Tibetans In Diaspora | EP 79 | TENZIN YONTEN | STORIES OF TIBETANS | INTERVIEW : 111

"I'm Tenzin Yonten, and I became a monk at the age of six. In my village, Spiti, it's a tradition to send the youngest child to the monastery, so that's how I became a monk."
"At first, being a monk was a mystery to me. I knew I had to go to the monastery and study. I missed my family a lot initially-my grandfather, mother, father, and two sisters. In our Spiti village, we rely on livestock and farming, except for my father, who is a teacher. Back home, I helped my mother with household chores, small tasks like tending to cows, milking, and cleaning."
"It's been five years since I joined the monastery, and I've learned a lot-from basic education, reading, writing, and Buddhist philosophy to proper behavior and communication."
"Our daily routine starts at 6 in the morning and ends around 10 at night. Most of my time is spent studying-diving into philosophy and asking my teachers about new words. I study diligently because I aspire to become a Geshe, similar to a Ph.D. in Tibetan Buddhism."
"One of the most interesting experiences I've had was playing the young Dalai Lama in a movie called 'The Great Escape, Dalai Lama.' I felt nervous and shy, but it was a valuable experience, even though not many in the monastery know about it."
"Tibetans in Diaspora (TID) is a Stories Of Tibetans' sub-project. We aim to release a story every week, either as a short documentary or a photo story. You can support us by sharing content, contributing your own, becoming a member, sponsoring documentaries, or making a donation to help sustain this financially demanding project."