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Tibetan Buddhist Arts
Madison, WI

Vocabulary

Appliqué: (sounds like, ap-li-KAY) Decoration made by sewing cut fabric pieces onto another piece of cloth.
Buddhist: (sounds like, BOOD-dist) a member of Buddhism, a religion that started in India and is based on compassion.
Cultural demonstration: showing a cultural tradition to other people.
Impermanence: (sounds like, im-PER-ma-nentz) Not lasting forever.
Lama: A Buddhist monk.
Lhasa: (sounds like, LA-sa) Capital of Tibet.
Mandala: Mandalas are circular patterns that Tibetan Buddhists use for meditation and spiritual development.
Meticulous: Precise, paying close attention to detail.
Monastery: A place where monks live.
Preserve: To keep safe; to maintain.
Ritual arts: Art forms that are used in religious ceremonies or devotions.
Sanskrit: the language of Hinduism, the religion from which Buddhism developed.
Square:
A measurement that means something is as long as it is wide.
Textile: Any woven material.
Text: Words that are written or printed, like in a book.
Tibet: A country in South Asia, now a part of China.
Ven.: Abbreviation for Venerable.
Venerable: A title of respect for a monk that means he is worthy of being honored.
Visualize: to make a mental picture or image of something.

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Journal Questions

QuestionWhat do you like doing that is so important you have memorized how to do it?

QuestionWhat kind of art do you make?

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Resources For Teachers

Web ResourceVenerable Ngawang is an active member of the Wisconsin Tibet Association; at the time of this writing, he is the current Vice President. This page describes the goals of the Association, and gives a history of how Tibetans came to Wisconsin.

Web ResourceTo find a Buddhist center near your community, visit the page Dharma Centers and Organizations in Wisconsin. While most of those listed follow Tibetan Buddhism, you’ll also find Vietnamese, Chinese and Korean Buddhist centers.

Web ResourceThe Mandala Project reviews different ways in which teachers worldwide have used the concept of mandalas to teach art, math, history, culture, and science.

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Resources For Students

Web ResourceWant to see photos of Tibet? Then visit eTravelPhotos/Tibet. Double-click on a photo to make it larger.

Web ResourceThe Tibetan Language Audio Guide will let you learn some Tibetan words and hear what they sound like. 

Web ResourceDo you know why the Dalai Lama received the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize? Read the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s citation. You can find out what hopes the Dalai Lama has for Tibet by reading his acceptance speech.

Web ResourceEvery summer, Tibetans in Chicago, Minneapolis and Madison compete in a soccer tournament. In 2002, the Madison Yakboys won the tournament. Here are photos from their victory party. (You’ll see Ven. Ngawang in some of the photos too!)

Talk iconListen to the sound clipListen to Ven. Ngawang talk about the essence of Buddhism in his native language, Tibetan. A translator repeats his words in English. You can read the English translation by clicking here.

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Credits

Text written by Jamie Yuenger and Anne Pryor, edited by Anne Pryor.

Map of Tibet used with kind permission of Claude André of the Tibetan Map Institute

Sources consulted include a tape recorded interview with Venerable Ngawang Chojor by Anne Pryor (8/22/97) and accompanying documentation, resumé provided by Venerable Ngawang Chojor, and description of the Chenrezig sand mandala, provided by Mahayan Dharma Center (1997), with all sources housed at the Wisconsin Arts Board; and these websites: United Nations, The Mandala Project, and Tibetan Festivals.

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