Pre-Recorded Talk Series on His Holiness the Great 14th ......Studies (CIHTS), Sarnath DATE: 5 DEC Saturday Panel Speakers Designation Start Time (IST) Hindi Keynote Lopon Lobsang

Pre-Recorded Talk Series on His Holiness the Great

14th Dalai Lama’s Four Commitments4 - 11 December 2020

Year of Gratitude to His Holiness The Great 14th Dalai Lama

2020-2021As His Holiness the Dalai Lama turned 85 this year, the Central Tibetan Administration dedicated the year 2020-21 as ‘Year of Gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’. The year of gratitude is a celebration of the 85 glorious years that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has spent and continues to devote to the wellbeing of all sentient beings. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a global beacon and ambassador of love, peace, and compassion. For the Tibetan people, His Holiness the Dalai Lama shares a special bond and significance: His Holiness is the human manifestation of Chenrezig, the bodhisattva of compassion and the patron saint of Tibet. From 1950 till 2011, for over six decades, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has led the Tibetan people politically and spiritually, and has successfully put the global spotlight on China’s occupation of Tibet through the sheer power of non-violence and compassion. Even after the complete devolution of political authority to an elected Tibetan leadership in 2011, His Holiness the Dalai Lama remains the moral compass and conscience guiding the everyday lives of the Tibetan people. Therefore, this yearlong celebration is an appreciation and collective expression of gratitude by the Tibetan people to highlight the outstanding contributions and achievements of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Despite the unforeseen challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Central Tibetan Administration rolled out a host of programs and activities worldwide to celebrate the life and the still unfolding legacy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama under the banner ‘Year of Gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’. As part of this yearlong celebration, Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) of Central Tibetan Administration organised this talk series on the four principal commitments of His Holiness the Dalai Lama namely, Promotion of Human Values, Promotion of Religious Harmony, Preservation of Tibet’s Culture and Environment, and Revival of Ancient Indian Wisdom. These four commitments reflect His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s lifelong conviction and effort to create a more peaceful, tolerant, and rational world by instilling hope in the younger generation.

The talk series, although initially planned as an in-person conference, was compelled by circumstances to be held virtually. However, due to the fact that most of the speakers reside in different time zones and the imposition of differing lockdown measures in different countries, a live virtual event was determined unfeasible. Therefore, it was decided to be held as a pre-recorded talk series. Over all, there are at least 120 speakers from 19 different countries speaking in 15 languages in the talk series.

The talk series will begin with an inaugural note from President Dr Lobsang Sangay and introductory remarks on the four commitments by Yangten Tulku Rinpoche, Religious Secretary at the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It will be followed by a panel of keynote speakers in Tibetan, Hindi, and English languages.

The talk series will also feature addresses by heads of the various Tibetan spiritual traditions including Sakya Gongma Trizin Rinpoche, Kyabje Gaden Tripa Rinpoche, Gyalwang Karmapa Rinpoche, Kyabje Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche, Drikung Kyabgon Rinpoche, Kyabje Menri Trizin Rinpoche, and Kyabje Jonang Gyaltsab Rinpoche. Other prominent speakers include Prof Bob Thurman, Prof Thupten Jinpa, Lobsang Jinpa, Ven Mathieu Ricard, Geshe Lhakdor, Dr Deepak Chopra, Geshe Dorji Damdul, Dr Tenzin Dorjee, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, Prof John Powers, Gabriel Lafitte, Sharon Salzberg, Ven Priyadarshi, Geshe Ngawang Samten, etc.

DATE: 4 DEC Friday

DATE: 5 DEC Saturday

Panel Speakers DesignationStart Time (IST)

Opening Remarks

Dr Lobsang SangayPresident, Central Tibetan Administration

9:00 AM

Introductory Remarks

Yangten TulkuReligious Secretary at Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

9:25 AM

Panel Speakers DesignationStart Time(IST)

Tibetan Keynote

Dr Thupten Jinpa

Principal English Translator of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, an adjunct professor at the School of Religious Studies at McGill University

9:30 AMOnwards

Geshe Wangchuk Dorji Negi

Professor, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS), Sarnath *

Geshe LhakdorDirector, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA)

Geshe Ngawang SamtenVice Chancellor of Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS), Sarnath

* The next talk will automatically follow

DATE: 4 DEC FRIDAY


English Keynote

Dr Thupten Jinpa

Principal English Translator of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, adjunct professor at the School of Religious Studies at McGill University

12:30 PM

Ven Karma Gelek YuthokKalon, Department of Religion and Culture, CTA, Former Kashag Secretary

Geshe LhakdorDirector, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA)

Geshe Ngawang SamtenVice Chancellor of Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS), Sarnath

DATE: 5 DEC Saturday


Hindi Keynote

Lopon Lobsang Tsultrim Assistant Professor, Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, Deemed University, Ladakh

4:00 PM

Geshe Wangchuk Dorji Negi

Professor, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS), Sarnath

Prof. Pema TenzinProfessor, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS), Sarnath

Choekyong Wangchuk

Kalon, Department of Health, CTA

Speakers DesignationStart Time(IST)

Kyabgon Sakya Gongma Trizin Rinpoche

Head of Sakya School of Tibetan Buddhism 8:30 AM

Kyabje Gaden TripaRinpoche

Head of Geluk School of Tibetan Buddhism

Gyalwang Karmapa Rinpoche

Head of Karma Kagyu of Tibetan Buddhism

Kyabje Menri Trizin Rinpoche

Head of Yungdrung Bon

Kyabje Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche

Head of Shechen Monastery of Nyingma School of Buddhism

Drikung Kyabgon Rinpoche

Head of Drikung Kagyu of Tibetan Buddhism

Kyabje Jonang Gyaltsab Rinpoche

Head of Jonang school of Tibetan Buddhism in Exile

DATE: 6 DEC Sunday

Spiritual Heads of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon Tradition

DATE: 6 DEC Sunday


Chinese Ngawa TsegyamSecretary, Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

12:40 PM

Chinese Yeau Tarn LeeProfessor, National Chengchi University, Taiwan

Dr Jamyang Rinchen (Chun Yuan Huang)

Official Chinese Interpreter of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, PhD scholar from Harvard University

David KongPresident, Sino-Tibetan Students and Scholars Association, Brisbane

Dr Xia MingProfessor of Political Science, City University of New York (CUNY)


Chinese Feng Chong YiProfessor, University of Technology, Sydney

3:10 PM

Lu Hui ChanEditor of Quarterly Magazine Tibetan Sky, President, Taiwan Sarajev Institute

Hu PingEditor, Beijing Spring, Chinese Democracy Activist based in US

Chen WejianEditor of Beijing Spring, Vice President, Han and Tibetan Association, New Zealand

Su Jia Hong Professor, Fooyin University, Taiwan

DATE: 6 DEC Sunday


Spanish Thubten WangchenDirector, Casa del Tibet, Barcelona, Former member of Tibetan Parliament

4:00 PM

Spanish Marta SaroOfficial Spanish Interpreter of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

6:00 PM

Lama Osel Hita RinpocheTibetan Buddhist Tulku from Spain, and aspiring film maker

Patricia CompereStudent of Tibetan Buddhism from Mexico

Melisa BiondiArgentinan Psychologist, researcher on Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy and Psychology

Mongolian Ven. Jetsun Dorjee Geshe Lharampa 8:00 PM


Tibetan Ven ThapgeyGeshe Lharampa from Sera Jey Monastery, Karnataka

9:30 AM

Ven Ngawang SonamGeshe Lharampa from Sera Mey Monastery, Translator of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Khenpo Kunga Monk from Pal Taklung Monastery

Ven Karma Gelek YuthokKalon of Department of Religion and Culture, Former Kashag Secretary

Khen Rinpoche Tashi Tsering

Spiritual teacher at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, UK, 91st abbot of Sera Mey monastery


Japanese Maria RinchenOfficial Japanese Interpreter of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

11:30 AM

Japanese Mr Noriyuki UedaDean of Liberal Arts, Tokyo Institute of Technology

12:00 PM

Ven Yukei MatsunagaFormer chief abbot of Kongobuchi Koyasan, Doctor of Letters

Prof Ishihama YumikoHistorian and Professor, Waseda University in Japan

Mr Hitoshi Yoshimura

Fulltime Researcher at Nakamura Hajime Eastern Institute, Part-time Lecturer of Utsunomiya University, Yokohama City University

DATE: 7 DEC Monday


Korean Venerable Nam-eun-dang Hyeon-bong

Abbot of Mi hwang sa Temple, Jogye ogder of Korean Buddhism, and Chairman of the Acarya committee for Education, Jogye Order

2:15 PM

English Rajiv MehrotraSecretary and Trustee of The Foundation for Universal Responsibility of HH The Dalai Lama

3:00 PM

Dr Anthony GoedhalsAuthor, and Lecturer at the University of Pretoria, South Africa

Tony SteelFormer President, Dalai Lama in Australia Organising Committee

Dr Robert ThurmanAmerican Buddhist author and academic


Hindi Karma MonlamFormer senior civil servant of Central Tibetan Administration and works as a Hindi and Tibetan translator

5:00PM

Choegon RinpocheDrukpa Kagyu Buddhist Teacher and Former Hindi Interpreter of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Geshe Jangchup ChoedenFormer abbot of Gaden Shartse monastery, General Secretary of Geluk International Foundation

Kailash Chandra BauddhaOfficial Hindi interpreter of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

DATE: 7 DEC Monday

DATE: 8 DEC Tuesday


Tibetan Geshema Delek WangmoMember of Tibetan Election Commission, Nun from Dolmaling Nunnery

9:30 AM

Dr Tenzin DorjeeFormer President of USCIRF, Professor at Fullerton University

Dr Pema Yangchen Kalon, Department of Education, CTA

Geshe Dorji Damdul

Director of Tibet House, New Delhi, Former English Interpreter of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Italian Fabrizio PallottiOfficial Italian Interpreter of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

11:30 AM

German Ven Kelsang WangmoOfficial German Interpreter of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Geshe Degree in 2011

12:15 PM

Russian Dr Ruben Apresyan Scholar of philosophy 1:00 PM

Dr Irina Kolosova

Scholar of history from the diplomatic academy, Department of International relations and International Law, Moscow

Dr Tatiana Chernigovskaya

Psychiatrist with a PhD in Biology and PhD in Philology

Dr Andrey Terentiev

Founder of Leningrad Buddhist Society and TSG Russia, Editor of Buddhist texts into Russian, PhD Scholar

Nepali Gyurmay Tsundu

Assistant Secretary, Manjushree Centre of Tibetan Culture, Darjeeling, Visiting Teacher of North Bengal University

3:00 PM

DATE: 8 DEC Tuesday


English Dr Lobsang Tenzin Negi

Executive Director of the Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics at Emory University, Geshe Lharampa

6:00 PM

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo

Founder and Director of Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery; President of Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women

Gabriel LafitteScholar and Researcher on Tibet’s Environment

Prof. John PowersProfessor of Asian Studies and Buddhism, ANU; Author

HindiKailash Chandra Bauddha

Official Hindi Interpreter of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

8:00 PM

DATE: 9 DEC Wednesday


Tibetan Lobsang JinpaFormer Secretary, Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

11:00 AMOnwards

Geshe Lobsang Dawa Buddhist teacher, Scholar

Lobsang Jangchup Nun from Geden Choeling Nunnery

Thupten YarphelPrincipal, Namgyal Monastery School, and Former Political Prisoner

English Ven. AnejaSingaporean Buddhist Nun, Former Banker, Student of Institute of Buddhist Dialectics

1:00 PM

Dr Kaveri Gill

Associate Professor, Shiv Nadar University, student of Nalanda Buddhist Philosophy at Tibet House, New Delhi

Gelongma Thubten Chodron

American Buddhist nun, Founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey

Alexander BerzinScholar, Translator, and Teacher of Tibetan Buddhism, Founder and author of Berzin Archives

Vietnamese Ms Vuu Le Quyen Vietnamese Buddhist 3:00 PM

Gui lclip chi Hai Vietnamese Buddhist

Hong Hai Huynh Vietnamese Buddhist

Chi Hong Hai Vietnamese Buddhist

* Note: As there is a special teaching at 09:00 am by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 9 December, the day’s schedule which is prevously scheduled to begin from 09:30 am will now begin from 11:00 am.

DATE: 9 DEC Wednesday


German Dayab Kyabgon Rinpoche

Spiritual Director of Tibet House,Germany, and 13 other Dharma groups.

8:00 PM

Hindi Jamyang GyaltsanProfessor Emeritus at Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (C.I.B.S.), Ladakh

9:00 PM


Portuguese Beatriz BispoOfficial Portuguese interpreter of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

5:00 PM

Professor Lia Diskin

Writer and social activist, winner of UNESCO Human Rights Award 2006

Felipe ArrudaResearcher and student of Tibetan Buddhism

Professor Denise Robson

Founder and President of the Dharma Center Buddha of Compassion in Brazil

DATE: 10 DEC Thursday


Tibetan Geshema Tenzin KunselGeshema degree holder from Dolmaling Nunnery, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh

2:00 PM

Geshe Jampa GyaltsenDirector, Dzongkar Choede Monastic School

Gelong Tenzin LodoeBuddhst Monk from Ratoe Monastery, Mundgod, Karnataka State

Tulku Jamyang YontenGeshe Lharampa from Gaden Jangtse Monastery, Karnataka State

Khenpo DorjeSenior Monk from Palpung Sherabling Monastery, Bir, Himachal Pradesh

French Mathieu Ricard

Scientist, writer, translator and Buddhist monk. Board member of Mind and Life Institute. Recipient of French National Order of Merit

4:00 PM

Claire CharpentierDisciple of Dagpo Rinpoche based in Paris, France

Lola RoseOfficial French interpreter of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Chandra PelleCultural Director of Frence Center in Gujurat, Disciple of Dagpo Rinpoche based in Paris, France

English LhamoTibetan Nun from Jangchup Choeling Nunnery

6:00 PM

Guy Lieberman

Social Activist, facilitated both meetings between HH the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela, in 1996 and 2004 in South Africa

Geshe NamdakResident teacher at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London

Sharon SalzbergMeditation pioneer and industry leader, a world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author

Nepali Prof Rudra PoudyalFormer Principal of Sikkim University; President of Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch, Gangtok Chapter

8:00 PM

DATE: 11 DEC Friday


Tibetan Geshe Yungdrung KunchokGeshe from Menri Monastery, Solan

9:30 AM

Khenpo Karma TsetanSpiritual Teacher at Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim

Khen Rinpoche Kunga Chomphel

Buddhist monk of Jonang school of Tibetan Buddhsim

Rongpo Lobsang NyendakGeshe Lharampa, Former member of Tibetan Parliament

English Venerable Tenzin Priyadharshi

President & CEO, The Dalai Lama Center for Ethics and Transformative Values at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

12:00 PM

Dr Deepak ChopraMD, Founder of the Chopra Foundation

Tempa Gyaltsen ZamlhaJoint Secretary, and Environment Researcher at Tibet Policy Institute

Geshe Yeshi Gawa Co-founder and Director of Tibet Open House, Prague

Hindi Lochen Rinpoche

Considered the reincarnation of the Great Translator Rinchen Zangpo, Scholar of Buddhist Philosophy and Tantrayana Buddhism from Kinnaur

2:00 PM

Ven Dr Upanand TheroScholar and Academic of Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhism

Maling Gombu

Founder, Indian Himalayan Council of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition, Member, Minority Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India

Geshe Jinpa DakpaFirst Non-Himalyan Origin Indian to receive Geshe degree in Tibetan Buddhism

DATE: 11 DEC Friday


Tibetan Nyima Tsering TGT Science Teacher, TCV Suja 3:30 PM

Lhakpa Dhondup DhakpoPGT Tibetan Teacher, Lower TCV School, Dharamshala

Ngawang Choephel PGT Tibetan Teacher, TCV Gopalpur

Migmar DhondupHeadmaster, Sambhota Tibetan School, Ravangla, Sikkim

Tenzin ChoephelHead Consellor, Tibetan Homes School, Mussoorie, Uttarakhand

Korean Ven Kum Gang

Abbot of Mi hwang sa Temple, Jogye ogder of Korean Buddhism, Adjunct Professor of Jung-Ang Sangha graduate school, South Korea

6:00 PM

MongolianVen Gantumur Sodnom

Gavj Degree and Lama Shunlaiba of Dashichoepel Datsang, Ulan Bator, Mongolia

7:00 PM

Nyamsambuu Dendev

Master of Comparative Religious Study of University of Bristol, Humanities, Graduate Student

Luvsanjamts Davaanyam Gavj Degree

Battsengel AsraltPhD candidate, Department of Philosophy and Religion Studies, National University of Mongolia

CLOSING REMARKS

1 Ven Thamthog Rinpoche Abbot of Namgyal Monastery 9:00 PM

2 Karma Choeying

Secretary, Department of Informa-tion and International Relations, CTA

3 Chime TseyangSecretary, Department of Information and International Relations, CTA

Firstly, as a human being, His Holiness is concerned with encouraging people to be happy—helping them understand that if their minds are upset mere physical comfort will not bring them peace, but if their minds are at peace even physical pain will not disturb their calm. He advocates the cultivation of warm-heartedness and human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. He says that as human beings we are all the same. We all want happiness and do not want suffering. Even people who have no religious belief can benefit if they incorporate these human values into their lives. His Holiness refers to such human values as secular ethics or universal values. He is committed to talking about the importance of such values and sharing them with everyone he meets.

Secondly, as a Buddhist monk, His Holiness is committed to encouraging harmony among the world’s religious traditions. Despite philosophical differences between them, all major world religions have the same potential to create good human beings. It is therefore important for all religious traditions to respect one another and recognize the value of their respective traditions. The idea that there is one truth and one religion is relevant to the individual practitioner. However, with regard to the wider community, he says, there is a need to recognise that human beings observe several religions and several aspects of the truth.

Thirdly, His Holiness is a Tibetan and as the ‘Dalai Lama’ is the focus of the Tibetan people’s hope and trust. Therefore, he is committed to preserving Tibetan language and culture, the heritage Tibetans received from the masters of India’s Nalanda University, while also speaking up for the protection of Tibet’s natural environment.

In addition, His Holiness has lately spoken of his commitment to reviving awareness of the value of ancient Indian knowledge among young Indians today. His Holiness is convinced that the rich ancient Indian understanding of the workings of the mind and emotions, as well as the techniques of mental training, such as meditation, developed by Indian traditions, are of great relevance today. Since India has a long history of logic and reasoning, he is confident that its ancient knowledge, viewed from a secular, academic perspective, can be combined with modern education. He considers that India is, in fact, specially placed to achieve this combination of ancient and modern modes of knowing in a fruitful way so that a more integrated and ethically grounded way of being in the world can be promoted within contemporary society.

Four Principal Commitments of His Holiness The Great 14th Dalai Lama

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Organized by Department of Information and International Relations, CTA

Dharamshala, India

Date: 4 - 11 Dec, 2020

Pre-Recorded Talk Series on His Holiness the Great 14th ......Studies (CIHTS), Sarnath DATE: 5 DEC Saturday Panel Speakers Designation Start Time (IST) Hindi Keynote Lopon Lobsang

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