In a significant move to preserve and propagate the teachings of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the first-ever library and learning center dedicated to His Holiness the Dalai Lama was inaugurated in upstate New York on Friday, Sept. 8. As reported by RFA on 11 September, the center, christened “His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama Library and Learning Center,” boasts a digital archive encompassing 40,000 hours of the Dalai Lama’s teachings, a collection of around 4,000 books translating ancient Buddhist texts, and a rich array of Buddhist artifacts sourced from India and Tibet.
Ven. Thamthog Rinpoche, the abbot of the Namgyal Monastery in Dharamsala, India, who graced the inauguration, remarked, “It’s been more than 60 years since His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in exile and he has contributed immensely in promoting the basic human values of compassion, forgiveness and tolerance to this world.” He emphasized that the center aims to enlighten individuals of all ages, faiths, and educational backgrounds about the Dalai Lama’s teachings on secular ethics and human values.
This monumental opening comes against the backdrop of escalating suppression of Tibetan Buddhism, culture, and language by Chinese authorities, as highlighted by RFA. The 2023 annual report of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has shed light on the stringent restrictions imposed on Tibetans, including limited access to religious sites, bans on religious congregations, and the demolition of Buddhist symbols.
The opening ceremony was hosted by the Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies, situated near Ithaca College. Established in 1992, this institute stands as the North American representative of the Dalai Lama’s personal monastery, offering a genuine monastic setting for Westerners to delve into Tibetan Buddhism.
Ven. Tenzin Choesang, president of the Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca, shared with RFA that the center will serve as both a physical and virtual reservoir of the works of the current and preceding Dalai Lamas. He added, “It will also offer free and low-cost classes, meditations, and talks.”
Although the Dalai Lama couldn’t be present for the inauguration, he sent a poignant recorded message, stating, “Buddhism is not just a matter of routinely reciting prayers. It has to do with using intelligence and wisdom to bring about a transformation in the way we think.”
The architectural marvel, spanning 9,230-square-feet across two stories, was designed by HOLT Architects of upstate New York. The building’s exterior, adorned in hues of red, yellow, and white, is reminiscent of the Potala Palace, the Dalai Lama‘s traditional winter abode since the 7th century.
Steve Hugo, principal architect and vice president of the company, expressed his overwhelming emotions to RFA, stating, “I am overwhelmed, and I think the building was always a combination of reflecting Tibetan culture, but also recognizing that it was built in the United States.”
Diane Brandenburg, a donor who spoke at the opening ceremony, reminisced about her transformative encounter with the Dalai Lama in California in 2009. She said, “His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, has taken a huge step to creating this sacred space, a meditation and peacemaking center, a teaching center for anyone who wants to come and study to learn about Buddhism and other religions.”
About Post Author
