A: There are many centers, Buddhist and non-Buddhist, throughout the world where meditation is taught. It is not up to me to recommend one organization rather than another. Nevertheless, I can testify to the authenticity of a teaching center in France with which I have a long-standing personal connection. Centre d'études de Chanteloube is a center for study and meditation situated in the Dordogne, where my spiritual masters Pema Wangyal Rinpoche and Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche teach. They are also the sons of my root teacher, Kyabje Kangyur Rinpoche to whom I owe everything in this life.
(See : Chanteloube).

A: Many western friends live nearby the monastery. They study Buddhism with teachers who live around and participate to some of the activities of the monastery. There are major teachings given by great masters every year or two, which may last for several months and are open to the public. There are also regular ceremonies and sacred dance Festivals, performed by the whole monastic community, which are also attended by large numbers of lay devotees. Besides that, our monastery has not been organizing regular teachings of seminars specifically designed for Western students. In our philosophical college, the teachings on Buddhist philosophy are given in Tibetan to ordained monks. Laypersons not live within the monastery itself but can find accommodation at our Shechen Guesthouse (rabsel@mos.com.np), which is just next to the monastery.

In the Tibetan tradition, monastic vows for both monks and nuns are taken for the entire duration of life. In the Nyingma tradition, to which Shechen monastery belongs, monastic vows are given from time to time by major holders of the Vinaya tradition, such as Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche, Kyabje Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, and Khenchen Pema Sherap. Once a year, his holiness the Dalai Lama also gives monastic vows to Western aspirants in Dharamsala, in northern India (for this, people need to register well ahead of time and attend a pre-ordination course. Please inquire at tushita1@vsnl.com)

A: This is really a joke. Of course, it is better than being called the unhappiest person in the world, but this assertion is absolutely not based on scientific findings.

Some years ago, the Australian television network ABC made a documentary on happiness, in which I participated. At some point, the commentator announced: “Here is perhaps the happiest person in the world.” Things remained quiet for a while, but a few years later the English newspaper The Independent published a cover story about me entitled ‘The happiest person in the world.’ From then on, things spun out of control.

The journalist had based his story on the fact that I had been participating for several years in some research in neuroscience labs in the USA, in particular that of Richard Davidson at the University of Madison, Wisconsin. It was found that when long-term meditators engaged in meditation on compassion, the activity in some areas of the brain increased to a magnitude that had never before been described in neuroscience. Some of these activated brain areas were known to be related to positive emotions. More than fifteen experienced meditators showed similar results, but I happened to be one of the first to participate in the experiment. That's all.

When the story was published in various newspapers, I tried to make a disclaimer, but quite in vain. I apologized to my scientist friends, and now I try to take this assertion with philosophy and amusement. When asked about it, I usually reply that anyone can be the happiest man or woman in the world, provided he or she looks for happiness in the right place. Authentic happiness can only come from the long-term cultivation of wisdom, altruism, and compassion, and from the complete eradication of mental toxins, such as hatred, attachment, and ignorance.

A: Meditation essentially means to train the mind. The purpose of meditation is to develop qualities such as loving-kindness and attention, as well as a correct understanding of reality. For 2500 years, Buddhists have used meditation to eliminate ignorance and mental toxins, that is to say destructive emotions, which are the principal causes of suffering.

Following the Buddhist path allows us to make full use of the knowledge and experience acquired by those who, like the Buddha, have awakened from the sleep of ignorance. However, the knowledge that comes from contemplative science, which is precisely what Buddhism is, is valuable for all people of any religion or culture without exception. We all have a mind, we are all prey to different emotions, and we all go through numerous forms of suffering.

Training allows us to transform the mind, to overcome destructive emotions, and to dispel suffering. The numerous and profound methods that Buddhism has developed over the centuries can be used and incorporated by anyone. What is needed is enthusiasm and perseverance. Meditation has a universal value: it would be a great pity to disregard the possibility of transforming our mind.

A: For many years I used Nikon FM2 cameras, with fixed focus lenses, adjusting the settings manually. However, four years ago I started making use of the wonderful possibilities of high range digital cameras such as the Canon Ds Mark III, and the excellent zoom lenses of this same brand. Because the digital system is so versatile, it is possible to explore and experiment with much greater freedom, without fear of wasting kilometres of film.