The Dalai Lama has a birthday, too

Craig Outhier, Tribune

July 3, 2008 - 1:51PM

The United States isn’t the only world-famous entity celebrating a birthday this weekend. On Sunday, Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso — better known as the Dalai Lama — turns 73. And he still preaches the Middle Way like nobody’s business. Celebrate His Holiness with these local go-and-do’s.

DALAI LAMA GRAPHIC NOVEL: Written and illustrated in the style of a Japanese “manga,” or comic book, “BioGraphic Novel: The 14th Dalai Lama” tells the story of the Lama’s reincarnation in pre-War Tibet and his peaceful, nonviolent struggle to free his country and his people. Along the way he wins a Nobel Peace Prize and hangs out with Richard Gere. All proceeds from the book will benefit charities in exiled Tibetan communities in Northern India.

>> “BioGraphic Novel: The 14th Dalai Lama” retails for $15.95 and can be downloaded at biographicnovel.com

PAUL O'NEILL, TRIBUNE

TANTRIC YOGINIC BODY THERAPY: Former Buddhist monk Lobsang Dhargya learned the art of Tantric massage therapy at the source — a Tibetan monastery. Now he lives and works in Scottsdale and plies his trade at the Hotel Valley Ho, where everyone from cage fighters to trophy wives have their chi flow stimulated. “It’s not massage per se, but circulation and alignment, and opening up muscles to relieve back and nerve pain,” Lobsang says. After one of his monster two-hour treatments ($260), you might actually achieve nirvana.

>> Information: (480) 248-2000 or hotelvalleyho.com

NEW AGE FURNITURE: Al and Elizabeth Vitaro run their Web site business Zen By Design out of a business park in north Scottsdale. Though they sell few of their handmade meditation chairs locally, the couple has built a loyal customer base worldwide. Want proof? When the Dalai Lama last visited the United States, Al was asked to build a variation of his popular Rama Warrior Meditation Chair ($399) for the Ocean Teacher. And if it’s good enough for the Dalai Lama’s beatified derriere, it’s good enough for yours.

>> Peruse the Vitaros’ inventory online at zenbydesign.com.

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