Coast monk to glean wisdom in Dalai Lama visit
LOZANG Jhampa started life as Karl Gratton, but a trip to the Chenrezig Institute in the Sunshine Coast hinterland changed everything.
Mr Gratton was on a road trip from Victoria to Queensland in 2007 when he stopped at the Tibetan Buddhist institute to volunteer at its organic farm.
The then 21-year-old, who grew up in a non-religious home in Yeppoon, found purpose and meaning in the Buddhist teachings.
He will be one of thousands travelling to Brisbane Convention Centre on June 11 and 12 to hear His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, share his intimate counsel on how to conduct one's life.
Mr Gratton has been so inspired by the Buddhist teachings he has given up the normal path for young Aussie blokes - career, love and family - to dedicate his life as a Buddhist monk.
This also required him to change his name, from Karl to Lozang, shave his head and wear the robes as a symbol of his faith.
"I was ordained in 2008," he said.
"I finished school and did the normal things like bar tending and working on farms until I came here."
Jhampa said he was looking forward to hearing the Dalia Lama speak as "it is an opportunity to develop and gain inspiration in terms of the path I'm following".
"I hope to glean some of his insight, his wisdom and his breadth of knowledge."
Jhampa was at Chenrezig when the Dalia Lama last visited in 2011.
"It was a big event, he gave a teaching to the 500 close students of Chenrezig. At another location on the property he talked to about 4000 people."
Jhampa said he was inspired by the Dalai Lama because his genuine nature was something quite remarkable, as well as his knowledge.
"If you think of a universal mind, the Dalai Lama fits the bill," he said.
Many people have been prepared to pay up to $452.50 to hear the Dalai Lama share his wisdom and Jhampa expected the Brisbane Convention Centre to be packed.
"When he spoke at Riverstage (in 2007), there were over 10,000 people there," he said.
As a monk, his attendance is sponsored by an organisation called the Dalai Lama in Australia.
He said it wasn't hard to become a monk.
"You have to have a genuine interest in Buddhist teachings," he said.
"And you have to have a teacher who requests you to be ordained. It is about one's genuineness and aspiration."
He said his shaved head and robes weren't about a superficial impression, but as a sign of commitment to a spiritual path.
Jhampa said the Dalai Lama was in demand worldwide. Despite this, he was one of the most approachable and open people.
"He meets people from every kind of tradition and faith."