Preservation of the Tibetan Cultural Heritage

The Tibetan cultural heritage is deeply rooted in Buddhism. Daily life is grounded within the framework of Buddhist spirituality. Religious rites evoke joy and the sacred wisdom of numerous deities. Losar, the Tibetan New Year, which typically takes place in February, is one primary example. Masked dances performed by Lamas, along with the celebration of modern music and dance, are all combined during the day’s many festivities, with both the monastic and lay communities celebrating together the excitement and joy of the New Year.

If the Tibetans in exile were forcefully deprived of the fresh and limpid air of the Himalayan heights, the purity of the values conveyed by their ancestral culture remains unchanged. Ever since the introduction of Buddhism into Tibet in the 8th century by the venerated Saint Padmasambhava, a holistic vision of the world as an interdependent entity has inspired the development of their society. The law of cause and effect and the idea of the interdependence of all phenomena, bring about both a respectful and a responsible attitude towards the fellow members of the community, as well as to the environment and nature. Their openness, whole-hearted and loving attitude are sources of great inspiration for Western societies in search of a true and authentic culture. Despite the fortitude of the Tibetan people, the preservation of their heritage and culture in exile is in danger.