Role of Tibetan Women in the Preservation and Perpetuation of the Tibetan Culture in Exile
By Nyima Tso
Norbulinga Institute
(Following is a translation of the original text in Tibetan.
Attempts have been made to maintain originality and structure
of the language. However, complex sentences with varying ideas
have been broken into simpler sentences for clarity. )
Introduction
Educated persons usually worry about their language, script and traditional customs etc. Taking pride in being a Tibetan, today I would like to say a word or two on the topic of revival of lost qualities in our culture and further development of those good ones intact.
Everyone agrees unanimously that culture and customs are essential components in the survival of a nationality. In order to bring about revival of lost qualities and promotion of those good ones intact, prime focus should be given to promotion and maintenance of education, customs and atmosphere. However, it would be proper to change according to time and human needs. Developments in culture are different in different years and centuries, which are according to needs of the world. Both government and the people are currently striving in the revival of lost qualities in our culture. Even shunning traditional customs of wearing apparels made of animal pelt is needed and should be done away with.
1) Adapting to atmosphere and time
In Tibet, efforts in protection of culture are getting less day by day hence there is a great loss in Tibetan culture. Urban areas with no usage of Tibetan language are increasing. While in exile, due to the hard work of His Holiness the Dalai Lama numerous schools and monasteries have been established for the survival and promotion of Tibetan culture. However, due to situations in exile and impacts from external forces commendable achievements could not have been reached. In Tibet it is difficult to form a conducive atmosphere for protection of culture and a new culture is imposed where in there are liquor bars, brothels, gambling spots which leads to degeneration of Tibetan culture from the base itself. Because of such reasons people in Tibet attach hope on us in exile. Nowadays many westerners conclude Tibet as an abode of happiness and Tibetan culture a source of happiness. It is conspicuous that there are foreigners in every Tibetan settlement and dharma centres and various organizations have been established in numerous countries. Taking this opportunity we should spread our culture throughout the world albeit without mixing up. Each individual Tibetan according to time should perform such an act.
2) Implementation of education
If protection and promotion of culture is to be sustained, it is a cardinal condition that implementation of education is needed. Human beings standards can be marked according to whether one has received education or not. A resident scholar in Tibet, Genshed Drublak, said, "If a nationality is to return to its nationality, that nationality’s education should be promoted". Such wisdom is in accordance with time.
Nowadays in Tibet’s universities there is increase in youth’s loyalty to their nationality and interests in one’s own culture as well as many strive on their own to hold a pen. Likewise in exile too irrespective of lay or monk, man or woman, there is increase in people who talk about culture and organize various activities for promotion of culture. This is the result of education. If we are to excel and make our culture valuable, it is all depended on implementation of education. Though we make progress in various areas there are numerous bad changes occurring also like taking drugs, prostitution by men and women alike, disrespect to parents and elderlies. Although in general in all nations and peoples there are both good and bad changes occurring, however, we as a people having deeply rooted religion, elaborate culture, compassionate leader, we should step forward from improvement to improvement and not step back into the dark group. In light of His Holiness’s elaborate teachings, governmental leadership, school teachers, monasteries lamas and Geshes’ teachings, every Tibetan writer should voluntarily join such a movement in promoting our culture. Moreover one should implement these values himself or herself and thus achieve an overall responsibility.
3) Incorporation of good qualities from other culture to retention of own culture
We Tibetans are faced with this difficult situation due to change in time or else we do not lack in the quality of our culture. We, for example have profound inner meaning philosophies, medicine and astrological science which is unique to our culture. Additionally we are a model in terms of character and other values, yet we should work for the retention and promotion of such values. We have with us a ready to use and proud unique culture which saw its journey since the 7th century with later inputs by numerous translators and ancestors.
If we are to step forward according to time we should incorporate the good qualities of other culture into our culture as it is not possible to develop only within one’s own culture. In this time where improvements are made in science and other disciplines, we have a problem in bringing terms and nomenclature into our language. In the past the grateful translators have adapted many good qualities from other culture into ours and we have a well functioning culture. In order to maintain the functionality of our culture and in accordance with time, it is imperative for us to continue adapting from others. In this industrial time or economical time as some call it, if we continue to while away our time and stick to the changes brought about by the ancestors, we can not run along time and might perhaps become extinct. Therefore we should smartly work according to time and adapt from others. For example there are many computer and other internationally popular books which we can not comprehend. There are plenty of good qualities in these books which can be incorporated into and make our culture richer. Usually when incorporations take place there are possibilities of diluting one’s own culture, however, personnels like Geshe Lhakdor who is a scholar in both the inner and foreign wisdoms can skillfully adapt from others and thus shorten the gap and perhaps our culture might become so precious that others might dream to have one like ours.
Conclusion:
The duty to reason out in order to be in accordance with time, protection of Tibetan nationality, retention and shunning, and usefulness of old values lies with the writers of a society. I thank the Tibetan Women’s Association for providing this opportunity for Tibetan women writers to sharpen their pen. This is my small attempt out of emotional sentiments to communicate my small ideas although I am not confident whether this essay of mine turns good or poor. Nevertheless, as a Tibetan’s duty to respect and protect one’s culture, I write this as my duty. With this I conclude with prayers for good development of Tibetan culture and increase in number of Tibetan women writers.