This is a film made by Barbara Green for the Tibetan Video Project in 1998 about the Tashi Jong community, which is situated around 50km east of Dharamasala, the seat of the Dalai Lama.
The Tashi Jong (Auspicious Valley) community was founded by the 8th Kamprul Rinpoche, after he was forced to flee Tibet in 1959, with the idea of preserving Tibetan culture in exile. To this end the Rinpoche promoted traditional arts and crafts, and especially the ritual dance associated with the Drukpa Lineage.
The Rinpoche is now famous as the root guru of Ven. Tenzin Palmo, the most senior western monastic in the world. He passed on in 1980. The film concentrates on an insider’s look at the community, its traditions, beliefs and practices, both amongst the lay and monastic communities. To this end we see young novices training in ritual dance, preparations for festivals and artists and craftsmen at work, amongst other things.
By now the film stands as a historical record of the community at the turn of the 21st century, and this also has great value in documenting the ability of the community to maintain its traditions, despite losing their homeland.
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to see an album of screenshots click here
thank you very much for this beautiful film, precious images, thank you, bless you
thank you for your kind comment~
Thank you Barbara for making this lovely film!
I accidentally discovered your site tonight, what an undertaking and important contribution in support of Tibet and Tibetan culture. I was pleased to see TJ was included. The documentary was released in 1998, but the first recorded video was made 30 years ago in March 1992 and then 1994. It was Dugu Choegyal Rinpoche’s wish to document lay & monastic community life for future generations. Today Under the guidance of the 9th Khamtrul Rinpoche ( there is only one incarnation of 8th Khamtrul,founder of Tashi Jong) TJ/Khampagar Monastery is a huge monastic community with bus tours stopping to visit.
Thanks for this important background information, and for bringing us up to date!