Tibetan Aid Project
The Tibetan Aid Project (TAP) was founded in 1969 by Tarthang Tulku—a leading Tibetan master and teacher to support the courageous efforts of Tibetans to survive in exile and re-establish their rich cultural heritage. TAP is an operation of the Tibetan Nyingma Relief Foundation. It is a 501 c (3) non-profit organization that primarily focuses on raising funds for the production, shipment and distribution of sacred texts, art and prayer wheels for the World Peace Ceremony in Bodh Gaya, India.
More than 1 million Tibetans lost lives and thousands of monasteries were ruined along with their libraries during the year of 1959. Over the years, TAP has filled hundreds of libraries with Tibetan books, stimulated education in the Himalayan region, fostered literacy across Tibetan society, improved the economy of Bodh Gaya, India, and enabled nuns—who were traditionally limited to non-scholastic activities—to study texts and earn advanced degrees
The Founder
In 1959 with around 100,000 of his followers, the Dalai Lama fled from Chinese persecution. Prior to that Tarthang (Tar-tung) Tulku, a Tibetan lama, had traveled to study in Sikkim with his primary teacher, Khentse Rinpoche. Later settling in India on a scholastic fellowship, Tarthang Rinpoche spent six years teaching Buddhist philosophy at Sanskrit University in Benares. He also began a small Tibetan-language publishing company. After years of witnessing the decline of his culture and the living conditions of his fellow refugees, Tarthang traveled to California in 1968. In Berkeley—where there was already a flourishing array of East-meets-West, his desire to help the Tibetans and all humanity would have a place to grow. Later, he would establish Dharma Publishing and the Tibetan Aid Project.
To follow the Buddhism lineage, here below our Tibet travel company has created and operated the Tibetan Nyingma Relief spiritual journey many times in the past years.
Day 1 arrival Chengdu at 1:40 pm—-pick up and transfer to hotel, group dinner at around 7:30 pm (vegetable food) * overnight in Chengdu Yinhe Dynasty or similar downtown located hotel
Day 2 Check out hotel at 12:00, take subway to railway station at 1 pm), the train leaves at 2:48 pm from Chengdu Main Railway North Station (We will take you to railway station to board the train), traveling by train * overnight in train
Day 3 traveling by train * overnight in train
Day 4 arrival in Lhasa at 9:55am, to be picked up and transfer to hotel * overnight in Lhasa—House of Shambhala or Tashi Norta Hotel
Day 5 visit Jokhang temple, Barkhor Streets, Miru Monastery * overnight in Lhasa —House of Shambhala or Tashi Norta Hotel
Day 6 visit Potala and Lukhang Temple, * overnight in Lhasa —House of Shambhala or Tashi Norta Hotel
Day 7 visit Lhasa-Tsurphu Monastery – founded 12th Century. Its founder became the 1st Karmapa, is main seat for Karmapas. * overnight in Lhasa —House of Shambhala or Tashi Norta Hotel
Day 8 Lhasa-Ganden Monastery – the foremonst monastery of the Gelugpa school, at a scenic ridge; may be with lunch in traditional village * overnight in Lhasa
Day 9 Lhasa-Shugseb Nunnery is a major Nyingmapa centre for practice. The nuns are famous for ttheir strong practices of Chöd * overnight in Tsetang Yulong Holiday Hotel
Day10 Tsetang-Travel to Mindroling Monastery– (Minzhulin Temple)*overnight Tsetang, hotel as above
Day11 Tsetang- Yumbulhagang Palace-Tramdruk Monastery * overnight Tsetang, hotel as above
Day12 Tsetang- Chongye- King Tombs-Shedrak Caves)-Tsetang, * overnight Tsetang, hotel as above
1.the Chongye Bural Mounds (Royal tombs) with a small Nyingmapa temple with the mound of King Songtsen Gampo.
2. Tsering Jong Nunnery, above the village of Tsering Yong with meditation spring and willow trees (sunkhangs, or places of abode for protective deities) and cave of Rechungpa (a disciple of Milarepa.
3. The Crystal Cave (or Sheldrak Cave)! A very significant pilgrimage site for Tibetans; Padasambhava spent a significant period of meditation here soon after the first time he came to Tibet. His biography as recorded by his consort Yeshe Tsogyal was discovered here appr. 800 years ago. * overnight Tsetang hotel as above
November 26th-Day 12 – Saturday: Tsetang-Hepori Mountain walking-Samye Monastery-Samye, * overnight at Samye Hotel
1. Ütse (Central temple); visiting Ling Chapels, walking clockwise;
2.Tsengmang Ling (housed once the monastery printing press – look for the sacred stone in the center);
3. Aryapalo Ling (Samye’s first building with statue of Arya Lokeshvara similar of the one in Potala P.);
4. Drayur Gyagar Ling (was originally the centre for the translation of the texts, as depicted on the wall murals etc);
5. Jampa Ling (where Samye’s Great Debate was held – mural with depicting the orginial design of Samye with zigzagging walls end more
6. The Triple Mani Lakhang – with beautiful wallpaintings
7. The Chinese-styled Jangchub Semkye Ling houses a host of Bodhisattva’s etc There is a sacred stone to the left,(take a lantern with you for the murals of Central-Asian style.)
Day 13 Samye–Chimphu: Monastery and Caves hike * overnight at Samye hotel
Day 14 Samye – Drakmar Drinzang (birthplace of Dharma King Trisong Detsen) and Yamalung Hermitage (was a sanctuary of Padmasambhava. Termas are said to be contained here. Yamalung is said to be the place from which the Tibetan people originated. It was most likely a fortress when it was build around the 7th Century (time of Dharma king Songtsen Gampo). * overnight at Samye Hotel
Day15 Samye – Yeshe Tsogyal Lhatso- via Dorje Drak Monastery-Lhasa. * overnight at Lhasa hotel as above
Day16 leaving Lhasa for next stop.
For more Tibet travel information, welcome to contact Lhasa local Tibet travel agency.(email to Mr. Tony: service@tibetctrip.com or info@tibetlocalguide.com)
