We believe that with everybody's help we will be able to save many elements of an ancient civilization and culture, whose philosophy shares common grounds with ancient Greek philosophy. So, the idea for the 1st Pan-European Festival for Tibetan Culture was born, based on the presentation of the day-to-day life of Tibetans expressed through fine arts.
The Thirty-seven practices of a Bodhisattva was composed by Tibetan Bodhisattva Thokme Sangpo (1245-1369). He was a great scholar of his age. The Thirty-seven practices teach about the need to practice the Bodhisattva’s way which brings true peace of mind. Our peace of mind is in fact destroyed by our selfish and self-centredness. Therefore if we really genuinely wish to have happiness, then we must embrace others and regard others as vital components in our pursuit of happiness. When others annoy us we must not be harsh on them but rather as the author exhorts us to practice patience by saying ” For a Bodhisattva wanting the resources of virtues, All harmers are like treasure of jewels, Therefore, it is a practice of Bodhisattvas to cultivate patience without anger or resentment for any one”. He further advises us that we should never hold grudge against others even in such cases like some one we have treated so dearly but the other person looks at us like as their sworn enemy. We should in fact treat them like a mother would treat her only child in a distressful situation. He says: “Even if a person, sustained dearly like their own child, Views them as enemy, It is a practice of a Bodhisattva to be greatly merciful like a mother to her child stricken with illness”. Holding no evil thought against any body but only good will to every one is the way to happiness. This is what Thokme Sangpo teaches in his “Thirty-seven practices.
From its humble beginning forty years ago, Tibetan Children’s Village has today become a thriving, integrated educational community for destitute Tibetan children in exile, as well as for hundreds of those escaping from Tibet in recent years. It has established branches in India extending from Ladakh in the North to Bylakuppe in the South, with over 14,000 children under its care. (more…)
