The Eleventh Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies was founded in Oxford in 1979. It was a direct continuation of the forum of young Tibetologists, which was held in Zurich from June 26 to July 1, 1977, on the initiative of well-known scholars on Tibetan culture P. Kverne (Norway) and M. Brown (Switzerland), held in honor of the largest English researcher of Tibet, X. Richardson, who made a significant contribution to the study of the history of this country. The participants of the Oxford seminar agreed that the Zurich Conference of Young Tibetologists should be recognized as the first seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies (IATI), and the Oxford Forum should be recognized as the second.

IATI usually organizes conferences every three years; four years passed between the fourth and fifth seminars, and two years passed between the eighth and ninth seminars. The third seminar was held in 1982 at Columbia University (USA, New York), the fourth-in 1985 in Munich (Germany), the fifth - in 1989 in Narita (Japan), the sixth - in 1992 in Fagern (Norway), the seventh - in 1995 in Graz (Austria) the eighth - in 1998 at Indiana University (Bloomington, USA), the ninth - in 2000 at Leiden University (Netherlands), the tenth - in 2003 at Oxford, although it was planned to be held in Venice. The tenth workshop was dedicated to-

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monument to the memory of the outstanding contemporary Tibetologist M. Aris, Professor at the University of Oxford.

The main activity of MATI is the study and research of the multi-faceted Tibetan culture by scientists from different countries of the world. International cooperation in the field of Tibetology is an important component of the Association's activities. However, the main purpose of IATI is to conduct international seminars and publish their materials.

In 1989, the formal status of IATI was approved, according to which the president and presidium of advisers are elected, and the general secretary of the association is appointed. Candidates for the organizers of the subsequent seminar are recommended by the President or the Presidium of Advisers.

The XI Seminar of the International Association for Tibetological Research was held in an amazingly beautiful location on the banks of the Rhine in the town of Konigswinter, a suburb of Bonn (Germany), from August 27 to September 2, 2006. The seminar was organized by the Institute for Central Asian Studies of the University of Bonn, headed by Prof. This time the seminar was able to host a record number of scientists - more than 400 people-from the USA, Russia, Germany, Austria, Great Britain, India, China, Denmark, Poland, Israel, Switzerland, Hungary, Nepal, the Netherlands, Canada, Taiwan, Italy, Norway, Australia, Bhutan, Sweden, France, New Zealand, Japan, Estonia, Spain, Finland, Luxembourg. For the first time in the seminar, the largest delegation was from China, which included 85 scientists, religious figures and employees of various bodies, mostly Tibetans. The Russian delegation was represented by: E. F. Tikhonova (MGIMO(U) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation), A. I. Andreev (Institute of the History of Science and Technology of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences), V. L. Uspensky (St. Petersburg Institute of Physics and Technology of the Russian Academy of Sciences), A. A. Terentyev (journal "Buddhism in Russia"), E. N. Afonina (St. Petersburg State University), E. A. Khamaganova (Leningrad State University named after A. S. Pushkin), N. D. Bolsokhoeva I. R. Garry, N. V. Tsyrempilov (all from IMBiT SB RAS).

The seminar was organized in 36 sections: 1. Tibetans: Past, Present and Future; 2. The Tibetan-Mongolian Relationship-II; 3. New Studies of the Geser Epic; 4. The Changing and Unchanging in Amdo: recent field research; 5.Health, Medicine and Modernity. Medicine, religion and history; 6. The Emergence of Bon: the Formation of Bon traditions in Tibet; 7. Tibet in Transition: Problems of Development and Environment in the Shadow of the galloping Dragon; 8. Material culture, field research and ethnographic data: on the issues of anthropology, technology of Tibetan culture; 9. The origin and development of Shizhed traditions Karma Pakshi: Dialogue and Innovation in the Kagyu Tradition; 11. Section on the results of the Third Symposium of Medieval Tibeto-Burmese Languages; 12. Hidden Buddhism: a study of the Termas and their discoverers; 13. Tibetan Identities: Past and Present; 14. History of Tibetan Religions; 15. Tibetan Art and Architecture; 16. The Emergence of Modern Tibet: National Identity, Secular Literature, Traditions and Modernity; 17. Modern Studies of the border Areas of Tibet; 18. Modern Tibetan Culture; 19. Tibetan Information Technologies; 20. Mahamudra: Research Perspectives, Debates, Traditions and Continuity; 21. Studies of Tibetan Literature; 22. Ancient treasures, new discoveries: materials of recent discoveries; 23. Research on Tibetan law, diplomacy, and historical sources; 24. Tibetan Philology, Linguistics, and Lexicography; 25. Studies of ancient Tibet; 26. Rituals; 27. Buddhist philosophy; 28. History of the XVII-XX centuries; 29. Oracles, divination and geomancy; 30. Tantric Buddhism; 31.Tibetan religious tradition. History and modernity; 32. Modern Tibetan literature; 33. Issues of emigration; 34. Monuments and relics; 35. Kham and Amdo; 36. Women of Tibet: tender studies. The conference abstracts were presented on CD-ROMs, and full versions of the reports will be published in several volumes and on the IATI website.

Participants of the seminar were given the opportunity to visit exhibitions ("Tibetan monasteries reveal their treasures", "Modern Tibetan Art"), presentations ("Current state of research on the history of Tibetan Art"); visit the Tibetan-Himalayan Internet Library, the Commission for the Study and Preservation of Art and Tibetan Historical Architecture, the Laze Library); see films "Tantric Yogis", "Chod", "Angry Monk", "History of the Badmaev family"; take part in round tables on topical issues of Tibetology.

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The forum participants noted the enormous amount of work of its organizing committee and the impeccable organization carried out by their German colleagues. The reports were distinguished by a high scientific level, many of them presented the best examples of research in world Tibetology. It is worth noting the great activity of scientists from the PRC, which may indicate a gradual transfer of the center for Tibetological research from the West to the East - to Tibet (China). The sheer number of reports submitted has made it impossible for this review to make even a short list of them. The authors limited themselves to a selective presentation of the content of the reports of the sections at which they spoke, and those that they were able to attend in their free time. Thus, unfortunately, many interesting reports, including those made by prominent scientists, fall out of the review. The publication of conference materials will fill this gap.

One of the sections of the seminar that we would like to talk about was called "Tibet-Mongol Interface - II". According to the idea of the organizer and chairman of this section, the American Mongolian scholar Y. The reports were supposed to be devoted to outstanding Buddhist figures of Mongolian origin, whose intellectual efforts contributed to the integration of the Mongolian world into the space of the Buddhist ecumene. Along with reputable researchers such as the Japanese Buddhologist X. Okada and the Mongol scholar Dz. Miyavaki, the renowned Hungarian orientalist Geza Betlenfalvi, the Swiss researcher Karenina Kollmar-Paulenz, and the Russian scientist V. L. Uspensky also took part in the section. Young scientists M. Spindler and N. V. Tsyrempilov also took part in the work of the section.

The session was opened by the report of A. Barei-Starzynska (Poland), devoted to the Tibetan-Mongolian relations, considered through the prism of the biography of Undur-gegen Zan-badzar (1635-1723). Based on the materials of the biography of Dzanabadzar compiled by his disciple Zaya-pandita Lubsan Prinlay, the speaker focused on the contribution of Undur-gegen to the formation of the Buddhist identity of the Mongols of the XVII-XVIII centuries. Another major figure in the history of Buddhism in Mongolia - Zaya Pandita Namhai Zhamtso (1599-1662) was dedicated to the report of H. Okada and Dz. Miyawaki (Tsukuba University). After a thorough study of the text of the biography of Zhamtso "Moonlight", written by his disciple Ratnabhadra, scientists made conclusions concerning the political and cultural history of the Oirats of the XVII century. Kollmar-Paulentz told about the life of a famous propagator of Buddhism in Southern Mongolia of the XVI century. Neigitoina. She also touched upon the problem of institutionalization of Buddhism in Mongolia, related to the opposition of Buddhist clergy and shamans to this process. According to the speaker, this opposition was based not so much on confessional and ideological reasons, but rather on the possibility of influencing believers and the related material factor. V. Uspensky devoted his report to another important figure in the history of Tibetan-Mongolian Buddhism of the XVII - XVIII centuries - Gombochab. He described Gombochab as a unique scholar of the history of Central Asia and China and noted his role in developing the knowledge of Buddhists in Mongolia and Tibet about China. M. Spindler (Warsaw University) highlighted the little-studied activities of Agvan-Dandar (1758/59-1831/42). Along with other Mongolian scholars, Agvan-Dandar made a significant contribution not only to the study of the foundations of Tibetan Buddhism, but also to the traditional Indian and Tibetan theories of poetics.

I. Elverskog opened with his speech a series of reports devoted to the late Qing period, the time when the work of the famous Mongolian writer Yingzhannashi falls. Trying to move away from the usual stereotypes that have developed among scientists regarding the anti-Buddhist or pro-Confucian position of this author, the researcher examines the evolution of Yingzhannashi's views in connection with the general intellectual climate that prevailed in the empire on the eve of its collapse.

G. Betlenfalvi (Hungarian Academy of Sciences) dedicated his speech to the life of a little-known Buddhist figure of Mongolia, Naran-hutukhta Dechen - Odsal (1854-1910). He spoke about the biography of Naran-hutukhta, recently discovered in Mongolia and published in the Budapest series "Treasures of Mongolian Culture and Tibetan-Mongolian Buddhism", describing the line of his previous incarnations, and introduced the audience to some interesting features of this work.

The section concluded with a report by N. V. Tsyrempilov on the life and work of one of the most mysterious and intriguing Buddhist figures of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Samdana Tsydenova. Based on sources previously unknown to science, the speaker offered his understanding of the events that led to the creation of a theocratic state on the territory of the Kudun region in 1919.

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N. V. Tsyrempilov analyzed the motives of S. Tsydenov's activities and the reasons for the collapse of the state he created.

In the fifth section, 35 reports were presented, divided into the following topics: 1. " Health, medicine and modernity "(organizer-M. Schrempf, Berlin); 2. "Medicine, Religion and History" (organizers - J. Samuel, Great Britain and F. Schrempf, Germany). Garrett, USA). The reports covered a wide range of topical and little-studied issues, including: the history, development of theoretical and practical issues of medical culture in the Tibetan world, the transformation of classical Tibetan medical education, and the current state of Tibetan medicine in different countries of Eurasia.

The section was opened by the report of the traditional Tibetan physician Emchilama T. Bist (Nepal). Based on his own long-term experience, the speaker addressed an important issue related to the transformation of EMCI practice in Nepal. He gave a brief description of medical education in schools that train Tibetan doctors, and raised the question of their official recognition. He drew particular attention to the fact that the synthesis of traditional and modern medical education, which clearly shows a certain correlation between religious and secular, can give good results in the training of highly qualified medical personnel for Nepal. V. Adame (University of California, USA) in the report " The science of translation: Arura Medical Group and borders Medical Research" focused on the unification of medical terms in the translation of Tibetan sources into Western European languages. According to him, some principles of such unification have already been developed by the Arura research group. In the reports of J. Phuntsok (Tibetan research. Qinghai Jiumel Institute, China) and S. R. Tsering (Beijing Tibetan Hospital, China) briefly described the methods and principles of treatment that make it possible to choose the right set of medicines for different types of cerebral diseases.

A. McKay (Institute of Indian and Asian Studies, Leiden, Netherlands) described venereal diseases in Tibet, Sikkim, and Bhutan and described the myth of their occurrence in the Himalayan and Pre-Himalayan regions. I. Vargas (Austin College, USA) in his report " Comparing the past and present: diseases caused by lu (nagas) and other harmful spirits in Tibetan medicine" identified the causes of diseases and classified them as "unwholesome" acts. This is the desecration or destruction of shrines, an insult to the three jewels, guardian deities, celestials, dakinis. For such disorders, it is recommended to: recite spells, prayers, read sacred texts, a certain set of mantras, fire sacrifices that calm spirits and demons, as well as a special set of procedures and medicines. Lobsan Tenjin Rakdho (Central Institute of Higher Tibetological Studies, Sarnath, India) analyzed chronic infectious diseases on the basis of studying the monuments of Tibetan medical literature, gave their analogues in modern medicine, and proposed a treatment regimen. Yangtseom (Medical and Philosophical Medical College of the Tibetan National University, Lhasa, China) in her report "Asthma and asthma-related symptoms in schoolchildren living in Tibetan villages" drew attention to social problems and severe climatic conditions that are the main cause of this disease.

F. Garrett analyzed a large body of poorly studied Tibetan sources, mainly dating back to the Middle Ages, which allowed her to identify key issues in the systematics of medical knowledge in Tibetan literature. Yu. Ashof (Ulm University, Germany), who has been studying Tibetan medicine for many years and its implementation in the practice of modern medicine, made a report on the effectiveness of Tibetan pills after a special rite of consecration. In his opinion, the healing properties of Tibetan medicines can be enhanced by the ritual blessing given by Buddhist lamas during services. J. Samuel (Great Britain) outlined a brief history of Indo-Tibetan alchemy and analyzed the origins and evolution of Tibetan alchemy, originating in Ancient India.

It is gratifying to note that along with scientists of the older and middle generations who have long made a name for themselves in the world of Tibetology, there are young gifted researchers who made meaningful presentations at the forum. Among them are T. Hofer (Great Britain), M. Saxer (Switzerland) and E. Sulek (Germany).

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The reports presented at the section showed that the geography and subject of research on Tibetan medical culture is very wide, and important issues of medicine, religion, history, development and transformation of Tibetan medical culture in the context of globalization are being solved by joint efforts of scientists, researchers and practitioners from different countries of the world.

Fundamental scientific and popular scientific works are published in many countries, as well as historical and documentary films related to Tibetan culture. An example of this is the documentary film "The Story of the Badmayev Family", shown to the forum participants. The film was made by a young director from Switzerland, M. Saxer, on the basis of many years of collecting extensive information and studying historical and archival materials with the involvement of testimonies of Badmaev relatives currently living in different countries of the world, many of whom continue the work started by their ancestors, interviews with researchers and practicing Tibetan doctors from Russia, USA, Poland, Switzerland. Thanks to the energetic efforts of the Badmayevs, Tibetan medicine has gained recognition in various geographical areas of Eurasia. There is no doubt that the creative team has done a great job in finding descendants of the Badmaev clan, source material in different regions, organizing filming and dubbing the film into a number of foreign languages.

The work of the section showed that many traditional and modern areas of medical culture of the Tibetan world are intensively developing within the framework of world Tibetology.

At the session of the section "The origin and development of the Shijed and Chod traditions in the cultural history of Tibet", nine reports were heard (organizer-J. R. R. Tolkien). Orofino, Neapolitan University "Vostok", Italy). D. Martin (University of Gebru, Jerusalem, Israel), based on the evidence of Tibetan texts created in the Shijed tradition, presented the classification of animal metaphors used by Padampa Sangye (born in ? - died in 1117). J. Orofino read the report "Late transmission of the teachings of Padampa Sangye", built on the material of the Tibetan source "A drop of nectar that has no fragrance". She analyzed the features of the gCod yul system in the context of the development of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. M. Sorensen (Columbia University, USA) in his report "Extraordinary body: the practice of Lus dky-il and gCod" considered the main components of the practice of the body mandala in the Chod tradition, described in Tibetan texts, whose authorship is attributed to Machig Labdon (1055-1145). E. De Rossi Filiback (University of Rome, Italy) presented biographies of the so-called snow masters in the tradition of the Chod teaching. The author emphasized that this teaching belongs to the Mahamudra Chod doctrine and is associated with Mount Yarlha Champo. D. Rossi (Roman University of La Sapienza, Italy) in her report "Preliminary review of the sacred Dakini Chod teaching in the Bon tradition" presented the results of field research conducted by her at the Bragyung Drugkha women's hermit hermitage (Sichuan Province,China). M. A. Chaoul (Rayet University, USA) made a report on "Traces of the origin of Bon Chod and the destruction of intersectarian borders". The author drew attention to the fact that the Chod teaching is an amazing synthesis of the traditions of shamanism, sutras, tantras and Dzogchen. Ms. Ronning (University of Oslo, Norway), based on extensive field materials collected during a five-month expedition to three monasteries in Central Tibet, spoke about the practice of Chod teaching in our days.

At the meeting of the section "Hidden Buddhism: the study of ancient treasures and their discoverers", six reports were presented. The section was organized by A. Terrone (Research School, Leiden, the Netherlands). B. Bogin (University of Michigan, USA) made a presentation "Visions of Mount Zandogpalri (Zangs mdog dpal ri) in the life of Choggyur lingpa (based on literary sources and paintings)". The author connects the origin of Mount Zandogpalri with the name of the Tantric master Padmasambhava (VIII century). Comparison of the image rows of Sukhavati paradise with wall paintings from Dunhuang allowed the scientist to conclude that the iconography of the mountain is closely related to the doctrine of the three bodies of the Buddha. The collected ethnographic material on the life and status of mantra experts formed the basis of a substantial report by K. Gyal (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing, China) "Changes in the Ngagpa (Tantric) environment at Lhari Zinphug Monastery". Chenagtsan Humchen (Ngamang Institute, China) devoted his report to the history of Tertons (treasure discoverers) and literature related to the terma tradition in the Ngagman community of secular Tantrists in the Rebgon region. S. Jacobi (University of Virginia, USA) considered questions of morality and practicePrajni is among the discoverers of treasures belonging to the Goloka ethnic group in the early 20th century. The report is based on the autobiographical writings of Sera Khandro (1892-1940). In the report by T. Makidono (Harvard University, USA) "Mani Gamboom" and the spread of she-

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The author puts forward the thesis that the appearance of the Bodhi-sattva Avalokiteshvara mantra is directly related to the composition "Mani Gambum", which the Tibetan tradition refers to as a terma genre.

The problems of authenticity of treasure discoverers (terton) and the involvement of unmarried / unmarried Tantric professionals in Tantric practices were raised in the report of A. Terrone (Netherlands). On the basis of a comparative study of Tibetan written sources and a large ethnographic material recorded in the form of interviews with two treasure discoverers, such factors as morality and ethics in the areas where the Tibetan ethnic group lives in Kham (Eastern Tibet) were considered.

The section "Studies in Tibetan Law, Diplomacy, and Historical Sources" is organized by H.-K. Schneider (University of Bonn). The section was to open with a presentation by a prominent Tibetan scholar from India, L. Shastri, on ancient historical documents from the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamsala, India. Unfortunately, the speaker was not able to participate in the seminar. German researcher of the history of ancient Tibet G. Tenzer (University of Freie, Berlin) devoted his report to the military formations of Tonkyab (mThong khyab), which served as a kind of support bases for the Tibetan army during the expansion of Tibet. The report was based on the material of Dunhuang sources and focused on the nature and genesis of these formations, which cause numerous discussions among specialists. The topic of the report by S. Arslan (University of Bonn, Germany) is the activities of the Central Asian Seminar of the University of Bonn on the creation of an electronic archive of Tibetan administrative documents, in particular lam yig documents, or road certificates, their purpose and features of use. As part of the presentation, an electronic resource available on the Internet was presented, which contains descriptions and electronic copies of these documents.

Tsering, a member of the Tibet Autonomous Region Archive, spoke about the history of Kundeling Monastery, which has played an important role in the cultural and political history of Central Tibet over the years. G. Tsering's research was based on the work of the genre of lorgyu (lo rgyus), belonging to this monastic tradition. The audience was particularly interested in H.-K. Schneider's report on official letters of the 18th-century Tibetan government. The researcher described the epistolary heritage of this period, noted the peculiarities of writing letters, their structure.

The title of the speech by L. Sangyei (Harvard Law School) is "Is the Dalai Lama a Democrat? The Paradox between Buddhism and Democracy or a Constitutional analysis of the Secularization of the Tibetan Diaspora: the Role of the Dalai Lama " attracted great interest from scholars. The audience in which the section was held could not accommodate everyone who wanted to listen to Sangyei's report. He highlighted the contradictions between the principles of constitutional democracy, which the Tibetan refugee community in India is now trying to guide, and the Dalai Lama institution as the pinnacle of the traditional power structure of Tibetan society. The speaker elaborated on the effectiveness of applying the ancient formula of laws (chos srid gnyis lugs) in order to resolve these contradictions, but concluded that in theory it is formulated much more simply than in real political practice.

The last report of the section was read out by the American researcher S. Meinheit (B-ka of the US Congress) on the history and composition of the collection of Tibetan manuscripts and woodcuts of the Rockhill Collection.

The section "History of the XVII-XX centuries" was one of the most numerous at the seminar (organizer-Ts. Shakya, Canada). Twelve reports were presented, including four presentations by Russian participants.

The section was opened by report X. Stoddart (France) Phi ling dmag zlog, 1888: Tibetan Primary Sources of Confrontation with the West, dedicated to the first case of Tibet's open confrontation with the West, known as Peeling Magdog, and related personalities (Gendun Choinpel et al.). The report of P. Mehra (India)" The last decade of the Qing-Manchu rule in Tibet (1902-1912) " outlines the main events of this period and concludes that the time of Manchu rule in Tibet is very similar to the first decade of Mao Zedong's rule in Tibet. E. Rispoli (Italy), based on the biography of Ngawan Choydag Palsanpo, written by Ngawan Dorje, made a report " Manchu policy towards the Mongols and Tibetans in the XVII-XVIII centuries: research-

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Ts Shakya (Canada) in his report "Gargya' gran nag: A Study of banditry and Social Protests in Nagchu" explores the problem of Tibetan banditry based on the story of the famous bandit Zhagpa Damnag, who terrorized the Nagchu region in the 30s - 40s of the XX century, and his actions in this area. role in the strained relations between the Lhasa authorities and the Nagchu Territory.

N. Willock's report "Tibetan Perspectives of the Cultural Revolution" (USA) drew attention to the current topic of the fate of the Tibetan intelligentsia who suffered during the "cultural revolution", using the example of monastic scholars Geshe Choikyi Dagpa (1898-1972, a native of Buryatia), Muge Samten Gyatso (1914-1993) and Zetang Shabdrun Zhigme Rigpei Lodoya (1910-1985). Yan Hu (China) in his report "W. W. Rockhill - the first American Tibetologist", noting that modern Tibetology unfairly suppresses his scientific heritage, connects this with the fact that W. W. Rockhill was the first among scientists to declare that Tibet is part of China. Yan Hu's arguments were met with objections from the audience. D. Vanchug (India) delivered a report in Tibetan on "His Holiness the Fifth Dalai Lama and the Foreign Policy relations of Tibet in his time". The joint report of I. R. Garry and N. D. Bolsokhoeva "Buryat-Mongolian figures in Tibet" was devoted to unknown pages from the life and activities of Buda Rabdanov (1853-1923) and Agvan-Nima (1907-1990). Khamaganova made a detailed report " Russian intelligence in Manchuria, Mongolia and Tibet (early XX century)", E. F. Tikhonova in the report " Unrealized dream or missed opportunity? P. A. Badmaev and a critical analysis of his project " told about the activities of our compatriot, Doctor of Tibetan Medicine P. A. Badmaev (1849-1920). Yu's report completed the work of the section. Ishihama (Japan) "Initiation of Chakrasamvara in the 10th year of Qianlong's reign based on the materials of Zaobanchu". Her research of the imperial archives led her to conclude that the act of consecration of the Emperor symbolized the transfer of authority from Kublai, whose rebirth he was declared, as well as the acquisition of the mystical power of the Chakravartin.

Tibetan religious traditions - the theme of the sections " History of Tibetan religions "(organizer-Ch. Ramble) and " Tibetan Religion: History and Modernity "(organized by T. Dodin, University of Bonn, Germany). The first section was opened with a presentation by E. N. Afonina (Russia)" Galukpa lines from Tibetan originals and their Mongolian translations", which traced three lines in the transmission of Galukpa: the lines of the Dalai Lamas, Vajrabhairava and Lamrim preachers Je Tsonghava. A. Bauer (Germany) in the report" On the textual tradition of Abhidharmasamuchchaya in Tibet". Tun hong gnyis pa rma klung rdo rje brag gi da lta-the process of the emergence, fall and revival of the tradition of higher Abhidharma in Tibet. Ts-D Drongbu (China) made a report in Tibetan on "The area of Malun Dorje Drak, known as the second Dunhuang, today" (Tun hong gnyis pa rma klung rdo rje brag gi da lta). F. K. Erhard (Germany) made a presentation on "gNas Rab-'byams-pa Byams-pa phun-tshogs (1503-1581) and his contribution to Buddhist printing in Tibet", in which he highlighted the life and work of a well-known Tibetan scholar. K. Meinert (Germany) presented "Gangs dkar Rin po che: The Tibetan Lama in Republican China". The report noted that the current fascination of the Chinese intelligentsia with the teachings of Tibetan lamas originates in Republican China. N. C. Shakpo (India) in his report "Bhutanese Religious bases in Ladakh" spoke about the construction of the first monasteries in Ladakh, as well as religious and political ties between Ladakh and Bhutan. The section concluded with a report by D. Templeman (Australia) entitled "Taranatha's Self-visualization according to his Secret autobiography", which analyzed two topics from the autobiography of a Tibetan religious figure, namely: his visual journeys and knowledge of his previous rebirths.

The section " Tibetan Religion: History and Modernity "was presented in five reports. A. I. Andreev (Russia) in his report" The Revival of Buddhism in post-Soviet Russia and Tibet " focused on the visits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV to Russia and emphasized his role in the revival of Buddhism in Russia. S. Radha (Great Britain) in his report "Modern Tibetan Buddhism in the West and East" noted the differences between modern Tibetan Buddhism in the West and East and traditional Tibetan Buddhism, and also assessed the relationship between Western practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism and scholars of Tibetology. L. L. Machia (USA) in his report "Drigun Khandro Sherap Tarchin (Drikung Khandro Sherab Tharchin (d. 1979) - a woman who is so respected by everyone " presented the life of a modern Tibetan yogini in the retinue of the Naga Lama. Lobsan Haidup (China) made a presentation on Tibet-

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In his report "The globalization of Tibetan Buddhism", T. Dodin made preliminary generalizations on the spread of Tibetan Buddhism in the modern world . Among the reports on the religions of Tibet, we should also mention an interesting presentation by A. A. Terentyev (Russia)" Problems of identification in Tibetan Buddhist iconography", read at the section" Tibetan Art and Architecture", the review of which, unfortunately, falls out of this article.

At the section" Tibetan Identities, Past and Present " (organizer - S. S.). S. Schneiderman in her report "Cross-border identities: a preliminary study of ethnicity on the Nepalese-Chinese Friendship Bridge" examined the process of interaction of national identities (Tibetan, Nepalese, Chinese) with ethno-regional (khampa, Thangmi, Han) and religious (Hinduism and Buddhism) in the border territory of the PRC and China. I. Henrion-Dorsey (USA) in the report " Long life spanning epochs. Identity and Loyalty in a Contemporary Autobiography in Tibetan " highlighted the life and work of Gelon Lobsan Tenzin. R. Gyal (China) gave a report in Tibetan on the rituals of secular performers in the Rebgon Amdo area (mDo smad reb gong yul gyi a mchod skya po'i skor la dpyad pa). X Gailey (USA), in her report "The Ethics of Cultural Survival: Tibetanness at the Mkhan po 'Jigs phun Council, "analyzed what she called" challenging " work by Zhigpun, in which he encourages Tibetans to build on the values of their great past and place Buddhist values first. ethics in order to preserve the identity of the people.

M. van Beek (Denmark) in his report "Modernizing Buddhist Institutions, Politics and Identity in Ladakh" based on field research shows how Buddhist organizations and institutions are responding to the challenges of rapidly transforming local politics and economy. D. Anand (Great Britain) in his report "Challenge of Tibetan Exclusivity: Exotic Tibet as an Orientalist construct" raises an important issue in the development of the World of Tibetan culture. The question of the true origin of the concept of Tibet as a mystical country and the influence of the concept of Tibet's exclusivity on the identity of Tibetans was raised by A. S. Bens (Switzerland) in his report "National Identity and Diaspora: Tibetan refugees in India". Kung Lama (USA) in his report "Deconstructing the Earth Protector: The Shambhala Center and the Tibetan Community in Colorado" examined the causes of the gap between the Tibetan community created by Chogyam Trungpa and the Shambhala community in Colorado and tried to assess the so-called Western Buddhism. M.'s report Maureen (Canada) "Useless Stars of Vira: Youth and Identifications in Exile", based on the results of a six-month field work in the Tibetan settlement of Vira (Northern India), focuses on the ethnic identity of Tibetan youth in India.

The last day of the workshop ended with a screening of the documentary film "Angry Monk", dedicated to the outstanding Tibetan scholar, writer and public figure Gendun Choinpel. The film was written and directed by Swiss Luc Schaedler. According to him, this was the first screening of the film to such a wide audience of professional Tibetologists. The script is based on the biography of Gendun Choinpel. The film uses fragments from his diaries and memoirs of people who know him personally. The film is accompanied by a spectacular video sequence of various regions of ethnic Tibet and India.

P. Shviger summed up the results of the seminar. Then the procedure of re-election of the IATI President and amendments to its charter took place. As a result, Gyatso handed over the post of president to the famous British Tibetologist Charles Ramble, a major expert in the field of anthropology of Tibet and the Himalayan regions. In addition, at the final meeting, the venue for the next association seminar was announced - the University of British Columbia (Canada). The conference committee is chaired by Professor Ts. Shakya. The XII IATI workshop is expected to be held in 2009 or 2010.

Thus, we can conclude that the XI IATI seminar was successful, breaking records in the number of participants. We can say that both the association and its forum have consolidated its high authority among Tibetologists. It is also gratifying to know that the number of Russian participants in the seminar is growing and more young scientists are joining them.

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