![]() ![]() There's also a large temporary exhibition space - currently featuring Indonesian royal gold from the 8th-11th centuries, which is also well worth seeing. Well thought-out original museum shop and nice small cafe. The argument that by acknowledging this the museum risks encouraging a lobby to return some pieces to the descendants of the original owners may be partially true - but that's not a debate museums should be afraid of). (Even 'stolen' would be interesting to know - even if only as a reminder that our grandparents' morality wasn't the same as the morality we aspire to today. Rather irritatingly there is little information on where (or when) the exhibits come from - purchased or stolen ? new or old ? Tibet or Sichuan ? rescued from the ravages of the Cultural Revolution or merely looted to smooth a path to a comfortable life in Dharamsala ? While suspicion may default to 'stolen' and 'we don't really know' it's hard to believe the museum doesn't have more background information about some of the pieces than it lets on. For a fuller exposition of the subjects dealt with here, readers are kindly requested to read the revised and enlarged edition of The Buddha and His Teachings published in 1980. Since then several editions were published by various philanthropic gentlemen for free distribution. all that's missing is the smell of oil lamps and yak butter carvings. Buddhism in a Nutshell first appeared in 1933. The Tibetan section on the third floor comprises a bit of everything - some delicate thangkas, Buddha statues, prayer flags, a whole temple recreated including a colourful sand mandala still in top condition ! There are no live monks present but you can see a film and pictures of the Dalai Lama's visit in 2014. Plus some nice if somewhat random exhibits on Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and 'other Oceania'. I don't review many museums but this is a little gem in a stunning location on the waterfront in Rotterdam The Rotterdam 'world museum' specialises in Buddhism and in particular Tibetan Buddhism though there is a little (in decreasing quantities) on Japanese, Chinese, Indian and other Buddhism too. ![]()
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