Tenzin Ösel Hita giving a talk at the Wotel, Miami, Florida, US, August 2019. Photo by Marcelo Paez.

On Thursday, August 15, 2019, Tenzin Ösel Hita gave an evening talk “A Taste of Buddhism: One Big Love” at the Wotel in Miami, Florida, US, hosted by the FPMT study group in Miami, Namdrol Ling Study Group. On Saturday, August 17, Ösel gave an afternoon talk “Inner Creativity: How to Overcome Attachment” at Thubten Kunga Ling Center, the FPMT center in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Maria Cersosimo, Namdrol Ling Study Group co-founder and coordinator, and Nicole Zito, Thubten Kunga Ling Center director, share the story.

We rejoice in the visit of Tenzin Ösel Hita to Miami! The event was a huge success with seventy-five people registered, a record for our little study group! The majority of the crowd were non-Buddhists, and the event took place in the totally secular environment of an advertising agency.

Ösel gave a very sincere, straightforward talk, covering Buddhist values, the importance of a daily meditation practice, and simple tips in order to lead a happier life. His sense of humor was present during the talk, and overall his joyful and humorous energy kept the crowd hooked, even the children in the audience. There were questions from the audience, including some from the kids, that he answered very truthfully and humbly.

As the co-founder and director of Namdrol Ling Study Group, this has been such a precious and memorable experience. I received many messages and thanks from the attendees, telling me how grateful they were for the opportunity to have met him. We hope Ösel can come back soon!

Tenzin Ösel Hita with volunteers Cynthia Zak, Alejandra Paez, co-founder and director Maria Cersosimo, co-founder Ana Paula Ruano, and volunteer Claudia Regazzio at the Wotel, Miami, Florida, US, August 2019. Photo by Marcelo Paez.

The auspicious visit to Thubten Kunga Ling by Tenzin Ösel Hita was surely one to remember and will go down in our center’s history. We were sold out and had reached our building’s maximum capacity within a few weeks of announcing this precious visit, and we had less than two months to prepare. We worked together to make this a most special day for the center and the community, and to honor the lives, service, kindness, and love of Lama Thubten Yeshe and Tenzin Ösel Hita.

Tenzin Ösel Hita with Anthony Sherbondy at Thubten Kunga Ling Center, Deerfield Beach, Florida, US, August 2019. Photo by Carly Zito.

Teams of volunteers began mentally and physically preparing for the big event weeks ahead of time. We invited two Lynn University film students from nearby Boca Raton, Florida, to record the event. We are very grateful to Yaren and Brian for volunteering their time and efforts. Adrienne donated and arranged an abundance of flowers, and Sonny offered dinner to Ösel, both of which were lovely offerings of generosity and kindness.

Ven. Lhundub Tendron, the FPMT resident teacher at Thubten Kunga Ling, opened the August 17, 2019 event at 1 p.m. with a meditation on interdependence and emptiness. Ösel arrived at 2:30 p.m. and spoke for one-and-a-half hours on “Inner Creativity: How to Overcome Attachment.” He walked into a room packed with enthusiastic students, both old and new, of different backgrounds and ages, but with one thing in common: a very strong connection to Dharma and to him.

Tenzin Ösel Hita with George Propps at Thubten Kunga Ling Center, Deerfield Beach, Florida, US, August 2019. Photo by Nicole Zito.

Ösel shared about the insight and wisdom he has gained along his path. He spoke about his time spent in the monastery, how he puts the Dharma into practice in his daily life, and how his teachers continue to have a major influence in his life.

The talk was very light and humorous, and his words touched the hearts of everyone who attended this special event. The energy at the event was slightly euphoric. Many beings came together that afternoon as strangers and left as friends.

We had seventy-one guests, twenty-six volunteers, three board members, and five sponsored students attend the event. Many of our guests came from out-of-town: two students came from Washington, DC, two students came from North Carolina, three from the west coast of Florida, five from central Florida, and over ten students from Miami. A handful of these visitors were students of Lama Yeshe’s in the 1970s.

Tenzin Ösel Hita with Nicole Zito at Thubten Kunga Ling Center, Deerfield Beach, Florida, US, August 2019. Photo by Carly Zito.

We received such positive feedback from this event. Everyone said they were honored to meet Ösel, that they look forward to staying connected with him, hope he will return again, and wish him the best along his journey ahead. Students loved his humor, the way he addressed “spiritual bypass,” his way of sharing life’s lessons, and his Bob Marley and Bruce Lee quotes!

Ösel’s unique style—the way he shares his own experiences and wisdom to bridge the gap between the East and West—helped us connect with our own experiences. We were reminded that our own inner wisdom and disturbing emotions serve as a constant platform for introspection, reflection, and self-growth. Change is possible and is up to each individual person.

Watch Tenzin Ösel Hita’s talk at the Wotel:
https://youtu.be/qzc4DAz1IYw

Watch Tenzin Ösel Hita’s talk at Thubten Kunga Ling Center:
https://youtu.be/pjqXZnbHZXM

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