When a seven year old lama cries for his family, how do the senior lamas handle it? They give him a sweet to pacify him. If that does not work, a little whack behind the ear certainly does.
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Jigmet and the other lamas, all in their late teens to the early twenties, at the Hemis monastery were laughing when they gave me this answer. However, I got a more philosophical answer from His Holiness, the XII Gyalwang Drukpa, who believes in taking a long term view of what is good for the person. And knowing that the bonds of love are stronger than any iron chains.
The Ladakhi tradition of giving the youngest son in the family to the monastery may not be as popular any more, but one still meets many lamas in the making aged four upwards at the monasteries. The real young ones may not have had a choice when being handed over by the families, but those in their teens and above often join willingly. Even though they have the option to always opt out, most stay the course for life.
Not that these lamas have to renounce the world totally. They can always visit their families who treat them not as a son visiting but as a lama. Jimet, a 17 year old studying in Choglamsar, told me he went on an all India trip funded by the Government. They are allowed to listen to music, watch movies, own mobiles and cameras and go to restaurants as long as long as they don’t get fanatical about anything.
And they can crack jokes too.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I liked the whack behind the ear thing.
Pratical!!!!
Nice blog..
I like the theme.I will probably use it on my blog
I am sure they were not serious Tejaswy. But then again, Buddhists are not always non-violent. Noticed you have not used this theme yet.