Upcoming Intensive Courses in America

Summer 2010

History of Tibetan Medicine
Instructor: Menpa Yang Ga

Friday, May 7 - Sunday, May 9, 2010
9am-12pm, 2pm-6pm
Price: $225 for the General Public
$75 for Students and Seniors
$125 to attend by webcast

10% discount for Meritorious Members of the Shang Shung Institute.

This course will be WEBCASTED! Please click HERE for more information, or to register for the password-protected live internet webcast.

The Tibetan science of healing contains knowledge compiled and disseminated since antiquity by the Tibetan people. One of the oldest continuously applied healing systems on the planet, Tibetan Medicine remains a vital and living tradition.

Evolving over many centuries, Tibetan healers gradually created new techniques for protecting life, which increased the productive work and happiness of individuals, and treated illness. Students will be introduced to the historical origin and developments of the Tibetan medical tradition, with an emphasis on how the key topics evolved to their present stage.

Menpa (Dr.) Yang Ga

At the age of 20 Menpa Yang Ga enrolled in the Department of Tibetan Medicine at the Tibet University in Lhasa, where he studied Buddhist philosophy, Tibetan Medicine, Astrology, Grammar, Poetry, and History, as well as Sanskrit. He studied with the late Khenpo Tsenam, the late Khenpo Tsultrim Gyaltsen, Professor Champa Triles, Professor Gojo Wangdu, and the late professor Samten. In 1991 he graduated from Tibet University. Upon graduation, Khenpo Tsenam, the vice president, appointed him as a teacher of Tibetan medicine at the college. In September, 1999 he became one of the first students to begin a Masters Degree in Tibetan medicine. Under Khenpo Tsenam’s supervision in 2002 he finished his thesis and received his Masters. In September, 2003, he enrolled in Harvard University, and presently he is completing the final stages of a PhD program in the department of Inner Asian and Altaic Studies under Professor Janet Gyatso’s supervision.

Ka-Ter Beginning Tibetan Language Intensive
Instructor: Fabian Sanders, professor, University of Venice

Friday, August 6 - Thursday, August 12, 2010
10:00am-12:30pm, 3pm-5:30pm
Price: $375 for the General Public
$280 for Students and Seniors

10% discount for Meritorious Members of the Shang Shung Institute.

Prerequisites: This course is open to the Public. It is advisable, although not necessary, for students to know the Tibetan alphabet before attending the course.

This exciting new initiative is aimed to give an intensive introduction to the Tibetan language as part of the Ka-ter Translation Program.

For a number of years, similar courses have been held at the Shang Shung Institute - Italy. As it is not always easy to travel to Italy, this program was devised so that interested students can study Tibetan Language in their own country under the guidance of a qualified visiting teacher.

Curriculum:
A. The first three days of this course are designed to enable reading and correct pronunciation and also to give an overview of the language. The following material will be covered:
1. The importance and beauty of the Tibetan language.
2. The structure of the language; grammar as a sacred science; Dharma Language (chos skad).
3. Sanskrit and Tibetan.
4. The alphabet; the relationship between signs and sounds; basic reading skills with reference to texts of practice if the course is restricted to practitioners, otherwise reference is to more general texts; notes on Sanskrit letters and pronunciation.
5. Presentation of available materials for the study of Tibetan language.

B. The second four days of the course help the student establish a firm basis for further study of the language and perform actual translation. After completing this course, students are now qualified take part in future Shang Shung Institute Tibetan Translation Trainings. The following material will be covered:
1. Translation: history, principles, techniques and problems.
2. The question of technical Dharma language.
3. Syllables, words, sentences and discourse.
4. Names (ming tshig) and Connectors or Particles (tshig phrad).
5. The eight cases of Tibetan grammar.
6. Connectors or Particles not related with case.
7. Examples and exercises.

Tibetan Astrology I
Instructor: Menpa Lobsang Namkha

Friday, August 27 - Tuesday, August 31, 2010
8:30am-12:30pm, 2pm-4pm
Price: $375 for the General Public
$125 for Students and Seniors

Prerequisites: This course is open to the Public

Tibetan Astrology is a traditional practice used by Tibetan doctors and Lamas. The study of the Five Elements, combined with trigrams, numbers, and animal signs, form the basis for astrological calculations. Participants will learn how to accurately read and create Tibetan astrological calendars for their personal use.

Menpa (Dr.) Lobsang Namkha was born in Amdo to a nomadic yak-herding family. At a young age he entered Tharchul Monastery where he studied Tibetan Buddhism, Buddhist Philosophy, and Tibetan Astrology. Later, at Labrang Monastery, Lobsang continued his studies in Astrology and Astronomy as well as in Tibetan Medicine, Tibetan Grammar, Sanskrit Grammar, and Poetry. In 1994, he went to India where he taught Tibetan Astronomy, Astrology, and Sanskrit Grammar to instructors at Kirti Monastic College for one year. He also served as a teacher at Tsechokling Monastery in Dharamsala. He has published a history of his home village, and also writes poetry in Tibetan and English. Lobsang currently resides in New York City.

Tibetan Astrology II
Instructor: Menpa Lobsang Namkha

Wednesday, September 1 - Friday, September 3, 2010
8:30am-12:30pm, 2pm-4pm
Price: $225 for the General Public
$75 for Students and Seniors

Prerequisites: Tibetan Astrology I
Offered for SSI Medicine Program Students and previous Astrology course attendees.

REGISTER HERE» to attend in PERSON

REGISTER HERE» to attend in PERSON as a STUDENT or SENIOR

10% discount for Meritorious Members of the Shang Shung Institute.

Tibetan Astrology is a traditional practice used by Tibetan doctors and Lamas. The study of the Five Elements, combined with trigrams, numbers, and animal signs, form the basis for astrological calculations. Participants will learn how to accurately read and create Tibetan astrological calendars for their personal use.

Menpa (Dr.) Lobsang Namkha was born in Amdo to a nomadic yak-herding family. At a young age he entered Tharchul Monastery where he studied Tibetan Buddhism, Buddhist Philosophy, and Tibetan Astrology. Later, at Labrang Monastery, Lobsang continued his studies in Astrology and Astronomy as well as in Tibetan Medicine, Tibetan Grammar, Sanskrit Grammar, and Poetry. In 1994, he went to India where he taught Tibetan Astronomy, Astrology, and Sanskrit Grammar to instructors at Kirti Monastic College for one year. He also served as a teacher at Tsechokling Monastery in Dharamsala. He has published a history of his home village, and also writes poetry in Tibetan and English. Lobsang currently resides in New York City.

For more information or to register for any of these summer intensive courses, please contact the Shang Shung Institute secretary at secretary@shangshung.org or (413) 369 - 4928.