Prayer and ritual along with questions of salvation are directly connected with religious faith. This is why I sometimes say that religion is something we can perhaps do without. What we cannot do without are these basic spiritual qualities. Those who practice religion would be right to say that such virtues are the fruits of genuine religious endeavour, that religion has everything to do with developing them and with what is called spiritual practice. But let us be clear on this.
Religious faith demands spiritual practice.
Therefore, spiritual practice entails concern for the well being of others. My young friend was given this honorific because he has been officially recognized as the reincarnation of the old Charuk Lama, a famous lama also from the holy Solu Khumbu region of the Himalayas. Click here for the Charuk Lama's page. Ling Rinpoche, senior tutor of the Dalai Lama shown with the young Lama Zopa, and below, the reincarnated young Ling Rinpoche photographed with Lama Zopa Rinpoche in mid 1998 at Sera Monastery. With Lama Osel Rinpoche, the reincarnation of Rinpoche's teacher and mentor Lama Yeshe .