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TIBETAN STUDIES IN INDIA
Background Information
General Information
Syllabus
Readings
Application Procedure
financial Information
Itinerary and Important Dates
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact
2005 Photos
2004 Photos
Important Updates:
Information Sessions
Final Deadline
Orientation Sessions
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
As part of an ongoing academic exchange program with the Tibetan universities in exile in India, each year the Five Colleges send up to fifteen students to spend January term studying Buddhist philosophy, Tibetan history and culture, and Tibetan textual analysis in an intensive program taught by the faculty of the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath, India. The Institute is a research and teaching university established and jointly administered by the Tibetan Government in Exile and the Ministry of Education of India.
Sarnath is a small village on the outskirts of Varansi (Benares) in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi is an ancient city of about one million on the river Ganges and a major pilgrimage site for Hindus. Sarnath, the location of the Buddha's first teaching after attaining enlightenment, is a major pilgrimage site for Buddhists, and an important archaeological site.
This course of studies will include daily lectures in Buddhist philosophy, close reading and discussion of an important Buddhist treatise, and special lectures on Tibetan medicine, art, history, and culture. Instruction in Tibetan language, while not required, is encouraged and arrangements can be made for any students who wish to pursue this. The program will also include a visit to Bodh Gaya (the site of the Buddhaís enlightenment). This will provide an opportunity to visit a major Buddhist pilgrimage site at the peak of the pilgrimage season. We will also visit Raj Gir (the site of the first Buddhist council and the traditional site of the teaching of the Prajñaparamita Sutras and location of the ruins of Nalanda University, the great university of classical Indian Buddhist learning that attracted students from Greece to China. In addition, the program will take full advantage of its location outside of the ancient cultural treasure house of Benares to visit Hindu temples, and Indian museums, attend classical Indian music concerts, and participate in other educational and cultural opportunities.
Jay Garfield, Professor of Philosophy, Smith College, will accompany the students from the United States; provide academic support while in India, and facilitate in-country travel arrangements. They will conduct orientation seminars prior to departure and participants will meet students who have been on previous trips.
Students will live in dormitories on the campus of the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies. Every student is assigned a Tibetan "buddy" student from the Central Institute, and there is ample opportunity for interaction with the Tibetan students and with other friends in and around Sarnath. Students will also take classes and live with Australian students from the University of Tasmania Exchange Program. All participating students must travel and remain with the group.
ACADEMIC OPTIONS
All students who participate in the program must enrol for Phil 253J, "Indo-Tibetan Philosophy and Hermeneutics," a 3 credit January term course.
SYLLABUS
Click January Term CIHTS Course Syllabus 1here to see a sample syllabus.
READINGS
Click here for a complete list of required and suggested readings.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Interested students should send an application letter including:
Name:
Address:
Telephone Number:
E-mail address:
Year in college:
A photocopy of your passport. Your passport must be valid through July, 2010. If you do not have a passport valid through July, 2010, you cannot apply for the program this year. No exceptions. This is because of the current delays in passport processing by the Department of Homeland Security.
One-to-two page statement indicating reasons for wanting to participate in the program, relationship to academic work, and relevant preparation
Two letters of recommendation (one of which must be from a faculty member)
Copy of academic transcript
The entire application should be submitted to:
Jay Garfield
Philosophy Department
Smith College
Norhampton, MA 01063
The deadline for application to this program is
Friday, October 16, 2009, 4:00
PM.
GENERAL INFORMATION
All students accepted into the program will be asked to make a firm commitment
(including a nonrefundable deposit) to participate in the program by the date
soon to be announced, so those on the waiting list can be notified. Preference
will be given to students for whom this program would be an integral part of
their program of studies and who have undertaken relevant preparations (such
as the previous study of Buddhism, Tibetan studes, or Asian studies.); however,
no previous experience is required. The four mandatory orientation sessions will
be held in the Philosophy Study, Dewey Hall, Smith College.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 7:00-9:00 PM
Thursday, November 12 2009, 7:00-9:00 PM
Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 7:00-9:00
PM
Thursday, November 29, 2009, 7:00-9:00
PM
INFORMATION SESSIONS
Smith College-Campus Center, Room 205
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 12:00 PM
UMass-Campus Center, Room 903
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 4:30 PM
Mount Holyoke College-Philosophy Department Lounge
Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 7:00
PM
Hampshire College-Dakin Living Room
Thursday, October 1, 2009, 12:00 PM
Amherst College-Chapin Lounge
Thursday, October 1, 2009, 7:00 PM
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The program costs $2200, which includes all travel from Bradley International Airport and back to campus, accommodations, and visa fees. This does not include books, medical expenses, passport or pocket money. Financial aid is available to Smith College students who are on financial aid. Students accepted into the program will be required to pay a nonrefundable $300 deposit by October 30, with the balance due by December 1.
QUESTIONS? CONTACT:
Jay Garfield
(413) 585-3649
jgarfield@smith.edu
ITINERARY
Please note that this itinerary is tentative and is subject
to change.
Check back later for more details
Departure from Bradley International Airport on Northwest/KLM to India: Thursday, December 27, 2009
Arrive New Delhi December 28, 2009. Fly from New Delhi to Varanasi on December 29, 2009.
Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Raj Gir Trip: January 15 - 17, 2010
Travel to Delhi by train: January 21, 2010 - arriving morning of January 22, 2010
Return to USA: Sunday, January 24, 2010
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Is there an application form?
A: No. Just follow the instruction for application on
the website.
Q: Do I need a passport to apply?
A: Yes.
Q: I know that one of my references has to be a professor. Who should the other one be?
A: Anyone who knows you well, and can attest to your
interpersonal skills, maturity and suitability for an
intensive program in a very challenging cultural context.
Q: What are the selection criteria?
A: No hard criteria. We look for people who have good
academic reasons for undertaking this program and who
seem to be academically serious and mature. We try to
balance the group by areas of study and to make sure
that students from all of the Five Colleges can participate.
Having done some preparatatory work, or having some previous
multicultural experience is an advantage, but is not
necessary.
Q: Can first year students apply?
A: Yes, but they rarely are accepted, since there are
a lot of applications, and they typically don't have
the experience or the record to compete with upperclass
students.
Q: Are there any prerequisites?
A: No.
Q:Do I need to speak a language?
A: English is essential. No other language is necessary,
but Tibetan and Hindi are great assets.
Q: How many students go on this trip?
A: 15 from the Five Colleges, 15 from Australia.
Q: Will our classes be taught in English?
A: Some of the classes will be taught by English-speaking
professors; some will be taught through translators.
Q: What does my fee cover?
A: visa; Round trip air fare from Boston; all transportation,
food and lodging and program-related costs in India;
ground transport from Boston to your home campus.
Q: What doesn't it cover?
A: your passport; Getting to Boston, gifts for your mom;
stuff you might want to buy in India; your medical preparation;
your discretionary spending in India
Q: How much more money do I need?
A: That depends on your medical insurance (immunization
costs and coverage varies), how far you will be from
Boston at Christmas, and how much you like to spend on
yourselves and friends. Hard to say in general.
Q: If I am not a Smith College Student how do I get financial aid?
A: Talk to the apporpriate folks on your campus.
Q: If I am a Smith student, can I get financial aid?
A: Yes. Smith students on financial aid are automatically granted a financial aid package for this program. Talk to Jay Garfield about that.
Q: Can I make my own travel arrangements?
A: No. You must travel with the group.
Q: Can my partner come?
A: NO.
Q: Do I need shots to come on the trip?
A: Yes. You will need to consult your own doctor, but most people get immunised against hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tetanus and take malaria pills. Some also immunise against meningicoccal meningitis.
Q: If I don't take the course for credit do I still need to go to class?
A: Absolutely. Participation in all program activities and attendance at all classes is required.
Q:Do I have to go to orientation?
A: Absolutely.
Q: Do we get to tour around India?
A: No. You will be in Sarnath/Varanasi almost the entire time, except for a weekend trip to Bodh Gaya and Raj Gir and two days in Delhi.
Q: Can I see the Taj?
A: If we get to Delhi on time, then students may arrange at their own cost to travel to Agra to see the Taj.
Q: Is this really academically intense.
A: YES.
Q: Where do we live when we are there?
A: At a very nice guest house (probably nicer than your dorm) on the campus.
Q: What is the food like?
A: Vegetarian Indian and Tibetan. Very good, very healthy. Vegan diets and other special diets can be accomodated.
Q: What will the weather be like?
A: Cool at night; warm during the day; probably no rain. You will need a sweater or light jacket, but also clothes suitable for warm weather.
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