You may have heard the news about Osel Hita Torres, the recognized tulku of Lama Yeshe, that has been circulating around the globe in sensationalized tabloid form. Our friends at Sunspace covered it here.
It turns out that Osel had a friendly, informative, and intimate interview in Babylon Magazine, a Madrid-based Spanish cultural magazine.
Here are a couple of quotes from the original article that tell a different story than that portrayed in the Guardian and elsewhere:
“Osel gets emotional when he sees the Dalai Lama take the floor. If Buddhas really exist. He would be one of them. He is an enlightened one.”
The article continues with:
“The responsibility of teaching has always weighed on him. His heart tells him that for the moment he should learn. The literal translation of lama is teacher, and I’m no teacher. A good lama is a person for whom it doesn’t matter what others think about him, and who thinks about others before thinking about himself. That, to me, is being a lama, a good person.”
You can see for yourself by reading the original Babylon Magazine interview here (starting on page 56) how a story can be distorted to achieve maximum news “noise”.
Thank you very much for posting this!
May Osel Hita Torres lead a happy life and find his own way of benefitting all beings!
OM MANI PEME HUNG
Having known Lama Yeshe in a personal manner in the early years of his successful encouragement of Buddhist to the west I think Osel is very much following in his previous incarnation’s footsteps. Lama Yeshe was never one to shy away from experience and to know new things. We might think he has to be a monk again but given that earlier rebirth’s exuberant nature I think he is doing just fine. Newspapers print things to be sensational and sell, not for the truth of the matter.
Osel’s response to certain press articles…
http://www.fpmt.org/teachers/osel/
May Osel continue to learn about human nature in the so-called ‘real’ world so he can start teaching the next generation when he is ready.
Having read this and the original article, this fine fellow sounds pretty much like a normal Western youth with some special talents. I consider myself a Tibetan Buddhist, at the moment. I also have twin 18 year olds who, like Osel, are finding their own way in the world. They act pretty much like him and vice-versa. I am very happy that I get to be their father for this life. If he ever needs a place to camp, tell him to look me up. Bah-ha-ha!
WHY SHOULD OSEL NOT FIND HIS OWN WAY TO EXPRESS DHARMA! HE IS FINDING HIMSELF AS MANY OF US DID AND FOUND THE DHARMA BY CHANGING OUR VALUES AND FINDING A PATH IN BUDDHAS TEACHING.TIMES CHANGE GIVE OSEL HIS FREEDOM AND HAVE FAITH LOVE IN THE DHARMA
Well, if it isnt’t such a big deal as you seem to imply (him saying he is not a Buddhist, more or less abandoning the FPMT… etc…) then why has the FPMT taken him off all the pages of their website ?
vajra
Hi Vajra,
If you look at the FPMT site you will find Osel clearly represented. His page was taken down so that a personal statement from Osel could be added.
Thanks for posting the article. It clearly shows the manipulation of other magazines and press agencies. For instance, it was not Osel who talked about “medieval discipline”, but it was journalist’s interpretation (“And he soon learnt the strict medieval
discipline of the monastery.”). Osel shows an incredible equilibrium and maturity in this interview. The key of his real feeling, may be, is in this paragraph, when he remembers the life spent in the monastery:
“It’s another world that cannot happen here, that mentality, that way of being, that rhythm of life… it saddens me to have left it.”
The conclusion of the interview is touching the heart of the readers. He talks about the qualities of a Teacher: wisdom and compassion. The qualities of His Guru, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who did not scold him, but praised him when he defined himself a “scientific agnostic.”
The young Osel shows that, in spite he is not following the traditional education of a Tulku, he is going in the right direction to become a future spiritual Teacher. I cannot forget the comment made by a famous Italian graphologist when he saw
Lama Osel’s writing. “This boy has a great destiny in front of him!” he said, without knowing that it was the writing of the young Tulku! Then he added in Italian, “Coraggio ragazzo, ti attende una grande missione nella tua vita: beneficerai un grande numero di persone!” (Courage boy, you have a great mission in your life: you will benefit a countless people!)
This is my contribution to the Truth. I thought my duty to write, to honor my past profession as journalist.
Valentino Giacomin
Thanks for pointing out the article makes an interesting read!
Hurray for Osel, and hurray for the FPMT! Om mani padme hum.
Wow!! It’s not like ‘The Guardian’ is the shining example of unbiased journalism, hardly!! And the internet is a Bastien of mis- and disinformation.
I find Osel’s path choice really interesting, and am interested in seeing what yields from it. Right now, it seems he’s finding an equilibrium. All the best to him.
Let’ s all drop our expectations about Lama Osel, but let’s not drop our hopes about Osel, let’ stay open and see what will manifest…
Namaste —
let him find his own way on the path, let him be.
Things take time, and having all these expectations thrown in front of him, will be a problem for him, as so many seem to have engendered a lot for this young man ahead.
bless his effort and things will fall as they may.
Thank you for this information and for the additional information in the posts. I have read only a limited amount about Lama Yeshe, and talked to people who knew him from his first visits to Australia in Melbourne and then Brisbane. So why would we ever have thought his next life would follow expectations. Lama Yeshe gave us all a big clue about this when his rebirth was as a Westerner. I believe that Osel will guide the FPMT to build an even stronger basis in the West that will attract our Gen Y children and then grand children, as they will not listen if it is not at the end of sort sort of technology – and Osel knows this. I am rejoicing.
…well OF COURSE he is a scientific agnostic – aren’t all Buddhists? Wasn’t the Buddha himslef?!
I heard from Osel when he was studying in India.
Everyone must follow the (message of) their heart. The mind tends to confuse us, as it has done in the past.
There are so many paths to follow and finding the right one is not easy.
I am sure that Osel has done a lot of ‘soul’ searching and has found a path that ‘might’ be the right one for him. I hope he has.
I wish him so much happiness, love and peace – now and in the future.
Osel Hita Torres, please remain and teach until samsara ends.
What many do not understand is that Osel is doing exactly what he came this lifetime to do. Buddhism is one of the highest forms of wisdom in this Mind State Evolution. But the next level goes beyond religion completely. It must pass away and Osel is a part of that just as Yeshe was a part of bringing greater enlightenment to the world.
Just what Osel said in February:
Many people think the light is the path, but you’re not going to the moon; you’re trying to get out of the forest. The full moon just helps you find your way.
And so it does.
Osel I hope the path is clear.
Much Love
Osel,thank you for existing.I understand you very well,having been myself in Tibetan monasteries.They have a very different way of learning than us.In spite of it,I hope you will extract the best of both worlds.your unknown friend Nina.
Oz, I am inspired by your faith in life. Life is to learn and experience. Thank you for teaching us to watch over our mind every moment. I have not meet Lama Yeshe in person but I found his teaching very practical. I am lucky to have touched by drama. And drama is not a religion, it is something we experience and get to understand our mind within. I am glad to have met Oz when he was a little kid. I hope to see his work soon. Thank you and good luck!
Osel is special.
what a path he trends and with such skill, in these strange times.
is not the world dominated by the media what better place to promote the dharma.
in the light
Cos “Samaya” stephanides
Osel is a new kind of visionary, for a new time. If his path is wise, we will follow; if not, Osel will follow the others.
Frankly, I would like to know more about his personal journey. We, western youth, are ready for a healer with a new direction, as we enter the 21st century.
Tashi Delek
Thank goodness a real dialogue is now in progress and no longer a subject that could not be aired. I found the silence from FPMT disturbing but now I am at peace.
I thank the teachings of Lama Yeshe for enforcing my journey into Buddhism and I know Osel will live his life as he is supposed to and I wish him well.
LAMA SANGHIE LAMA CHO TESCIN LAMA GEDUN TE
KUN KI JEPO LAMA NAM LA CIAKTSELLO
claudio cipullo
Just let Lama Osel follow his own heart and all will be well