Ösel Offers Body, Speech, and Mind Mandala to His Holiness the Dalai Lama

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Published on May 24, 2013

 Ösel with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at FPMT International Office. Photo by Leah Nash.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited FPMT International Office on Friday, May 10, prior to speaking at Maitripa College’s graduation ceremony. During the visit to International Office, His Holiness had a tour of the offices and was offered a body, speech, mind mandala by Tenzin Ösel Hita.

A short video clip was captured of this moving mandala offering.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who was unable to be in Portland, sent His Holiness a letter and a video offering.

Ösel also gave a talk to participants of the North American Regional Meeting which was taking place at Maitripa College during the same weekend.

Ösel with participants of the May 2013 North American Regional Meeting held at Maitripa College.

Osel speaks at the Kopan November Course

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Published on April 29, 2013

Please enjoy Tenzin Ösel Hita speaking to participants of the annual lam-rim course at Kopan Monastery in November-December 2012.

“Lam-rim is the basis of Dharma. If you can get a good understand of lam-rim then you have enough for your whole life time. That is why this November course is very important. It is historical. Keep that in mind and try not to get stressed. Keep a light-hearted, light mind."- Tenzin Ösel Hita, Kopan Monastery, November Course 2012.

Tenzin Ösel Hita in Kopan Monastery, Part 1: Life Story

Tenzin Ösel Hita in Kopan Monastery, Part 2: Relationships

Message from Ösel: 2012 FPMT Annual Review

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Published on March 28, 2013

Dear Family,

Ösel with Geshe Gendun Choephel and Mai Le Turquais, India Feb 2013.Time passes and already it has been another year gone – 29 years since Lama Yeshe passed away – and we keep evolving in a very healthy and organic way. I’m very happy and full of admiration for the whole FPMT family. This year is strong and we are here to bring about a magical change to this planet and its inhabitants by making available a series of ideologies, philosophies, motivations on true living and a way of life that helps awaken that inner self we all talk about.

Please keep your focus as much as you can in your everyday life; every moment we have, every aspect of life is essential for our evolution. Keep the joy in your heart and spread the positive vibes. Point your path to awakening this child in each and every one of us.

Thank you very much and take care everyone.

Big love,

Ösel

You may read the entire 2012 FPMT Annual Review in eZine or PDF format online.

Message from Tenzin Ösel Hita, February 4, 2013

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Published on February 04, 2013

Ösel with his "Gen-la," Geshe Gendun Choephel; brother, Kunkyen; and partner, Mai, 2012.

These days I’m at Sera Monastery studying with my dear Gen-la (Teacher) Geshe Gendun Choephel. It is so wonderful to hear the Dharma in such simple and clear terms, while clearing so many doubts I've had during a long time of my life. Understanding the teachings without having to clarify with anybody but myself. It has been 10 magical days here, and another week to go! I'm so grateful for the understanding and help I have received.

Thank you for the time to find myself, thank you for the patience and dedication, dearest Gen-la. You are like my Father and Mother, and will always be in my heart. 

Estos dias estoy en el Monasterio de Sera estudiando con mi querido Genla (Maestro) Genshe Gendun Choephel. Está siendo maravilloso escuchar el Dharma en unos términos tan simples y comprensibles, mientras se me aclaran muchas dudas que he tenido durante mucho tiempo de mi vida. Entendiendo las enseñanzas sin tener que clarificar con nadie mas que mi mismo.

Han sido 10 dias mágicos aquí, ¡¡Y me queda otra semana todavía!! Estoy tan agradecido por la comprension y ayuda que he recibido. 

Gracias por el tiempo para encontrarme a mi mismo, gracias por la paciencia y dedicación queridísimo Genla. Eres como mi Padre y Madre, y siempre estas en mi corazón.

Message from Tenzin Ösel Hita December 21, 2012

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Published on December 20, 2012

Occasionally Ösel shares his thoughts and experiences on his Facebook page. In this update, he gives us a some wisdom to consider in the face of the changing year.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Osel. Kopan Monastery, Nepal, December 2012.Times are changing and so are we. It is not new, for we all have been changing since the moment we came to existence, and much before that.

Give yourself time and space, think less, breathe deeply, feel your body, sense our vibration, and be your true self who is inside of you and always aware.

Enjoy the elevation of consciousness, the alignment of the planets is a special occasion, and a time for celebrating, rejoicing and enforcing our moral code/conduct. Even though this is an amazing time for all of us, we should treat every moment like that. In this way, we can achieve a continuous flow of wellbeing in our existence.

Enjoy the next three days, and if some disaster does happen in some part of the world, let us pray for their wellbeing in this and many lives.

Let us together be attuned with a higher level of frequency in relation to all the positive emotions and energies; in such a way that it affects the whole collective memory of the entire planet. Take care and be love, family.

Onelove

Message from Tenzin Ösel Hita December 12, 2012

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Published on December 13, 2012

Occasionally Ösel shares his thoughts and experiences on his Facebook page. In this update, he gives us a potent reminder about how special each day is.

Today is such an amazng day because it is 12-12-12! But apart from that, it is still an amazing day! Why? Because we're alive! Just like every day! If we meditate every day like today, then every day is amazing!

So don't wait for a special date, just being the self is enough to call it a special day. Big love, Family! Wish you all the best, don't worry, be happy and love every moment, because it is magic!

Hoy es un dia increíble! Porque es el 12-12-12! Pero aparte de eso, aun así es un día increíble!! Porque estamos vivos! como cada día!! Si meditamos cada día como hoy, entonces cada día es maravilloso!

Así que no espereis para una fecha especial, solo siendo el Ser, es suficiente para llamarlo un día especial. Grande amor familia!! Deseando a todos lo mejor, no os preocupéis, sed felices y amad cada momento, porque es magia!

Osel's New Film: Being Your True Nature

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Published on November 30, 2012

A new film by Osel Hita and Matteo Passigato, Being Your True Nature, will be available for viewing on December 8, 2012. Filmed in France in August 2011, Being Your True Nature introduces a new form of education, Universal Education, that enables people of all ages, cultures and traditions to lead a happy and meaningful life and be of service to others.

Osel records the proceedings at UWE Gathering August 2011, Institut Vajra Yogini, France. Photo by Ven. Freeman Trebilcock.You may find a list of screening venues here, and if you are interested in supporting this project, you can find out how here.

From Osel to the FPMT Family

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Published on November 29, 2012

Osel with Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang at Kachoe Dechen Ling, CA, September 2012.

November 2012

Dear Family,

First of all I would like to say hello to everybody working so hard every day for the benefit of sentient beings through the organization of FPMT. I understand that many of you have extra jobs in order to maintain your family and basic needs in life. Also many of you work as volunteers part time, apart from all the other work you have to cope with. It is very hard, and inspiring. I truly admire every one and each of you for all the effort, dedication and consistency that keeps the organization going.

Around a month ago, I attended an FPMT board meeting in California. This is the fourth Board meeting I have attended in the last three or four years. Each time of participation, I gain a deeper insight and understanding of the incredible scope of activity that FPMT is undertaking around the world every day.

In the last few days I have had the privilege to attend the highly professional and inspiring FDCW (Foundation for the Development of Compassion and Wisdom) meeting in Kuala Lumpur. FDCW’s mission is to help children, youth and adults of all cultures and traditions to develop their innate capacity to be kind and wise, and contribute to peace in the world.

As I learn more about FPMT from these perspectives, my respect, and profound appreciation for Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the whole community grows exponentially.

What has taken place since Lama Yeshe's passing in 1984 in my view is completely miraculous and inspiring.

I have nothing but the greatest admiration and gratitude for everyone that has taken part in this wonderful and positive development.

It will take me some time to really grasp everything that Rinpoche accomplishes with the tireless support of Venerable Roger who works to handle all the tasks 24/7/365 days a year every year supported by Venerable Holly, and the amazing International Office staff.

Most people cannot possibly realize the myriad activities IOF undertakes in support of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. IOF develops multi language education programs, practices, and prayers, translates sutras, trains translators, finds Geshes and western teachers, and develops policies and guidelines based on 40 years of experience. IOF helps Rinpoche guide international projects, like the Amdo Eye Hospital in Tibet, the building of statues and stupas. IOF manages Sera Je Food Fund, supports young tulkus, and the expenses of 650 monks for the annual Gelug Exams. IOF manages the Lama Tsongkhapa Teacher Fund assisting 110 main teachers, and providing allowances for Abbots and ex Abbots. IOF publishes Mandala magazine and newsletter updates on FPMT global activities.

The list goes on and on and the above is just a small taste of the way IOF closely follows Rinpoche and supports Rinpoche’s every wish as much as possible.

My admiration for, and thanks to them have no bounds.

Similarly I thank most deeply and sincerely all the directors, the board and committee members, the volunteers, and everyone who helps past, present, and future, in all the centers and projects - activities as diverse as teaching and organizing teachings, leading retreats, providing hospice care, preparing educational materials, archiving, providing
monastic education, secular universal education, publishing, translation, media and communications, and the solid governance, finance, and administration that such a global scale demands.

I have already been able to visit many centers and recently was able to participate in the European Regional FPMT meeting. My intention is to keep on doing so. I hope to spend as much time as possible with Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Venerable Roger, as well as deepening my traditional philosophical studies, and learning more about media communications and finance.

Whilst the positive aspect of what has been achieved in 30 years is overwhelming, there are some areas that I find concerning. I have mentioned before the importance of recognizing, appreciating, and showing respect and concern for everyone who has made today’s success possible. Again I would like to stress that in my view every center and project should clearly display the names of everyone who has carried the load in some way whether it be as a director, manager, cook, gardener, or some other position, a donor, or volunteer. These people are the real Foundation and truly the “F” in FPMT.

While our goal is to benefit as many living beings as possible, and while the scope of that is so vast, we must not allow that to blind us to our immediate responsibility of showing appreciation, kindness, and concern for each other and each other’s welfare within our own community. Unfortunately sometimes our rapid growth has caused a number of situations where we haven't measured up in this respect.

It is my intention to make sure that in the next phase of FPMTs growth we focus on looking after each other. Some of our teachers and students who pioneered the early days of our development are now in their 60s and 70s. While one of our priorities is education for the youth of our world today, as our organization matures, we also have to take care of those who have contributed so much and who are now reaching the stage where they require care and consideration.

For a long time I have also been concerned that so far the organization has relied almost exclusively on donations. The generosity that has been responsible for where we are today is mind blowing and beyond words. Without it FPMT would not be what it is today. However I feel strongly that for the long-term ever expanding development that must take place, we have to think strategically about also generating additional sources of income through business and other commercial activity. This can also provide jobs and employment opportunities so people can earn a living and still have time for practice and study.

I believe it is possible to develop a business model on a positive and moral basis that ensures that business to benefit all parties - owners, management, staff, customers, and the wider community.

I have been spending a lot of time thinking about how to do this and I am trying in my way to explore a number of possibilities along these lines. Like creating Eco lodges where there is available very healthy vegetarian food, Eco friendly and organic grown vegetables, yoga and non-religious courses and meditation, for people outside our community, as a window of introduction to Buddhism. It is essential to have a healthy body in order to fully practice dharma. So we would make that opportunity available, and in exchange have a solid income to support the centers. It is now becoming very fashionable today, to eat healthy organic foods, spend time in nature, and exploring inside oneself through yoga and meditation.

When we are involved day-to-day work with all the difficulties and challenges we face, it is hard to step back and see the big picture and take pride in what we have achieved together. Attending Board meetings and the European Regional meeting has given me the luxury of beginning to see what an incredible job Lama Zopa Rinpoche has done. This in turn is based on the perfect inspiration His Holiness the Dalai Lama provides everybody, which helps us to learn about the true nature in each and every one of us.

The lineage from which we draw our understanding and inspiration is unsurpassable. The real scope of Mahayana in the widest sense is so vast and really can bring such benefit that the potential is almost incomprehensible. That gives us an equally huge responsibility to execute this task to the absolute best of our ability.

Within our FPMT community there is a vast pool of talent and skills that is equal to this task. We have to find better ways to draw more on the expertise that is available, to focus it where it can do the greatest good.

We have to approach this task practically continuously, untiringly and yet from time to time we must pause to measure the way in which we act to ensure that we don't leave anyone behind.

I really look forward to meeting everyone as my travels allow, and I am really looking forward to the next Board meeting and another chance to learn and hopefully in a small way input into the plans for the next 30 years of our development.

Sorry if this became long - my main point is to thank everybody so much from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you so very much everyone!!

Take care, and keep up the good work!!

Big love

Osel

Vous pouvez lire cette lettre en français ici.

Usted puede leer esta carta en español aquí.

Satisfaction and Challenging Your Limits

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Published on November 19, 2012

Photo courtesy of Amitabha Buddhist Center.November 2012: Osel Hita gave a talk called "Satisfaction and Challenging Your Limits" at ABC in Singapore.

"Satisfaction and Challening Your Limits" Video Part 1

"Satisfaction and Challening Your Limits" Video Part 2

"Satisfaction and Challening Your Limits" Audio

Photo gallery of Osel's visit to ABC, November 14, 2012.

Books, Articles, Archival footage of Ösel

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Published on November 19, 2012

Please enjoy this selection of books and articles about Tenzin Ösel Hita.

• BBC News, "Ösel Hita: The Reluctant Lama."
• Reincarnation: The Boy Lama, by Vicki Mackenzie
• Reborn in the West, by Vicki Mackenzie
• Man's Work, From Telegraph Magazine, London, England
• 1987 TV3 issued a documentary entitled Osel: the petit Lama
• 2010 RTVE issued a documentary entitled Osel, Granada Lama
• Ösel playing guitar, 2010.
  
• 2013 video interview with Tenzin Ösel’s mother, Maria, which includes some rare footage of Ösel as a child.
• Ösel in Mandala- all Articles.

Osel Hita visits Losang Drakpa Center in Malaysia

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Published on November 15, 2012

November 2012: Osel visited Losang Drakpa Center in Malaysia.

Watch a video of Osel's talk at Losang Drakpa Centere here!

Message from Osel Hita, October 3, 2012

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Published on August 09, 2012

Occasionally Osel Hita shares his thoughts and experiences on his Facebook page. In this update, he details his recent visit to California, USA, where he attended an FPMT Board of Directors meeting.

Osel Hita (right of Lama Zopa Rinpoche) with FPMT Board members.Just got back home last night after a very long 24 hour journey across the planet! Went to Santa Cruz, California, for two weeks to attend the FPMT board meeting. It has been a great reunion and the result is huge! Many things are moving on very positively and we are hoping that this starts to expand throughout the organization. We appreciate so much all the work done by every single person in the organization. They are the "F" for "Foundation" in the FPMT.

So again, I wanted to thank all of you for your hard work, your perseverance, and your Big Love!

Very happy to be part of this amazing movement for humanity's improvement as a whole, starting from each individual!

Onelove family!

Thank you!

Message from Osel Hita June 5, 2012

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Published on June 05, 2012

Occasionally Osel Hita shares his thoughts and experiences on his Facebook page. In this update, he discusses the evolution of our specials and updates us on the condition of his mother, Maria.

Hello, Everybody! Long time no talk! So here we are! It has been a great full moon, and the energies are so strong! We can all feel how change is moving faster. We are evolving at incredible speed as a species in this last century, and now in this decade, even faster. Technology has surpassed expectations since the industrial revolution. 

And where are we as individuals? Is this a turning point in history? 

I'm just glad to be alive, even though I don't fully understand the big picture. Just being here and having the capacity to decide over my actions, is enough to learn and improve. 

Whatever is going to happen, will happen.

So let us learn to be better people while we are at it, and if the world has to implode, at least we tried!

My mother, Maria, is already walking and enjoying her new life after 24 years with a kidney tumor. When they took it out, it weighed around 1 kilo (750 grams). It is crazy! The tumor had veins the size of a thumb!

Now she is so much better, it is quite a difference. She is already gaining weight, has a lot of energy, and is much happier than before. We are all so glad she finally decided to go through with the operation.

And she definitely felt the energies coming from all over the world. It went very smoothly, thank you all so very much!

Well take care family, and talk soon!
onelove

Message from Osel Hita March 4, 2012

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Published on March 05, 2012

Occasionally Osel Hita shares his thoughts and experiences on his Facebook page. In this update, he discusses the meaning of happiness.

Many times i ask myself, "What is happiness?" Why is it so important? But you know... it is a bit of a metaphor. If it existed as we imagine, it would be a state of mind, right? Being continuously happy ... is that possible for small potatoes like ourselves? It reminds me a bit of the carrot on a stick held by a guy on the donkey, and the poor animal goes after the carrot thinking it will reach it soon. Happiness as we know it, comes to us when we are satisfied with our actions, it is like a present from life that rewards us because we've worked hard for that satisfaction, and it lasts the duration of that sensation. But what next? What I see more possible for us to achieve is: Non-unhappiness. It can be continuous, it can spread and create harmony. Stable and easier to reach.. And once we find Non-unhapiness as a state of mind, we can start seeing happiness as a more possible equation. Emaho!!

Osel's Letter for the FPMT Annual Review 2011

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Published on February 01, 2012

The following, from Osel, was included in FPMT’s Annual Review, February 2011:

2011 was a great year for me. I was able to travel so much and had the opportunity to become involved in many FPMT activities.

I was thrilled to be able to meet many old friends and to make so many new friendships too.

From my home in Ibiza, Spain, I traveled to California for an FPMT Board meeting in March.
In April together with Gomo Tulku I traveled to Australia to visit Lama Zopa Rinpoche who was in the initial stages of recovering from his stroke.

In July I traveled to Kopan with Karuna Cayton. I very much wanted to visit Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup whose health was declining.

It turned out to be a great visit. Lama Zopa Rinpoche requested me to speak to the assembly of nuns at the nunnery and then to all the monks at the monastery. I was very happy with the visit and connected very well with the monks and nuns.

In August I was able to direct the filming of a documentary on Universal Wisdom Education (UWE) along with Matteo Passigato and other crew members. The filming took place at Vajrayogini Institute in France during the first international gathering of UWE which was attended by individuals and families from all over the world. The documentary is currently in the stage of “director’s final cut.”

In November I traveled with my partner Mai, and brother Kunkyen to India. We stayed in my former home Osel Labrang at Sera Monastery.

I was invited to address the Kopan monks at Sera and was able to spend time with my teacher, Geshe Genden Chomphel, and thoroughly enjoyed the visit. From Sera we traveled onto Bodhgaya to attend the Kalachakra initiation given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in January 2012.

In between my travels, I have been developing a number of business concepts I hope will contribute to FPMT’s long-term sustainability.

So many people welcomed and helped me everywhere I went and I really thank everyone especially those I didn't get to thank personally. I am looking forward to being much more in touch with everyone who has been helping me over the years, and I am so happy to be available to help wherever I can in the future.

Big love,

Osel