The preservation of Tibetan culture and traditions
The turning point for Tibetan culture
Statue of the Buddha, Tibet
Tibetan culture is at a turning point. Within Tibet, a painful struggle is taking place between the re-emergence of a Tibetan cultural identity and the spread of modern China. Meanwhile, outside Tibet a younger generation born in exile is going through the difficult process of inheriting the knowledge and values of the elders who escaped.
Both groups urgently need help and support, and the rest of the world stands to benefit.
KRF Development’s approach
Thubten Chöling monastery, Nepal
With its long history and close contact with Tibetans in many different places and situations, KRF Development (along with Songtsen’s other departments) has been working, first of all, to ensure the basic survival and economic autonomy of Tibetans, both inside Tibet and in exile.
Secondly, it has tried to underpin the conditions necessary for Tibetan cultural traditions, especially the extraordinary learning and wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism accumulated over so many centuries, to be preserved and passed on to the next generation. In practice, experience has shown that helping to build and sustain monasteries is one of the best ways of achieving that goal.
Finally, KRF Development provides resources in the West to make Tibetan Buddhism available and accessible to people of all nationalities and cultures, believing its benefits and insights to be of universal value.
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