ESTONIAN-TIBETAN CULTURAL SOCIETY

EESTI-TIIBETI KULTUURISELTS

Estonian-Tibetan Cultural Society (ETCS) is an academic non-profit organization, founded with the aim to study and introduce Tibetan culture in Estonia.

HOW TO CONTACT US

by e-mail: etks@tibet.ee

PAST EVENTS

2009

May 30

ETCS organized a Day of Tibetan Culture with a seminar, a small exhibition of Tibetan Buddhist ritual items and Tibetan tea. The following papers were presented:

Kadri Raudsepp. Namthar genre in Tibetan literature and the biography of Nyangrel Nyima Ozer (1136-1204).

Laur Järv. Four classes of tantras in the context of Sakya Pandita's "A Clear Differentation of the Three Codes".

Maret Kark. About the background of Bidya Dandaron's mahamudra project.
The use and meaning of Tibetan Buddhist ritual items at the exhibition was explained by Lama Sangyas.
The day concluded with a documentary about Tibetan shamans Fate of the Lhapa (Sarah Sifers, 2007), introduced by Aado Lintrop.

March 22-29

ETCS hosted the monks of Lhodak Gaden Dhonnyiling monastery, who constructed Medicine Buddha sand mandala and performed ritual dances in Tartu and Viljandi.

2008

May 17	Tibet support torch on Suur Munamägi hill, the highest point in Estonia, expressed solidarity with Tibet.
April 26	ETCS organized a Day of Tibetan Culture with a seminar, a small exhibition of Tibetan Buddhist statues and Tibetan tea. The following papers were presented: Leho Rubis. *About the origin and development of the concept of mandala as exemplified by the Buddhist cave temples in Ellora. Kadri Raudsepp. The development of notions rnying ma and gsar ma as designating distinct Buddhist schools. Laur Järv. Jonang - a suppressed school in Tibetan Buddhism. Maret Kark. How to understand Buddhist modernism. Urmas Pappel. Tibetan factor in the Sino-Indian border conflict. The talks were followed by a documentary Journeys with Tibetan medicine* (dir. Martin Saxer, 2005).
April 17	khenpo Könchok Tamphel (Drikung Kagyu Institute, India) spoke about *Knowledge and practice in Buddhism*.

2007

February 25

ETCS celebrated the Tibetan prayer festival MÖNLAM with a small exhibition of Tibetan traditional thangka painings and a seminar. The following papers were presented:

Leho Rubis. The paradox of information in the canons of Buddhist art.

Kadri Raudsepp. Tibetan polemic literature in 10.-13. century.

Laur Järv. Mind training (blo sbyong).

Maret Kark. The history and development of Tibetan Studies in the West.

Ott Ojaperv. Julius Evola's interpretation of Buddhism.

Natalja Munatajeva. Ladakhi women in the midst of cultural changes.
The day was concluded by a film Tibetan Village Wedding (dir. Puhua Dongzhi, 2005).

2006

November 3	Laur Järv and Ott Ojaperv discussed *Tibetan monastic education and Buddhist scholasticism, introducing the book The Sound of Two Hands Clapping: The Education of a Tibetan Buddhist Monk* by Georges Dreyfus (Univ. Calif. Press 2003).
June 10	annual meeting of the society adopted changes to the statutes of the society and elected a new board. The meeting was followed by two short films by Puhua Dongzhi: *Tibetan Village Wedding* (2005) and *Perfection of Wisdom* (2004).
April 21-23	PhD Alexia Meyer-Kahlen (Germany) gave the seminar *Madhyamika philosophy (II): in an introductory lecture she elucidated the Madhyamika* school of thought compared to other Buddhist schools, and the seminar continued with the discussion on the Madhyamika-prasangika theory of emptiness based on Candrakirti's commentary Madhyamakavatara.
April 12-13	Lama Wangchuk (Institut Karma Ling, France) outlined Gampopa's masterpiece The Jewel Ornament of Liberation.

2005

October 28-30	the course of Buddhist philosophy continued at the Institute for Tibetan Studies: PhD Alexia Meyer-Kahlen (Germany) gave the seminar *Madhyamika philosophy (I)* in the scientific system of 'Unity in Duality' initiated by Tarab Tulku Rinpoche XI (1934-2004).
May 11	the society introduced the Tibetan film, *Phörpa - The Cup*, Bhutan 1999, directed by Khyentse Norbu, followed by annual meeting of the society.
February 11-13	at the Institute for Tibetan Studies, continuing the course on Buddhist Philosophy, PhD Alexia Meyer-Kahlen, M.F.A. (Hamburg, Germany) explained the terminology and models of *Yogacara philosophy*.

2004

April 29	Introduction of the Estonian translation of *The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying* by Sogyal Rinpoche and the film *The Tibetan Book of the Dead*, National Film of Canada, 1999 at the Estonian National Museum, followed by the annual meeting of the society.
January 30 - February 2	PhD Tarab Tulku held a seminar on *Yogacara philosophy*.

2003

December 18	PhD Laur Järv (Jena, Germany) gave a talk *Dharmakirti's arguments against theism and materialism*.
December 6-7	PhD Martin Boord (Oxford, England) held a seminar on *Pema Trinle's (17th c.) commentary "Vividly clear essence of the Bhagavat Vajrakumara razor scripture application practice ritual"*.
December 5	PhD Martin Boord (Oxford, England) gave a lecture *Vajrakila: a wrathful deity of tantric Buddhism*.
November 29	PhD Andrey Terentyev (Sankt Petersburg, Russia) held a seminar on *Interpreting and understanding Nagarjuna: "Mulamadhyamakakarika" in Indian, Tibetan and contemporary interpretations*.
November 28	at the History Museum of the University of Tartu during the evening with Tibetan art Andrey Terentyev gave an overview of the *Tibetan Art Collections in Russia*.
June 21-22	PhD Tarab Tulku continued the seminar on Buddhist philosophy: *Vaibhashika philosophy - science of mind and Introduction to Sautrantika philosophy*.
June 20	Psychotherapist Lene Handberg from Denmark presented a paper at the Institute for Tibetan Studies: *Implementation of Unity in Duality in regard to Self-developmental / Psychotherapeutic Application*.
April 17	at the Estonian National Museum ETCS introduced the documentary film about the 20 prominent Tibetan yogis of the 20th century: *The Yogis of Tibet* (JEHM Films 2002 - Executive Producers Phil & Jo Borack). It was followed by the annual meeting of the society.
February 1-2	at the Institute for Tibetan Studies and Estonian-Tibetan Cultural Society the course of Buddhist Philosophy continued with a seminar by Ph D Tarab Tulku on the *Philosophy of the Vaibhashika school based on Abhidharma literature*.

2002

November 27	the Estonian-Tibetan Cultural Society organized a seminar on Tibetan art and philosophy. The following papers were presented: Leho Rubis. *Parallels between Tibetan art and orthodox tradition of icon painting. Ott Ojaperv. 19th letter of Bidja Dandaron (1914-1974) on Buddhist ethics. Maret Kark. Gedun Chopel (1903/5-1951) - modern scholar of Tibet*.
June 29-30	Tarab Tulku conducted a seminar on the *Abhidharma theory of the Vaibhashika school*.
June 28	The Institute for Tibetan Studies, initiated by the Estonian-Tibetan Cultural Society in cooperation with the international Tarab Institute started the 2-4 year course in Buddhist philosophy and psychology. Ph D Tarab Tulku opened the course with a lecture *Introduction to the Buddhist philosophy and psychology*.
May 11	the Estonian-Tibetan Cultural Society held its annual meeting and seminar on TIBETAN CULTURE AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES. The papers were presented by Alar Kukk. *The Conception of human being and illnesses in Tibetan medicine. Jako Jaagu. Death experience in Buddhism. Maret Kark. The Myth of the Tibetan Buddhist Kingdom*.

2001

December 10	Candlelight Ceremony in Tartu Roman Catholic Church to mark the International Day of Human Rights. The holy Mass was offered for peace and human rights in Tibet and the whole world.
November 30	Estonian-Tibetan Cultural Society organized a seminar on Tibetan culture and contemporary Tibet. The following papers were presented: Renata Sõukand. *Causes of Diseases in Tibetan and Estonian traditional Medicine. Leho Rubis. Reflections on Sacrality in Art. Alari Rammo. Tibet in China and China in Tibet: methods of propaganda in mass media. Ott Ojaperv. Tibetan Buddhism as seen from Vatican*.
June 19-21	His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso visited Estonia.
May 24	Maret Kark talked about *The political parties in Tibet at the beginning of the 20th century*.
April 28-29	Professor Tarab Tulku held a seminar on *Nagarjuna's philosophical treatise "Mulamadhyamakakarika"*.
April 27	Professor Tarab Tulku gave an open lecture on *Madhyamaka philosophy*.

2000

December 11	Märt Läänemets delivered a lecture on *Tibet in China and China in Tibet: what impedes the fair and peaceful resolution of the problem of Tibet*.
December 10	Silent candlelight ceremony was dedicated to the International Day of Human Rights in Pirogov square, Tartu.
November 27	at the seminar on the methods of Buddhist transformation Maret Kark spoke about *sadhana as a Buddhist transformation program* and Leho Rubis explained *rituals and symbols in Tibetan Buddhism*. The topic of the following panel was on feasibility of the Buddhist methods of transformation within contemporary Western society.
October 12	Maret Kark made a report on *Power struggle in the 8th century Tibet: the role of Padmasambhava*, after which the perspectives and projects of the society for the academic year 2000-2001 were discussed.
September 21 - 25	Chhimed Rigdzin Lama gave teachings on *Tibetan terma tradition*.
April 14	Laur Järv demonstrated a selection of Tibetan language computer software.
March 23	General meeting of the society elected the new board for the next three years.
March 10 - 12	Prof. Tarab Tulku delivered a lecture on *Indian and Tibetan Logical and Epistemological Tenets* and gave a seminar *DZOG-CHEN - the Way of Intrinsic Awareness*.
February 11	At the annual meeting of the society Leho Rubis spoke about his *travel to India and Dharamsala* - the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

1999

December 17	Jako Jaagu gave an introduction to *Tibetan Bon Religion*.
December 10	Candlelight ceremony in Tartu Roman Catholic Church to mark the International Day of Human Rights. Afer the Mass devoted to human rights, Tibet and world peace, the ensemble Via Sonora performed early sacred music.
September 17 - 19	Prof. Tarab Tulku delivered a lecture on *Indian and Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy* and gave a seminar *Lucid Dreaming: Mobilizing the Creativity of the Unconscious*.
September 7 - 8	Dr.Hist. Andrey Terentyev, Editor-in-chief of the journal Buddhism of Russia and Narthang Publications from St. Petersburg gave lectures on *Buddhism and Buddhist collections in Russia* and *"Lam-rim chen-mo" as a General Overview of a Buddhist Path*.
May 6	Leho Rubis gave an overview of *Tibetan Sacred Art*.
April 7	Discussion about *Buddhism and the West*.
February 16	Jako Jaagu explained *Tibetan Astrology*.

1998

December 10	Candlelight ceremony in support of human rights, Tibet and world peace. The ceremony was followed by a film about the history of Tibet in the 20th century.
October-November	Video Festival on Tibet in co-operation with the Dzogchen Community and Istituto Shang Shung. Films about Tibetan culture were shown in Tartu, Pärnu, and Tallinn.
September 25	A tea table discussion *Tibetan Summer '98*.
April 3	Märt Läänemets spoke about his half-year stay in *China*.
February 27	Ott Ojaperv presented an introduction to the *Buddhist Logic*.
February 13 - 15	Ph.D., Lharampa Geshe Tarab Tulku from Copenhagen University gave a lecture on *Tibetan Psychology and Psychotherapy* and a seminar on Revealing Natural Energy Resources.

1997

December 10	The Day of Human Rights and Nobel Peace Prize. Maret Kark made a report about the *Condition of Education in Tibet. Participation in the worldwide network of 1000 Lamp Mandala Ceremony* for Tibet and world peace.
October 17	Jako Jaagu and Leho Rubis shared their impressions of the Tibetan Oil Lamps Ritual in Poland.
July 23	A visit by Samdhong Rinpoche, the Head of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile and Rector of the Tibetan University of Sarnath, and Chope Paljor Tsering, representative of HH the Dalai Lama in Eastern Europe. Samdhong Rinpoche delivered a lecture *Nationalism and Democracy in Buddhism*. (Photos: Samdhong Rinpoche and Chope Paljor Tsering in front of the University of Tartu humanities building, Samdhong Rinpoche, guests and hosts together.)
July 14 - 23	ETCS helped to organize the 5th General assembly of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization and the international conference *Non-violence and Conflict* in Estonia.
June 18	Linnart Mäll talked about the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization.
May 9	Märt Läänemets conversed about *China and its Neighbouring Nations: the Ideology of the Central State through History.*
April 4	Linnart Mäll delivered a lecture about the *History of Tibetan Studies in Estonia*.
March 7	Foundation of ETCS.

Last updates 19 April 2009.
webmaster Laur Järv