CURRENT MISSION
To travel and experience the wonderful cultures of our amazing world; while sharing, teaching, learning, writing, and making many wonderful friends.

ABOUT ME
I'm a 56-year-old, American monk in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition and a student of the Dalai Lama. I'm currently on a pilgrimage of Souther Europe, after just completing a twelve-month pilgrimage of Buddhist Asia for a book I'm currently writing on monasticism. My friends tell me I'm warm, friendly, lighthearted, and funny. I'm an easy guest with few needs. I'm clean, polite, and easy to be with (although I am quite poor). Before becoming a monk I was a piano teacher, and since have been an English and meditation teacher for many years. You can learn more about me on my website: TenzinTharpa.com

PHILOSOPHY
“Happiness comes from wanting others to be happy, suffering come wanting oneself to be happy.”

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING
I am using Couchsurfing to help facilitate my work as a monk, to share and teach Buddhism and meditation with interested people. In the future, I would like to create a monastery open to couch surfers where friends can come and receive free rooms, food, and teachings. Many might not know it, but monks are the original couch surfers. I have couch surfed monasteries throughout Asia and the Himalayas for years. Monks receive a simple bed, food, and tea.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE
The best thing about Couchsurfing is the honesty you experience. Meaning, that when traveling, the first people you usually meet in each new country is often the taxi drivers, hotel clerks, and money exchangers that are trying to take advantage of you. However, with couch surfing, you meet the most wonderful, open, and generous people in each country you're exploring. Wonderfully optimistic people who live fully, with a unique view towards life. Those who embrace the wonders of life, the value of new experiences, and the true joy of making new friends.

Interests

I'm a lazy traveler and love to take it slow. I love lazy days around the house, catching up on work on my laptop (when I can), spending an afternoon reading a good book, or sitting around talking with friends. I love simple things and a simple life.

• dining
• coffee
• meditation
• reading
• music
• buddhist
• teaching
• philosophy
• psychology
• movies,

Music, Movies, and Books

I love Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Genesis, Mozart, Bach,
I love Sci-fi, comedies, and blockbusters
Currently, I'm reading the Western classics

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

My greatest experience was meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I’ve had the good fortune to have recieved many teachings from His Holiness.

Teach, Learn, Share

Learning: I wish to learn from everyone I meet. About their culture, interests, life, personal philosophy.
Teaching: Besides being a writer and teacher of meditation, Buddhism, and Buddhist philosophy, I'm also an English teacher and love to help others with their language skills. My free and original books can be downloaded at: TenzinTharpa.com

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can offer my experience as a teacher of meditation, Buddhism, Buddhist philosophy, and English. However, I think genuine friendship is one of the greatest things we can share.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Cambodia, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United States, Viet Nam, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

India, Ireland, United States