Tibet — Kham: East Tibet

Although ancient Tibet is slowly disappearing, it is still one of the world's most astonishing cultures. Our study abroad program to Kham, East Tibet gives you a real glimpse of what ancient Tibet was like before China's occupation and cultural revolution. You witness and learn how little of the traditional lifestyle has changed over the centuries and how Buddhism plays the most important role in this culture.

This program offers you the rare opportunity to experience one of the most fascinating cultures and Buddhist civilizations in the world. You explore Tibet's most precious cultural treasure — its monasteries. You will study in these sacred power places filled with hundreds of monks and nuns dedicating their lives to the Buddhist path of spirituality.

As you travel throughout Kham you will come to discover the incredible natural beauty of this region of Tibet with its high grasslands, deep gorges, glacier filled lakes and magnificent snow capped peaks.

Course Description

Our East Tibet Program is offered during the summer sessions and originates in Beijing where you have your first introduction to Asian culture. Learn the history and study the architecture of the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City before departing to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. In Sichuan Province the focal point of study will be Chinese Buddhism where we explore the intricate Buddhist rock carvings of Leshan. From Leshan, our focus shifts to Tibetan Buddhism as we explore East Tibet and its magnificent monasteries. We study Tibetan Buddhist art and philosophy in-depth on this program. You are immersed in East Tibet's remarkable spiritual culture. At the conclusion of the program, you explore one of the world's best panda bear habitats before departing from Sichuan Province.

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Course Objectives

• To learn and study the religious and cultural traditions of Tibet.
• To observe religious festivals, temple worship and religious rituals.
• To examine and practice Buddhist meditation with a hands on approach so that the student fully understands the practice and theory of Buddhist meditation theory being taught.
• To learn the timeless traditions of creating Buddhist sacred art and to learn its symbolic meaning.
• To study with local artists to learn how the art is created and how it is used as a visualization aid in Buddhist meditation.
• To experience directly the monumentality and symbolism of Buddhist architecture.