A Buddhist monk has a responsibility first and foremost to themselves, and that's to find the truth each day in every part of their life.

Some people, of course, say they're practicing tantra. There are a lot of books on tantric sexual practice in local bookstores. These are usually pretty silly books.

You need to turn your room into a place of power. It's a good idea to have flowers around, candles, incense, you know, happy things. Make your room into a beautiful place and keep it impeccably clean.

If you feel some tremendous pressure to do everything perfectly so you won't have a horrible incarnation in your next life - that type of fear is unnecessary. Life is not that finicky.

Your tonal will enable you to deal with the world well, to do well in a career and interact with others.

Examine your experience of the incarnation so far and realistically add up the moments of happiness and unhappiness and you tell me, oh somewhat vaguely nobly born, you tell me, what has it been like for you?

Originally, I was interested in athletic pursuits like snowboarding, martial arts and surfing. When I went to the Himalayas and met a number of Buddhist monks I was introduced to a new way of looking at life.