Tibet comes to Lake Tahoe for a day

By Tracy Owen Chapman

STATELINE — Two dozen students from Whittell High School were transported to another part of the world during Enrichment Day at Kahle Community Center.

Tibet Day special guests included Ven. Lama Sarpo and local photojournalist Rick Gunn.

Ven. Lama Sarpo talks to Whittell High students. Photo/Melanie Foerscher

Melanie Foerschler of www.noteablebowls.com contributed to the event’s success, along with another local, Chris Sullivan, who showed the movie “Everest A Climb for Hope” which is about the expedition Chris and Mike Sullivan went on in 1991 when they traveled from Kathmandu into Tibet to attempt Everest from the Tibetan side.

Enrichment Fridays were created by parents who wanted to give Whittell students something to do other than hang out at home now that the 7-12 school is off on Fridays. These special days are usually once a month, with the last one being Nov. 20.

Tibet Day was filled with cultural enlightenment as the students learned Torma art and Tibetan language from Lama Sarpo. Sarpo was born in the Golok region of northeast Tibet.

Sarpo currently resides in South Lake Tahoe. After receiving a monastic education and becoming a fully ordained monk, he was forced into exile in 2005. He continued his Buddhist studies in Dharamsala, India, where he had the rare opportunity to receive teachings from the Dalai Lama.

In October 2008, Sarpo arrived in the United States and is in the process of learning English. He offers bimonthly ritual ceremonies for those interested in attending. For more information, email Tibet_Tahoe@yahoo.com.

Gunn’s slides from China and Tibet are from his three-year bike trip around the world. The Tibet part of his trip was about halfway into his travels. He spent three months in that region. The students learned about his interactions with the people of Tibet, food and geography.

Students also learned to play ancient Singing Bowls, taught by Foerschler.

There was plenty of time for student questions and reflection about Tibetan culture.

Tracy Owen Chapman is a parent.