The Queen Mother of Bhutan Launches Living Fully

On September 23rd, 2012, Her Majesty the Queen Mother of Bhutan, Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck, together with His Eminence Shyalpa Tenzin Rinpoche, launched the book Living Fully: Finding Joy in Every Breath in Thimphu, Bhutan at the Taj Tashi hotel. Her Majesty is the president of the Bhutan Youth Development Fund, and Living Fully will be used by the fund to supplement and enhance its programs for the benefit of the Bhutanese people. With the help of the book's publisher, New World Library, His Eminence is making a charitable donation of 500 copies of Living Fully to the Youth Development Fund, which will use the book to in conjunction with programs that teach Bhutanese youth about the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH).

The launch was reported by kuenselonline.com, Bhutan's daily news site. Click here to see the article.

Living Fully Launched in Nepal

Living Fully: Finding Joy in Every Breath, has been translated into Nepali and published by Shangrila Publications in Kathmandu, Nepal. A book launch event took place on September 21, 2012, in Kathmandu, Nepal. Rinpoche's vision is to launch the Living Fully Foundation in Nepal. All of the profits from the book, along with donations from corporate and private sponsors, will go towards funding the foundation, which will help to disseminate Rinpoche's teachings and support charitable activity in Nepal.

Book launch events are planned for Living Fully in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in November, 2012, and in Taipei, Taiwan, in December, 2012.

Book Launch at the Rubin Museum of Art

The first public event associated with publication of Living Fully was on February 11, when the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City featured Rinpoche as part of "Brainwave." Comprising a series of conversations between neuroscientists, artists, intellectuals, scientists and inventors about "how memory is processed in the brain," "Brainwave" paired His Eminence Shyalpa Tenzin Rinpoche with neuropsychologist Dr. Marsha Lucas in a talk entitled "Mindfulness, Meditation, and Memory."

Dr. Lucas is a practicing psychotherapist and writer who has a special interest in the practice of mindfulness. According to the "Brainwave" publicity for this event, she is especially interested "in how [mindfulness] stimulates the brain to grow new, more integrated circuits--which may be at the heart of well-being, including emotional balance and resilience, enhanced relationships and friendships, and greater empathy and connectedness."

Before the program, Dr. Lucas and all of the guests greeted Rinpoche in the rotunda. Festive music was provided by our great Tibetan friend and flutist Penpa and by several other Tibetan musicians. The conversation between Rinpoche and Dr. Lucas was lively. At times, both of them were serious and light-hearted, intense and relaxed. The audience, which paid close attention, was charmed by their insights. Following the program, Rinpoche and Dr. Lucas held a book signing in the lobby. They had the opportunity to chat briefly with audience members and to sign copies of their books.

As a perfect finish to the day, sangha members and Tibetan guests shared a celebratory dinner.