A day in the life of the Dalai Lama

Tenzin Gyatso (14th Dalai Lama) 2008, 2005 & 2004 (Finalist in 2009) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It seems like if you are famous and people like you, your daily routine is a subject of public interest. I am not a celebrity watcher, I don't read magazine or websites about what famous people do in their spare time, etc. Yet I did find it interesting to see a generalized version of the 14th Dalai Lama's routine - just how does a world-famous spiritual leader and self-proclaimed "simple monk" spend his day? From a story in the Summit Daily News via The Buddhist Channel...

When at home, he:

- Wakes up at 3:30 a.m., beginning the day with prayers, meditations and prostrations until 5 a.m.

- 5 a.m., walks (if it's raining, he uses a treadmill).

- 5:30 a.m., eats a breakfast of hot porridge, barley powder, bread and tea, while listening to the BBC World News.

- 6-8:30 a.m., continues morning meditation and prayers.

- 9-11:30 a.m., studies various Buddhist texts.

- 11:30 a.m., eats lunch (while at home, he eats vegetarian; outside of Dharamsala, he doesn't always eat vegetarian).

- 12:30-4:30 p.m., discusses work with his staff or holds interviews

- 6 p.m., drinks evening tea (as an ordained Buddhist monk, he does not have dinner).

- 6:30-8:30 p.m., evening prayers and meditation.

- 8:30 p.m., bedtime.

Just don't ask how I spend *my* typical day... ;o)