President Petr Pavel is very modest, kind, and down-to-earth, says Shabdrung Sonam, the first Tibetan living in the Czech Republic.
Born in Tibet, raised in India, and now a citizen of the Czech Republic. Shabdrung Sonam Tsering Rinpoche is the first Tibetan to permanently settle in our country. A high lama of the Sakya school of Buddhism and the reincarnation of a Tibetan disciple, recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama at just five years old. This is how one can speak of Shabdrung Sonam. A life that most of us can't even imagine is the inspiring story of this remarkable man.
With only a two-year-old Sonam, his mother fled from Tibet to Nepal for a life of freedom, where she lives amongst other things to this day. But in order to provide her son with the best chance at life, she sent him to a Buddhist monastery in India. There he received a proper education and care. At the age of five, he was recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of a Tibetan scholar and was no longer just an ordinary child. A huge honor mixed with a certain pressure, this was experienced by little Sonam, who suddenly received different treatment than his peers. Private lessons, personal teachers, rituals, and many other privileges. Even as a small boy he felt and perceived that he was special.
"I felt a slight pressure from certain people, but they also raised me and took care of me. I perceived expressions of respect and acknowledgment from the surroundings,"
Recalled for LP-Life.cz Shabdrung Sonam.
From India to the Czech Republic
How someone like this could get to us in the west is a question that everyone probably asks. And we asked Shabdrung Sonam about it. The motivation was love. His now ex-wife, whom he met during her visit to India, contacted him via email with news about her pregnancy. The feeling of responsibility for the then unborn son led Shabdrung Sonam to her, to the Czech Republic. It was definitely a big step. For a person growing up in India with a family in Nepal, it's literally a cultural shock.
"My teacher had many international students from the Western world, so I knew something about this world," he told the editorial staff about how he was preparing for the change.
As one of the biggest differences, he mentioned the overall cleanliness and maintenance of the country. India, despite being a country full of culture and beauty, is not exactly known for its cleanliness. This was a very pleasant change for him. Adapting to the new environment was not as challenging as it might seem at first glance.
A Piece of Tibet
The Czech Republic has a very close relationship with Tibet, partly due to former President Václav Havel and his close friendship with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. From Shabdrung Sonam's experiences, Czechs are very kind and understanding towards his culture. Tibetan culture is very closely connected with Buddhism. And it speaks of inner peace and loving kindness. "People take this very seriously because it is lacking in today's world," Shabdrung Sonam revealed to us. That's why people in the Czech Republic show so much respect for Tibet and Buddhism.
"I don't teach people in the traditional understanding of the word teach, rather I pass on what I have picked up in my fourteen years in the monastery. I use my education every day to be able to live a peaceful and loving life."
Unique encounter
On the occasion of the ninetieth birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, President Peter Pavel went to the Indian city of Ladakh. Shabdrung Sonam, a Tibetan with Czech citizenship, was also invited to the meeting. The chance to have lunch with the president in the Himalayas is an experience that not everyone is lucky to have. According to Shabrung Sonam, it was a unique experience and a huge honor.
"I had a great impression of President Peter Paul. He is very humble, kind, and grounded. It was certainly one of the unforgettable experiences of my life so far."
He also greatly appreciates the continuation by the current president of the legacy and connection that Vaclav Havel left between the Czech Republic and Tibet.
Voting is important
Recently, elections to the Chamber of Deputies were held and we were interested in how Shabdrung Sonam perceives it and whether he went to vote himself. According to him, voting is very important as it expresses your opinion and support. Shabdrung Sonam went to vote, and one of the reasons he gave was his family. He votes for his son, i.e. for the future generation.
"If you don't vote, you give a chance to those who may not be very good," described LP-Life.cz his election motivation.
Shabdrung Sonam is also interested in Czech politics, including in relation to Tibet. However, the most important for him is the future and free choice. Attending elections is perceived as a certain duty of a citizen and he was very grateful that he could participate in this year's elections. Whether Shabdrung Sonam speaks about spirituality, culture, or politics, he always appears calm and balanced. He is the embodiment of what he tries to convey to others.
Sources: author's text, interview, own questioning
