May 2007 Edition
Samita Rathor
New Delhi
I consider myself a Buddhist. Interdependence is one of the salient components of Buddhist philosophy and it has greatly influenced my life. I cannot function in this world without other people. If there are no seekers, there will be no providers. I am thankful to all those who have given me an opportunity to provide.” These are words spoken with compassion and humility by Tenzin Chogyal (TC to everyone), a Tibetan Buddhist working monk. TC is a successful entrepreneur. He has been part of movies with Brad Pitt and worked with Jean Jacques Annaud, Heinrich Harrer and Mohsen Makhmalbaf. TC is also an expert in the architectural construction of sand mandalas and a producer of shows on Buddhism and philosophical issues for German and Swiss TV. He organises exclusive chartered flights for people coming from the US, Europe, Sri Lanka to see Dharamsala. TC runs spiritual Buddhist tours for his international and domestic patrons. He is also a restaurateur. At five feet TC stands tall with his extraordinary awareness of surroundings. Just back from a Buddhist pilgrimage with a group of 20 Europeans, Tenzin smiles and in a reflective manner speaks in one breath: “We went to Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Sarnath, Ajanta and Ellora caves, Nagarjunakonda and Nagarjuna Sagar, Amravati, Tibetan monasteries, Kushinagar, Vaisali, Lumbini and Sravasti. Indian people who have not encountered the magnificence of these places are really missing something in life.We are off again with a larger group this time to more Buddhist pilgrimage sites.” TC was born in Shimla in 1964. His parents like thousandsof others escaped from Tibet in 1959. Eight years young and he was put in the Hunsur monastery in south India. His parents did not know much about the outside world. So with all good intentions they considered the monastery the best environment for his development.
In the 70’s unlike the current scenario, the monasteries
had no modern educational facilities. For a child, studying scriptures and working in the fields were the only options.
TC had never seen a classroom in his life. The only form of
education known to him was the guru-shishya parampara.
Soon with the help of his teachers and friends he picked up
English. Very few Tibetans in thosedays could speak the
language and Tenzin took the initiative since that was the
only other way of communication with the outsideorld.
As he grew up he got involved with raising funds for the
monasteries. Tenzin explains, “We were the first group of
Tibetanswho were invited internationally to exhibit Tibet’s
sacred art of mandala construction. The idea was to evoke
interest in a 2,500year old Tibetan tradition and culture toraise funds primarily for our monasteries.”
At that moment TC realised how uncomfortable itmade him feel asking people
for money. At the same time based on his travel experiences, he realised
how much the human racerespected the endangered Buddhist cultural heritage
and he was glad to help preserve it. “I have never been able to leave Indiabecause culture is so strong and fascinating here. Buddhism originated in India.
I was serious about showcasing Buddhist cultureto humankind. I know how
much it is cherished. I do not want it to fade away from the world. In that way
I am encouraged to toil onit.”
His interest in promoting the cultural wealth of India to the rest of the world
grew. TC thought deeply and then started Clear PathTours in 1992. “I saw it as a valuable resource,” says TC. “Rather than do something without
deep significance, I felt that providinggroups with an
opportunity to experience this culture would be more relevant.
I got very good response and people were veryhappy
after experiencing these pilgrimages.
This convinced me further, making me more hopeful to take further tours. I want peopleto have a better quality of life through these pilgrimages and become better human beings. This is what the world needs today.”Looking a little meditative he continues, “Politically it’s tough for the Tibetans. In the meantimeif we lose our culture, I don’t see thepoint of getting the land. Land is everywhere; it’s the same. Tibet is only good to have when the culture remains.” TC’s love for Indiamakes him describe the country as a‘Live Life’. He feels that India is a cultural and spiritual live wire. His guided pilgrimages areonly a means of preserving this heritage. “We started Clear Path Tours more than a decade ago and have extended hospitality tothousands of pilgrims and tourists who have visited India in groups ranging from 10 to 500 people. We have been sought afterbecause we go the extra mile. We make their stay and travel in India, a memorable experience. We don’t treat our patrons as just tourists butguests to our home and country. Care is taken in every minute detail to ensure total comfort. We don’t just show them the monumentsaround India, we narrate history, mythology, and folk tales… we make their trip to India, meaningful. Today you can studyBuddhism in universities all over the world. But the truth is Buddhism was born in India and hearing is different from feeling andtouching.” Tenzin offers two different tours to his patrons. One is Footsteps of the Buddha, a unique, guided tour to the famous placesof Buddhist pilgrimage. It aims to create within the traveller an atmosphere of peace, tranquility and a sense of connectedness with fellow beings and environments, precisely the essence of the Buddha’s teachings. The second, A Tribute toNagarjuna, is a tour with a Tibetan monk to important but little known places of Buddhist pilgrimage in southern India. It combines the ancient Buddhistsites in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh with Tibetan monasteries and temples in Karnataka.
The patrons are accompanied by an Englishspeaking Tibetan monk, who gives guided tours to all the sacred places and also organises the logistics. Meditation and puja atthe main sites are led by the guided monk. A lecture on the basics of Mahayana Buddhism and meditation by a learned Tibetan masterin a Tibetan monastery in south India are a unique part of the tour. Good hotel accommodation, clean and hygienic food at aneconomical price is another highlight of the tour. “The current generation is the future of the country,” says TC. He providesinternationalstudents, who are interested in living and working in the monasteries and villages, a direct feel of not only Buddhistbut also Indian culture. Just being in India learning and living with the bare minimum is a unique experience for these students, says TC. TC is also a painter, with a keen interest in Indian art and culture He loves driving long distance, enjoys theatre and meetingfreeand open minded people. In Bodhgaya, he produced a film on the Life of Buddha. It was scripted and directed by Bubbles Sabarwal and Lushen Dubey. Tucked away in the outer circle of Connaught Place, his restaurant Tibet Kitchen serves upTibetancuisine. The sacred art of sand Mandala construction is his favourite. “It is an art of impermanence, like everything else in life,” he explains. TChas taken part in creating an intricate five feet mandala, internationally. Tenzin, in his effortless, direct tone summarises his objective.“I follow my dreams. Yes, sometimes I know it can be risky business. I have no backing or support, but I am confident.” And what does Clear Path mean to him? “It’s simple, if you want to travel you need a path and my path is that of logic and simplicity. Logicandsimplicity provide clarity. Clarity makes us positive. A positive cause produces positive results. If we are positive then we are happy and internal happiness can provide a clear path for all the future travels of our lifetime.”
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