Living Buddha walks path of enlightenment

Ngawang Sherab, a teenage monk in Taklung Monastery, said he feels nervous when he is in the presence of the Living Buddha because Shabdrung Rinpoche is so "sharp and dignified".

His admiration, however, calms his nerves. "Everyone holds him in the highest esteem," he said.

Shabdrung Rinpoche said: "I'm an ordinary person bearing light from Buddha. If I were asked to re-select my way of life, I would make the same choice because I know it would benefit all living creatures."

Living Buddhas must study much harder than most monks. Shabdrung Rinpoche must study Buddhist scripture, literature, English and history, and attend sutra debates, between 6:30 am and 10:30 pm six days a week. All Living Buddhas receive one-on-one instruction on literature, English and history.

"The living Buddha is intelligent," said Phuntsog Choying, Shabdrung Rinpoche's khenpo. "He has mastered many unique approaches of the Kagyu School and studied a large quantity of scripture."

Interest in poetry

Although he has a busy schedule, Shabdrung Rinpoche has free time to explore his other interests.

When he was younger he loved reading fairy tales by the Grimm brothers and Hans Christian Andersen. He is now interested in poetry, especially works by Kahlil Gibran and Rabindranath Tagore.

Driven by his love of poems and essays, he writes his own.

"I enjoy writing about nature and people's feelings in both Tibetan and Mandarin," he said.

Every two weeks, there is a basketball match in Drepung Monastery. Shabdrung Rinpoche will always join whenever he is free. "I'm the only Living Buddha who plays."

Last year, he visited Shanghai and Zhejiang province as a member of the Tibet youth league. The towering buildings impressed him most.

When he was walking around Shanghai in his red robe, one passerby called him "a man in a skirt".

"It's true," he said, smiling without the slightest sign of annoyance. He said experiences like this strengthen his resolve to share the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, since he believes it to be the perfect education.

"Tibetan Buddhism can cure the anxiety of modern life," he said.

Shabdrung Rinpoche studies traditional Tibetan medicine as well.

He will continue studying for the next three to five years to obtain the geshe, the equivalent of a doctoral degree in Tibetan Buddhism. After that, he will study the Buddhist scriptures of his school, followed by five years, five months, and five days of meditation in a cave.

"Only by doing so, can I lead fellow monks to enlightenment," he said.