Tenzin Ösel Hita, Losang Dragpa Centre, Sengalor, Malaysia, February 2015. Photo courtesy of Ldc Fpmt Facebook.

On February 19, Tenzin Ösel Hita, the recognized reincarnation of FPMT founder Lama Yeshe, made a surprise visit to Malaysian center Losang Dragpa Centre to participate in its Guru Puja for Losar, Tibetan New Year. Just before the puja began, Ösel gave a short talk and answered a few questions, which were transcribed by Carolyn Chan and edited by Yeo Puay Huei and Mandala for publication on FPMT.org. He began the question and answer portion saying, “I will try to answer as best as I can and if you have opposing views, then better still as we can then debate and understand better.”

Malaysia went through a lot of difficulties last year that affected a lot of young people too. The world is also seeing more terrorists. We get upset at all this, but at the same time, we are supposed to be like our guru. How do we gain a positive mind towards such harmful people?

Ösel: Very, very modern, ah. (Laughter) Very, very good question. To tackle this question, one point of view is the absolute bodhichitta mind. You slap me and I offer the other cheek. Then both of my cheeks will get red. Just joking.

One side is the bodhichitta mind where you give love even if you are beaten up. I think on the one hand, this is very good to do, but the extreme is not good. So, one has to put a limit. You can take the abuse up to one point and if you keep accepting this abuse, then it is not good for the abuser either. They might think they have the right to abuse people, and this will not help them. You are not really creating the cause for them to see their mistakes. If you always go, “OK, OK,” they keep doing the same. You have to cut the vicious pattern.

Some people say that the way to cut the cycle is to get more aggressive than the aggressor, in order to wake him up. But the solution to violence can never be violence. And even if you use aggressiveness to help the aggressor, it should come with love. It should be just a wake-up call for the aggressor. Everybody has their own point of view, but I think I would say that the solution to violence can never be violence. It leads to more suffering. My advice to you is to pray for the aggressor’s bad karma to clear away and for her to be able to recognize the fact that making other people suffer is bringing on more suffering for herself. For the one receiving the aggression, be aware of the need for balance. Don’t go to extremes. It is the middle path. That is what the lam-rim teaches.

Tenzin Ösel Hita at Amitabha Buddhist Centre, Singapore, November 2012. Photo courtesy of Amitabha Buddhist Centre.

Could you please share some insight about your predecessor? Have you seen your predecessor in your dreams?

Ösel: Actually, Lama Yeshe is my best friend. If it were not for him, I would probably work in a bar and be a singer. Thinking about life, “OMG, life is so complicated. What should I do? Should I try to read a book or search for a teacher? I am confused.” At least, I have some information due to my education. I have some answers to my questions. I have the luck and the blessing to be in contact with Buddhism and with some people.

I have only seen Lama Yeshe in photos and videos. And I love him very much. He is my best friend. He helps me a lot. Thanks to him, I have the luck to return.

What are your future plans?

Ösel: Right now, I am organizing a pilgrimage to India with Beatrix. [The pilgrimage took place in April 2015.] She is the work designer and also the organizer for the pilgrimage. Please, if any of you want to know, this is publicity time. (Laughter) We are organizing a pilgrimage to India, starting with Delhi, then to Dharamsala. In Dharamsala, we will be staying at Tushita Meditation Centre, then visiting Norbulingka and proceeding to the mountains. We will be going to Bodhgaya, Mahabodhi Stupa, Vulture’s Peak, Nalanda, Varanasi, Sarnath, Lumbini, Kathmandu, Kopan Monastery and Kopan Nunnery and thereafter Boudhanath and Swayambunath and Mahakala Caves. There will be talks along the way.

The group will be small. Because it is the first time I’m doing this, I want it to be as smooth as possible. But I also want to warn you, it will be hard practice and not just happy, happy. You have to do some hard work and put your mind into practice. It is going to be a practical way and will last for a total of 15 days.

And this is the first pilgrimage I am organizing, and I do not know whether it will be the last. Hopefully, it won’t be the last. But you never know. So, this is the opportunity to invite you and also to tell your friends. That is my project now. I think it will be a practical way to help people and at the same time form part of my practice, to donate to monasteries and to other projects we have.

Beatrix also knows Ayurvedic therapy. We hope to start an Ayurvedic school because medicine is important education for people. Ayurveda is one of the early medical systems dating back thousands of years. The other thing for me is to create an education system to not only teach you how to work, but also teach you how to live, basically. That’s my future idea. And maybe do a movie. I want to do a good movie, that is why I want to take my time. It will be about quantum mechanics, quantum physics, and emptiness coming together, through graphics. I don’t know. That’s an idea for the future. Thank you, Thank you. I am leaving Malaysia very soon but I feel very strong connection with the center. I want to thank everyone. 

The Big Love Fund supports Ösel‘s educational endeavors. You can follow news and updates about Ösel on the Ösel Hita news feed.

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