You may have already heard the story of 24-year-old Tenzin Osel Rinpoche, who was tapped as a reincarnation of a high Tibetan Buddhist Lama (a.k.a. tulku) at the age of four.
Rinpoche has since left his Tibetan university and may not even consider himself a Buddhist.
Reader Jeff points out his favorite part of the Time article:
The monks try to pick the bright and promising children, [New York Buddhist Josh Baran] says; but Tibetans also assume the weeding-out function of the extensive tulku education: “no matter who they pick, the best and the brightest will surface in the course of the process.”
Looks to me that he surfaced as one of the brightest, although I’m guessing the Buddhists disagree.
Talk about abandoning your faith… that’s impressive. Good for him for leaving the fold.
If he can do it, surely those atheists who are still in the closet can come out and forge their own path.