BIRKENSTORY #27 | NICHOLAS VREELAND - First western abbot of a buddhist monastery

"He will never become an abbot. His nose is too big" His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Nicholas Vreeland. » SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/BIRKENSTOCKtv?sub_confirmation=1 Shortly after five o'clock, life awakens at Rato Dratsang. With meditation, prayers and breakfast, the community of the over 600-year-old Tibetan monastery begins its day. More than 100 monks from Tibet, India, Bhutan and Nepal live in the simple buildings according to Buddha's teachings. That their monastic life is still possible today is thanks in part to Abbot Nicholas Vreeland, the first Western head of a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in India. Nicholas' story begins in the early 80s, when the former diplomat's son puts his expensive custom-made shoes on the street, decides for a different life and simple sandals. The Birkenstock team visited him and met a very extraordinary person. More on Nicholas Vreeland's Birkenstory here: www.birkenstock.com/magazin Manufactured in Germany, the sandals are sold in 90 countries on all five continents. In addition to the legendary sandals, BIRKENSTOCK also has a growing range of closed-toe, children’s, and work shoes as well as specialist products for orthopedic retailers. #BIRKENSTOCK #BIRKENSTORY #Vreeland Find our more stories from amazing people of BIRKENSTOCK at: ▶ Instagram @Birkenstock https://bit.ly/birkenstock-instagram ▶YouTube: @Birkenstock https://bit.ly/birkenstock-youtube ▶Birkenstock Online Shop: https://bit.ly/birkenstock-onlineshop ---