors the work of the Section. A further editor will be recruited soon. Printing materials and printing presses are available in Dharamsala, Delhi and Malaysia. The Department has good contacts with each of these printing presses.

Financial Resources. So far Cho-Yang has operated in a self-sufficient way. Each issue is financed from the payments from the previous issue as well as from donations, each source covering roughly half of the costs. The costs of designing and printing Cho-Yang comes to $4 per copy for 2500 copies. The printing of Melong comes to $0.80 per copy for 1500 copies, and this newsletter is distributed free of cost, although donations are welcomed. Over five years (incorporating 5 percent inflation) the cost of these publications will be Rs 2.7 million. The Department is seeking to raise 25 percent of these costs (Rs 663,000) from donors in order to ensure that these publications are brought out regularly.

The religious texts and translations will be sold and thus they will only require initial funding from outside. For this purpose the Department is seeking Rs 100,000 each year from donors. Thereafter the cost of producing subsequent editions will be generated from retail sales. In addition the Department needs Rs 25,000 a year for subscribing to relevant magazines and journals and buying various research materials; the Department will contribute 20 percent of these costs each year.

Sub-Program 3: Preservation of Rare Teachings

It is extremely important for preserving Tibetan religion to preserve and pass on rare teachings presently held by various senior lamas. The Department has so far made arrangements for the transmission of four sets of rare teachings to younger lamas and other interested people, so that they are not lost with the passing away of the elderly lamas. The Department was able to make arrangements for two elderly Sakya lamas to pass on two sets of rare Sakya teachings at Lumbini in Nepal. To be able to continue this important religious project in future the Department will need special funds at its disposal. The Department is seeking to raise Rs 50,000 a year for this purpose, of which the Department would contribute 20 percent from its own resources. The Department is therefore seeking to raise Rs 200,000 over five years from donors for this Program.

7.4 THE NORBULINGKA INSTITUTE

7.4.1 Center of Arts. The Norbulingka Center for Arts and opened in 1991 and presently employs 47 craftsmen (90 percent of whom are new arrivals from Tibet), who work on a wage basis. The carpenters are fully engaged in the construction and other works related to the building of the Institute, while the tailoring section in working entirely on outside orders. The painters and metal workers divide their time between work, such as murals and decorations, for the Institute and for meeting outside orders. The workshops function on the traditional master-apprentice relationship. When construction is complete, hopefully by 1995, greater emphasis will be placed on training. Training, such as described below, will be set up for those who wish to improve their skills. The others will be given the option to work on production to raise funds for the Center.

The Center for Tibetan Arts and Crafts, Dharamsala, formerly run by the Department of Finance, was shifted to the Department of Religion and Culture in 1993. A new building project financed by DANIDA is under way and upon completion will allow the transfer of 42 painters and woodcarvers from the Center for Tibetan Arts and Crafts to the Norbulingka Institute.

The following long-term training programs are being offered by the Norbulingka Center for Arts:

Painting (six years with five new apprentices every two years): For three years all the apprentices will receive a training in traditional and classical painting with religious themes. They will then specialize in thanka painting, the painting of objects for export, or lay painting.

Wood sculpture and carpentry (four years with five new apprentices every two years): At the end of the first two years, after the basic tenets of Tibetan sculpture have been mastered, the trainees will choose between cabinet-making or sculpture. They will be encouraged to experiment with new ideas based on their own inspiration and on current demand.

Work on fabric (four years with five new apprentices every two years): After two years, having mastered basic techniques, apprentices will choose one of two options: to become a master in appliqued work or to become a tailor.

Clay sculpture and papier mache (three years with three new trainees every two years): After two years, having mastered basic techniques, trainees will choose either to specialize in the making of religious statues or masks, or else to apply the traditional techniques in a new field.

Traditional statue making, silver jewellery, metal objects and accessories (six years - or nine years for statues - with four new apprentices every two years): The training will instruct students how to emboss metal and to cast a mould using a method unique to the Tibetans. They will also be taught how to make jewellery and accessories, such as belt buckles based on traditional designs, but adapted to today's fashions. The best students will pursue their apprenticeship with statue making, for an additional three years.

Human resources. One master carpenter, one master carver, two painting masters, two master tailors, one clay sculptor, one statue maker and one gold and silver smith are presently working for the Center for Arts as the heads of their departments.

Financial Resources. The Department of Religion and Culture has invested over $200,000 from donor funds for the construction of the Norbulingka complex. All employees working on the construction of the temple and the Center for Learning are being paid from funds for the construction. Fifteen percent of the artists are being supported through private sponsorships. The salaries of the remainder are covered through sales of production either made in the workshops or produced in Delhi from prototypes made at the Center. This is expected to continue for another two years until the construction is completed. In the following years it is expected that production will cover the salaries of all the teachers and staff, as well as 30 percent of that of the students in the fourth and fifth year, 50 percent in the sixth year, and 70 percent in the seventh.

7.4.2 Institute for Higher Studies. The Institute for Higher Studies will open in October 1994 with 20 students. It will (i) seek to safeguard the Tibetan literary tradition and encourage its growth; (ii) provide an institution where Tibetan scholarship will continue to grow and develop, while adapting it to contemporary times; (iii) train administrators and teachers with a thorough grounding in various branches of Tibetan knowledge, who will help to safeguard and perpetuate the Tibetan cultural heritage in their own community; and (iv) provide a center for training and learning so that in future Tibetan scholars can be found among the lay and ordained population.

Courses for Tibetan Students: In a six year program the Institute will teach the essentials of Buddhism and history while imparting competent literary skills. Sanskrit, English and Pali will be compulsory and will facilitate dialogue with other Buddhist scholars to enable the Tibetan scholars to broaden their understanding of other Buddhist traditions. Courses will be divided into two major areas of emphasis: Buddhist philosophy, and literary composition and history. For both a dissertation written in the final year will be required.

The Institute will begin with twelve students per class with a new class enrolling every other year. It will seek to provide a limited number of talented students with the best possible educational facilities so that in the future they may serve their Community by contributing to the enrichment of Tibetan culture. The Institute will guarantee placement of all its graduates and will guide them in their fields of interest. As the demand for admission increases the Institute will expand its enrollment.

Courses for Foreign Students: The Institute will provide short-term courses in Tibetan language and Buddhism for foreign students. Foreign students will also be able to enroll in the courses offered to the Tibetan students, for which they may first have to undergo the intensive language courses as well as a preparatory year in reading and understanding Tibetan texts.

7.4.3 Research and Publications. The research section will function independently from the study curriculum and will be mainly involved in publications. Research scholars well be available to assist students in locating research materials and guide them in their areas of interest. Some of the research objectives are as follows:

A Dictionary of Philosophical Terms. When translating original Sanskrit texts Tibetan scholars over the centuries coined a full range of words describing the philosophical concepts found in the Buddhist scriptures. These words, which were later used by Tibetan scholars when writing commentaries, become familiar vocabulary to those who study the texts. They often require extended oral explanation from the student's teachers and only when understood in their full depth can they convey the meaning which could contribute to the student's understanding of the texts.

With the passing away of many great teachers, it is felt that the classification of Buddhist terms in Tibetan in the form of a etymological dictionary, or rather an encyclopedia of Buddhist terms, would be a great step towards the preservation of Buddhist philosophy as a living tradition. Unexplained and uncommented, Buddhist terms remain uncomprehended by the student and cannot contribute to the preservation of Buddhist doctrine. In a format of easy reference, the gradual work of clearly defining each word would greatly help both student and researchers.

The Children's Book Project. Tibet has a great tradition of story-telling, which was orally passed on from generation to generation. The stories were told in the evenings around a fire, and every village or nomad camp had their much sought after story-tellers. With the changes brought by the Chinese invasion and by exile many of these century-long traditions were lost, remaining only in the memory of a few elderly individuals either in exile or in Tibet itself.

This project seeks to collect as many of these stories as possible and write them out in the format of children's books, using the work of the talented young artists from the Center for Arts. Some stories have already been collected and illustrated. Two books have now been completed and funds have been obtained for the publication of one of them, which will be published simultaneously in Tibetan, French and English. The proceeds generated from sales will subsidize work on more publications.

Tibetan Publications. Research is also planned on other subjects, such as Vinaya, historical subjects and data on monasteries. The results of these findings will be published once a year in a Tibetan magazine which will be printed locally at low cost.

Human Resources. These undertakings will require the full-time contribution of three scholars. Outside scholars will also be called on a temporary basis for consultation.

7.4.4 The Temple and Library. The Norbulingka Institute will have a temple built in Tibetan style on the highest part of the land, dominating the complex. It is expected to be completed in 1995. The first floor of the temple will comprise a large assembly room, which will be used to hold teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other lamas, as well as seminars and conferences, daily meditation and prayer sessions. The second storey will house the library, which will contain principal texts, commentaries and collected works of renowned Tibetan writers, as well as a set of Kangyur and Tengyur, and other basic reference works required for the curriculum at the Institute for Higher Studies, as well as exhibition catalogues, art books and magazines for the Center of Arts.

7.4.5 Auxiliary and Income-Generating Projects

Staff quarters complex. For the Norbulingka Institute to become fully operational the building of staff quarters is a high priority. For this purpose the Department of Religion and Culture has purchased two and a half acres of land nearby. The total requirements are for 50 family quarters, 10 guest quarters and rooms to accommodate 64 students. Rs 5.5 million have already been collected through donations for this project and one hostel, 21 staff quarters, a workshop and a mess are currently under construction. Rs 14.2 million are needed to complete the project.

The Creche. Norbulingka currently has 14 children under the age of five who have working mothers. The Institute has transformed an existing room into a temporary creche, and hired three women to look after the children. However, these facilities are too cramped and a proper building is planned.

The Guest-House. The guest-house has recently been completed. The purpose of the guest-house is mainly to generate income as well as to provide facilities where short-term visitors can enjoy the beautiful setting and gardens of the Norbulingka Institute as well as the unique opportunity to be in close contact with the artists and students of the Institute. The funds for the guest-house have been put up by the Department as an investment. The expected annual income of the guest-house (at 30 percent occupancy per year) is Rs 700,000. The profits earned will from the fourth year be used towards the fund for culture.

The Norling Cafe. The cafe works in conjunction with the guest-house, catering to the guests there as well as to visitors to Norbulingka. Like the guest-house the cafe is an income-generating project.

7.4.6 Implementation. The construction of the Center for Arts, the Center for Learning and the outside structure of the temple are complete. Some of the hostels and staff quarters are under construction. One Project Director assisted by one Construction Manager, two overseers, two accountants and one treasurer look after the construction side of the project. The hiring of staff and overall running of the project is directly looked after by the Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture in consultation with the Kalon (Minister).

7.4.7 Financial Resources. Funding for capital expenditure amounting to Rs 25 million has already been raised, much through personal donations, by the Department of Religion and Culture. The Department is now seeking funds for the recurrent expenditure of the Institute: staff salaries; stipends for apprentices and students; equipment and materials; administrative costs; and building maintenance cost; as well as for further capital expenditure as follows:

- The recurring expenses for the Center for Arts total Rs 3.0 million over five years; half of these costs will be met from sales and income-generating activities.

- The capital and recurring costs of the Institute for Higher Studies total Rs 8.2 million over five years.

- The Staff Quarter Complex requires a further Rs 14.2 million.

All in all therefore the Department of Religion and Culture has budgeted Rs 25.4 million over five years for the Norbulingka Institute. This marks an increase of 42 percent over the budget for the first IDP, because with the progress made to date, it has been possible to project costs over the next five years more accurately. Of the total of Rs 25.4 million the Department is seeking Rs 23.9 million (or 94 percent) from donors.

7.5 THE TIBETAN INSTITUTE OF PERFORMING ARTS (TIPA)

7.5.1 Current Activities. TIPA has given many cultural performances and tours, in Dharamsala, in Tibetan Settlements, elsewhere in India, and abroad in Europe, the United States and Mexico. Performances include Tibetan folk operas, dances, plays, dramas and music.

The Research Section aims to preserve the old traditions of performing arts by going to the Settlements and interviewing old veterans of these arts. The material collected, with any necessary adaptation, is then taught to artists at TIPA while the rest is kept in the archives.

TIPA has recently brought out books on Tibetan light classical music with notations and an introduction to Tibetan opera. A text of a historical play called Triral is ready with pictures and is awaiting a publisher. TIPA brings out a scholarly publication called Dram-Ngyen. This was an annual publication, but due to lack of funds it has had to be canceled for the last few years. An annual newsletter continues to be produced.

A shoe section has been added to the TIPA infrastructure with the aim of fulfilling the requirements of TIPA for its various folk dances. Two craftsmen and two trainees are working in the section. The most recent section is one for thanka painting which currently engages two artists.

TIPA frequently conducts diploma training and workshops for dance and music teachers at Tibetan schools. TIPA of course trains those who will be recruited into TIPA as its full-time artists, and provides training in designing and making costumes and instruments.

7.5.2 Future Programs and Projects. TIPA is in need of restructuring and improvement in order to be able to upgrade its performances and vary its repertoire, thus extending its appeal both to the local Tibetan community as well as foreign audiences. Just as important is the need for TIPA to achieve a financial status which will allow it to become a self-sufficient institution able to provide for all the needs of its members. The planned project proposals are necessary either to improve the living conditions of the performers, thus encouraging them to remain at TIPA, or to improve the professionalism of the performances thus making TIPA an even better representative of Tibetan culture.

7.5.2.1 Income-Generation Program

As TIPA has suffered from financial constraints in the past, there is a need to establish a number of income-generating ventures to supplement other sources of finance.

Progress since the first IDP. TIPA has established workshops for woodwork and tailoring where TIPA staff can create works for local and export markets. The expansion of the shoe-making section has also been completed.

Project 1. Recording Equipment . This project will build and equip two small rooms to act as a recording studio and purchase video equipment. At present TIPA's recordings are done in unsuitable surroundings and with inferior equipment leading to poor quality production. With quality recording and video equipment TIPA will be able to produce its own recorded items for sale and thereby generate income. Also by filming their own performances the actors will be able to judge and improve their style. The Research Section will use the equipment to video exceptional artists from Tibetan Settlements. The costs of this project total Rs 457,000 of which TIPA will contribute 10 percent from its own funds.

Project 2. Guest-House. TIPA fortunately owns a large tract of land, a part of which is very suitable for construction of a guest-house. The demand for accommodation in Dharamsala is increasing every year with more visitors and tourists, both foreign and Indian, thronging the town. A survey conducted by the Department of Finance suggested that the project is feasible and financially viable. The guest-house would have ten rooms with attached bathrooms and a kitchen and a small restaurant. The cost of the guest-house will be Rs 1.6 million, for which TIPA is seeking half as loan finance and half as grant finance.

7.5.2.2 Infrastructure Program

Progress since the first IDP . TIPA has completed the construction of the auditorium to replace that lost in a fire in 1984 as well as the construction of nine quarters for the instructors. A secondary school for performers, as well as a creche have also been established. A storage tank and distribution system for water as well as a transformer have been installed. Finally TIPA has purchased the necessary |wfice equipment (a photocopier and computer) for the office and the Research Section.

There are four projects under this Program. The total cost of these projects is Rs 1.0 million.

Project 1. Girl's Hostel . There are currently 15 female artists at TIPA who are single and have no suitable quarters. This project will construct a building with a girls' dormitory, wardens quarters and common washing facilities.

Project 2. Home for retired members. There are almost ten members of TIPA who will retire by the end of 1994. These are the people who have rendered a life-time's service to the Institute and remained with it through thick and thin. They are above 60 and are now no longer able to serve the Institute. It is therefore the responsibility of the Institute to look after them when they are no longer able to support themselves. They must be provided living quarters as the quarters they are currently occupying must be vacated for others. The project will build five quarters to begin with.

Project 3. Small Dispensary . With a large population at TIPA including a large number of children health care is important. This project will construct two rooms for a small dispensary to be run by a nurse. The dispensary will treat minor cases whilst referring more difficult cases to the local hospital.

Project 4. Permanent Exhibit or Museum . With the Tibetan issue gaining more world attention, the number of people who are interested in Tibetan culture is increasing. In addition to its performances TIPA does not have much else to display for visitors, whether foreign or Tibetan, on Tibetan culture. This project will set up a small museum of Tibetan costumes, dresses of operatic performances, musical instruments, and so on.

7.5.2.3 Other Projects

Project 1. Training Courses . This project will allow TIPA to continue to provide training courses in Tibetan dance, music and opera, as well as in designing and making traditional costumes and instruments. In addition to the year-long teacher training courses that TIPA runs for the Department of Education, this project will cater for longer and more rigorous courses of three to five years each. The courses will be as follows:

Course	Length (years)	No. of students	Annual Cost (Rs)	Total Cost (Rs)
Dance, music and opera	3	20	306,000	918,000
Making and designing costumes	5	10	120,833	604,166
Making instruments	5	10	120,833	604,166

Project 2. Foreign Theater Professionals. TIPA opera performances are currently day long performances in the open-air. To cater for western audiences there is a need to shift to a two-hour stage-setting. To do this the help of a Western or Japanese stage professional is required, as well as a professional to help redesign and improve the replacement of costumes with modern materials. Both volunteers would be needed for a minimum of one year. The volunteers would bear their own travel costs, whereas TIPA would provide them with free boarding and lodging facilities.

7.5.3 Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation. TIPA and its staff will be directly responsible for the implementation of all the projects planned for the next five years. The Director of TIPA will monitor and evaluate the progress of the projects, and will submit regular reports, including audited statements of accounts, to donors.

7.5.4 Human Resources. TIPA has an overall membership of about 100, which includes masters in all the major disciplines of Tibetan art and a team of researchers whose job is to archive the extensive knowledge of TIPA. TIPA also undertakes to pass these traditions on to young artists and there are 51 pupils attending the Institute. Despite the difficult conditions and financial constraints, TIPA has produced many talented young performers, as well as instructors who are sent to the Settlements to teach Tibetan dance and music to the younger generation.

7.5.5 Financial Resources. TIPA is seeking to become more self-reliant through income-generation projects. Even at present about one-quarter of its annual income is raised through sales of tickets, recordings, shoes and other items, as well as from rent. However, TIPA will have to continue to rely on outside financial support and is therefore seeking to raise Rs 5.2 million over the Plan period for these programs. This marks an increase of a third over the total budget in the first IDP. With the significant development of TIPA's infrastructure over the last two years the budget for infrastructure projects has come down. With more of the basic necessities thus met, TIPA has been able to plan more seriously a) for promoting Tibetan artistic traditions through the training courses and b) for generating its own income through the construction of a guest-house. Both these large projects are new to the IDP.

TIPA will contribute Rs 46,000 towards the cost of the recording studio, and is seeking a loan of Rs 800,000 for half the costs of constructing the guest-house. TIPA is thus seeking Rs 4.3 million from donors in the form of grants, in addition to the loan of Rs 800,000.

7.6 LIBRARY OF TIBETAN WORKS AND ARCHIVES (LTWA)

7.6.1 Current Activities. LTWA has, perhaps, the largest collection of books, xylographs, illuminated manuscripts and manuscripts on Tibet in the world, housing about 66,000 Tibetan literary treasures, psychological and philosophical treatises and numerous historical documents from the 10th to 19th Century. The archives possess several thousand legal and social documents dating back to the 10th to 12th centuries. In the Foreign Language Reference Library about 8000 books and 300 periodicals on Tibet, Buddhist studies, Himalayan and Trans-Himalayan civilization are available for reference to research scholars and students alike. The Library also maintains archival press-clippings on Tibet and related subjects dating back to 1959.

The Research, Translation and Publication Section has so far published more than 300 titles, in both Tibetan and English. The fields covered include Tibetan philosophy, historical writings of lamas of different schools of Buddhism, memoirs, Tibetan customs and rituals, and epic literature. It also publishes three regular journals.

The Oral History Project has sought to preserve the vast reservoir of knowledge that is passed down orally from generation to generation.

LTWA also has a collection of 5000 old and rare photographs on Tibet. This, along with an audio-visual project still struggling in its infancy for want of proper equipment, adequate funds and skilled crew, compliments the Oral History Project.

The LTWA museum houses about 1000 rare and sacred artifacts, some of which date back to the 12th century. The museum endeavors to project the best examples of Tibetan artistic creation by acquiring new additions. On an average two thousand non-Tibetans visit the museum each year.

Fearing that the traditional Tibetan art of thanka painting and woodcarving could soon become extinct, LTWA took on the responsibility of starting thanka and woodcarving schools. By the end of 1992 seventy students had graduated from these schools.

One of the most popular features of LTWA are the regular courses in Tibetan language, culture, and psychological and ethical philosophy. The courses are divided into beginners, advanced and special for the three terms extending from March to December. The average daily attendance in each class on Buddhism and philosophy is 60 to 80 students. The average daily attendance in Tibetan language and culture classes varies from 15 to 20.

LTWA also provides research facilities for scholars and students of Buddhist studies and Tibetology, as well as conducting lectures and seminars. On an average 2000 students and scholars from around the world make use of LTWA's collections and facilities every year. The average number of accredited researchers doing intensive studies at LTWA is about 25 a year.

7.6.2 Future programs and projects

7.6.2.1 Library Expansion Project. The present Library building has no space left for its expanding activities. This project will provide space for: an extension of the existing Manuscript and Foreign Language Department; classrooms for Tibetan language classes; a photo archive library; a microfilm reading and printing room; cubical rooms for research scholars and students; and a room for seminars and conferences. Land for the project has already been acquired and architectural designs and estimates prepared by the architect who designed the existing Library building. Without this expansion project all the other developmental plans of LTWA will be held back because of the lack of adequate infrastructure; thus this project is the top priority of the Library at this time.

7.6.2.2 Extension of the Museum and Archives. The present Library building, built in 1971, no longer has sufficient space for the Museum and Archives. The Archives are confined to one room on the second floor of the existing building, with most of the holdings, including hundreds of thanka paintings and religious icons, in storage due to lack of floor and wall space. This project will therefore construct a new third floor onto the existing Library building and add a traditional Tibetan facade and roof line, following and complementing the architectural idea of the existing building. The expansion will roughly double the currently available floor space, and as a result provide the needed gallery area for the Museum and Archives that is required to properly show and conserve the contents of the archives.

The Library currently has difficulties in storing its holdings not only because of space limitations but also because of the climate in northern India. Compared to the dry and cold environmental conditions of Tibet, the hot monsoon climate in Dharamsala is very destructive for documents and paintings. Thus the extension will include a climate controlled room in a downstairs room for proper storage of such materials (see 7.6.2.3 below).

The total construction cost of the proposed extension is Rs 550,000 (this figures is calculated by adding 20 percent on top of the original estimate of Rs 458,000 made in 1991).

7.6.2.3 Manuscript Program

Project 1. Acquisition of Manuscripts . This project seeks to enlarge the Tibetan manuscript collection by sending a team to visit monasteries and libraries in the trans-Himalayan region (including Jammu, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh) to survey and acquire manuscripts. LTWA is planning to do this project in collaboration with the Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS) in Sarnath, Varanasi (see 7.7 below). The team would be manned by LTWA Manuscript Library staff.

Project 2. Microfilming . LTWA plans to establish a microfilming section to record all the manuscripts and old documents for the use of scholars and students within the LTWA premises to prevent damage to the originals through frequent handling. It is also proposed to deposit a copy of the recorded microfilms at the Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath and at the National Archives in New Delhi for safe-keeping. However, such microfilms will not be supplied to outsiders in compliance with the directive issued by the Governing Body.

Project 3. Conservation and Restoration . The dry and cold environmental conditions of Tibet were ideal for the preservation of old manuscripts. In contrast the hot monsoon climate of India is very destructive, especially in Dharamsala, which has one of the heaviest monsoons anywhere in India. This project will provide an air conditioned, dehumidified environment for all old texts at LTWA to minimize further deterioration; and restore those texts which have suffered advanced deterioration.

Physical and Human Resources . The chief physical resources required for the Manuscript Program are a microfilm reader cum printer, a processing unit and films, printing and developing materials (Rs 1.5 million); and air conditioning and dehumidifying equipment (Rs 0.75 million). The Library also intends to hire two technical staff for the Microfilming Project, and one conservator for the Conservation and Restoration Project.

7.6.2.4 Oral History Project. Many essential aspects of Tibetan culture were never written down but were preserved and transmitted orally from one generation to another. There are only a few Tibetans in exile and in Tibet who are living repositories of such cultural traditions. This project seeks to record, transcribe and publish these traditions. To date the project has interviewed about 1000 people, recorded nearly 12,000 hours of materials and transcribed 10,000 pages. The subjects recorded are mainly memoirs of older people, history, folklore, traditional art and crafts, and experiences of spiritual masters.

To be able to record visually as well, the project needs a video camera and video tapes. To further expand the project LTWA needs to hire another editor, 3 more documentation officers, 2 transcribers and 1 technical staff. In addition LTWA will train three of its current staff to work on the project, in addition to the seven officers currently working on the project already. LTWA has already secured funding for this project until the end of 1995. An evaluation will be made at the end of 1995, and on the basis of this evaluation a fresh proposal laying out the future plans for this project will be drawn up.

7.6.2.5 Photographic Archives Preservation and Cataloguing Project. The photographic archives, comprising some 8000 photographs, contain collections of antique photographs of Tibet from the turn of the century, volumes of black and white prints from the middle of the century depicting changes in Tibet and vanishing traditions, as well as new photographs. Preservation work needs to be carried out soon, and a cataloguing of the holdings completed. This project will conserve the photographs to serve as educational materials for the Tibetan Community and the Central Tibetan Administration, for students, researchers and journalists, as well as for museums and institutions which seek to depict aspects of Tibet and the Tibetans. The primary needs are for an archival storage system for the entire collection, film stock to use for inter-negatives, and processing for film (darkroom laboratory), and funding a position to develop the computer catalogue indices as well as one technical staff. LTWA will not be able to generate any income from this project as most of the photographs are copy righted by others.

A specialized documentation center dealing with Tibetan architecture has already been started. Complementing LTWA's collection of original photographs depicting historical monuments, monasteries, towns and other aspects of the Tibetan architectural heritage, an additional 1500 images have been reproduced from different museums and private collections in several countries. Most of these photographs illustrate structures and a built environment which no longer exists. Moreover a collection of contemporary transparencies showing the present condition of monuments and the changing urban patterns is being compiled and so far contains approximately 1000 pictures. All this visual material, along with plans, literature and other recorded information is being classified and catalogued to make it available to students, researchers and the Tibetan community in general. A program of activities is being planned to encourage young people to take an interest and to make active use of these resources. Initial steps have also been taken in order to provide adequate storage and better preserve this collection. These efforts only cover one aspect of the Tibetan cultural heritage and a small part of the photographic records held by LTWA. It is hoped that in future the entire collection can be restored, preserved and made accessible in a comprehensive manner.

7.6.2.6 Staff Quarter Extension and Provision of Retiree Houses. At present LTWA staff are provided with one room and a kitchen. In view of the increasing family members due to newborns, it is now necessary to provide them more spacious rooms. In addition there is no housing provision for staff members who retire. This project will construct more staff quarters. However, there is no more land available within the LTWA compound, and the project can only be planned in detail when a suitable plot of land is found, for which efforts are still on.

7.6.2.7 Thanka Painting and Woodcarving. The Thanka Painting School was started in 1977 with financial aid from the JDR 3rd Fund and Naritasen Temple, and from 1982 the project was funded by The Ford Foundation for ten years. The woodcarving school was started in 1983 with financial aid from the Oxfam India Trust. Until the end of 1992 seventy students underwent courses at these schools, for five years each for thanka painting and for four years each for wood-carving. Through sales of thanka paintings and woodcarvings the project was able to cover some of its expenses.

Due to lack of funds the school of thanka painting was closed in 1993. On instruction from the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the services of the master artist and a team of five selected senior students have been retained to do thankas commissioned by the Office of His Holiness on a self-supporting basis. Only the salary of the master artist needs to be funded by LTWA, which is about Rs 36,000 a year. Likewise the school of woodcarving is now also being run on a self-supporting basis, except that the salary of the master woodcarver, again Rs. 36,000 a year, needs to be funded by LTWA.

7.6.3 Implementation. Each Department of LTWA is responsible for implementing projects assigned to it. The Heads of the Departments have periodic consultations with the LTWA Director and the Administrative Section to evaluate progress and find means to solve any problems encountered.

The time frame for all the programs has been set for a period of five years, beginning 1995. This time frame will need to be advanced or postponed depending upon the success of fund raising endeavors and the availability of funds.

7.6.4 Human Resources. A major constraint for implementation is the dearth of qualified personnel who have a specialized literary background. LTWA needs personnel who have the best of both traditional and modern education. Except for the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, where the emphasis is more on Sanskrit and Hindi, there is no other institution which trains such specialized personnel. This has imposed upon LTWA itself to become a training center, building promising monks and lay staff (mostly those graduating from either the Central Institute or the School of Buddhist Dialectics, Dharamsala) and learned Geshes from the monastic universities. In sectors where the emphasis is more on modern skills such as secretarial, accountancy, foreign language librarianship and so forth, personnel with the required academic background are recruited, given on-the-job training, and sent to attend short-term training courses offered by universities and institutions in India. Services of retired CTA staff have been found to be of indispensable help in some sections because of their experience and rich historical background.

The Library currently has 37 staff, although there was a staff turnover of almost 25 percent in 1993. The primary reason for this is the low salaries and the absence of benefits (such as children's education, medical allowance, gratuity, pension fund and so on) compared to those provided to staff of the Central Tibetan Administration. Thus the services of professional volunteers are of immense help to LTWA.

Over the Plan period LTWA intends to recruit the following staff to implement its plans: 2 Editors; 2 Translators; 2 Transcribers; 1 Art Historian; 2 Research Officers; 3 Documentation Officers; 2 Library Assistants; and 6 technical staff for book conservation, audio-visual, photo restoration and computing.

During the Plan period LTWA hopes to provide the following in-service training (each course is for one officer and is expected to last one year):

- Bookbinding, preservation and restoration

- Cataloguing and classification

- Book designing

- Microfilm printing, developing and processing

- Audio-visual

- Photo developing, restoring and preservation

7.6.5 Financial Resources. LTWA has no assured source of income nor any kind of budgetary allocation from the Central Tibetan Administration except the annual grant-in-aid of Rs 800,000 from the Government of India which is earmarked for the Library section only. Other sections have to be funded from the resources generated by way of rent, fees and publication sales, supplemented with grants from foundations and trusts for specific projects. It has been the consistent endeavor of LTWA to be self-reliant and not to be a burden on the Central Tibetan Administration. Thus LTWA has never received any funding from the CTA ever since the plan for LTWA was first conceived in 1968. However, the recent CTA proposal to revise the pay structure of its staff has, perforce, necessitated LTWA also to reconsider the pay structure for its staff for which additional sums are to be found, and LTWA has requested the CTA for these funds. LTWA has also decided to increase the rent rates and the prices of its publication to offset the effects of inflation.

The Library's sources of funds in 1992-93 totalled Rs 5.38 million. Of this total 37.3 percent was generated through rent, fees and publication sales, 14.9 percent came from the Government of India, and 42.5 percent came from donors for funding special projects.

LTWA is seeking to raise Rs 8.9 million over the Plan period for the special projects outlined above (for details see the Budget Summary at the end of this Chapter). This marks an increase of 23 percent over the budget in the first IDP. The costs of the Library Expansion and of the Manuscript Program have been increased to cover for inflation, the Photo Archives Project has been developed further, and the Museum Extension Project added. However, costs for the Oral History Project have not been projected for this Plan period as this Project will be evaluated in 1995, and with the closing of the thanka and wood-carving schools the budget for these has been reduced to the salaries of the two masters.

7.7 CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF HIGHER TIBETAN STUDIES (CIHTS)

This section of the Plan has not been modified from the first IDP, since the plans of CIHTS are financed through the Government of India's Five Year Plan.

A: Existing Projects:

Project A1: The Dictionary Project . The objective of the project is to prepare an encyclopedic dictionary of Tibetan Sanskrit and thereafter to compile an Encyclopedia Tibetica. The first volume has already been published. The second phase involves the compilation of technical terms to be arranged according to five Maha-Vidyas, with the object of publishing two volumes a year over the next five years.

Project A2: Development of the Library . The objective of the project is to develop the Shantarakshita Library into a resourceful modern library specializing in Tibetan studies, Buddhist studies, Himalayan studies and related subjects. A computer network with a specialized library management automation data base system has already been installed. In addition the acquisition of rare and important manuscripts of Tibetology and Buddhology from Europe, Japan and South-East Asian countries as well as mainland China is under progress. During the Eighth Five-Year Plan (i) the procurement and reproduction of manuscripts will continue; (ii) a comprehensive catalogue of the Library is to be published; (iii) the Tibetan Buddhist Canon is to be computerized; (iv) a Documentation Center is to be started.

Project A3: Publications and Printing . The objectives of the project are to publish and distribute research materials, restorations, translations and edited works in Sanskrit, Pali, Hindi, Tibetan and English in the field of Tibetan and Buddhist studies produced by the Institute and other noted scholars, as well as to promote study and research in the above subjects. At present the Institute publishes six series or journals, as well as other titles. It is also undertaking a comprehensive project of restoration and editing work under which a number of titles have appeared. The publication program is to be further strengthened during the Eighth Five-Year Plan.

Project A4: Rare Buddhist Texts Research Project . The objective of the project is to research rare Buddhist texts and make them available to scholars by publishing them or giving information about the text through the Dhih Journal of the Institute. Under this project ten texts have been published or are near completion. It will continue with the editing of nine texts and the publication of ten volumes of Dhih, as well as surveys of texts in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Russia, France and England.

Project A5. Promotion of General Research . The objective of this project is to promote extensive research on Tibetan studies. The amount of research in Tibetan studies is still very inadequate and comprehensive projects launched a decade ago in the fields of the history of Tibetan literature and the history of Tibetan culture could not be implemented for want of the necessary human resources. These projects will now be launched during this Plan period. The Institute will also compile and publish a volume of Buddhist Tantric technical terms and a bibliography of authors; resume the Himalayan cultural survey; commence research on the points of dispute between Indian and Chinese scholars in the crucial Samye Debate; and commence research on the history of Buddhism.

Project A6: Examination Department . By virtue of the Institute receiving "Deemed to be University" status, it needs a full-fledged Examination Department to conduct examinations and award degrees. As no post has yet been sanctioned under the Non-Plan budget of the Government of India the entire Department has to be funded under the Plan budget.

Project A7: Cultural Exchange Program. The Institute has been identified under many cultural exchange programs by the Department of Culture of the Government of India. As the Institute expects the Government of India to continue to use the Institute for cultural exchange programs funding for the same has been included under the Eighth Five-Year Plan.

Project A8: Construction of Buildings . The Institute plans to construct a girls' hostel on already procured land; to extend the academic block; and to construct a laboratory for the Ayurvedic Department.

Project A9: Establishment of language laboratory . The Institute plans to construct a language laboratory for teaching of Sanskrit, Tibetan, Pali, Hindi, Classical Chinese, Japanese, English, German, French and Russian, and for research bearing on linguistics. The first phase of the work has already started.

B: New Projects:

Project B1: Creation of Faculties and Departments . Tibetan studies covers a large area of diversified philosophical, cultural, linguistic art and literature and such other important religious and secular fields. In the Tibetan tradition all subjects are classified into five Mahavidyas: Sabda Vidya, Hetu Vidya, Shilpa Vidya, Chikitsa Vidya, Adhyatma Vidya (respectively, the Sciences of Language, Logic, Arts and Crafts, Medicine, and Spirituality). Until study in all these five sciences is carried out the study of Tibetology cannot be considered complete. Therefore the Institute has decided to have Faculties for all five sciences along with auxiliary modern subjects. So far the Institute has started the Faculty of Hetu Evam Adhyatma Vidya and it has been decided to create the following Faculties or Departments during the Plan period:

- Bon Studies : Bon was the sole cultural and religious tradition of Tibet before the introduction of Buddhism, and it did not disappear when Buddhism was introduced, but rather flourished and developed along with the Buddhist tradition.

- Chikitsa Vidya : The Tibetan system of Ayurveda medicines came into vogue in the 7th century AD, and developed from that time with inputs from scholars from India, China, Persia, Mongolia and Nepal. Thus Bhot medicine became the amalgam of all the Middle and East Asian systems of medicine. A living tradition of this still exists, and its preservation and promotion is vital not only for the Tibetan Community but also for humanity at large.

- Tibetan Jyotish : The ancient Indian tradition of Khagol Vidya and Jyotish flourished in Tibet with the introduction of Buddhism. It grew with further inputs from China and other Central Asian countries. The enlarged Tibetan Jyotish tradition based on the Kalachakra Tantra has only been preserved in Tibetan. Therefore preservation of this tradition is of great importance.

- Shilpa Vidya : The classical teaching of Pratima Vijnana (Science of Iconometry) with chitra, wall painting, thanka painting and mandala construction grew from traditions in India. From the 7th to 11th centuries AD there was systematic teaching of Shilpa Vidya, which includes metal, wood, clay, ivory and weaving work as well as performing arts. These traditions, especially their Shastra teachings, disappeared in India but are preserved in Tibet. The traditions in Tibet themselves now face the chance of obliteration so that it is considered to be of great importance to have a faculty teaching the classical arts in the Institute.

- Department of Tantra Shastra : In view of the consistent demand of the academic world for a Department to deal with the technical and esoteric nature of the tantric traditions the Institute has decided to establish a Department for Tantra Shastra.

Project B2: Promotion of exchange of scholars, holding of conferences and seminars . This project aims to provide a common dias for traditional and modern scholars by providing accommodation and hospitality to visiting scholars, sanctioning travel grants to the scholars of the Institute and organizing small symposia, seminars, winter and summer school projects and workshops for broader understanding and promotion of the subjects selected for discussion. Subjects will include Buddhist and Tibetan studies; Mandala; and others.

Project B3: Establishment of Museum . The Institute is planning to establish a Museum of Tibetan Arts and Antiquities which would complement the research and study in historical, cultural, social customs and ethnic studies.

Project B4: Construction of buildings . This project aims to construct a suitable building for the Museum comprising display area, strong room, office for curator and staff, and room for periodical exhibitions; and a 50 bedded guest house with seminar hall, committee room and dining hall.

7.7.2 Human Resources. The critical human resource constraint at the Institute is in qualified teaching staff. Thus it is only now that the Institute can consider establishing Faculties and Departments for some of the most important areas of Tibetan studies. The new Faculties and Departments will require the following teaching staff over the Plan period: 3 professors; 4 readers; 3 lecturers; 3 instructors; 3 technical assistants.

7.7.3 Financial Resources. The Institute is funded under the Plan and Non-Plan budgets of the Government of India. The total Plan expenditure of the Institute was Rs 19.9 million during the sixth Five-Year Plan and Rs 32.0 million during the seventh. The Institute has requested Rs 58.1 million under the Eight Five-Year Plan of the GoI. The Institute is therefore not seeking financial assistance from donors for its plans outlined above.

7.8 BUDGET SUMMARY

The total budget for the Religious and Cultural Affairs Sector over five years amounts to Rs 111.7 million (see Table overleaf). Of this, however, Rs 58.1 million are for CIHTS which is funded by the Government of India through its Five-Year Plan. Of the remaining Rs 53.6 million, Rs 46.9 million are being sought from donors in the form of grants. The remaining 12 percent (Rs 6.7 million) will be met through a mixture of sales revenues, contributions from the Institutions concerned, and a loan of Rs 800,000.

PROGRAMS	YEAR (all figures in Rs '000s)					TOTAL	Request
and Projects	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	(Rs '000)	Donors
OUTREACH:	990	1870	1470	1850	2450	8630	8580
Student Exchange Inter-faith Dialogue Conferences Religious Teachers	550 140 250 50	790 280 750 50	1030 140 250 50	1270 280 250 50	1510 140 750 50	5150 980 2250 250	5150 980 2250 200
PUBLICATION:	1005	1054	1105	1150	1216	5540	1263
Cho-yang and Melong Texts and Translation Purchasing Publication	480 500 25	504 525 25	529 551 25	556 579 25	583 608 25	2652 2763 125	663 500 100
NORBULINGKA:	4026	4983	5342	5341	5659	25350	23871
Center for Arts Higher Studies Institute Staff Quarters Complex	1195 2831	635 1517 2831	843 1669 2831	673 1837 2831	807 2021 2831	2958 8239 14154	1479 8239 14154
T.I.P.A.:	1805	1848	1048	241	241	5183	4337
Recording Equipment Guest House Infrastructure Training	457 800 548	800 500 548	500 548	241	241	457 1600 1000 2126	411 800 1000 2126
L.T.W.A.:	2589	2603	1865	1213	603	8873	8873
Library Expansion Museum Expansion Manuscript Program Photo Archives Thanka & Wood Masters	1500 850 167 72	750 1605 172 76	1500 110 176 79	625 275 115 115 83	275 120 120 88	4375 550 2800 750 398	4375 550 2800 750 398
C.I.H.T.S.:	14238	10250	10646	11776	11776	58085	0
Dictionary Library Publication Rare Buddhist Texts General Research Examination Department Cultural Exchange Construction Language Laboratory New Faculties Exchange of Scholars	330 3600 780 360 480 288 240 4000 60 3500 600	360 3600 840 420 480 300 240 0 60 3350 600	480 3600 960 390 480 336 240 0 60 3500 600	576 3600 1152 468 480 350 240 0 60 3650 600	691 3600 1382 562 480 360 240 0 60 3800 600	2437 18000 5114 2200 2400 1634 1200 4000 300 17800 3000	0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
TOTAL:	24653	22608	21476	20980	21944	111661

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Last updated: 30-Sept-96