In today’s article, I had the opportunity to sit down with Ven. Geshe Thupten Dorjee, a co-founder of The Tibetan Culture Institute of Arkansas (TCIA) to learn more about the organization and its place in the community. TCIA was founded in 2006 by Ven. Geshe Thupten Dorjee, an ordained Tibetan Buddhist monk, and Professor Sidney Burris, a professor at the University of Arkansas. The Institute was founded with the mission of preserving Tibetan culture and providing opportunities to foster a community dedicated to educational and cultural activities, philanthropic service, and practical application of Buddhism philosophical teachings. In this conversation, I had the opportunity to learn a bit about the current program of TCIA, the experience of the visit from the Dalai Lama, and the future hopes of TCIA.
1. Could you tell me a bit about the current community of TCIA and how you all meet? Were there any challenges faced in creating the institute?
Geshe: It started in 2006 by Sidney Burris and me. We [currently] don’t have a physical place, I wish we did. We have a meditation hall now but it does not have insulation and we are constructing a stupa. On our mailing list, we have around 300 and we have meditation classes on Wednesdays and Sundays at my house and on Zoom. These are free and open to the public. On Sunday up to 30 people [come] and on Wednesdays, up to 20 people [come]. We are a small group. We have members who contribute if they can.
Anywhere you go, you will have some challenges. I have been teaching at the University of Arkansas since 2006, created the [TCIA] center, we brought the Dalai Lama here in 2011… in the beginning, there were people who did not agree, but those were individual people, they have a narrow way of thinking in this kind of world.
2. I know you mentioned that TCIA is in the process of building a stupa, how would this physical monument support understanding and community?
Geshe: Yes, the stupa is not just a building or something, it is also a spiritual monument. It is significant to the legacy of the Buddha. [TCIA’s] stupa is called “Stupa of Enlightenment”, it requires a lot of consecration and takes a long time to build. It would be the only monument that exists in the [southern] United States. The physical construction has significance as well to [provide] positive energy in Northwest Arkansas and Fayetteville, Arkansas. Anyone could come visit. This kind of monument will last for generations.
3. Does TCIA engage in interfaith dialogue and cooperation?
Geshe: Not much now since Covid-19, there hasn’t been any interfaith dialogue arranged. I think it is good to [learn] from others about their belief system and to come out of a shell of only [thinking] of self and calmly discuss how we can all overcome stress and anxiety… Yes, religion is an individual choice, but we can be respectful of each other. How can we develop love and compassion without others? You have to follow each other to reach our individual goals.
4. Can you tell me a little about the visit from the Dalai Lama?
Geshe: It wasn’t known how many would be impacted by the Dalai Lama. It was impactful for all people, students, faculty, and the public. It was held in the [Bud Walton Arena] for two sessions. This brought many people a new way of thinking and they [gained] a new view of concepts of faith, philosophy, and understanding Tibetan people. So it was [impactful] for many people. And now we have organized some monks and scholars to visit and display mandala art. This brings a lot of people. I have had people tell me that these opportunities from classes 10 years ago changed their lives.
5. What is the long-term vision for The Tibetan Cultural Institute of Arkansas? What are the hopes for the community?
Geshe: TCIA is not only a religious [institute] but also a community and public service. We [hope] to bring other scholars and organize [programs] for mutual benefit. I hope we can bring back meditation on campus. I have a lot of books, around 500 books, it is like a library. I just [started] scanning the [cover] of the books so that people can access the books and [check out] what they want, like a library. I have books on Tibetan culture, Tibetan history, the Dalai Lama, and Buddhism.
Check out the links below to learn more about TCIA!
Asia in Arkansas 
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