04/11/2016
Directorate -General of Religious Affairs
Generalitat de Catalunya
Thubten Wangchen (Kyirong, Tibet, 1954) is Buddhist monk, director fundador de la Casa del Tibet a Barcelona i membre del Parlament tibetà a l'exili en representació d’Europa.
This November will celebrate Lha Bab Düchen. What is commemorated?
For Lha Bab Düchen it is celebrated that the Historical Buddha descends from paradise. Thanks to that, Prince Siddharta began to give up mundane pleasure, discovered the process of spiritual evolution and reached a state of purity, il·lumination, SENSE TACA. It is a great celebration because, every meditating, Buddha gets to overcome mental deceptions, the suffering of the world.
As is celebrated in Tibet's House?
In Tibet's house each full moon gathers about two hundred people. We make some prayers, Pujes, offerings, etc. In fact, Not all those who participate are Buddhists. People of all kinds gather: There are also many neighbors, and older people who suffer insomnia and here they find the calm that allows them to rest. Mantras relax a lot and transmit vibrations that give energy.
How do you also come Buddhist people?
Buddhism and other religions have the same essence: be good person, do the good to everyone, open your heart. This is a common message of all religions. Buddhism is new to the West and that attracts. Buddhism is calm, meditation, mantra, Mindfullness, etc. Meditation is good for everyone, Whatever your religion, Because our interior can evolve through meditation and enrich your faith.
What else you do in Tibet's House?
Tibet's house is not a religious center and therefore people come with very different interests. There are people interested in Buddhism, and others only in Tibet, or in L’Artania, the culture, the story… In Barcelona there are dozens of other Buddhist centers, some prestigious and others of small. But in the house of Tibet each one comes to find something different: by travel, To do school work, by human rights, etc.
In this headquarters, We find many images of Buddha and also other deities. What do the various divinities mean? What relationships are they with the Buddha?
Buda and il·luminated to benefit all beings. Buddha manifested to the ignorant as the Buddha of Wisdom, to the aggressive and moody as the Buddha of compassion, to the weak as the Buddha of force, to the sick as the Buddha of medicine, etc. There are pictures for each: For some it is very complicated so much diversification while for others it is a great wealth: Each one is different!
Dalai Lama has also helped Buddhism have a good press.
We are lucky with Dalai Lama and his message of peace, that defends the harmonization of all religions everywhere. He always remembers that no one must turn Buddhism, but should be learned from Buddhism to improve one's own, one's own faith, one's identity. Dalai Lama sympathetic Buddhism because he does not present him in conflict with any belief, but it enriches the faith of each.
How Buddhism has changed with its arrival in Europe?
The essence of Buddhism cannot change, But instead there are young European teachers who know how to better convey this essence to the European mindset. At Tibet and Mongolia we have a more orthodox way of teaching that is very difficult to understand here and that is not very interesting. There is not your scientific mentality that makes you ask so much what is, with works, because it serves. However, There is not only faith and conviction here is not accepted.
What challenges faces Buddhism in Catalonia?
Buddhism has a good future in Catalonia. We don't make proselytism and we don't intend to convert adepts. Whoever wants to learn, forward. And who leaves this path, enough that will serve him what he has learned. We have the danger of those who run as teachers, But they do not have enough qualification and take advantage of the good name of Buddhism. In the end, ends up discovering the bottom and what wisdom does it releasing, pulls out the suffering, etc. You need to talk well to everyone, do good to everyone and think well everyone. You need to control your mind, calm her down and send a wish to reach the nirvana, But not thinking about you, but thinking about the rest, that you are unique but the rest is infinite.
There are Catalan Buddhist monks and monks?
Yeah, that there are, both slats and monks and nuns. But the fact of being a monk as attitude is not as important, educate, to help, to live with harmony. If the practice is not properly carried out, It is not so important to be a monk or secular.
What is the main difficulty of Catalans who approach Buddhism?
The lack of perseverance and continuity. There are many that after a few months of deepening, We lose contact, and end up returning when their life goes through a hard time. I think this is not unique to Buddhism, but common to all religions: Everyone remembers when they suffer. And you know what? The next life can come before tomorrow! The present is the most important: Do not leave spiritual practice for another day.
