Osel Hita Torres, Boy Chosen By Dalai Lama As Reincarnation Of Spritual Leader, Turns Back On Buddhist Order

The Guardian:

As a toddler, he was put on a throne and worshipped as by monks who treated him like a god. But the boy chosen by the Dalai Lama as a reincarnation of a spiritual leader has caused consternation and some embarrassment for Tibetan Buddhists by turning his back on the order that had such high hopes for him.

Read the whole story: The Guardian

Comments

[gifu]

Those in robes robbed this child of himself. The monk's and the Dalai's illusions led to his sense of alienation and he took it back from them, in the end. BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[yeshe]

My final note was missing, sorry .. this is the full quote:

As written in the Lankavatara Sutra, "Things are not as they seem; yet, neither are
the ohterwise".

[davidhilton1]

good for him....ive always looked upon this tradition of choosing an incarnate from a child as ridiculous...and i been a zen student for years so im not a harsh judge of buddhists but come on...im glad this guy saw thru the worship crap...

[yeshe]

Turning away from living as a reincarnate lama does not mean he is turning his back on being Buddhist; in fact, history would likely it is far from it.

Lama Thupten Yeshe ( whom Osel Torres is recognised as being) also was a rebel in the Tibetan system, electing to leave his monastery without finalising his geshe or philosphy degree and choosing instead to begin to teach some of the very first westerners to seek the Tibetan Buddhist teachings in the early 70's in Kathmandu (along with his main student, Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche).

Also, Lama Yeshe was himself recognised to be the reincarnation the the abbess of the largest convent in Tibet. In 1982, feminist that I am, I asked him personally why he had chosen this time to return as a man -- he took my hand, looked me in the eyes and replied, " Well dear, this time many more people listen to me!". And as The Guardian story notes, his organisation enjoys more than 180 international centres.

My name Yeshe came from Lama Yeshe in 1976 and he was an extraordinary teacher. Watch this space for what he produces this time -- whether it be film, clips on YouTube or music.

Another western tulku, Gesar Mukpo, of similar age to Osel Torres, has his film Tulku about to be premiered --search Tulku Gesar Mukpo on youtube for the trailer.

Watch this space. As written in the Lankavatara Sutra, "Things are not as they seem; yet, neither are

[yeshe]

Sorry .. quote missing -- as written in the Lankavatara Sutra, "Things are not as they seem; yet, neither are they ohterwise".

[yeshe]

Third time lucky ...

As written in the Lankavatara Sutra, "Things are not as they seem; yet, neither are
they otherwise".

[bobdob]

The whole avatar thing is pure nonsense. The current Dalai Lama would even admit that. One of the core principles of Buddhism is the teaching that the "self" is an illusion. So there is no "Buddha" to be reincarnated. It's not that easy. Guruism is an aberration. The kid has it right.

[FairTalk]

You are right, but then the Dalai Lama does not care, he is a CIA agent.

[howardley]

In the subject of Buddhists, Buddhism and Dalai Lama read this interesting story. It is also part of our history:
http://democracyandsocialism.com/FameSocialism/Anna_Louise_Strong.html

[FairTalk]

Thanks for this link. What was done to this little 2 year old child is nothing more than child abuse adorned in fundamentalist religeous trapings.

[Social Construct]

This could very well help to explain those missing years of Jesus' life, eh? I say that with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek in a non-threatening but politically incorrect fashion. So there.

[Hirnlego]

Again and again religion(s) show that they are man-made.

[Mammamia]

Amen to that!!

[Bitsko]

Possibly the youngster disagreed with the Tibetan Buddhists stance on homosexuality, something many American followers don't know about as American editions of the Dalai Lama's books edited such content out. Before you accuse me of being some kind of Chinese spy or anti-religionist, look it up.

[Bitsko]

Sorry, forgot to mention that it is an anti-gay stance.

[gifu]

Give me a break........

[FairTalk]

Never fear, they acuse me of being a brainwashed pinky commie too. But, of course, you are completely correct.

[jim666]

Tibetan Buddhism as practiced in the West is about as gay-friendly a religion as you will ever encounter. The attitudes in Tibetan culture are another matter, although I've been assured by a gay Buddhist friend that the reality of homosexuality in Tibetan culture is quite different from what you would think from reading the traditional accounts of "sexual misconduct," one of the 10 non-virtues. Tibetans, being a discrete bunch, just don't really talk about all that goes on.

[alwaysthere]

an old girlfriend
once said if this isn't love
the world is doomed

swear to god after she said that lightening stuck

we were not able to fulfill each other's life

but we have learned what love ask of us....

friends forever

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

The current Dalai Lama has led an exemplary life promoting peace and trying to represent his conquered people, but he still represents another silly medieval religion. Good for the boy for saying no. "What is a rebel? A man who says no." (Albert Camus)

[ANTIverson]

Buddhism isn't medieval.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

Yes, you are correct. I was speaking metaphorically and should have found a better word. Tibetan Buddhism certainly is pre-modern and it seems to me that when we are talking about Tibetan Buddhism, we are talking about a parochial expression from a feudal society. I don't feel any better about Tibetan monks than I would about Catholic monks. I think they are all parasites.

[FairTalk]

Life in the Dalai Lama's Old Tibet was the worst example of medievval extreems, with people suffering under extreem corvee.

[chedet]

great god! if buddhism is medieval what does that make christianity? ancient, prehistoric?

[fcsakes]

Hmmm, perplexing. This child was not taken out of a childhood already filled with crap, he was a baby raised in a certain way not subject to advertising or glossy magazines or inane "music."

Soon perhaps there will be no culture, nothing special, no reason to travel to any other country. They will be all the same. Even now is there anyplace on earth one can travel without seeing a McDonald's, a Coke can or one of those brands everyone seems to have on their shirts, a check mark for god's sake!

[Meng Bomin]

You make it sound as if the world is a zoo of cultures that will be ruined if people of their own free will choose to leave and join Western society, thus depriving you of the opportunity to check out that cool Tibetan Buddhist exhibit.

According to the article the boy felt that, "They took me away from my family and stuck me in a medieval situation in which I suffered a great deal."

Certainly, if those venerated as gods in a culture feel that it is lacking, they should be free to move to greener pastures.

[DeeW]

You make it sound like a world without McDonalds and glossy magazines must be nirvana. How very naive of you. They randomly kidnap this child and remove him from his family and raise him in practical solitude all in the name of religion. It's ridiculous and has nothing to do with anything you're talking about.

[Promise]

They didn't "randomly" kidnap this boy. They believed he was the reincarnation of the deceased lama and the Dalai Lama, himself, picked him out of a group as the chosen one. They have very specific criteria for making such a decision.

[ecotopian]

It can be, if you are willing to try. What, pray tell, do you gain with those brands in your life? Except weight. Please do enlighten us.

I only eat McDonald's if I am starving and there is nothing else to eat. I read glossy magazines only when they are the only reading material around. Both are lacking in any nutritive value for either the body or mind, but they will sate your hunger until something more substantive can be had.

[FairTalk]

China has made sure to preserve cultural traditions in Tibet. Although it is true that they emancipated the serfs and slaves, and put an end to the dungeons and torture. Today, Tibetans enjoy all their healthy traditions, to the great chagrin of the Dalai Lama. You shoud really visit Tibet, and see for yourself.

[Douglas90723]

I can understand his disenchantment. He's prorbably into computer games.

What young boy could understand an exotic religion.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

Why would this religion be exotic to him. Can't imagine it is any more "exotic" than any other religion.

[Patricia84]

Douglas meant exotic as in non-American. Don't confuse him now with explaining how exotic is actually related to the person in question. Might be too hard to grasp.

[Patricia84]

I'm sure they'll find a way to explain the lama's defection.

[FairTalk]

Balme it on China?

[cd789]

Let's get this obligatory post out of the way: upon leaving the order, the child was heard saying, "Goodbye, Dalai!"