Time line of activities of the Shang Shung Institute Austria

See also: Time line of the Ka-Ter Translation Project

2000

On January 1, 2000, the first day of the new millennium, the Shang Shung Institute Austria was founded and in 2001 launched a first simple but functional website.

2001

The Shang Shung Institute Austria starts a three years lasting training on the Tibetan Massage Ku Nye held by Dr. Nida Chenagstang in Austria.

2002

The Shang Shung Institute Austria received an anonymous donation in our bank account. Surprised and overwhelmed by this donation, I asked Rinpoche how we should use this sum. Rinpoche advised: “You take care of it. We will find a good use for it, but do your best so that this amount will not become less.” This was the moment of birth of the new Ka-Ter Translation Project. From then on the translators were freed of their worries about how to cover their simple needs, as from that point on I was able to offer them modest donations for their precious work on a regular monthly basis.

2003

In summer the first Training for Translators from Tibetan was held in Merigar West under the guidance of Elio Guarisco. 

The Shang Shung Institute Austria organized a seminar on Bagchen with Michel Bricaire in Austria as well as in other countries.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria organized public talks on Tibetan Medicine held by Dr. Nida Chenagstang in Austria and finished the three-years training on Ku Nye.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria published the first issue of the newsletter of the Shang Shung Institute, called Phonya.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria supported and collaborated with the project Archaeologic park in Khyung Lung Tibet.

2004

In summer the second Training for Translators from Tibetan was held at Isla Margarita (Venezuela). The training lasted for forty-four days and the participants showed considerable progress over that period in their knowledge of the Tibetan language. 

The Shang Shung Institute Austria organized the final round of Bagchen played in Isla Margherita, Venezuela.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria co-organized a study tour to Bhutan with Dr. Andrea Loseries.

2005

The third Training for Translators from Tibetan was held at Merigar West under the guidance of Elio Guarisco.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria published the second issue of the newsletter of the Shang Shung Institute, called Phonya.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria organized a visit of Bruno Baumann, a famous Austria Tibet explorer, with Prof. Namkhai Norbu in Merigar West, Italy, in order to make with Rinpoche an interview about Shang Shung.

2006

The fourth Training for Translators from Tibetan was held at Merigar West under the guidance of Elio Guarisco.

Oliver Leick established a pension and life insurance fund for Adriano Clemente and Elio Guarisco, payable at the age of sixty-eight. 

Igor Legati who had been the main coordinator of the translation project Complete Works of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu (CW) passed on this responsibility to Oliver Leick and from that point it has been part of the Ka-Ter Translation Project.

2007

The fifth Training for Translators from Tibetan was held at Merigar West under the guidance of Fabian Sanders.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria held the first fund-raising campaign for Ka-Ter in the form of a raffle with thirty wonderful prizes.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria started a series of seminar on Tibetan Games  that were organized in different places and countries.

2008

The sixth Training for Translators from Tibetan was held at Merigar West under the guidance of Fabian Sanders.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria started a new endeavor: the Public Books Project within Shang Shung Publications. The publication of this category of books is still co-financed by the Ka-Ter Project.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria organized the Tibetan Cultural Days in Hüttenberg in Austria, tiger birth-place of Heinrich Harrer.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria organized the first day of the Open Doors in its seat in Gschmaier in East-Styria.

2009

The seventh Training for Translators from Tibetan was held at Merigar West under the guidance of Fabian Sanders.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria held the second fund-raising campaign for Ka-Ter in the form of a raffle with ten wonderful prizes. 

The Shang Shung Institute Austria started the initiative Archive Transcription Program which was carried out in Merigar West, Italy.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria organized the first Tibetan Cultural Days in Bucharest in Romania.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria co-founded the Shan Shung Institute UK in London.

2010

The eighth Training for Translators from Tibetan was held at Merigar West under the guidance of Fabian Sanders.

Fabian Sanders started a first course on the precise pronunciation of Tibetan with many such courses following in subsequent years.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria organized the First Tibetan Cultural Week  in Tenerife.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria organized the second day of the Open Doors in its seat in Gschmaier in East-Styria and has produced short video clips of the branches of the Shang Shung Institutes in Austria, USA and Italy.

2011

The ninth Training for Translators from Tibetan was held at Merigar West under the guidance of Fabian Sanders.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria organized the first Styrian-Tibetan Cultural Days in Gschmaier in East-Styria, Austria.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria co-organized the Second Cultural Week in Tenerife.

Based on a special invitation, Oliver Leick, the director of the Shang Shung Institute Austria, participated in the Dzogchen Forum and gave a public talk on The Five Fields of Knowledge.

2012

The tenth Training for Translators from Tibetan was held at Merigar West under the guidance of Fabian Sanders.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria co-organized the First Tibetan Culture Expo in Athens, Greece.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria organized on course on Drajyor held by Dr. Fabian Sanders in Gschmaier, Austria

2013

The eleventh Training for Translators from Tibetan was held at Merigar West under the guidance of Fabian Sanders.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria co-organized the Third Cultural Week in Tenerife.

Oliver Leick participated in a meeting of the International Shang Shung Institutes in Merigar West in Italy.

2014

The twelfth Training for Translators from Tibetan was held at Merigar West under the guidance of Fabian Sanders.

The new website of the Shang Shung Institute Austria was launched.

2015

The thirteenth Training for Translators from Tibetan was held at Merigar West under the guidance of Fabian Sanders.

Chögyal Namkhai Norbu gave the transmission of the lung of the Dra Thalgyur Tantra. Afterward Jim Valby started the first translation of the root text of this important and ancient tantra which explains all aspects of Dzogchen.

This first translation of Jim was then transferred to Elio Guarisco who was to complete it. Unfortunately he never could finish this work as he passed away in 2020. 

2016

The fourteenth Training for Translators from Tibetan was held at Merigar West under the guidance of Fabian Sanders.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria moved to its new location in Gersdorfberg in East-Styria.

2017

The fifteenth Training for Translators from Tibetan was held at Merigar West under the guidance of Fabian Sanders.

Chögyal Namkhai Norbu asked Oliver Leick to become the director of the International Shang Shung Foundation and due to this new responsibility his work for the Ka-Ter Project intensified.

Oliver Leick, director of the Shang Shung Institute Austria held meetings with the board of directors of the Shang Shung Institute USA in Massachusetts and with the board of directors of the Shang Shung Institute Russia in Moscow.

Oliver Leick, director of the Shang Shung Institute Austria, organized the All Hands Meeting with all representatives of the worldwide Shang Shung Institutes in Merigar West, Italy.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria organized the first Khaita Workshop in its new seat in Gersdorfberg.

2018

The sixteenth Training for Translators from Tibetan was held at Merigar West under the guidance of Fabian Sanders. From then on the Shang Shung Institute Austria was no longer involved in the organization of the Trainingfor Translators from Tibetan, as this activity became the responsibility of the School of Tibetan Language team with Fabian Sanders as its director.

The Shang Shung Institute Austria began a collaboration with the Shang Shung Institute USA and in particular with the School of Tibetan Medicine. As part of the Ka-Ter Translation Project, SSI Austria supports the transcription and translation work of the teachings of Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo given by her during several four-year trainings to become a qualified and certified Tibetan doctor. A large donation given this project supports the work of Dr. Phuntsog Wangmo and a small yearly donation that of her main assistant.

Chögyal Namkhai Norbu founded the International Atiyoga Foundation and soon afterward Rinpoche passed away.

Oliver Leick, director of the Shang Shung Institute Austria held meetings with the board of directors of the Shang Shung Institute Australia in Namyaglgar, Australia.

2019

Oliver Leick became the vice-director of the Atiyoga Foundation, and thus the Ka-Ter Translation Project became part of the Atiyoga Foundation.

The Ka-Ter Translation Project assumed the continuing support of the work of Nancy Simmons, editor of English books published by Shang Shung Publication.

2020

All activities of the Shang Shung Institutes and the International Dzogchen Community due to the worldwide Corona pandemic was carried out online. Tragically, this year Elio fell fatal victim of this terrible disease.

Migmar Tsering from Dynamic Space of the Elements held his first seminar in Austria: The Mandala of the Elements

2021

After the passing of Elio, his family received the funds accumulated in his life-insurance policy.

Shang Shung Publication became an autonomous and independent department of the Atiyoga Foundation. Oliver Leick also became a member of the new Board of Directors of Shang Shung Publications which guarantees a fruitful collaboration between the translators, the editors, the publishing team, and the Ka-Ter Project.

The Ka-Ter Project began collaboration with Charles Jamyang Oliphant of Rossie as editor of English texts translated from the Tibetan.

Migmar Tsering from Dynamic Space of the Elements held his second seminar in Austria: The Potentiality of the Elements

2022

The collaboration with Jamyang as editor for the Ka-Ter Translation Project was renewed.