It took me almost 26 hours to get from Hanoi to Mexico City, what a journey! I am still having a very clear memory of the time I had back in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese organisers had done such a good job for our lineage, not superficially but truly from their hearts. I could tell how much effort they had put in to make my visit a spectacular event for the local people. Those of you who have known me for awhile would have guessed that I normally don't go for high profiled activities and publicity. Some people may even have thought that I have changed, I have been contaminated or even badly influenced. In fact, I still don't have that kind of ambition for myself to be famous or to be mundanely successful. However, of late, many different issues popped up and made me realise that my position in the lineage does not really let me stay alone by myself in this world. If I don't do anything, it really seems that there is no direction for the lineage. For this, I want to apologise to my colleagues and my followers, having been lazy for many years. I think, we all have a lot of catching up to do. I am also very pleased that I was able to bring with me Thuksey Rinpoche and Khamtrul Rinpoche, to share some of my experience with them.

These days, the world is different, everyone is looking only for packaging. As I said the other day at the Guan Yin Foundation in Kuala Lumpur, religion is only the external package, spirituality is the essence. Religion without the essence of spirituality will give us all many troubles. Therefore, what we are doing now, is only adding some bits of packaging to our spiritual lineage, to match with what the world wants today. The essentials of spirituality are still there, and all of us, those related to me and the Dragon Lineage, should try to keep this spirituality as pure as possible, without any negative motivation to harm others.

In Vietnam, I was told that it was the first time the government had granted a permit to a spiritual master like me from Tibetan Buddhist tradition to teach in a big scale. The organisers had only expected 5,000 people, but it turned out to be more than 10,000 people and at the end of my trip, more than 20,000 people attended the event. Even I was surprised. The yearning for spirituality and genuine happiness is so strong. I have asked some of my friends and students to spread this news when I was there, as an encouragement and an example for those of you who want to organise events for our lineage. We all could have done better, actually, not for individual gains, but for the sake of supporting our 800-year-old legacy.

The Vietnamese organisers have put up the "800 year's legacy" banners in almost every corners of the streets and the flags of "LIVE to LOVE" flying everywhere in every important spot. In actual fact, these were mainly organised by a group of nuns with help of the various local Vietnamese Buddhist groups, especially I would like to thank Venerable Master Thích Minh Trí and Venerable Master Thích Minh Hein for helping in everyway they can. It's truly amazing that they could manage such a grand event for the lineage within a short time. No one from the government or any organisation stopped me from teaching. Everyone without exception was surprisingly reciting OM MANI PADME HUNG, in the tune that I usually like my friends and students to chant with. Mostly, about 20,000 people followed me towards the end of the programs, and the last venue was so packed that I had to leave or rather run away by the back door. Another funny thing was that people clapped with so much joy every time I paused during teaching. With the support of Vietnamese government, a piece of ancient holy land of over 2500 years' old had been given to the neighbouring nunnery that is practising Drukpa Lineage. On the day before I left, we all went to the land, performed smoke puja and installed a stone marker which is about 2 metres' tall. The stone has a Drukpa Logo beautifully carved on it. But I think my monk had forgotten to take photo of this stone marker. Maybe Drukpa Vietnam will be able to provide the photos and more details later on.

I am of course very happy about the programs in Vietnam, which is a milestone achieved by our lineage. I truly hope that our lineage will be able to help the Vietnamese people to "Live to Love". I also want to thank Khamtrul Rinpoche Jigme Pema Nyinjadh for guiding the nuns during the last few months of preparation. In fact, these nuns have been practising Ngondro under his guidance for the last few years. I know Khamtrul Rinpoche had worked very hard, without wishing for any acknowledgement. Anyway, I just want to let him know that I appreciate what he has done and that I am happy that he is finally joining my colleagues and me, to start working for our 800-year-old legacy. I have to warn him that this is not an easy job, but with everyone's support, everything will be okay.

I feel that my friends and students in Hong Kong and Malaysia could have done an even better job. I think although many people's hearts are linked with me personally, very few have the heart for our lineage. I am sorry to say that nothing much has happened for our lineage in Taiwan so far, as well. Anyway, I am going to give everyone another chance to provide something on LIVE to LOVE and celebrate the 800th birthday of lineage again, next year. I am sure all of my friends and students, who genuinely care about me and my lineage, will be doing a great and successful job next year. I have put up my tentative new schedule for 2008.

Dragon Dance in Penang

Actually, I was very happy to see an improved harmony among the Sangha in Hong Kong, and the close affiliation between the various Drukpa centres in Malaysia, in particular  Drukpa Penang and Lhachok Rinpoche's Drukpa Butterworth. I was also very happy to see that members from Drukpa Kuala Lumpur came to assist Drukpa Penang in Sengey Tsewa Tshog offering and rituals. I must say that Lama Jigme had done a fantastic job in teaching them how to play the damaru and bell correctly. Although ritual is only one part of spiritual practice, it is important to upkeep this as an inspiration. Again, I want to thank Jigme Phende, Paul Thong and his family and Drukpa Butterworth for kick-starting the "Live to Love" campaign in Malaysia. I really enjoyed the live orchestra performance of "Live to Love" song organised by Jigme Phende and his company, and also the various performances by Drukpa Penang and Drukpa Butterworth, which moved all of us a lot, especially the Dragon Dance and the song performed by members of both centres as well as the Indian dance performance by the members' children. I hope that this kind of harmony in the Drukpa Sangha is genuine with open attitude, as this will help everyone to "Live to Love", as the "Live to Love" song says, "to forego wars and hatred." I feel very sad to see people using spiritual centres or activities to fledge their muscles of ego, instead of spreading the message of Genuine Love. If all of you wish to live happily without any sense of guilt or regrets, it's really time to put away the feeling of negativity, hatred and pain, and reach out to the various corners of the world with a loving heart and attitude. I can assure you all that, you will be happier and more confident.

That's all for now. I have also put on the web some photos to share.

Sorry for the long message. I suddenly had this wish to tell everything, whatever I feel. Since I have a bit of time, why not?