The young reincarnation of Kyabje Ling Rinpoche, the senior tutor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, talked to Julia Hengst at Ling Labrang in Dharamsala, India in March.

What is Rinpoche studying at Drepung Monastery?

I study debate, Tibetan writing, the mind.

Is there one particular subject that Rinpoche likes especially?

The debate, when you are thinking a lot, using your mind, then this can be fun.

Who are Rinpoche’s tutors?

I have two tutors. One is Denma Lochö Rinpoche and another is one lama named Ling Gungbar Rinpoche.

Will Rinpoche study for the geshe degree eventually?

Yes. All the monks will study for the geshe degree. But you see, geshe is just a word, a label. For so many years one studies, for 12 years, the sutras, the vows, the two truths, the four noble truths, then the monk goes on to the Gelugpa studies, which last four years. After that the monk will take the geshe exam. So what geshe means is that the monk has completed the sutric studies, has understood all the sutras. You can ask me any question about sutras and I will know. Your question is whether I am going to study until the geshe degree, and yes, I will. All the monks at Drepung study to become geshe.

Does Rinpoche have any advice for foreign students who are studying Dharma?

Any advice? Yes, I think it is very important for the students to improve their minds. In the West there are so many problems, so many mental problems, family problems, depressed minds, like that. So it is important that Westerners study and improve their minds according to Buddhist teachings. They must change their mental attitude and develop more compassion for all sentient beings.

Could Rinpoche remark on the importance of formally studying the teachings and then engaging in tantra?

If one is Buddhist, then one must have good understanding of the sutras and not only take the tantric initiations. I think it is good, not bad, to take the initiations, but the students must really understand what they are doing and put it into practice. They really need to know the meaning, like with Chakrasamvara, Yamantaka, Vajrayogini, and meditate, not just sitting up like this, straight, with good posture. It is important to really do the meditations. Then it is important to take many initiations and practice with this good understanding. But they must go into tantra with good knowledge, which will act as a foundation. Then if they have questions, they should ask the lama.

Did Rinpoche go to Sera Je for the gompa inauguration in December?

Yes, I went. I went to lunch at Lama Zopa’s house [Osel Labrang] with Lama Zopa and Lama Osel. We had a really good time.

Did Rinpoche then go to Bodhgaya for His Holiness’s teachings?

No, I did not go. I really wanted to be there, but I had to really focus on my studies at that time. It was very important that I stayed, as it was a golden time for studying. Also, I was coming here for [His Holiness's Losar teachings], so I stayed.

Would Rinpoche kindly comment on the importance of the Maitreya Buddha statue, now and for future generations?

I went maybe four or five years ago to the land, and many people, Merry, Gabriel, so many people were there working but it seemed like there wasn’t much happening. Also I did some blessing of the land. But at that time not much work was happening, there was laziness, even the foundation had not been laid down.

But regarding the importance, I think it is very important and will create so much merit even in people who just see it. Bodhgaya is a very special place to go, a very holy place, and even if people are at the stupa, they will be able to see this huge statue from far away. This will create much merit for many people. Also many people will be doing prayers there, and I think there will be many Tara statues that are water fountains around the statue. Everything will be very beautiful. It will be like a big park, a very nice place to go. The whole project was the idea of Lama Yeshe, and Lama Zopa is doing it, and I think this is very kind and will benefit many sentient beings.