News About Ösel

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, which was transcribed by Carolyn Chan and edited by Yeo Puay Huei and Mandala for publication on FPMT.org:

“I just wanted to mention something quickly. The prayers that you are reciting refer to emptiness. I read somewhere not so long ago that quantum mechanics actually says 99.999% of atoms are empty. When we talk about material things, that which we can really touch or is tangible is only 0.001% of the atom. This means that if only the tangible parts of all the atoms of human beings were put together, all 7 billion humans would fit in a single sugar cube. Can you imagine that? Scientists are saying that all 7 billion humans could fit in a sugar cube. That is how ’empty’ we are.

“It is very funny how in this age, spirituality and quantum mechanics are coming together. Their paths have finally crossed. We are living in an age, a very, very big crystal age where thousands of years have passed and people have evolved a little bit. Times have changed: science has evolved, spirituality has evolved, but people are not ready for this kind of information.

“Three thousand years ago in Egypt, there was a pharaoh called Akhenaten. He started a revolution because he could not agree that there were many gods. He tried to explain to the people that the real god is within yourself. You possess the path within yourself. He was way ahead of his time. People did not understand. People were not prepared for that. So there was a huge revolution. Now here, 3,000 years later, we are actually ready for this kind of thinking. We have passed the Dark Ages, we went through the Middle Stone Age, we have been through World Wars. Now, finally people have the means to see all of these and learn from past mistakes. So, we are very lucky to be here at this age, today, everyday; this moment is very lucky. Of course, we think of the time as it is. Time has changed as it is. 

“When talking about spirituality, we say that time is precious. We are here, with the precious human rebirth, possibly only once because they say human rebirth is like a turtle which comes up from the ocean bed only once every 100 years. In that vast ocean is a floating ring and this turtle comes up only once every 100 years. What are the chances of it placing its head through that ring? That is how difficult it is to get the precious human rebirth. That is the metaphor Tibetan Buddhism gives us to understand how lucky we are. This is something for us to cherish all the time.

“But then, we live in a society where the education system teaches us always to cherish ourselves and to think about ourselves, ‘me, me, me,’ right ? Capitalism is based on that. If people stop thinking like that, capitalism will fall apart. So, I am not saying this is good or bad, I am only saying it is good to be aware of this. Because the moment we stop only cherishing ourselves, we can actually start cherishing other people. When it really happens, it really starts feeling good. If everybody did that, thinking about the person next to you before you think about yourself, what a beautiful, lucky place. There will be no war, no famine, no hardship. You should really think about this and check it out. The more you think about yourself, the more you are going to suffer. If you think about the person next to you more than yourself, all you have is happiness. Your well-being will be linked to the universe, linked to karma and linked to human mind. Buddhism says this, so I do not have to say it. All of you know it. I think this important point should be put into practice and not just doing meditation or reading a book or coming to a puja, although these are also very good in making imprints and keeping us on the right path.  

“The most important moment is when you put this cherishing others into practice, then it is like the phrase, ‘When the shit hits the fan,’ it spreads everywhere; it’s a strong metaphor! Keep the middle path. Think about the other person more than yourself. Even if you are suffering, forget about that. Think about the person next to you. For me, it is very easy to say, but very difficult to do. I also have a lot of suffering, difficulties and many frustrations. When these happen, I would do my best to think about the other person. But even then, it is so hard. After I make all the mistakes and mess up everything, I sit down and think, ‘Ah! I wish I had thought about it before. Now it is too late.’ Still, you can learn from your mistakes and slowly, slowly make an effort to be a better person and try to make the person next to you happier. This is my advice from my experience and difficulties that I have gone through. We are all going through this in the same way. So it is not like I am speaking and you think I am enlightened – blah, blah, blah – because I am not. (Laughter) I am of the worst quality.  

“You know we cannot change the world, but what we can do is change ourselves. And that is the first step. So, we focus on that, OK? That’s the first step.”

Find a short video excerpt taken from this talk on YouTube, made available by Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

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

Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from nearly 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.

Ösel at Amitabha Buddhist Center in Singapore Nov 2012. Photo by Tan Seow Kheng and Stephen Ching.

A message from Ösel Hita

What to do when our mind gets in the way of finding peace of mind and comfort with oneself? Even though the circumstances are amazing, if our mind is unhappy then it makes no difference. The same is true if we have horrible circumstances. If our mind is happy, then everything becomes positive. The more we desire the less we have. The more we have the more we desire. The less we desire the more we have. When we let desire get in the way, forget about keeping your peace of mind.

¿Qué hacemos cuando nuestra mente nos impide encontrar paz mental y bienestar con uno mismo? Aunque las circunstancias sean increíbles, si nuestra mente es infeliz entonces no hay diferencia. Lo mismo pasa si tenemos circunstancias horribles, pero nuestra mente es feliz, entonces todo es positivo. Cuanto más deseamos, menos tenemos. Cuanto más tenemos, más deseamos. Cuanto menos deseamos más tenemos. Cuando permitimos que el deseo se interponga en tu camino, olvídate de mantener paz mental.

The Big Love Fund helps support the educational endeavors of Ösel. You can learn more about this project, follow Ösel’s news or discover other Charitable Projects of FPMT.

Ösel Hita with Losang Dragpa Centre students.

In February 2015, Losang Dragpa Centre, Malaysia, was pleased to welcome Tenzin Ösel Hita for Guru Puja on Losar, Tibetan New Year. Following the puja, Ösel gave an inspiring talk to the group. You can see a snippet of this talk below on the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive YouTube channel:

This year’s Losar marked 31 years since Lama Yeshe’s passing and Ösel’s visit was an auspicious and wonderful experience for all in attendance.

Mandala Publications will have more information on Ösel‘s talk and this visit in a forthcoming story.

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

February is a month when the incomparable kindness of Lama Yeshe comes to mind.

Thirty-one years ago this year, on Losar (celebrated on February 19 in 2015), FPMT’s precious founder, Lama Yeshe passed away.  A year later, on February 12, 1985, Tenzin Ösel Hita was born in Spain and soon after was recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the unmistaken reincarnation of Lama Yeshe. Tenzin Ösel was enthroned in March 1987 at Tushita Retreat Center in Dharamsala, India.

In recent years, FPMT students have been so happy to stay closely connected to Tenzin Ösel through his  personal messages via social media.

The Big Love Fund was established by remembering the kindness of Lama Yeshe and wanting to offer support to Tenzin Ösel’s educational endeavors. As Tenzin Ösel finds his own unique way of benefiting others,  this fund is one way that FPMT is able to support and encourage him. 

Please rejoice in the incredible kindness of Lama Yeshe and join us in celebrating Tenzin Ösel’s thirty years among us.

Later in 2015, Tenzin Ösel (pictured above drumming in Bali earlier this year) is leading a pilgrimage to India and Nepal from April 12-26, 2015. Details of this pilgrimage, along with information on how to book, can be found by visiting Más Allá del Viaje (Beyond the Journey).

You are welcome to offer any amount to the Big Love Fund in support of Tenzin Ösel’s educational endeavors. You can learn more about the fund, or more about Tenzin Ösel and his current activities.

From April 12-26, 2015, pilgrims will have a rare opportunity to join Tenzin Ösel Hita, recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of Lama Thubten Yeshe, (the incomparably kind founder of the FPMT), on a pilgrimage to India and Nepal to engage in daily activities, yoga, ceremonies, and to enjoy talks by Ösel in many incredible places such as Vulture’s Peak, the Ganges River and Kopan Monastery. 

This pilgrimage will benefit from Ösel’s extensive knowledge, his unique experience with the Tibetan culture, and his many years of spiritual practice.

Details of this pilgrimage, along with information on how to book your spot, can be found by visiting the Más Allá del Viaje (Beyond the Journey) website.

Osel in attendance of a long life puja for Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Land of Medicine Buddha, September 2013.

Earlier this month Ösel shared his philosophical insight about the universe and one’s relation to it and others on his Facebook page. Please enjoy his unique and thoughtful perspective:

The universe has a perfect design and the more I live the more I see it. It is always on target, the dates and times, moments and spaces, movements and encounters. All so perfectly coordinated. Look at every present situation, it’s spectacular! All of us in a material form with the capacity to comprehend and digest the creation of life, form, energy, sound, smell… every instance! So many variations in existence, each step, each thought we are creating a whole new universe. How amazing is that!? Look into someone’s eyes and behold the window to their soul, the galaxy, the universe. That is us, that is you, that is me, that is all.

The Big Love Fund helps support the education and creative endeavors of Ösel. You can learn more about this project, follow Ösel’s news or discover other Charitable Projects of FPMT.

Occasionally Ösel shares his thoughts and experiences on his Facebook page. In this recent update, he reminds us that we are all connected and encourages us to go within to understand our own thoughts and intentions, rather than worrying about other people’s thoughts, words or actions.

Stop fooling yourself and wake up, open your eyes. We are all free interdependent souls; walk and you will see how far you go. Look back, but walk forward. Life gets complicated when you have a material body, but if you investigate inside and observe your mind you will see that it is very simple. Just being the self, aware that you are the captain of your boat, and the rest will fall into place. You have got to find the limits inside yourself, not from external agents, be a warrior and forget about what other people do or say. Forget for the time being about other people’s thoughts words, or actions. Go for the intentions and thoughts inside yourself. Everything starts there, after that you can worry about the words and actions that define YOU. You cannot see it in others without a subjective interpretation, so for the moment forget about them. Focus on what you have inside. Without the ignorance of illusion we have no separation from the rest. Separation is an illusion.

Deja de engañarte a tí mism@ y despierta; abre los ojos. Todos somos almas libres interdependientes; comienza a dar pasos, y podrás ver lo lejos que llegas. Mira hacia atrás, pero camina hacia delante. La vida se complica cuando tienes un cuerpo material, pero si investigas dentro y observas nuestra mente verás que es muy simple. Siendo tu mismo, y reconociendo que tu eres el capitán de tu barco, el resto caerá en su lugar. Debes encontrar los límites dentro de uno mism@, no a través de agentes externos, sé un guerrero y olvídate de lo que piensan, hacen o dicen otras personas. Ve a por las intenciones y pensamientos dentro de ti mism@. Todo empieza ahí, después preocúpate de las palabras y acciones que TE definen. Es difícil no verlo en los demás sin un punto subjetivo propio, por lo tanto olvídate de ell@s por el momento. Focaliza en lo que tienes dentro. Sin la ignorancia de la ilusión no hay separación del resto. La separación es una ilusión.

The Big Love Fund helps support the education and creative endeavors of Ösel. You can learn more about this project, follow Ösel’s news or discover other Charitable Projects of FPMT.

Osel visiting Kachoe Dechen Ling, May, 2014. Photo by Ven.Thubten Kunsang.

Occasionally Ösel shares his thoughts and experiences on his Facebook page. In this recent update, he sends a message to his friends, reminding that we are all connected. Ösel is now living in Ibiza, Spain, after studying in the United States for the past year.

Each of us has our own path and existence. We are all experiencing the same reality within our own reality. YOU. If YOU know yourself well then you can understand everything. We are born alone, and we will die alone. Everything in between is momentary illusion. That is why it’s so important to know oneself and feel free of all mental slavery. Our mind can be our best friend, but if we are not careful the mind can become our worst enemy too. Every moment is magic, and we are all living the same moment! We are all connected and I love you all so much! Thank you for being who YOU are!! OneLove

Cada uno tenemos nuestro propio camino y existencia. Estamos todos experimentando la misma realidad dentro de nuestra propia realidad. TÚ. Si TÚ te conoces bien, entonces puedes comprender todo. Nacemos solos, y morimos solos, todo el resto es ilusión temporal. Por eso es tan importante conocerse a uno mismo y sentirse libre de la esclavitud mental. Nuestra mente puede ser nuestro mejor amigo, pero si nos descuidamos la mente puede llegar a ser nuestro peor enemigo. Cada momento es mágico, y ¡Todos estamos viviendo el mismo momento! Estamos todos conectados y ¡Os quiero a todos muchísimo! ¡Gracias por ser quien TÚ eres! Onelove

You can follow Ösel on Facebook.

Tenzin Ösel Hita and Lama Zopa Rinpoche after having lunch together, Italy, June 16, 2014. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Tenzin Ösel Hita both attended His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s recent public teachings in Livorno, Italy, June 14-15. The following day, Ösel joined Lama Zopa Rinpoche for lunch.

Rinpoche was in Italy through the end of June. He gave teachings at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa June 28-29. Rinpoche taught on June 28 and conferred the long life initiation of White Tara on June 29.

Ösel recently finished the semester of studies in Hawaii, and later in 2014 will be taking teachings from Geshe Gendun Chomphel at Sera Je Monastery.

More information, photos and updates about FPMT spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche can be found on Rinpoche’s homepage. If you’d like to receive news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche via email, sign up to Lama Zopa Rinpoche News.

Osel offering drumming to Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Aptos, CA, USA. May, 2014. Photo by Ven. Thubten Kunsang.

Rinpoche making the noodles for thukpa.

After Ösel finished his semester of studies in Hawaii, he headed back to his home country of Spain. On the way, he stopped into California and visited Lama Zopa Rinpoche several times.

One afternoon, Ösel offered drumming to Rinpoche and the Sangha at Kachoe Dechen Ling who enjoyed it very much. Then Rinpoche personally supervised and helped make dinner for Ösel, a delicious thukpa (Tibetan noodle soup).

Ösel is now returning to Spain and later in the year he will be going to India to take teachings from his teacher, Geshe Gendun Chomphel.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche helping Sangha make a special thukpa for Osel’s visit to Kachoe Dechen Ling.

Ösel on his way to begin studies in Hawaii!

Occasionally Ösel shares his thoughts and experiences on his Facebook page. In this update, he gives discusses the role every action has on our experience of life.

Life has so many ways of appearing to us. There is such complexity in each moment, each sensation we receive and create. Are we even aware of each passing second, and each experience, which combined, makes what life is for each of us? We may be very subtly aware, but I don’t think we really assimilate how important every action we do is; how habits are so powerful in our daily life. How these “actions” multiply incredibly every time we repeat an action and create the habit. Habits are so strong in our lives. That is why we must be very aware of our habits, and if we feel we are not on the right path towards understanding our inner being, towards nourishing our body and minds, towards helping ourselves and others become more functional, emotionally balanced, peaceful, loving, kind, and joyful; then we must check our habits and focus on what we want to accomplish in the big picture and the long run.

My thoughts are similar to yours. I can identify with emotions humans may have felt in some great moments of their life. I can imagine what it must have been like for the explorers who were discovering something new for themselves and the rest of humanity. Just like an astronaut, who is moving into a new place, a new dimension. What is different from everything else? We are so complex, and each of our organs means so much to our lifestyle. Each breath we take means so much for the next couple minutes we live. Each bite of food we eat, every time we speak, every time we walk, every time we blink. All those moments are so small in our daily life, but yet so big and important. And these are all actions we do consciously. I guess life is so dependent on so many tiny details, that we don’t realize how interdependent on everything else we are every second of our parallel lives.

Thank you everyone for your love and kindness, really appreciate it! Just turned 29 a couple weeks ago.

La vida tiene muchas maneras de aparecerse a nosotros. Hay tal complejidad en cada momento, cada sensación que recibimos y creamos. ¿Somos conscientes de cada segundo que pasa, y cada experiencia que tenemos? Combinados crean lo que es parte de la vida para cada uno de nosotros. Podemos estar conscientes muy sutilmente, pero no creo que realmente asimilemos la importancia detrás de cada acción que tomamos. Por ejemplo; los hábitos son tan poderosos en nuestra vida diaria. Estas “acciones” se multiplican increíblemente cada vez que se repite la acción y esto en cambio crea el hábito. Los hábitos son tan fuertes en nuestras vidas. Es por eso que tenemos que ser muy conscientes de nuestros hábitos; y si sentimos que no estamos en el camino correcto hacia la comprensión de nuestro ser interior, de nutrir nuestro cuerpo y mente, de ayudarnos a nosotros mismos y los demás a ser más funcionales, emocionalmente equilibrados, con paz interior, amorosos, compasivos, y alegres; entonces debemos investigar nuestros hábitos y enfocar lo que queremos cumplir en esta vida, mirando desde fuera de la burbuja, y a lo largo del tiempo.

Mis pensamientos son similares a los tuyos, al igual que yo puedo identificarme con las emociones humanas que podrían haber sentido muchos individuos en algunos grandes momentos de su vida. Me puedo imaginar lo que debe haber sido para los exploradores que estaban descubriendo algo nuevo para ellos y para el resto de la humanidad. Al igual que un astronauta, que está entrando en un nuevo lugar, una nueva dimensión.

Que es diferente de todo lo demás? Somos tan complejos, y cada uno de nuestros órganos es esencial en muchos aspectos para nuestro estilo de vida. Cada aliento de aire que tomamos significa todo para los próximos par de minutos en que el vivimos. Cada bocado de comida que comemos, cada vez que hablamos, cada vez que caminamos, cada vez que parpadeamos. Todos estos momentos son tan pequeños en nuestra vida diaria, pero al mismo tiempo tan grandes e importantes. Y estas solo son acciones que hacemos conscientemente. Supongo que la vida es tan dependiente de tantos pequeños detalles, no nos damos cuenta de lo importante que son las sutilezas de la vida. Todos somos completamente interdependientes del resto de todo lo demás cada segundo de nuestras vidas paralelas.

¡Muchísimas gracias a todo el mundo por tu amor y cariño, lo agradezco un montón! Cumplí 29 años hace unas semanas.

Tenzin Ösel Hita is doing very well and continuing his college studies in California.

Ösel offering long life words of praise to Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Rinpoche’s long life puja, Land of Medicine Buddha, Soquel, California, September, 2013. Photo by Chris Majors.

While Lama Zopa Rinpoche was in the United States this year, Ösel visited Rinpoche at his residence many times. In September, Ösel participated in a long life puja offered to Lama Zopa Rinpoche on behalf of FPMT, Inc. board members and FPMT North American centers. Ösel offered moving long life words of praise to Rinpoche which can be viewed on video or read in their entirety.

In November, Ösel participated in the FPMT, Inc. board meetings in California.

In 2014, Ösel plans to travel to India and take teachings from his teacher at Sera Je Monastery, Geshe Gendun Chompel, following the advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

 Supporting Ösel, the recognized reincarnation of FPMT’s founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe, is of great importance to the FPMT organization. The Big Love Fund was set up to provide financial resources which support the educational endeavors of Ösel. The fund currently covers all of his educational expenses related to attending college in California as well as the cost of Ösel to travel to India so he can receive teachings from his teacher.

Tremendous thanks to all of the kind donors who have already been supporting Ösel and his education. It is greatly appreciated.