The Oracle: Conversation with Kuten La, State Oracle of Tibet

FUNKSHION Fashion Week Miami officially kicked off at the Setai Hotel with the presence of honored guest Kuten La — Buddhist monk, State Oracle of Tibet, and Deputy Minister of the Government in Tibet in Exile. Premier Guide Miami sat down to find out what that means — and what comes next.

FUNKSHION Fashion Week Miami officially kicked off at the Setai Hotel on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009, with the presence of honored guest Kuten La — a Buddhist monk known as the State Oracle of Tibet and the Deputy Minister of the Government in Tibet in Exile. Kuten La presented every guest of the night with personal blessings as well as a Kurta, a ribbon-like scarf which brings good luck and special blessings to its recipient.

Following the blessings and an electric performance by indie sensation Ska, Tibetan clothing line Norbulingka with Love conducted a fashion show unlike any other seen in the United States. The show exhibited models of all ages, ethnicities and sizes. The pieces ranged from hand-stitched accessories to one-size-fits-all evening wear, as well as high fashion looks that can take one from casual wear to haute couture in the blink of an eye. The line also included luxurious and rare Yak wool made in the Himalayas by hand, as well as sparkly sari which lit up the runway with incredible shine.

PGM: I know that your mission here tonight is to raise funds for the construction of a temple in Tibet. How was the fashion show tonight?

KL: The fashion show was wonderful.

PGM: Do you think tonight's show was successful as far as the funds raised?

KL: We're not really sure as far as our efforts towards the center, but so far it's been fine.

PGM: Was this your first fundraising activity in the United States?

KL: We've been to L.A., New York as well as Portland.

PGM: How do you think the public has responded to those programs?

KL: I think all of the programs have been very well received and I have personally enjoyed them.

PGM: What is the ultimate purpose of your trip here?

KL: The main purpose of my trip here is really to meet people and to share with them ways to increase love, kindness, passion and to cultivate altruism and bring about good will between different people of the world. That is really the main effort.

PGM: President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize on October 9th for his efforts towards the promotion of peace around the world. How do you feel about that?

KL: I was actually in Portland when President Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize and I congratulated him in a speech I was giving at a church there, because I think it's really a distinguishing honor for a sitting President to receive the Nobel Peace Prize — and to really make the most of such a prize and to act in the same way to promote peace among all people in the world.

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