Bruno Lopes

My name is Bruno Lopes. I am now 31 years old, a social worker and I live in a small fishing village called Sesimbra, in Portugal, which is in southern Europe. For me The Tibetan book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche is like a treasure that I had the opportunity to discover. It is such a precious thing. Reading it allowed me to start practicing Dharma in this very life; for that I’m very grateful.

I first met the book a few years ago in around 2005 and I immediately started reading it. I cannot explain how deeply it touched my heart and mind; it was like finally finding my way back home. It reminded me of something that had been somehow forgotten and had not yet become clear in my mind.

I was born in a typical family, in a mostly Christian country where Buddhism is not known, let alone practiced. For many years, from the time when I was a young child, I never felt that I shared the same way of looking at the world, at life, death and everything around me as others did. Many times I felt like a crazy person with strange thoughts that most other people didn’t related to. My family didn’t understood my choices, for example when I suddenly became a vegetarian as a teenager, even before I met Buddhism.

Sesimbra, Portugal

After reading the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, I started to search for Buddhist teachings, and I realized that I could start practicing Dharma in my daily life under the guidance of genuine teachers. Since then, I have had the opportunity to listen to such great masters as H.H Dalai Lama, H.H Sakya Trizin, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Tenga Rinpoche, and others. I feel so lucky to receive regular teachings and guidance from Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche, Pema Wangyal Rinpoche and Rangdrol Rinpoche from the Kangyur lineage. I hope one day I can also have the opportunity to meet Sogyal Rinpoche and listen to his teachings.

Nowadays, I try my best to be a better person and to practice Dharma as much as I can. That is my main goal, which I try to maintain every day, although sometimes this is not so easy.

For all those who feel touched by this book and for those who feel connected with Buddhism, I think we really have such a precious opportunity now and we should not waste it.
I wish you all a happy and auspicious life.

With love and prayers, Bruno Lopes

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