Tawang, India. I first met Kazuko Hillyer Tatsumura, OMD, at a Christie’s benefit for Tibet House at Rockefeller Center in 2010. We began to chat about Japan, where I had once studied, as well as Tibet and the many Tibetans living along the Chinese border in India. What captured my attention was that she had agreed to help build a school at an orphanage for Tibetan children in northeast India, endorsed by the Dalai Lama. As the founder of a network of orphanages around the world, I was captivated.

Orphanage for Tibetan children in India Photo: Stewardship Report.
Although Leila and Hank Luce had been supportive of Tibet House and the Dalai Lama, I had never met His Holiness. To meet someone who had taken on such an important project for the Dalai Lama mesmerized me. I wanted to get to know more about this woman, Dr. Kazuko, which happened quickly. She soon invited me to the Japanese Ambassador’s home to celebrate the Emperor’s birthday, and the next week had me over to her Japanese-style apartment overlooking Lincoln Center where she practices Oriental medicine. I began to learn more about her efforts in India.
Dr. Kazuko Tatsumura with the wonderful children of Manjushree Orphanage.
Photo: Stewardship Report.
Manjushree Orphanage, she explained to us, is in the village of Tawang, located at the foot of the Himalayas where there has long been a border dispute between China and India. The monastery and orphanage sits at the most north-eastern region of India, sharing the border with Bhutan on its west and Myanmar on its east. Over 8,000 feet above sea level, it is situated where winter is long and severe and summer has a three month-long rainy season.

Photo: Stewardship Report.
Nature in Tawang is very beautiful. The land is full of deep forests and high, snow-capped mountains with a great river running through it. This area is very rich in the culture of Tibetan Buddhism. It carries special significance as the birthplace of His Holiness the 6th Dalai Lama and home to one of the most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world. Thousands of Tibetans now reside there.

Photo: Stewardship Report.

with an iPad tablet for use in university. Photo: Stewardship Report.

Tibet’s eminent architect living in Delhi. Photo: Stewardship Report.
They are the poorest of all the Tibetans living in India and their health conditions are not good, with many contagious diseases. Many suffer from tuberculosis that medicines don’t cure well. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is very much concerned about this and recently helped to build a new hospital there.

Photo: Stewardship Report.

to Manjushree Orphanage. Photo: Stewardship Report.
I got on the airplane to Delhi by myself. I arrived there late at night, and then went to domestic airport by bus, where I flew to Guwahati. At Guwahati, I was told that I had to drive over the rugged mountains for three days. I decided to charter a helicopter instead. Helicopter service is dependent on good weather – fortunately it was nice weather.
I flew in the sky over Bhutan, enjoying the beautiful scenery. I flew beside the Himalayan Mountains, and at last arrived at Tawang in the afternoon. I felt very cold up in the mountains, and was dizzy due to the high altitude.
Lama Thupten Phuntsok came to greet me. I was wrapped with a long white kata and I arrived at the orphanage an hour later. Surprisingly, lots of children ran to me and held me. This blew away all my fatigue from the long trip. I went to take a short nap, but slept tight until the next morning.
The next fourteen days became one of my happiest memories in my life.

to her 200+ children at the orphanage. Photo: Stewardship Report.
At the 5:30 in the morning on my first day, I woke up with the voice of children chanting. I saw all of them sitting neatly and chanting, aloud and lively, in front of Lama Phuntsok. I was invited to sit down next to Lama Phuntsok, and started chanting Sutra by imitating the 150 children.
Those were very, very cute faces I saw. I couldn’t stop my tears as I watched those children, their eyes closed in prayer for the Dalai Lama’s longevity and the realization of this hope. I felt exactly like I was watching many little Buddhas – some with running noses.

Photo: Stewardship Report.
I lived with these wonderful children for two weeks. Much to my surprise, they never fight among themselves despite the small space where they are living all together. Not only don’t they fight, but they also don’t even raise loud voices at one another. They share everything and help each other.
They try to help with anything. They lead each other by taking each other’s hands. It was completely surprising to me. How could it be possible? I cannot imagine this happening in another place. I came to help those children, but I feel I was helped by them.
Who are these wondrous children? They are orphans without father and mother, some disabled. Despite that, they have a mind to help others, compassion, cooperation, patience, with a lack of greed and jealously. Everyone is really happy. It seems like they have found happiness in helping others. They have so many things I could learn. I was full of tears of appreciation for them every day.

from the orphanage. Photo: Stewardship Report.
It is wonderful what Kazuko is doing for those orphaned children, and Tibet House U.S. is pleased to be helping with the project to build a proper school for them. She is exemplifying what His Holiness calls “Universal Responsibility,” by adopting all those lovely kids.

and Chinese (Tibet) borders are absolutely stunning. Photo: Stewardship Report.
In my over seventy years of life, I have traveled over 135 countries in the world, seen much and met countless beautiful people and wonderful children. But I must say this strongly, ‘Tibetan people are unique, and Tibetan culture is unique and we must preserve them both, if the what they have naturally can be further cultivated and nurtured in a right environment.’
I think, just like Mozart was born to compose without being taught how to, these Tibetan Children are born with compassion in their DNA. They tend to think naturally to put ‘others before self.’ In this day and age, how is this possible? Maybe because Tibetans are all reincarnations of those with this tradition long, long before? Maybe because it is in their Genes? Or maybe it is due to their mothers’ early attitude and behavior?

Photo: Stewardship Report.
Dr. Kazuko continued enthusiastically:
Seeing compassionate behavior on the part of three years olds at Manjushree Orphanage, I was totally puzzled. When I asked Lama Thupten about this he said, “I don’t know myself, because I have not taught them yet.” But they definitely possess this unique character of compassion for others: Om Mani Padme Hum.
When His Holiness the Dalai Lama says, “We must preserve Tibetan Culture,” I think people in general don’t fully understand. He means cultural spirituality. You can learn and preserve painting, dance, music, and food traditions – but these are at the most mundane level. The transcendental aspect of culture is the one the Dalai Lama is talking about.
In this busy world with full of greed and selfishness – this ‘Me First’ environment in which we live – Tibetans’ spiritual culture is unique. Tibetans seem to find happiness in practicing ‘Others before self.’ I believe we need balance on this planet, and Tibetans can give us this equilibrium. I think this is what I saw in the children of Manjushree Orphanage. I want to help these children learn and grow, giving influence to the world.

mountains to get to Tawang, located 8,000 feet. Photo: Stewardship Report.

a statue of the God of Wisdom, Manjushree. Photo: Stewardship Report.
SERIES ON/FROM TIBET IN INDIA, SEPTEMBER 2019 IN 20 PARTS
- The Dalai Lama & Dr. Kazuko: A 47-Year Friendship
- Tibetan Children’s Village: Step One to Success
- India: Great Protector of the Tibetan People
- With Incredible Tibetan Orphans, Reflecting on How I Got Here
- Meet Japanese Grandmother of Tibetan Orphanage in India
- Lama Thupten Phuntsok: Tibetan Monk’s Life Outside Monastery
- First Trip to Tibetan Orphanage High in Himalayas
- Dharamshala for Americans: His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Hometown
- Himalayas: From India/Pakistan to Bhutan & Nepal + Chinese Tibet
- Himalayas: Once Greater Tibet, Now Tragically Divided
- Meet American Lobsang Sangay, President of Tibet
- Dr. Kazuko: Planning Nine Orphanages Globally Through Gaia
- Viewpoint: Whatever Faith Tradition, It’s All About Kindness
- Orphanage Burns in Indonesia; Matt Luce Pledges to Rebuild
- At Fifty, I Gave Away My Wealth; at Sixty, My Possessions
- Autumn Elegant Evening to Highlight Charity Efforts Around World
- New Look: Stewardship Report on Connecting Goodness at Tenth Year
- Luce Leadership Experience Looks to Israel after Greece, Indonesia Trips
- Charities at Twenty Confer Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Kazuko
- New Look: Orphans International Website Refreshed for 20th Anniversary
SERIES ON PILGRIMAGE: FOLLOWING FOOTSTEPS OF BUDDHA ACROSS INDIA IN 15 PARTS
- On Pilgrimage: Following the Footsteps of Buddha Across N.E. India
- Under the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya Where the Prince Became The Buddha
- Photo Essay of Bodh Gaya, Where Buddha Became Enlightened
- Next Step of Indian Pilgrimage: Vultures’ Peak Where Buddha Preached
- Touching the Untouchable in a Rural Indian Village
- Rediscovering the World’s First Great University in Buddhist India
- Buddhism for Beginners: Insights from a Non-Buddhist
- Buddhism and the Universal Concept of Social Responsibility
- Help Me to Support Education & Orphan Care in Bihar, India
- Most-Photographed Man in the World Prepares to Retire
- Yoshimitsu Nagasaka Photo Exclusive: The Dalai Lama in Bodh Gaya
- Varanasi: Holy City of Buddhists – As Well as Hindus, Jainists, Jews
- On the Banks of the Ganges: Reflections of a Journey in Time
- My Pilgrimage Complete: Life Continues Like a Wheel
- Pilgrimage Postscript: Pneumonia and Possible T.B.
SEE ALSO
- Dr. Kazuko Opens Academic Building at Tibetan Orphanage in India
- Next Generation Leadership for Dalai Lama’s First U.S. Temple
- Peace, Compassion and The Dalai Lama’s NYC Birthday Extravaganza
- Tibetan Monk Gatzo: No Matter How Hard, People Can Endure
- NYC Gala in Support of Tibetan Orphans Set for January
- Japanese Holistic Healer in NYC to Build School for Tibetan Orphans in India
- History from Time: How and Why the Dalai Lama Left Tibet
- Life Changer: My Visit to an Indonesian Orphanage
- Jim Luce on Orphans International Worldwide
- Jim Luce on Tibet
- Jim Luce on Buddhism
- Jim Luce on China & Chinese-Americans
- Jim Luce on Cambodia
- Jim Luce on Sri Lanka & Sri Lankan-Americans
- H.H. The Dalai Lama’s 83rd Birthday Interfaith Celebration in NYC (2018)
- Peace, Compassion and The Dalai Lama’s NYC Birthday Extravaganza (2017)
- From Daiwa Bank to Heiwa Foundation