September 8. 2008

The Tibet House

The Tibet House was created by the Dalai Lama in 1947. I am very passionate towards Tibetan people and have been impacted tremendously by the history of their events. The Dalai Lama is someone I respect in many ways, and everytime I read anything he has said or written, I feel as if my soul has been cleansed.
The Tibet House contains artifacts that are thousands of years old that Tibetan refugees kept and gave to Indians. There were monks in the house, and it was very calming to be around them. They don't have much to say, but their presence says so much. I feel very quiet today... as if my heart has settled a bit, seeing paintings and statues of Buddha that have existed from 14 AD.
Looking at paintings of Tibetan religious institutions and statues of Lama's and Buddha is interesting because they are beautiful physical manifestations of a spiritually proggressive culture.. but realizing that the objects in front of me are not American products, but rather material objects that have existed for thousands of years causes me to realize the permanence and importance of maintaining and learning about the culture even more. This is a way of life that has existed beyond my time and beyond any human being's time on earth- this is a way of life that has existed through the face of oppression and war.. and yet the house contained not one form of self defense or armor, everything was peaceful and artistic. The peaceful way of life is the hardest to maintain.. but seeing this house was motivating because it was proof that peace can last if we preserve it.