Local woman who grew up an orphan helps Tibetan children
By PAMELA A. GIBBS
QUEENSBURY, January 13: For Nancy Corliss, the circle is complete.
From the ashes of a childhood spent in orphanages and foster homes, the Hudson Falls woman said she’s discovered that those painful beginnings had set the stage for what she would be called to do in later life.
On Saturday, Corliss, detailed her spiritual journeys to India, where she’s studied with the Dalai Lama, at the monthly luncheon meeting of the Adirondack branch of American Association of University Women.
“I went to India because I was afraid, terrified to travel, to fly,” explained Corliss, a retired special education teacher who said that even driving can be difficult for her. “Because I had no safety as a child, leaving the safety of my home was nearly paralyzing.”
After embracing Tibetan Buddhism, Corliss decided in 1998 to go hiking in the Himalayas, where she discovered the refugee children of Tibet.
Thousands of them are being raised in special villages maintained by the Indian government. The youngsters are refugees from their own country, which was invaded by the Chinese in 1949 has been occupied ever since.
“Over a million Tibetans have been killed since China invaded,” said Corliss. “In 1959, the Dalai Lama escaped to India and thousands of Tibetans have followed him there.”
Because of religious and cultural persecution of the Tibetans by the Chinese, parents send their young children on the perilous journey across the Himalayan mountains to find a better life in India.
“It takes four to six weeks for the children to walk,” she said, as her PowerPoint presentation showed stunning mountain views and some of the dozens of children’s villages that house and educate more than 15,000 refugee children.
Corliss, who has traveled to India five times, is now sponsoring three young boys, and has become passionate about letting people know about the Tibetan children’s plight.
“I turned to Tibetan Buddhism at the lowest point in my life and it’s been a new way of thinking,” said Corliss. “I understand now that my greatest problems, like a childhood of no safety or security, have led to my greatest spiritual wealth.”
Her presentation included interesting highlights of travel and living in India, where cows can unexpectedly poke their heads into a restaurant or shop and winding mountain roads can lead to hair-raising travel with adventurous Indian drivers.
The luncheon meeting, held at Montcalm Restaurant, was attended by nearly 50 members of the Adirondack Branch of American Association of University Women.
The national nonprofit organization promotes education for women, through teaching programs and scholarships, and in 2006, awarded more than $2.8 million to women at universities throughout the country.
Their next meeting, held in conjunction with Zonta Club of Glens Falls, will be Feb. 5 at the Queensbury Hotel, beginning at 5 p.m.
Tickets range between $15-$30. For registration or more information, call Kathy Hoetzel at 792-1996.
Nancy Corliss will be repeating her presentation about the Tibetan refugee children on Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Weeks Road in Queensbury.
For more information, call Corliss at 744-4080.
