How to Greet a Tibetan Buddhist Monk
One of the most popular religions in the world is Buddhism. A central location for many Buddhists is Tibet where the Dalai Lama lives. He is the leader of the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism. A Lama or Geshe is a follower that has attained the highest teaching degree of the order. Tibetan Lamas don't shake hands but instead raise their right hand as they greet you similar to a Christian priest raising his hand to bless you. Because Buddhism is not as popular in the West, most are uncertain how to greet a Tibetan Buddhist monk.
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Instructions
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Place your hands together over your heart to greet a Buddhist monk and bow your head in greeting. If you were referring to a monk, you would call them Gen, which means master, senior or teacher. The term is one of respect for a monk.
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Say "Tashi Deley" when greeting a monk. The term means auspicious and good health and is the traditional greeting given to monks and nuns.
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Take a Khata or white scarf with you when you meet a monk. The Khata is a symbol of purity and the length signifies a long life. Every time you pass or greet a Lama, you should place your hands together over your heart and bow your head saying "Tashi Deley".
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References
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Comments
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WOW, there is much that could not be more incorrect! The Dalai Lama does not live in Tibet. The picture is of a Chinese monk, not a Tibetan one... and you should call a monk 'Venerable' which is proper in English. He will tell you otherwise. As well, Tashi Deley is also not really correct. Tashi Delek. Also... Tibet is nowhere near the center of Buddhism... maybe for Tibetan Buddhists.. It would be much more useful to have correct information and to let people learn to be polite and kind. Formalities are fine. But correct ones would be better. And no, you do not have to offer a scarf...It is a nice thing to do and you would gain merit but it is by no means a necessity.
