The Voices of Diaspora Program

A Day of Wisdom and Transformation -Opening the Voices of Diaspora Program

Come experience the living traditions of Tibet and the Himalayas!  Be a part of traditions such as the Tibetan Buddhist Shrine - 7 bowls of water offerings, hanging prayer flags. When the wind blows the prayer flags the prayer is read. It is believed to bring forth good fortune, healings, purify the environment and help bring peace and harmony to oneself and to the world. 

Contribute your own hopes and prayers and learn about the benefits and symbolism of the 7 bowls of Tibetan Buddhist shrine water offerings and prayer flags. 

Palyul Chant Master Lama Pasang Gurung will do opening prayers and Mantra chanting. All participants can come together to raise prayer flags along with Chant Master Lama Pasang in memory of someone, for world peace or take home a blessed prayer flag to usher in good fortune and blessings.

Tashi Chodron, Himalayan Programs and Communities Ambassador of Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art  will join Lama Passang to share the symbolism and meaning of the 7 bowls of water offerings and the Prayer Flag. Himalayan Pantry Ladies will share the secrets of Tibetan momos, a type of steamed filled dumpling (vegetarian for momo demo) very popular in the Himalayas that is now popular here in North America from the Momo Maven herself and the Himalayan Pantry ladies.

Listen as Mr. Rinchen Dharlo, Alice Kandell, Tashi Chodron moderated by Yanki Tshering speak about the success of Tibetan resettlement project in the 1990s brought 1000 Tibetans to the United States from India and Nepal, followed by the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussion about success of the project.

Our program concludes with background music of mantra chantings to awaken the true nature, the basic goodness that is within each of us. 

Agenda

11:30 am Welcome - Nico Simoni

Executive Director of the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art  

11:40 am Symbolism and meaning of The Seven Offerings for the Prosperity of the Land Ceremony” led by Chant Master

Lama Pasang Gurung and Tashi Chodron

11:55 am  Shrine water bowl offering to bring in good fortune and healing 

12:10 pm Mantra chanting and guided meditation

12:45 pm Momo Demo followed by a lunch break. Please bring your own lunch or purchase a Momo Box Lunch

$10- Momo’s (choose from veg, beef or chicken), Himalayan salad, hot sauce and soy sauce) 

Limited momo’s please order in advance Reservation

2:00 pm Panel discussion on Tibetan Resettlement Project with Mr. Rinchen Darlo,  Alice Kandell and Tashi Chodron moderated by Yanki Tshering followed by Q&A 

2:45 pm Blessing and raising of prayer flags with Chant master Lama Pasang and the audience

Please order the prayer flags $10 ( each strand has set of 10 flags) you can order 1 set or many sets for world peace and harmony

or to bring forth good fortune, healing and blessings to oneself and others. Reservation

3:15 - 3:30pm All are welcome to meditate under the guidance music for peace and bring forth good energy and blessing for a positive election result for all beings benefit.  

The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art  is able to offer today’s program through the support of the New York City Council Cultural Immigrant Initiative Discretionary Grants provided by City Council Member  David Carr and City Council Member Joseph Borelli.

About our Guest:

Lama Pasang Gurung was born in 1968 in the village of Sal Dang in Dolpa, Nepal.  At the age of 16 he entered Namdroling Monastery in Mysore, India and spent the next four years learning Buddhist practice, grammar, writing, and dharma history before entering shedra in 1990. After completing the shedra in 2000, Lama Pasang was asked to become the umdze, or chant master, for His Holiness Penor Rinpoche. From 2000 until the passing of His Holiness in 2009, Lama Pasang traveled with His Holiness to Palyul centers in the United States and throughout the world.

In 2003, he became a teacher at the yearly Palyul Retreat in upstate New York, where he continues to instruct first year students in the Ngöndro or preliminary practices.

In addition to the many blessings, lung and wang he received from his root teacher His Holiness Penor Rinpoche; Lama Pasang received the Mipham Rinpoche Ka Bum lung and wang from His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse in 1989, and the Northern Treasure lung and wang from Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche in 1990.  He is currently the resident lama at the Austin Palyul Centre.

Rinchen Dharlo is the recently retired President of the Tibet Fund, a nonprofit supporting exiled Tibetan communities in India and Nepal. Born in Nyanang, Tibet, he escaped to India with his family in 1959. Dharlo began his career with the Tibetan Government-in-exile in 1972 and served as the Dalai Lama’s representative in Nepal from 1978 to 1987.

He later headed the Office of Tibet in New York City from 1987 to 1997, coordinating the Dalai Lama's visits to the Americas and engaging in fundraising for Tibetan refugees. Dharlo co-chaired the Tibetan-U.S. Resettlement Project, successfully resettling 1,000 Tibetan refugees across the U.S. He has also served on the boards of various organizations promoting Tibetan culture and rights.

As President of the Tibet Fund, he facilitated educational and health support for Tibetan communities and led initiatives for cultural preservation. Additionally, he played a key role in organizing the “Tibetan Culture Beyond the Land of Snows” festival at the Smithsonian in 2000.

Alice Kandell is a renowned Himalayan photographer and collector known for her extensive collection of Himalayan art and artifacts. She donated a Tibetan shrine room to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, which opened in 2010. In October 2024, she also donated part of her second collection to the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Kandell has authored and photographed several books on the state of Sikkim and contributed to various magazines.

In addition to her work in photography, Kandell is a trained child psychologist and has held significant roles in the arts, including serving on the U.S. Presidential Committee on the Arts and Humanities during the Clinton Administration and participating in anti-trafficking campaigns at the UN. She is also known for her involvement in opera as an actress with the Metropolitan Opera.

Her interviews often explore her passion for Himalayan culture, the significance of religious artifacts in museums, and her multifaceted life as a professional and a mother.

Tashi Chódron is a lay Buddhist practitioner and a key figure in Tibetan cultural preservation. She received comprehensive teachings of the Vajrayana path from His Holiness Penor Rinpoche. As the Himalayan Programs and Communities Ambassador at the Rubin Museum of Art, Tashi teaches sold-out Awakening Practice mindful meditation classes and leads educational programs on Himalayan Art and Culture.

She has collaborated with institutions like Kripalu, Asia Society, and Williams College, and curated the "Himalayan Heritage" program at the Rubin Museum. During the pandemic, Tashi adapted by conducting virtual sessions with Tibet House New York and other organizations.

She has also raised funds for the Heifer Project to support sustainable living for Tibetans in Tibet. Recognized with the Gold Star Award from the American Himalayan Foundation, Tashi recently received a citation of honor from Queens President Donovan Richards Jr. for her contributions to the New York community.

Yanki Tshering is Executive Director and Founder of Accompany Capital, an award-winning Community Development Financial Institution based in New York City that has made over $70M in loans to immigrants and refugee businesses and enabled 1,412 refugees invest $27M in further education, recertification, homeownership and microenterprises.  

Yanki’s passion for economic development stems from her belief that with appropriate support, immigrants and refugees can start new lives and contribute to the mainstream economy. She has a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University with a specialization in Economic Development and South Asian Studies. In 2012, Yanki was honored by Mayor Michael Bloomberg with the American Dreamer Award in the Business Leader category for her contribution to improving the lives of newcomers to the city.