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:

Do you consider yourself a Buddhist?

More or less. I don’t do prayers, or anything, but yes.

What, then, does it mean to be Buddhist?

I believe in it, mainly. I try to do prayers, but I don’t do them every day.

Which part do you believe in strongly?

I really believe in reincarnation and karma. I believe the whole thing, really. It’s quite strange to believe, but I do.

So what do you think makes a Buddha?

It’s someone who helps others, and is special. They’re enlightened and help everyone.

Have you met any lamas you like a lot?

I met them when I went to teachings when I was quite young, but I haven’t gone recently. I went to the Dalai Lama when he was in France, and I found that very good. I liked how he put things, he put them very well.

Apparently you once decided to share with your classmates about Buddhism. How did that happen?

Oh, that was at my old school. I was really young, like 6. I did a sort of teaching to everyone in school during assembly. I was quite annoyed because the stories they told were all Christian, so I asked if I could do a teaching. I told them about Buddha and what Buddhists believe in and stuff.

How did your schoolmates respond?

They found it interesting, but a lot of them didn’t believe in it.

What do you think makes Buddhism hard to believe?

I think it’s hard to believe that someone can be so special and help everyone, not just a few people. Also, how reincarnation works, how you come back every time – you’re never going to really stop. It’s quite a good feeling for many people, because it makes you feel you’re not going to die.

Does it seem logical to you?

It doesn’t really seem logical, but I could believe it.

If you could share one part of the Dharma with people who had never heard about it, which part would you share?

Probably about how you have to really care for everyone and not deliberately kill. I think the kindness is really important. There’s a lot of people who don’t really think about it, and if they see a little bug they just stomp on it. It’s quite bad, really. I think the most important thing is to realize it’s wrong.

If you could ask Lama Osel, who is 13, any question, what would you ask him?

I’d ask him how he feels since his whole life is being committed to Buddhism and teachings. I’m not sure if I could face it – my whole life committed to it. I would probably ask him how it feels.

Do you want Buddhism to be part of your life in the future?

I would like to be Buddhist my whole life, but I’m not sure if I could do teachings and prayers every single day. I don’t like committing myself, because I might find something I really like to do. I might do it most of the day, and then I would have to go in and pray or meditate. It’s really nice to do that, but I might find better things to do.

How can you practice Buddhism without having to sit down and meditate?

I think you have to think about it, believe it, and show kindness to everything, everyone.

Why do you think meditation would be good?

The good thing about meditation is that you can be really calm, and offer prayers and things to Buddha. It makes you feel a lot calmer even if you’re not a Buddhist. I think it helps everyone.