Expedition with dentists in 2011

The German newspaper Haller Zeitung reports on our expedition in summer 2011:
Batteriesäure gegen Zahnschmerzen – Haller Zeitung (PDF, German)

Die gut drei Wochen waren als Erholungsurlaub ohnehin nicht gedacht. Was die Haller Zahnärztin Dr. Gerlinde Schulte-Brochterbeck im nordwestlichsten Zipfel Indiens gesehen und erlebt hat, hat ihre Erwartungen aber noch übertroffen. »Für den Körper war es eine Tortur«, schildert die 44-jährige ihren humanitären Einsatz.

Update December 2011: The newspaper Aachener Nachrichten published a news interview with Rainer Lezius and Claudia Weber.

Zähne retten hoch oben im Himalaya – Aachener Nachrichten (PDF, German), Online

Gemeinsam mit den Kollegen unterrichtete sie Kinder und Erwachsene im richtigen Umgang mit der Zahnbürste. “Das funktionierte in Form eines kollektiven Zähneputzens”, erzählt die Ärztin. “An Modellen haben wir außerdem gezeigt, was Karies ist und wo Zahnschmerzen eigentlich her kommen.”

Kathchodling – East meets West, cultural exchange in the 21 Century

An Australian television documentary reported in 2008 on Khandro-la (www.khachodling.org). The video includes a conversation that has led Rainer Lezius with her in Zanskar. Amongst others they talked about the importance of cultural exchange on knowledge and experiences at eye level.

(Deutsch) Diavortrag über die Ereignisse 2010

Themen werden unter anderem die Auswirkungen des Klimawandels im Himalaya sein u. die Folgen für die Wasserversorgung. Unser Zahnarztprojekt, mit der ersten mobilen
Zahnarztbehandlungs – einheit in Zanskar, die wir dieses Jahr einführen konnten. Sowie die Vorstellung eines Abfallentsorgungskonzeptes für die gesamte Region, die immer mehr unter dem modernen Müll leidet.

Sa, 23.10.2010
19:00 Uhr
Im Zentrum für tibetischen Buddhismus
Oppenhoffallee 23

Winterschool 2009/2010

Rainer Lezius presents H.H. Dalai Lama our hospital and winterschool projects

“When he was visiting Zanskar in 2009, only eight people were given the opportunity to meet him in person. Rainer Lezius who has been acting successfully as the representative of the Förderverein Sani Zanskar was granted an audience. His Holiness the Dalai Lama underlined the importance of aid organizations for safeguarding the traditional Tibetan heritage and culture. We are pursuing this objective as well. He acknowledged and blessed our activities, which greatly supports belief in our projects amongst the people.

Furthermore, he pointed out that he was hoping for believers and supporters not merely showing their devotion by prostration and saying “I do believe…”, worshiping a fetish or even him. This did not signify any true development, was much too simple and futile. He wished for people facing up to the Buddhist philosophy, its scripture and above all themselves.

Rainer Lezius: “I could truly understand this, on the one hand, on the other hand, however, I was carrying a bundle of strings with me which my friend Sonam had given to me to have them blessed. Some dilemma, a conflict of roles, what should I do? When saying farewell, I started stuttering and showed my bundle to the Dalai Lama who can also be quite strict at times. He started to laugh in his very own way and said – ok, ok, told me to come closer and breathed on the bundle – this was a truly relieving moment and an important lesson to learn. Take it easy, no matter what, those truly seeking the truth will find it – one way or the other :-)