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About us
The International Shang Shung Institute, founded in 1989 by Professor Namkhai Norbu and inaugurated in 1990 by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, is a non-profit, non-political heritage organisation dedicated to the preservation and study of Tibetan culture. Today there are branches in Italy, Russia, United States, United Kingdom, Argentina, Australia, Austria, and The Netherlands.
"I therefore hope and pray that all Tibetans and those who are interested in the future of Tibet and its culture, will help in whatever way they can to ensure the continuing survival of the authentic Tibetan tradition.” Professor Namkhai Norbu

The Shang Shung Institute Austria possesses one of the biggest collections of statues in relation to the Dzogchen Teachings. Such collection of statues is hardly to find anywhere else. The statues are of extraordinary quality, gold plated and especially made for the Shang Shung Institute.
Short film about the 1st Styrian-Tibetan Cultural Days in Gschmaier in November 2011 (still in the first place of the Institute in Gschmaier)
News
From September 2nd until Sunday, September 6th, 2020 Migmar Tsering and his assistant Cecilia Damiani held a workshop on the Tibetan astrology and art. It was the first time, that such a workshop will be organized and held in a German speaking country.
The seminar was organized by the Shang Shung Institute Austria in collaboration with the Dzogchen Community Yeselling.
Read a report about this seminar.
Partners of the Shang Shung Institute Austria






















Importance of Tibetan language

THE IMPORTANCE OF TIBETAN LANGUAGE
One of the subjects Chögyal Namkhai Norbu was focusing a lot in the last years was "The Message from Tibet through Songs and Dances". In 2014 Shang Shung Edizioni also published a book by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu called "The Message from Tibet through Songs and Dances" in which He presented the first 108 songs related to various aspects of Tibetan culture also with the English translation of the Tibetan texts.
Here is one song chosen that speaks about the importance of Tibetan language. Rinpoche writes in His book about the meaning of Tibetan songs and dances:
"These songs and dances, which are strongly related to the ancient and modern culture of Tibet, are very valuable since they have the important quality of contributing directly and indirectly to the preservation of the different aspects of the Tibetan culture in our world. For this reason I wish to thank all these young artists."
Rinpoche says about the song "Pagad"
"Pagad means "The language of the fathers". The Tibetan language is very important - we need to study Tibetan. In order to spread and develop Tibetan culture it is indispensable to study and learn Tibetan language.If we want to study Tibetan, we need to teach it. This is what I think and what this song is about.
Young Tibetans need to study Tibetan and need to memorize the Tibetan alphabet. This is what I think and what this song is about.
Tibetans need to study their language and also the Tibetan script. As you know, Tibetans in official schools have to speak Chinese and not Tibetan. Even if they know Tibetan very well, they cannot use it, as Chinese is the official language. If we go ahead in that way, the Tibetan language will be finished after one generation. For this reason the Tibetan sings and with their songs they make understand the given situation." (translation of an oral instruction of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu)
Pagad: Kadrag Trayang


See the YouTube music video clip of this song "Pagad" about the importance of Tibetan language
See the KAITA Dancing of this song.