All projects

Cultural Preservation · 2013–2014

Conserve Tibet

A completed digitization and archival initiative to collect, preserve, and make accessible significant audio-visual materials of historical importance to the Tibetan people. At-risk collections—both private and public—were digitized and delivered to the foundation as a full set of CDs and a hard drive.

Supported By

The Shelly and Donald Rubin Foundation

Grants in 2013 and 2014

Purpose of Grant

To collect, preserve, and make available significant materials—especially audio-visual materials—which have historical importance to the Tibetan people. At-risk collections, both private and public, were digitized, preserving the materials and providing an educational resource for researchers.

All stages of the project were completed: identify, convert, digitize, store, and distribute. The Shelly and Donald Rubin Foundation received a complete set of CDs and a hard drive containing all digitized materials. All materials were also archived in a secure repository and made available for non-commercial download by educational institutions and Dharma centers upon request.

Preserved Materials

36 recordings digitized

The following audio recordings were recovered, digitized, and archived as part of the 2013–2014 grant. They span folk opera, religious teachings, interviews, and traditional music from 1953 to 2013.

CD/LIB 0014

June 23, 1974

37 Practices of a Bodhisattva

Khunu Lama Tenzin Gyaltsen

CD/LIB 0015

November 25, 1978

Gyalpo Dremey Kunden — Tibetan Folk Opera

Kalimpong Bodki Lhamo Tsokpa (prod. N. Tengye)

CD/LIB 0016

September 30, 1987

Drowa Sangmo Part 1 — Tibetan Folk Opera

Kalimpong Bodki Lhamo Tsokpa (prod. N. Tengye & T. Chophel)

CD/LIB 0016 B

September 30, 1987

Drowa Sangmo Part 2 — Tibetan Folk Opera

Kalimpong Bodki Lhamo Tsokpa (prod. N. Tengye & T. Chophel)

CD/LIB 0017

October 13, 1974

Pema Woebar — Tibetan Folk Opera

Kalimpong Bodki Lhamo Tsokpa (prod. T. Chophel)

CD/LIB 0018

May 19, 1992

Interview in English

HH the Sakya Trizin — Ghoom Sakya Monastery

CD/LIB 0019 A

1971 / 1977

Address to Monks at Tawang Monastery

HH the Dalai Lama — Tibetan Unit ESD Delhi

CD/LIB 0019 B

1971 / 1977

Mani Jaglung

HH the Dalai Lama — Tibetan Unit ESD Delhi

CD/LIB 0019 C

1971 / 1977

Lamrim Sungchoe — Steps to Enlightenment

Kyabje Trichang Rinpoche — Tibetan Unit ESD Delhi

CD/LIB 0019 D

1971 / 1977

Chenrezig ki Topa — Praises to Avalokiteshwara

Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche — Tibetan Unit ESD Delhi

CD/LIB 0020

1953

Hamro Tenzin Sherpa

DharmaRaj Thapa

CD/LIB 108 A

April 10, 1993

Jaglung at Trsh Center, Darjeeling

HH the Dalai Lama

CD/LIB 108 B

May 12, 1992

Jaglung at Central School for Tibetans, Darjeeling

HH the Sakya Trizin

CD/LIB 108 C

July 27, 1966

Tsechu Phenyon

Dudjom Rinpoche (by N. Tengye)

CD/LIB 108 D

May 12, 1992

Choe je Goenpei Sungchoe — Central School for Tibetans, Darjeeling

HH the Sakya Trizin

CD/LIB 270

April 9–10, 1993

Monlam Jaglung (Samdrup Dargeyling); Seminar at Bhanu Bhavan, Darjeeling; Semkye Sungcho — Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center

HH the Dalai Lama

CD/LIB 1067

April 9–10, 1993

Seminar on Relevance of Buddhism Today; Sermon at Samdrup Dhargayling Gonpa

HH the Dalai Lama — Himalayan Buddhist Association, Darjeeling

CD/LIB 1106

October 4, 1993

Address to Students of Central Tibetan School; Introduction to Saga Dawa

HH the Dalai Lama

CD/LIB 1119

August 20, 1962

Tibetan Folk Songs

Dharamsala Cultural Troupe — ESD AIR Delhi

CD/LIB 1126 A–E

May 26, 1975

Sermon Thugje Chenpo Wangchen (Parts 1–5)

HH the Dalai Lama — Salvari Ground, Darjeeling (rec. N. Tengye, prod. T. Chophel)

CD/LIB 1156

Approx. 1983

Changchub Semjong Gi Simgchoo

Kyabje Gaden Trichen — Senior Tutor of HH the Dalai Lama

CD/LIB 1156 B

Approx. 1983

A Short Life Sketch of Lord Buddha and His Seven Prominent Followers

Zeme Rinpoche

CD/LIB 1159

October 28, 1981

Interview in English — Tharpa Choeling Monastery, Kalimpong

HH the Dalai Lama

CD/LIB 1320

1977

Chenrezig Gyalpo Luggi Wangchen

Sakya Trichen Dolma Phodrang — Ghoom

CD/LIB 1325

November 29, 1978

What is Buddhism (28 min)

Sakya Phuntsok Phodrang — Ghoom

CD/LIB 1332

July 10, 1990

Sakya Choejung: Origin of Sakya

Rev. Sakya Khenpo Tenjee

CD/LIB 1337

April 10, 1994

Je Rinpoche Soldabh & Je Rinpoche Zenam

HH the Dalai Lama & HE Dhomo Geshe — Tharpa Choeling Monastery, Kalimpong

CD/LIB 202 A–J

March 27–28, 2013

Lamrim Dudun / Semnyi Nyelso (Parts 1–10)

HH the Dalai Lama — Salugara, Siliguri (rec. Samir Tamang & Pramir Rai, prod. T. Chophel)

CD/LIB 208 A–B

March 29, 2013

Chenrezig — Thukje Chenpoe Wang (Parts 1–2)

HH the Dalai Lama — Salugara, Siliguri (rec. Samir Tamang & Pramir Rai, prod. T. Chophel)

CD/LIB 2107

July 3, 1985

Interview in Tibetan (25 min)

Tenzin Norgay Sherpa — Interviewer: T. Chophel

CD/LIB 910 A

January 12, 1978

Tibetan Festivals and Songs (11 min); Tibetan Music: Its Origin (10 min)

Lobsang Tenzin

CD/LIB 910 B

June 18, 1989

Saka Dawa (13 min)

Sakya Khenpo San Tenzin

CD/LIB 910 C

February 9, 1990

Kuntu Sangpoi Monlam

Chatral Rinpoche

CD/LIB 910 D

December 20, 1978

Shinchoe — Its Significance (11 min)

Rev. J. Tenzin

CD/LIB 910 E

May 10, 1997

Evaluation of Tibetan Literature

Jamphel Kalden

CD/LIB EMR 13

August 20, 1982

Tibetan Traditional Songs

Dharamsala Cultural Troupe — AIR Delhi

Acknowledgements

The recovery of these audio materials was made possible with funds provided by the Shelly and Donald Rubin Foundation. The project also gratefully acknowledges the contributions of Jamyang Dorjee Chakrishar, Rinchen Dharlo, Tsultrim Chophel, Alexander Gardner Ph.D., and Thupten N. Chakrishar.