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:

Lama Osel, the reincarnation of Lama Thubten Yeshe, also answers the questions of some of those interviewed.

How do you feel knowing your whole life will be committed to Buddhism? (Kim Tate Wistreich, 11)

It’s difficult to answer that question. I don’t know how to say how I feel. Actually, I don’t know how I feel. I don’t feel anything!

Is it ever scary?

No. In my mind it’s just like, “I have to do this in the future, and I have to do that.” It feels like there’s nothing else I can do but this.

If you are enlightened, why do you have to go through all the training again? What is the benefit? (Moana Strom, 15)

Not all the lamas are enlightened. Like me – I am not enlightened.

If there were a young lama who was enlightened, then, what is the point of going through all the monastic training and studies?

If they are enlightened, they show the aspect of being a young boy who doesn’t know anything, so they have to study like a normal person.

How can this benefit other people?

People teach them, and it benefits them.

It benefits the people who teach the lama?

Yes, because if, in the future, the lama helps many people, a lot of the good karma goes to the teachers.

Do you remember anything from your past life?

I think when I was small, one year old or so, I remembered. But I don’t have any memories anymore.

Do you think about girls?

No.

­Are you happy you are a monk?

Yes.

Do you think it is good for people to become monks and nuns when they are still young?

No. I don’t think it works for everybody. Maybe when they are small they want to become a monk, but when they get older they change their minds.

How do you feel when you see monks and nuns disrobing?

I just feel sorry for them.

What is it like for you to study Dharma all the time, and can you share some of your understanding of Buddhism?

Right now I study the texts. I don’t know what they mean – I just memorize them. I am not yet being taught about Buddhism or doing in-depth study. In the future, when I become older, they will start teaching me about Buddhism.

Now I just know the main things, like for monks: what he should do, shouldn’t do, and simple things, like to kill is bad. Now I am memorizing, and in the future, if I want to meditate, I can just close my eyes and think of what I’ve memorized, and at that time I will understand what it means.

Some texts are just for debate. For example, if one monk says impermanence and permanence are one, then in the text it says both of them are contradictory; then because it is in the text and you have memorized it, you can say they are contradictory and debate. But right now I am just memorizing and studying them.

Are there any subjects you particularly like to study?

In English, it’s reading. Right now I am reading The Lord of the Rings. It’s very good, I find it very interesting.

Is there anything in the Tibetan studies you find particularly interesting?

I think it’s debate. Debate I really find very interesting. You have to use your brain. If one says yes on one point, you can debate it – it’s very interesting. The debate helps me a little bit to understand what I am memorizing, but mainly I feel debate is to make your mind sharp and to be able to understand more things in Buddhism. It makes it easier, more interesting to study.

How much do you memorize each day?

Not much.

How much?

Like three lines! I have memorized very little.

Do you enjoy to memorize?

It’s very difficult. Enjoy it? No. I like it, but I don’t enjoy it. I think it will be very beneficial in the future.

How do you meditate? (Isabella Campiglia, 8)

Now I meditate on one thing, like for practice.  Sometimes I meditate by imagining I am on an airplane. I imagine that something is wrong with the airplane and it is about to go down, and it makes me think about all the lamas and everything. I think that I am going to die, that I am near death, and I try to think in a way that when I die in the future I can get a human rebirth. It is a good meditation. I usually don’t meditate much, just sometimes, for 10 minutes.

Do you like doing retreat?

Yes, very much. I just did a White Tara and Vajrasattva retreat a few days ago.

Do you notice some difference in your mind when you do retreat?

Yes. I find it very helpful. It helps with both the mind and the body. It’s important for mental health and physical. I think Buddhism is better, but I think yoga helps.

How do you become a buddha? (Kevin Landaw, 6)

By doing whatever your teacher says.

What if there are some young people who don’t have a teacher yet – what can they do?

They can just try and do what Buddhism tells them, like not to kill any ants or anything like that. Also, if they can recite some mantras so it leaves imprints on the mind, then in the future life they can get better rebirths and they can become enlightened.

What is a good prayer to begin with?

I think the easiest is om mani padme hung. That, I think, helps a lot. Or any other mantra; any buddhas that they like, they can recite their mantras.

What is the first thing you would explain to people who had never heard of Buddhism?

Not to kill any bugs or animals or anything.

Are there any stories of saints or practitioners that you find inspiring?

I think Milarepa and Lama Tsongkhapa.

What is it like to be a lama and to practice prayers and things like that? (Angelica Wallace, 9)

It’s pretty much the same as anyone, just that my name is Lama – nothing else.

Do you think the attention you get is different from other people?

Maybe, but it doesn’t seem to be strange, because from when I was a boy they treated me like that.

How do you feel about the responsibility you have as a lama?

I see it as my duty, and I am happy with it.

Is there any advice from His Holiness the Dalai Lama or Lama Zopa Rinpoche that has inspired you in your practice?

I think the advice to study hard.