“The essence of Himalayan culture is harmony.”
—Jamyang Dolma, AHACD Director
Our culture is what shapes us, our behaviors and our identity. Culture is our way of living—the shared language, beliefs, values, norms, behaviors, and material objects that are passed down from one generation to the next.
Cultural diversity is important to our earth and our future. Learning about each other’s culture helps us understand different perspectives within the world in which we live. It helps dispel negative stereotypes and personal biases about different groups. Cultural diversity helps us recognize and respect “ways of being” that are not necessarily our own. As we interact with others we can build bridges to trust, respect, and understanding across cultures.
The essence of Himalayan Culture is harmony. It is reflected in every aspects of the living art of the Himalayans. Himalayan music—especially Buddhism music—is considered more than music but food for soul and path to enlightenment.
Preserving, research, and promoting Himalayan music will not only help the local community to keep the culture vital but also will benefit the rest of the world.
In last 20 years we have worked to
Revitalize Himalayan music through field recording and supporting folk artists
Bridge ancient craft and wisdom with modern education.
Create transformative, holistic educational experiences.
Raise awareness of the value of protecting cultural diversity.
Additionally
Our teams have traveled hundreds of villages and monasteries in Tibet and Bhutan to record music and ceremonies which are valuable to the region and the world.
We have collected over 10,000 precious folk music and religion songs.
We have been transforming the folk art into Children Music and Art Curriculums
We have been teaching folk music in schools in remote area in Tibet and Bhutan
We help our teams in Bhutan and Tibetan to develop Himalayan Music Education Tours to regenerate local communities through tourism.
Our work continues
HIMALAYAN FOLK MUSIC DIGITALIZATION, DISTRIBUTION AND PROMOTION
Most folk songs of the various ethnic groups in the Himalayan region are passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth, which is why they are at risk of dying out. We sponsor musicologists' and scholars' fieldwork to notate, record and archive folk music content. We manage and administer the music database, and will work to seek distribution opportunities around the world in order to further promote the folk artistry. Ultimately we aim to develop a system to financially support folk and traditional artists, performers and musicians within their own regions and beyond.
FOLK MUSIC/SHOW TOURS
We will bring native Himalayan performances to the United States, in order to celebrate the region's cultural diversity and raise the awareness of the need to protect endangered arts.
INTERNATIONAL MUSIC PROJECT INCUBATION
By using our resources, strategic services and engaging various communities, Academy of Himalayan Art is building a platform for artists around the world to exchange ideas, communicate and collaborate by sharing their own culture's heritage and traditions.
MUSICAL TRAINING PROGRAMS AT SCHOOLS
We believe that the introduction of new art forms and folk knowledge can foster creativity and enhance learning in children. We revitalize traditional music art through establish partnerships with schools as well as other educational institutes, to create musical training programs as well as publish children's music books.
SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, TRADITIONAL PERFORMERS AND ARTISANS IN REMOTE AREAS
Many types of dance, music and craftsmanship have already been lost from past generations, and remnants of others are in danger of dying out because of poverty in those remote regions. We will make financial contributions directly and indirectly to these villages, tribes, local troupes, and others.
Folk music field recording.
Research
Our research programs are designed to foster collaborative research and education in Indigenous Culture, Child Development, Women Awareness, neuroscience, and the humanities, based on a process of field recording, inquiry, dialogue, and collaboration with community elders, folk artists, contemplative practitioners and scholars.
The long-term objective is to restore the ancient wisdom and harmony back to people’s daily life and advance the training of a new generation of educators, mothers, business leaders and interdisciplinary scholars interested in exploring the influence of regenerative practice on mind, behavior, brain function, and health, including the potential role of contemplative methods in shaping and enriching human experience and consciousness.
About Himalayan Culture
Himalayan Beliefs, Culture and Way of Life
When human beings started to proactively and collectively interact with nature, communities forms and culture evolves.
Among all the ancient landscapes on Earth, the Himalayan mountain range is considered the frontal lobe of the Earth, where ancient wisdom seeded. It is said that certain “knowledge or teachings for human beings to overcome the challenges in the coming time will be unveiled in time.” That is why there is one kind of guru that only exists in this region is called ‘Terton’ who has special ability to discoverer of ancient hidden texts or terma (special teachings).
The Himalaya span 1,500 miles, passing through the nations of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Bhutan, and Nepal. The mighty Himalayas rise beyond the Indo-Gangetic plain of Northern India, extending through the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand to Northeast India, Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. This entire range of the Himalayan Mountains serves as home to more than 50 million people, with another 450 million settled at the base of it. And this entire population flourishes on the resources that flow from the Himalayas.
In the Himalayas, one would be surprised to see that each distinct community and valley has its own socio-cultural methods to face the varied challenges of life. And this is when they are literally cut-off from the rest of the world population. However, the somewhat common geographical factors have meant that these distinct cultures are similar to one another. One might agree or disagree, but the fact remains that physical isolation of the Himalayan people has had one positive result, and that is the preservation of centuries-old knowledge and art of living.
Another aspect that holds true for all those dwelling in the Himalayas and its foothills is that they worship mountain as their life-giver, preserver and protector.
All the communities living in the Himalayan region are nature-dependent, and strongly ethnic and religious. However, this may not be exactly true for those residing in the arid wilderness of the dense forests of the eastern slopes and northern flanks; here people are quite fierce and warrior-like. However, in general sense, the people dwelling in the Himalayas are basically peace-loving and compassionate to all living beings. And this can be totally experienced when exploring the various Himalayan destinations. Their warm hospitality makes one realize that they are totally respectful and in harmony with the environment they live in, and that their harsh living conditions do not hamper their spirits or way of enjoying life.
The Himalayan people are also known for their rich tapestry of traditional knowledge, which spreads across music, handicrafts, medicine, architecture and agro-forestry. What has been passed on through generation are not only the magnificent art but also the wisdom of life and universe. Their way of life is designed based on “in harmony with the rhythm of nature and universe”. With the most understanding of the sacred relationship between human and nature they demonstrate the highest “Art of living” with lowest demand from Mother Earth. To describe with the current language it would be the most Zero Waste, Sustainable and Regenerative way of living on earth.
People from all over the world had been exploring and researching the relationship about Himalayan Culture and its relationship with the rest of the world since beginning of 18th Century. Beside its secret spirituality which has impacted many parts of the world and millions people’s life positively, its biodiversity of nature and geology change are all closely related to the wellbeing of the rest of the world. Through our last 20 years of work in the Himalayan region through preserving the dying out music and handcrafts etc, and revitalize them through transformative learning projects, we have learned the essence of the Himalayan Culture is Harmony. Every expect of the culture is guiding people to reconnect with their hearts, with their families and communities and nature and universe.
Especially in 1970th, When the Fourth King of Bhutan His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck brought the Gross National Happiness as the major indicator for Human Development instead of GDP alone. The essence of Himalayan Culture and wisdom was transformed into a modern language and easy use tool that everyone in the world could apply and practice. GNH measures the quality of its development in a more holistic way and believes that the beneficial development of human society takes place when material and spiritual development occurs side by side. Bhutan has been considered a living example by many for sparking the debate on what is real human development.
Over the years GNH has evolved from a noble aspiration into a more quantifiable tool, partly in response to the unexpected global attention it has garnered.Today, it is technically defined as a, “multi-dimensional development approach seeking to achieve a harmonious balance between material well-being and the spiritual, emotional and cultural needs of society.” The key words being harmonious balance - that may be achieved by balancing the needs of the body with those of the mind.
The GNH way of living itself is the way of education and enlightenment. If such way of living could be shared with more people in the world, our world would be a much better place to live and our Mother Earth would be a happier and healthier mother to us all.