MISSION OF THE INSTITUTE

Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, founder of the Shang Shung Institute:  
 “The Shang Shung Institute exists for the preservation of Tibetan culture and to translate Tibetan books into Western languages. Through the Shang Shung Institute we are trying to do something to maintain the survival of Tibetan culture and understanding.  
 
Shang Shung, the name of the Institute, reflects the source of Tibetan culture and history - it was known as a great empire throughout the Orient and the study of Shang Shung is extremely important if we are to understand the great antiquity, the unique nature and the universal importance of Tibetan culture, past and present.” 
 
The Tibetan culture is a magnificent culture which started more than 4000 years ago in Shang Shung, the first kingdom of Tibet. Its deep knowledge and understanding has been kept alive through centuries. Knowledge in Tibetan culture is traditionally classified into five major fields: arts, crafts, linguistics and poetry, medicine and - most important - the so called "inner knowledge" which refers to the understanding of the relative and ultimate condition of the individual within his or her universe. It also includes a myriad of hidden and highly specialized esoteric instructions that can be considered as the real treasure of our planet. This treasure has been transmitted from generation to generation through all the centuries and is therefore still alive today but, for various reasons, there is the great and real danger that we are losing this unique treasure, day by day. 
 
For this reason the mission of the Shang Shung Institute is to deepen the knowledge and  understanding of the Tibetan cultural traditions in its religious, historical, philosophical, artistic, medical, and social aspects in order to contribute to the survival and preservation of this culture. Its purpose is to encourage cooperation among interested groups and individuals, thus keeping alive the essential values of these traditions. 
 
Since the inception of the Institute many seminars, courses, conferences and exhibitions on the various aspects of the Tibetan culture - such as history, art, medicine, astrology, language, philosophy and religion - have been held in collaboration with Tibetan and European scientists, mainly in Italy and America.