Tenzin Ösel Hita is a Tibetan Buddhisttulku and an aspiring filmmaker from Spain. Born Ösel Hita Torres to María Torres and Francisco Hita, he was designated soon after his birth as the tulku or reincarnation of Thubten Yeshe—making him one of only a handful of Western tulkus—and renamed Tenzin Ösel Rinpoche. For many years "Lama Ösel" was expected to succeed to leadership of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, the organization co-founded by Yeshe. As a university student, "Oz" gradually distanced himself from the FPMT, and in 2009 made media statements indicating his intention to pursue a life independent of that organization. However, he remained a follower of Tibetan Buddhism and an FPMT supporter, joining that organization's board of trustees in 2010. Despite this, as of 2018 he was no longer listed on FPMT's Board of Directors.
Biography
Hita's parents, María Torres and Francisco Hita, had been students of Lama Yeshe, and the suggestion was raised soon after his birth that Hita might be Yeshe's tulku. Fourteen months later, after certain traditional tests, the Dalai Lama formally recognized him as such. As a child "Lama Ösel" was heavily promoted by the FPMT, and made the subject of a book by Vicki Mackenzie, Reincarnation: The Boy Lama. As a youth Hita studied traditional Tibetan subjects at Sera Monastery in southern India, and simultaneously received private tutoring in Western subjects. The question of his Tibetan education, and involvement with the FPMT, was one of the issues surrounding his parents' divorce. At some point Hita gave up his monastic robes and distanced himself from the FPMT in favor of a more avant-garde lifestyle, for example performing at the 2007 Burning Man festival. He later attended St. Michaels University School, a private high school in Victoria, British Columbia. Once he passed his ASATs in Canada, he moved to Switzerland and studied western philosophy, human rights, French and art. After six months he decided to leave for Italy, ending up in Bologna working with Matteo Passigato, an experienced camera operator. There he spent another 6 months working different jobs related to cinema and TV. Once he came back to Spain he decided to study film. So at the age of 20 he spent two years at the NIC school in Madrid getting his director of cinema diploma. Then another year for director of photography. After that he did a master for documentaries at EIMA which took one more year. In 2011, Osel is said to have joined the board of the FPMT although as of January 2019 he is not listed as a Director on the FPMT website, and there has not been any notification that he was expelled or had resigned from or otherwise left the FPMT Board of Directors. In November 2012 he is said to have written a "letter to the FPMT family." although as of December 2018 there is no longer any trace of this letter on this section on the FPMT website. The FPMT has also created a news and information page for him. although as of January 2019 no news or information about him has been posted there since his birthday on 11 February 2018, i.e. for nearly one year. In December 2012 he released his film Being Your True Nature. Osel Hita Torres is the fifth of nine siblings: Yeshe, Harmonia, Lobsang, and Dolma ; and Kunkyen, Sonam, Ramses and Tristan. Osel lived in Spain for some years with his girlfriend Mai Le Turquais. According to his FPMT news and information page however, his new partner Indila Dora gave birth to their son Tenzin Norbu in 2017.
Personal Development
After attaining his majority, formulaic greetings regularly appeared in FPMT publications. In May 2009, Hita gave an interview for Babylon Magazine, a bilingual Madrid periodical. In it he expressed belief in reincarnation, and admiration for Lama Zopa and the Dalai Lama, while complaining of discomfort with his exile Tibetan environs: Having left Sera monastery at eighteen, without going on for the geshe degree, he felt unqualified to teach, as the FPMT expected of him: "The literal translation of lama is teacher, and I'm no teacher." Similar, but more pointed, remarks soon appeared in the Spanish newspaper El Mundo: Extracts appeared the following day in The Guardian. Wisdom Publications then reported on these developments on its blog under the title "Tempest in a Teapot," claiming that Hita's original comments had been misrepresented and taken out of context. According to Wisdom, the article from El Mundo had been based on the one for Babylon Magazine. On 3 June 2009, a message from Hita appeared on the FPMT website, saying that despite the difficulties alluded to above, he was "privileged" to have received an education rooted in both Eastern and Western cultures. However, as of 2018 this message could not be found on the link provided: Hita reiterated his plans to pursue a career in cinematography. However, in a video posted on Youtube in December 2018, on 27th December 2018 he gave a two-part, 3-hour long talk to students at the FPMT-affiliated Tibetan Buddhist Centre, :fr:Institut Vajra Yogini|Institut Vajra Yogini, at Lavaur, near Toulouse, France. In November 2019, Hita showed his commitment to supporting the UK Daily Mirror's "Million Trees" Campaign, along with the 14th Dalai Lama and Hollywood legend Richard Gere.
The Reluctant Lama
A documentary about Hita's life, called The Reluctant Lama, was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 28 September 2012. The documentary was produced by Beth O'Dea and presented by Jolyon Jenkins.
