Dear friends,

Many tashi deleks!

As you may know, Tibet has a long history dating back 2139 years in the Tibetan calendar when Nyatri Tsenpo was acclaimed the first Tibetan king. Tibet was an independent country until 1959 when the Chinese army invaded our country. It has been 53 years since we, the Tibetan people, lost our independence and our freedom.  1.200.000 Tibetans lost their lives during the invasion, 6.000 temples were destroyed and since then sterilization and forced abortions have been a regular practice. Moreover, there is constant environmental destruction and, among other repressive practices, learning of Tibetan language is banned.

The Tibetan people inside Tibet are endangered: our ethnic group, identity, culture, art, philosophy and nature are being annihilated by the Chinese Government. This is genocide!

Thanks to the great vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the generosity of the Indian Government, we have been able to establish a Tibetan Government in Exile in Dharamsala. Its mission is to preserve our unique and millenary cultural heritage based on love, compassion and non-violence.

Tibet House Foundation Barcelona exists also thanks to the Dalai Lama’s guidance.  His Holiness advised me to open in this country a cultural centre to disseminate and preserve our history. It took a lot of effort and the unexpected help from a generous German friend to carry out this humanitarian project and finally, in December 1994, His Holiness the Dalai Lama inaugurated Tibet House at Paseo de San Juan in Barcelona. Since then we have been able to organize many different activities aiming at meeting our audience’s interests.

Ten years later, in 2004, and also with the support of the same German patron, we were able to move to a new and bigger place at Rosselló Street. Three years later, on September 11th 2007, we were honoured to have this new seat inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We still have vivid memories of that day!

Tibet House Foundation is open to all cultures, traditions and ethnic groups. We offer teachings by great lamas and masters and also meditation, yoga, cooking, medicine and massage courses. We also organize conferences, seminars, concerts, exhibitions, film screenings and solidary events.

I can state that we have achieved significant success thanks to the members of the Foundation, supporters and volunteers who have helped us. Since success knows no boundaries, we will never give up and will continue working towards the goal of sharing the Tibetan wisdom.

On the other hand, the tragic situation in Tibet is a challenge for all Tibetans and supporters of the Tibetan cause to work harder to protect and preserve our culture and identity. We must dedicate our energy to support the Tibetan people who are suffering inside Tibet. No more self-immolations! I ask and pray for no more Tibetans sacrificing their precious human lives!  Life is very valuable and has potential to create constructive things at the present moment and in the future, so we have to stick to it.
I wish for peace, freedom and fundamental human rights in China and Tibet and as all Tibetans inside and outside Tibet do, I also wish for a long life for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his return to Tibet.

I am pleased to introduce the new website of our foundation which I hope will be a useful tool to get information about our activities and a good vehicle to keep in touch. We will keep improving it according to your suggestions.

I will always count on your support and solidarity.

With my best wishes of health, high spirits and peace,

Thubten Wangchen