After fifty years, the dissemination of Tibetan Buddhism in the modern world is no longer in its infancy, but has reached a crucial intermediate stage. Having established itself and laid down roots outside of traditionally Tibetan Buddhist areas through the efforts of many teachers, and particularly His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the time has come for teachers and students of Tibetan Buddhism to consider its future direction, with an eye to ensuring that the tradition continues to grow as a beneficial force for the peace, well-being and happiness of humanity. Coinciding with the three-day visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Emory University in Atlanta, GA, this conference will bring together the preeminent leaders, teachers, scholars, translators, supporters, and students of Tibetan Buddhism from both traditionally Tibetan Buddhist areas and western countries to engage in substantive discussion about the current state of Tibetan Buddhism in the modern world and how best to move forward collectively.

What is the current situation of Tibetan Buddhism, and what does the future hold for it? What new challenges and opportunities present themselves for an ancient tradition that now finds itself as one among many traditions in the modern world? How will Tibetan Buddhism be transformed through its encounter with modern society, science, and other religious traditions, and what can it bring to complement them?

This major international conference will focus on Tibetan Buddhism in the modern world, following on from the Congress of Tibetan Buddhist Dharma Centers of the Americas, held at the Garrison Institute, NY, in 2003. The conference promises to be distinctive due to the contemporary relevance of the topics to be discussed and the diversity of speakers and participants who will be present, including leaders of Tibetan Buddhist communities in both traditionally Buddhist and western countries, some of the most prominent western scholars of Tibetan Buddhism, and representatives from western Dharma centers.

For more information and to register for this conference, please visit Emory University.

When you tell the world you’re a Friend of Tibet with the nation’s first Tibetan special license plate, you’ll be doing more than sending a powerful message — because of special legislation in the Commonwealth of Virginia, proceeds from the sale of every Friends of Tibet plate help Tibetan refugee families preserve their endangered culture.

Click here to order your Friends of Tibet license plate from the DMV or use the link below to order your own Friends of Tibet plate directly for the DMV — and even personalize it with a message of your choice. (There are also souvenir plates for Friends of Tibet who don’t own cars in Virginia.) Order your own Friends of Tibet Virginia license plate today, and help preserve Tibetan culture.

Map of the Buddhist regions.

The carpet industry continues to be an important source of income for Tibetans living in Tibet, Nepal, and India. The shapes and designs of the carpets have changed with the demands of Western consumers. Floor carpets in many sizes, some with non-Tibetan motifs, are now produced in cottage industries and large factories. Tibetan wool is still used for many of these carpets, but in South Asia, it is often supplemented with New Zealand wool. A few refugees have brought looms to Europe and North America and continue the tradition in the West.

Thangka painting is strictly governed by iconographic rules. An artist spends many years as an apprentice, drawing and studying ancient texts under a master. By the end of the apprenticeship, artists are not only technically trained to produce meticulously detailed works, but are also taught by their teachers to actively seek spiritual calm and moral fortitude. Traditionally, as part of this process, thangka painters observed disciplines such as abstaining from meat, alcohol, onions, and garlic, as well as maintaining strict personal cleanliness. Today, however, they do not always do so.

Traditionally, thangkas were created on commissions from religious devotees, and were not sold on the open market. Today, some highly skilled thangka artists still work on commission. Less refined thangkas are produced in bulk for tourist markets in Nepal, India, and elsewhere.

The celebration in Lhasa used to draw the most distinguished lhamo troupes from across Tibet. A five-day festival was established in the 19th century at which private and public lhamo performances were held in sites throughout the city, including Norbulingka (the Dalai Lama’s summer residence), the Potala Palace, and Drepung Monastery. The tradition continues in Dharamsala, India, where six troupes from around India present a variety of operas from their repertoires. Although yogurt no longer plays a key role in the festival, the Shoton celebration remains a central event in the lives of Tibetans in South Asia.

Today in Tibet and India, lhamo lasts less than a day, and all performers are lay people. The lhamo stage is bare except for a statue of the patron saint of the opera, Thangtong Gyalpo. Every performance begins with the purification of the stage. The narrator, shung shangen, enters and sings a summary of the story in verse. Then the performers enter, each dancing his or her own distinct step to the music of a drum and cymbals. Their colorful silk costumes reflect the clothes of the aristocracy of Lhasa. All the actors sing the choruses. There are also spoken improvisations that may make fun of contemporary institutions, individuals, and even monks and nuns.