His Holiness The Dalai Lama often describes Indians as the ‘guru (teacher)’ and Tibetans as the ‘chelas (students)’ of the Indian guru. Many Indians believe that the roles have been reversed and we have much to learn from the Tibetans. The Gurukul Programme seeks to revive the centuries-old relationship of exchange of ideas and experiences between Indians and Tibetans, and offer a gateway to discover an inner universe in Dharamsala.
For 27 years, Gurukul has offered meaningful opportunities for university students across India to reside in Dharamsala – the home of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Headquarter of the Central Tibetan Administration – for three weeks and immerse themselves in various experiences. The innovatively designed Programme offers an introductory insight into Tibet’s civilization heritage, the life and teachings of His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhism, and the life and history of the Tibetan community in exile.