Archive for 2015

Tibetan monks, by Matthieu Ricard

By Matthieu Ricard on February 03, 2015

A group of Tibetan monks on horseback leads the caravan of the great master Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, after having crossed the Gose-La pass, rising over 16,400 feet in Kham province, on their way to Palpung Monastery in eastern Tibet. (1988)

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, photographed by Matthieu Ricard

By Matthieu Ricard on January 31, 2015

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910-1991), one of the greatest masters of Tibetan Buddhism, seated on the steps of the great stupa of Bodhnath, Kathmandu, surrounded by some of the incarnate lamas who gathered in Nepal on March 24, 1978 to receive an extensive cycle of teachings and initiations from him. The ceremonial hats worn by some of the la...

The Need for Altruism in the Face of Violence

By Matthieu Ricard on January 26, 2015

Almost every day, a massacre occurs somewhere in the world - in Syria, Sudan, Pakistan, Nigeria and other places. Recently, the world has been shaken by the murder in Paris of 17 people, including 12 journalists and collaborators of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. In their tragic delusion, perpetrators of violence often perceive...

Himalayan foothills, by Matthieu Ricard

By Matthieu Ricard on January 22, 2015

The foothills of the Himalayas seen from the retreat centre of Pema Osel Ling, the ‘Land of the Lotus of Light', at Namo Buddha in Nepal. (2004) Late afternoon in the Himalayas. Seen from Namo Buddha, Nepal. (2006)

A Fight on All Fronts: Part 2 of ‟In Defense of animals”

By Matthieu Ricard on January 19, 2015

In my case, the accusation of holding views that are ‟offensive” to humans because I spend some of my time writing about and trying to prevent abuse of animals is somewhat incongruous. Karuna-Shechen, (www.karuna-shechen.org) the humanitarian organization I founded, treats 120,000 patients annually in Asia, and provides an education for 25,000 ...

In defense of animals

By Matthieu Ricard on January 14, 2015

When my latest book, ‟In Defense of Animals”, was published last fall in France, the complaint I most often heard during interviews and in TV and radio talk-shows was that my concern about the fate of animals was ‟offensive,” because so much suffering already afflicts human beings. To my critics, to be concerned for the welfare of animals was ...

Jitchu Drakey peak, by Matthieu Ricard

By Matthieu Ricard on January 09, 2015

The peak of Jitchu Drakey in Bhutan (22 929 feet), also called Tsering Gang, is reflected in Lake Tsophu (14 271 feet), at two hours' walk from Jomolhari base camp (May 2007)