Lama Losang Samten Set to Share Experience
By Bob Hall
The warmth and beauty of the West Kootenay made a lasting impression on Lama Losang Samten when he visited last summer and now the venerable Buddhist Tibetan scholar, spiritual leader and artist says he’s looking forward to his return.
Samten traveled to the East Shore’s Yasodhara Ashram to lead a Buddhist Meditation Retreat in 2013. Stopping in Nelson on his way home, Samten was taken with the small waterfront community.
“I enjoyed visiting Nelson, it’s a place I would love to spend a couple of years,” says Samten. “It’s a wonderful, lovely town. It’s an open-minded and laid back place where people enjoy their lives.”
Samten returns to the Yasodhara Ashram on September 12-14 to lead another retreat, but this time he is spending more time in the area. Before and after the Yasodhara retreat, Samten will share his perspectives and life experience with the Nelson community. Two highlights of Samten’s visit include the construction of a sand mandala at Nelson’s Shambhala Centre and a Selkirk College sponsored talk at the Nelson United Church.
The Power of the Sand Mandala
Samten was born in central Tibet and in 1959 his family was forced to flee to Nepal. He later moved to Dharamsala, India where he first met the 14th Dalai Lama as a 10-year-old boy. Samten eventually became a Buddhist monk and then served the Dalai Lama as his personal attendant from 1985 to 1988.
In 1988, the Dalai Lama sent Samten to the United States to demonstrate the sand mandala art form. His initial creation at New York City’s American Museum of Natural History was the first time that a Tibetan mandala was constructed in the West. Since that time Samten has created hundreds of mandalas all over the United and States and Canada, educating people on the ancient Tibetan Buddhist sand painting.
“It is intended to uplift and benefit not only every person who sees it, but also to bless the environment,” says Samten.
Samten will be working on the compassion mandala at the Shambhala Centre (812 Stanley Street) from September 7 to September 11. As he has since 1988, Samten is inviting the community to come to the Shambhala Centre to watch the creation of the mandala, ask questions and share stories. The intricate work will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. during the five days.
An important part of the sand mandala is the ritual destruction which is highly ceremonial. After the retreat at the Yasodhara Ashram, Samten will return to Nelson for the ceremony which will include taking the sand to Kootenay Lake where it will be released back into nature. The public is invited to take part in the ceremony and walk from the Shambhala Centre to the lakeshore.
“I am very much looking forward to that, you have a beautiful lake,” says Samten.
A Brush With Hollywood
In the mid-1990s, Samten was asked to be the spiritual advisor on the movie Kundun which set out to depict the life of the 14th Dalai Lama from his birth to his journey to exile. The 1997 epic biographical film was directed by Martin Scorsese and went onto critical acclaim. Along with his role as advisor, Samten also acted in the film.
On September 10, Samten will show behind-the-scenes slides of the making of the movie and share stories on his experience during that time. A question-and-answer period will follow.
“It’s a lovely movie which gives people a part of not only the Dalai Lama, but a part of Tibet,” says Samten. “I was very fortunate to work with the people for that time. I have shown the slides to friends and in different places, people seem to be very interested.”
The evening is being presented as a Selkirk College Mir Centre for Peace Café and begins at 7 p.m. with a suggested donation of $10 at the door.
“This night is for anybody who has the time and anybody who is interested, it would be lovely to share my experience,” he says.
Awareness and Understanding
Samten has written two books, one in Tibetan on the history of the Monastery of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and one in English, Ancient Teachings in Modern Times: Buddhism in the 21st Century. When asked what his ultimate purpose of his travels and teachings are, Samten says that’s not the point.
“I don’t have any expectation to achievement,” he says. “Buddhist or non-Buddhist, it really doesn’t matter… we are all one human family and we all have a responsibility to make something better for ourselves. I am happy to have a chance to share information. It is my responsibility to share what is good in our individual lives.”
Find out more information on the Yasodhara Ashram Buddhist Meditation Retreat.
For more information on the Shambhala Centre visit their website.
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