Lama Thubten Yeshe

Lama Yeshe

Lama Thubten Yeshe (1935 - 1984) was born in a small mountain village called Tolung in Tibet. At six years old Lama Yeshe began his studies in Tibet at Sera Monastic University. At 25, he was forced to flee during the Chinese Communist invasion. Leaving behind his family, friends and the other monks at Sera, he walked over the Himalayas to a refugee camp in Buxaduar in northeast India.

Lama said, “Actually, China was very kind; they forced me to meet the outside world and truly test the dharma (teachings of the Buddha). I could have spent the rest of my life meditating, but that’s not good enough. A monk’s life should be used for others.”

It was at Buxaduar that Lama Yeshe met his heart disciple, Lama Zopa Rinpoche. In 1975 the lamas founded the FPMT (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) which has since grown into a worldwide network of Buddhist retreat centres, hospices, clinics and related projects, including the Maitreya Project.

Lama Yeshe passed away at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California, USA, on 3 March 1984. Within 11 months his reincarnation, Osel Hita Torres, was born in Spain. “Osel” means “Clear Light”. Osel was recognised by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of Lama Yeshe.

Lama Yeshe taught:

“When Lord Buddha spoke about suffering he wasn’t referring simply to superficial problems like illness and injury, but to the fact that the dissatisfied nature of the mind itself is suffering. No matter how much of something you get it never satisfies your desire for better or more. This unceasing desire is suffering; its nature is emotional frustration.

“If you do not investigate your own mind with introspective knowledge-wisdom, you will never see what’s in there. Without checking, no matter how much you talk about your mind and your emotions, you’ll never really understand that your basic emotion is egocentricity and that this is what’s making you restless.”

Relic and Source

Lama Yeshe's relic

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has possessed this relic since Lama Yeshe's death in 1984.