Transcending the Confines of Traditional Male-Dominated Society in Old Tibet

Myself with an exciting new generation of Tibetan intellectuals at JNU, Delhi. Prof. Tashi Phuntsok-la sitting, front left. This rambling essay is based on a rambling talk I gave to Tibetan students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi on the 1st of April 2019. I had been invited to speak at the Dawa …

The Buddha’s Discourse on Defending Democracy

The Death (parinirvana) of the Buddha, c.AD 20. Grey schist from ancient Gandhara. The Victoria and Albert Museum, London. At a time when many democracies are being undermined at home by corrupt politicians or threatened externally by would-be totalitarian regimes, perhaps a discourse the Buddha gave before his great passing, his mahaparinirvana, might provide an …

OCEAN OF IGNORANCE

Making Sense of Samdhong Rinpoche’s Views on Modern Science In January this year at the 106th Indian Science Congress (inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi) the head of a South Indian university cited an old Hindu text as proof that stem cell research was discovered in India thousands of years ago. The vice chancellor of …

A Father-Daughter March 10 Story

Top: Yangchen Dolkar, Yangzom, unknown, Tsering Dolma, Pema Donkar, unk, unk.2nd row: Captain Jaswant Singh, Kalsang Wangmo,unk, unk, Lhakpa Phenthok, Zomba, unk, unk, Pema Khando, unk Indian officer3rd row seated: Dapon Jampa Kalden, Gyakpon Pema, Gykpon Ugen Tsekyi , Major General Oberoi?, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Gyakpon Dechen Wangmo, Brigadier Rai, unk Sargent, Dapon Ratu Ngawang.  Seated on …

Extinguishing the Embers of Freedom (Part 1)

The Legacy of the former “Enthroned” Prime Minister, His Eminence, Professor Samdhong Rinpoche. Tibetan historians have used the figurative expression “nurturing the embers of the dharma” (tempae mero solwa) to describe how such dedicated scholars and teachers as Lotsawa Rinchen Sangpo, Lekpe Sherap, Drom Tonpa, and the great Bengali spiritual master, Atisa, labored tirelessly to keep Buddhist teachings alive …

Bill Gates And The Ancient “Secret” Of Tibetan Toilets

Bill Gates eyeing a jar of human feces at the “Reinvented Toilet Expo” in Beijing on Nov. 22, 2018.  AFP. Bill Gates and his impressive spouse, Melinda, have accomplished an enormous amount of good works throughout the world, not least being the eradication of polio throughout India. But one project of the Gates Foundation, the …