December 2001 – February 2002

Thubten Dorje Lakha Lama, who escaped from Tibet in 1959, has been living in Denmark – and devoting his life to others – since 1976. For years he has been organizing ‘helping hand’ agencies, such as the Buddhist Forum, the Committee for World Peace, and Tibet Charity. He explains:

In Denmark I function as a course leader, giving lectures, and leading meditations and retreats. I call myself a
freelance lama. As there are many small Buddhist groups in Denmark, I thought it important to have a common ground and common activities. The Buddhist Forum arranges events, where all the Buddhist groups can come together and share information. This is our tenth anniversary year. I am going to set up a Buddhist Forum in Sweden this year.

…  I was fortunate to meet Lama Zopa Rinpoche this year, and after spending some time exchanging ideas, Rinpoche wanted me to express my views about monasteries in Mandala. There is no reason to change the valuable old traditions, but in the new world I believe monasteries have to add some new traditions in education and social work. It is essential that some kind of social relationship between the monastic and lay communities exists. If it doesn’t, then strong devotion in the minds of the next generation of Tibetans will not exist…. 

Read the complete article as a PDF.

Tags: engaged buddhism, ordained sangha