This interview is just one of the many that took place for “A New Generation of Buddhist Young Practitioners,” the cover feature of Mandala July-August 1998:

How did you first meet Buddhism?

My parents were Buddhist and brought me up as Buddhist. When we used to live in London we went to a center there that used to be called Manjushri Institute but now is called Jamyang Centre. It started in our living room when I was a few years old, and I remember people coming around. That’s how I came into contact.

Were you free to choose whether or not you wanted to be Buddhist?

It was totally my decision. I had a couple other friends my age whose parents were friends with my parents, and they encouraged the three or four of us and we did Buddhist classes on Sunday mornings at the center. It was nice. It definitely wasn’t forced onto me at all. It was something that I just did. When I was 11, I decided I wasn’t Buddhist anymore, and my parents said, “Okay, fine.”

Did you ever decide to become a Buddhist again?

Not for a while. I would say it’s in the past two years that I’ve started reading again and taking a fierce interest. I’ve been thinking that, yes, I do want to become a Buddhist again.

I’ve been getting something just out of reading about it. I just spent about six or seven months in Australia and thought I would do something there, but unfortunately I kept being put off. I met some young practitioners that seemed to be interested in it because it is trendy, and also met a guy who was sure he could show me the true path – there wasn’t much social grace about it. He just came up to me and told me, “This is the way,” and I don’t want to be around people who are caught up in it that way. I don’t think that represents all people, though. When I leave home, which won’t be too long, I want to start going to some classes again.

When you began reading about it again, what kinds of things are drawing you to keep looking at it?

I think meditation, and also changing my emotions – both those things really attract me. I also find it really intellectually stimulating, which is something I feel normal life can lack sometimes. For one, it is sort of good brain food for the moment. I think the idea of just trying to be as good a person as possible is one of the main things.

What are some of the difficulties young people face?

I think what takes up the whole of teenage life is trying to be cool. It’s kind of unfortunate, but it seems pretty common.

If you could share one aspect of Buddhism with people who had never heard of it, which part would you share in order to sum up the message?

When my friends ask me, even though it’s hard to simplify, I say it’s about being good to people. It’s about being a good person, doing good to other people – that’s about as basic as I can put it. It’s pretty simple, but that’s what I say if they ask.

Have you noticed that it’s made any change in your mind?

Yes. As I’ve said, it’s really intellectually stimulating, and – maybe this isn’t about Dharma so much – but after reading, it made me want to improve myself a lot more. I know that I’ve been very slack with myself almost as far back as I can remember. I never really pushed myself too much. I’m not sure what it was, but reading about it inspired me and made me feel quite blessed.

It’s quite difficult to put into practice, but I’ve been constantly thinking about how to improve myself, how to discipline myself. I’ve come to see self-discipline as a virtue. I’ve been completely lacking in that one. I have a tendency to confuse self-discipline with punishment, so I was never into that!

In retrospect, are you glad your parents raised you with Buddhist principles?

Yes, very glad. I think that just be living around them and learning about it as a child, it seems to have broadened my general understanding. I feel fortunate to have learned about something that not many people get to learn about. I’m sure it was beneficial to me, and opened some horizons. It’s good as a child because I was subject to things my friends weren’t.

Are there any lamas you’ve met who made a big impression on you?

Yes, Geshe Wangchen. He was the lama at Manjushri London and I knew him the best – he was a really nice person. He moved back to India because he was ill. He was spiritual guide for both my parents. He used to like me and the two other kids because there were only three or four of us there. We used to get to see him a lot and play games with him. I’ve got really strong images of him in my mind. He was just really, really loving and so jolly – he was always so happy! That’s one thing I’ve found with all the lamas I meet – they always seem to be laughing so much.

If you could ask the Dalai Lama anything, what would you ask him?

That is a really tough one. I think you should give me about another 20 years of meditation and study before I could maybe come to a conclusion about it!

Well, if you could ask Lama Osel, who is 13, what would you ask him?

I’d be curious to know about his understanding the Dharma at 13, someone who is a reincarnation, and who gets all this attention. I would be interested mainly in what is his understanding.