GESHE LA'S TEACHING AWARD

As many of you know, Geshe la received his Outstanding Faculty Award on Thursday, 21 February 2008 (he's pictured to the left with our Chancellor, John White, and his wife, Mary Lib) at an honorary banquet held at the Hembree House.  It was a wonderful and moving evening.  Since then we have been showered with congratulations from Tibetans around the world.  I've added a photo album with a few pictures from the event.

This award represents a victory of sorts for all Tibetans, and Geshe la has gone out of his way in interviews with the Voice of Tibet, the Voice of America, and other venues to stress this fact.  Now, Tibetans have a model, an example of how education results in recognition and the kind of attention that might someday lead to a full redress of the wrongs that have been dealt the Tibetans.  At the very least, Geshe la's education has allowed him to make a credible case, not only for Tibetan culture in general, but for a reasoned approach to the necessity of non-violence in all of our lives, and it is this approach that garnered the award for him.  As he says continually:  "This is about education."

Most importantly, we recently received a letter of congratulations from Tashi Wangdi, the North  American representative of the Dalai Lama.  This is wonderful news for Geshe la, and we hope that it bodes well for our future involvement with Mr. Wangdi's office.  If you'd like to download the letter and read, click on the following link:

Download LetterWangdi.jpg (811.5K)

Geshe la and Rinzin la's presence here in Fayetteville has served as a catalyst for a range of positive developments, extending from the classroom to the meditation room, and we will be calling a meeting soon for all of those interested in helping us plot the future of the Tibetan Cultural Institute of Arkansas. 

Until then, many congratulations to Geshe la and to Rinzin la.  They are doing important work here, and we are fortunate to have them in Fayetteville.