LTWA and a Brazilian University to Foster Collaborative Research Programme[Wednesday, 15 September 2010, 9:27 a.m.]
New York: The
Dharamsala-based Library of Tibetan Works and Archives and the Sao
Paulo-based Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP) have recently
signed an important, formal agreement to promote and develop
educational-scientific cooperation in matters of reciprocal interest to
the two institutions. The agreement was signed by Chancellor
Prof. Dr. Walter Manna Albertoni on behalf of the Federal University of
Sao Paulo and Geshe Lhakdor on behalf of the Library of Tibetan Works
and Archives. Under the agreement, the two institutions
will promote and foster exchange of faculties, researchers, and
students; carry out joint educational-scientific programs or work;
cooperate in planning and conducting research of reciprocal interest;
and jointly publish the results achieved in consequence of the
activities. This initiative was originally started in November
2006 with the visit of Geshe Lhakdor to Brazil at the invitation of
TGIE’s Liaison Officer to Latin America, Tsewang Phuntso. Geshe
Lhakdor again visited Brazil in June 2007 and September 2009. During
these visits, Geshe Lhakdor gave a series of talks at the University on
“Understanding the Mind” and “Working with Emotions”. Various
departments at the University took serious interest in exploring the
relationship between mind and body and their impact on health. The
signing of this important, formal agreement will allow research
students and faculty members of the Federal University of Sao Paulo to
spend some time at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archive doing field
researches and studying the impact of the contemplative practices on
health and physical wellbeing. On the other hand, it will also
allow experts from the Library of Tibetan Works and Archive to visit
Brazil and teach at the Federal University of Sao Paulo. This
joint collaboration between the Library of Tibetan Works and Archive
and Federal University of Sao Paulo has been facilitated by the TGIE
Liaison Officer to Latin America, Tsewang Phuntso, and Professor Lia
Diskin, Co-founder of the Palas Athena Association in Sao Paulo. –Report filed by Tsewang Phuntso, Office of Tibet, New York