Tibetan Studies in India Program

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 L. 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.

For more information about Hampshire College's commitment to this program, see the Hampshire Tibetan Studies Program.

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 November 1, with the balance due by December 1.

Questions?
Contact: Jay Garfield (413) 585-3649 jgarfield@smith.edu

At Hampshire, contact: Sue Darlington

(413) 559-5600

sdarlington@hampshire.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, 2007 December 29: Fly to Varanasi on Kingfisher Airline January 11-13: Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Raj Gir Trip January 24: Travel to Delhi by train, arriving morning of January 25 Return to USA: Sunday, January 27, 2008

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 L. 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.