I have always been an animal lover and it was a great pleasure being able to do research on them and further learn about these wonderful creatures. Dogs are my favourite animal, ever since young I have always had huge interest in dogs and I have been bugging my parents for the longest time to give me the permission to keep a dog, but of course it never happened.
Now that I’m older, I have realised that keeping a pet is something more than just a ‘hobby’, it comes with great responsibilities and commitments. Be it a fish, a guinea pig or a dog, they are all sentient beings and sentient beings have feelings. They feel pain, anger, happiness and love, therefore it’s very important to not take them lightly. Do not keep a pet if you feel that you’re not responsible enough or you do not have the time and commitment to do so.
All animals are equal, whether if it’s just a tiny little bug or the king of jungle, we should respect all animals. I hope you enjoy this article as much as I did while doing the research.
Regards,
Beatrix Ooi
Get ready to be blown away!…
#1. Ostrich
Ostriches can run faster than horses, and the males can roar like lions
An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain
#2. Songbird
Some male songbirds sing more than 2000 times each day
#3. Scorpion
Even a small amount of alcohol placed on a scorpion will make it go crazy and sting itself to death!
#4. Flamingo
The flamingo eats with its head upside down
#5. Dogs
Apple and pear seeds contain arsenic, which may be deadly to dogs
A dog’s shoulder blades are unattached to the rest of the skeleton to allow greater flexibility for running
Small quantities of grapes and raisins can cause renal failure in dogs
Dog nose prints are as unique as human finger prints and can be used to identify them
#6. Hippopotamus
Hippos can run faster than humans
Hippos can hold their breath underwater for up to 5 minutes. They also secrete a red substance that acts as sunblock, giving rise to the myth that these mammals sweat blood
#7. Great horned owl
The great horned owl has no sense of smell
#8. Flea
The flea can jump up to 200 times its own height. This is equal to a man jumping the Empire State Building in New York
#9. Blue Whale
Most elephants weigh less than the tongue of a blue whale
At 155 decibels loud, their songs can travel up to 1,000 miles underwater
#10. Elephant
An elephant can smell water up to 3 miles away
Elephants are the only animal that can’t jump
#11. Snail
Don’t try this at home. If you cut off a snail’s eye, it will grow a new one
#12. Lonomia obliqua
Lonomia obliqua is the world’s deadliest caterpillar
#13. Stone fish
It is known as the most poisonous fish in the world
#14. Killer whale
Killer whales are not whales at all, rather a species of dolphin
#15. Slug
We share 70% of our DNA with a slug
#16. Tiger
No two tigers ever have the same stripes, and this is how individual tigers can be identified
#17. Donkey
The placement of the eyes of a donkey enables them to see all four of their legs at all times
#18. Oyster
Oysters can change from one gender to another and back again depending on which is best for mating
#19. Turtle
You can tell a turtle’s gender by the noise it makes. Males grunt, females hiss
#20. Ferret
Ferrets sleep around 20 hours a day, pretty good life
#21. Shark
Sharks are immune to cancer
#22. Swan
The swan has over 25,000 feathers in its body. Incredible creature
#23. Giraffe
Giraffes have no vocal cords. But on average, their tongue measures at 18-20 inches long!
Giraffes have sturdy hearts and high blood pressure, which help prevent fainting when they lift their heads from the ground to the sky
#24. Hybrid combo
When a male tiger and female lion mate they make a tigon, when a male lion and female tiger mate they make a liger. This is a tigon.
Liger
#26. Penguin
Penguins can jump over 6 feet out of water
#27. Owl
Many species of owls have special feathers for flying silently
Owls cannot move their eyeballs
#28. Bull
The colour red doesn’t really make bulls angry; they are color-blind to red
#29. Goblin shark
There is a shark called ‘goblin shark’ which has only been seen around 50 times since its discovery in 1897
#30. Goat and Octopus
Goats and octopus have rectangular pupils which allow them to see nearly 360 degrees around themselves
#31. Starfish
Starfish don’t die of old age
#32. Bear
A full-grown bear can run as fast as a horse
#33. Hyena
Hyenas regularly eat the faeces of other animals
#34. Moose
Moose have very poor vision. Some have even tried to mate with cars
A moose’s upper lip is ultra sensitive, able to grasp and tell the difference between fresh shoots and harder twigs. A moose can strip an entire branch of leaves in a single mouthful
#35. Sea horse
The slowest fish is the sea horse, which moves along at about 0.01 mph (0.016 km/h)
#36. Golden poison dart frog
The 2-inch-long golden poison dart frog has enough venom to kill 10 adult men
#37. Snow leopard
Snow leopards can leap up to 50 feet in one jump
#38. Komodo dragon
The saliva of a Komodo dragon harvests more than 50 types of bacteria. Animals bitten by the lizard typically die within 24 hours from blood poisoning — if they aren’t eaten first
#39. Narwhal
The narwhal tusk—most commonly found on males—is actually an enlarged tooth with sensory capability and up to 10 million nerve endings inside. Some narwhals have up to two tusks, while others have none. The spiraled tusk juts from the head and can grow as long at 10 feet
#40. Mole
A mole can dig a tunnel 300 feet long in just one night
#41. Sloth
Sloths cannot shiver to stay warm like other mammals due to their low metabolic rates and little muscle tissue
#42. Polar bear
Despite what we think, a polar bear’s fur is not white. Each hair is a clear hollow tube. Polar bears look white because each hollow hair reflects the light. Underneath the fur, a polar bear’s skin is actually black — the black skin soaks up the sun’s heat and helps them stay warm
#43. Koala bear
Koala bears aren’t bears: They’re marsupials. Marsupials are an infraclass of mammals living primarily in Australasia and the Americas. A distinctive characteristic, common to many species, is that most of the young are carried in a pouch
#44. Horned lizard
Horned lizards can shoot blood out of their eyes to defend themselves
#45. Zebra
Underneath their stripes, zebras have black skin
#46. Whooping crane
A whooping crane’s eye color changes as the bird gets older. It moves from blue to aqua to gold
#47. Star-nosed mole
The star-nosed mole has 25,000 sensory receptors on its nose
#48. Octopus
Octopuses have nine brains — one central brain, eight at the base of each arm, for movement control — and blood the color blue from a protein called hemocyanin
#49. Muskox
The hair of the muskox, called qiviut, is often considered the world’s rarest fiber
#50. Mantis shrimp
Mantis shrimps are mere inches long but can throw the fastest punch of any animal. They strike with the force of a rifle bullet and can shatter aquarium glass and crab shells alike
#51. Leopard seal
Leopard seals don’t have ears. The theory goes that these massive creatures, which prey on penguins and other seals, use sonar to locate food
#52. Marine iguana
An iguana’s two prominent nostrils help the lizard regulate salt levels by expelling a saline solution through them
#53. Honeybee
Honeybees have hair on their eyes
#54. Dugong
Dugongs (and their manatee cousins) are related to elephants. Not too hard to fathom, given their ginormous size. If they were on land, they could surly lumber, elephant-style
#55. Arctic fox
The Arctic fox can survive temperatures as low as -60 degrees Fahrenheit. During a blizzard, the animal often tunnels into the snow for protection
#56. Beaver
Beavers’ teeth never stop growing, they must constantly gnaw on objects to keep them at a manageable length. Their teeth would eventually grow into their brain if they didn’t maintain them
#57. King cobra
The amount of neurotoxin that a king cobra can emit in one bite is enough to kill 20 people — or an elephant
#58. Irukandji jellyfish
Irukandji jellyfish is a member of the notorious box jellyfish family, measures only 0.2 inches across and is nearly transparent, it is arguably the most venomous animal on the planet. Its toxin is 100 stronger than that of a cobra
#59. Sea otter
Sea otters like to hold each other’s paws when sleeping so they don’t drift apart
#60. Elephant shrew
The closest relatives to the elephant shrew are actually elephants, not shrews
#61. Squirrel
Squirrels will adopt other squirrels babies if they are abandoned
#62. Galapagos tortoise
The Galapagos tortoise can live for one full year without food or water, sleep 16 hours a day, and live to over 150 years
#63. Howler monkey
As the loudest land animal on Earth, they can be heard 3 miles away
#64. Clownfish
Every single clownfish is born as a male, and some become female later on
#65. Slow loris
Slow loris may be cute, but it’s the only venomous primate in the world. When it raises its arms, it’s performing a defensive stance, and preparing a venom
#66. Fennec fox
Fennec fox’s feet are hairy, which helps them perform like snowshoes and protects them from extremely hot sand. The fox’s feet are also effective shovels for frequent digging
#67. Proboscis monkey
Proboscis monkey, it’s believed the nose may be selected as a sexual trait since female monkeys generally prefer the males who have a bigger nose
#68. Cassowary
Cassowary, also known as the Australian Velociraptor, it’s known worldwide as the deadliest bird on Earth. They’re more deadly than a crocodile and their giant claws can tear the organs from your body in a matter of seconds
The claws of a Cassowary
#69. Hedgehog
A hedgehog’s heart beats 300 times a minute on average
#70. Camel
Camels have three eyelids to protect themselves from blowing sand
#71. Hooded pitohui
The hooded pitohui is a poisonous bird. Touching its skin or feathers causes numbness and tingling
#72. Hummingbird
The smallest bird egg belongs to the hummingbird and is the size of a pea
#73. Chicken
Chickens have over 200 distinct noises they make for communicating
#74. Crow
Crows have the largest cerebral hemispheres (brains), relative to body size, of any avian family
#75. Hercules beetle
Hercules beetles can lift 850 times their own weight. That’s equivalent to a human lifting 10 elephants
#76. Goldfish
Goldfish have a memory span of up to 5 months
#77. The hairy frog aka the horror frog
The Horror Frog, a frog that breaks its own bones to create claws
#78. Wood frog
Wood frog has the capability to freeze through winter and thaws in the spring
#79. Siberian husky
Siberian huskies are built to withstand Arctic temperatures of -58 to -76 degrees Fahrenheit
#80. Chinese softshell turtle
The Chinese soft-shelled turtle is the first animal known to pee via its mouth
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27-year-old Beatrix is currently on sabbatical from her studies and spends her free time volunteering in Tsem Ladrang, the office of her Guru, H.E. Tsem Rinpoche. A proud Buddhist and vegetarian, Beatrix claims that dogs are her favorite people. She believes that kindness is the greatest wisdom and is deeply grateful to her supportive parents.
65 Responses to Amazing Things You Didn’t Know About Them
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Stella Cheang on Apr 11, 2018 at 9:46 pm
This is a cool list of animals with unique abilities, strengths and characteristic. Despite some with very uncommon looks that could be appalling to other species, but it might be their strength or appeal among its own kind; like the soft-shell turtle or the Proboscis monkey. I guess the same could be said for human; everyone possess different abilities, strengths and characters. Therefore no single criteria can fully / truly describe one person nor can it be used as a general reference of all people. I hope what I am saying make sense. Thanks for sharing.
Wow! Thank you for these incredibly amazing facts Beatrix! I can’t resist repeating some of them. Didn’t know that-
– Ostriches can run faster than horses, and hippos faster than humans!
– A dog’s nose prints act like human fingerprints, for identification!
– The flea can jump 200 times its own height, equivalent to a man
jumping the Empire State Building in New York!
– On the other hand, elephants are the only animals that can’t jump!
– Two tigers never have the same stripes!
– The donkey can see all its four legs at all times!
– Sharks are immune to cancer!
– The colour red doesn’t really make a bull angry -they are colour-blind
to red!
– The ever elegant swan has over 25000 feathers on its body!
It just goes to show how unique and special each being is!
Wow….. Thank you Beatrix for sharing this amazing information. Some of the animals are quite common. Means, we can easily see them from TV, some petting zoos, or zoos, but didn’t know the amazing facts about them! For example, ostrich. Which was quite famous in KL a couple of months ago, where an ostrich ran on Federal Highway 🙂 Didn’t know that they can run faster than horses. But sadly, their eyes are bigger than their brain.
But it’s really amazing to know how animal evolved to suit the changes of environment and their habitat. For example for polar bear and siberian husky, if they don’t grow in this way, maybe they won’t be able to survive in artic. It’s how amazing every individual characteristic, their appearance, their behavior, that’s all combine and make them unique.
Thank you 🙂
Thank you Beatrix for sharing these interesting fun facts about animals. truly amazing knowledge to learn about these facts.:)
#64. Clownfish,#48. Octopus,#11. Snail,#75. Hercules beetle,#50. Mantis shrimp,#47. Star-nosed mole. Just to name a few of the ones that caught my interest. Great write up Beatrix! Keep it up 🙂
IT took 2 billion years for lives to evolved from single cell life to lives as we know it today and yet the diversity and abilities of lives still boggles our mind. It shows how wonderful live is but also how ignorant we are.
All animals and plants along with it’s abilities and characteristics evolved according to Darwinian law of natural selection and of the survival of the fittest, conditioned by the natural environment and ecology where the species live or grow. This law naturally selects the best adapted species to thrive and be propagated in that particular environment; resulting in an amazing array of abilities highlighted by Beatrix.
Thank you Beatrix. I really enjoyed this post. It really opens up my mind.
Thank you for these amazing informations! Animals are, like you wrote, equal and have rights. We should never look down on them.
I agree, dogs are very loveable and need time and care. I grew up with dogs and it was fun. Only 4 years ago, I have discovered my love for cats. They have their character but are very sweet and smart.
I love the pictures!
Thank You Rinpoche for creating such an amazing and educational platform via this blog!
Thank you Bea for the lovely compilation.
There were so many information that caught my attention so I dont know which one to start with.
The most disturbing and pitiful are Chinese softshell turtles and Hyenas. Cannot imagine what karma to be born like that.
The one I laughed at, was the seahorse. OMB!! I cannot imagine myself going that ‘fast’!
I must have been a goldfish in my previous life and in this life, still a ‘goldfish’ trapped in a human body… lol
All of them are unique and special. Whether they are animals or not, we should always respect and treat them well.
Thank you for sharing in this article about the extraordinary friends on earth..i think there must be a reason for everything…why do birds have wings & fish have tails.? This makes me went in search for explanations…Why is that the ostrich eyes are so big ? Do you know that the ostrich eye is 5 cm in diameter and bigger than its brain ? …well the eyes is so big that it can easily see if there are predators around ….It’s also the same for giraffes with long neck so that it can see far to check for predators but with a long neck its advantage is that it can easily reach high up a tree for leaves to eat ..This article is really interesting and amazing.Thank you Beatrix.
Thanks Beatrix for posting this 80 animals photos. I can feel that they are in freedom. All this photos really help me gaining more knowledge on animal kingdom. I am so impressed by photo no 80,Chinese soft shell turtle because it can pee via mouth.
We should treat animals like our family members.We must show compassion and kindness to animals. This is what we want in Kechara .
Thanks Rinpoche.
Thanks for the write-up. Reminds me of the old radio program “Kee Huat Fantastic Facts”.
I like the one on scorpions – NO. 3. For someone who loves their alcohol, to be reborn as one would be such a nightmare. Imagine, one drop and you’re dead from your own folly.
No. 35, the seahorse is a surprise. My assumption was that it would be quite a fast swimmer if it wanted to. I mean, it’s a sea ‘horse’ and in the cartoon “Aquaman” he rode a seahorse to battles and rescues. How when we are ignorant, we will believe anything and stick by it as sacred truth!
There are so many others that are unique and interesting whilst some are scary. Goes to show the diversity of the animal kingdom or animal realm. All those unique qualities are what help them survive their environment.
If I’m not mistaken, the diversity is the result of our karma. All these animals have also had countless previous lives, and the unique combination of their karma has led them to take rebirth in various parts of the animal kingdom with different physicalities which have adapted to their environment.
Can you imagine being stuck in the deepest darkest part of the ocean for decades like one of those deep sea angler fish (picture below) or in the cold and barren Artic as a polar bear? o_O
And that’s in the animal kingdom! Even in the human realm, there are so many different forms of existence physically speaking. Some of are born without limbs, some are born with limbs but without intact mental faculties. Some are born in places where it is super hot, and some people are born in places where it is super cold.
The fact we can live in a place where there are no climatic extremes, where we have physical and mental faculties mostly intact (to the point they don’t present obstacles to our learning) is incredible if you consider the very high chance we actually stood of being reborn in a place with weather extremes, physical disabilities or mental disabilities.
We really should make the most of the chance we have and not make excuses to do more, because making excuses is just making obstacles for ourselves which we don’t need to have!
Anyway, I kind of went off tangent haha this was a real neat post. I already knew a couple of these, like the one about the flamingo (something about their oesophagal muscles not being very strong), the flea and the elephant (they don’t have knees). But like you, I did also like the scorpion one. And the ligers and tigons one, though I think they are sterile because of the interspecies mating…just like how when donkeys and horses mate, their offspring are sterile too.
Going through this article and learning interesting facts about 80 different animals has certainly made my Sunday a great and knowledge full one.
To be honest, a lot of the facts here surprised me such as the fact that a blue whale’s tongue is heavier than most elephants, sharks are immune to cancer, polar bear furs are actually not white and so many more!
Animals are sentient beings who like us have feelings, if we hurt them they feel pain and if we treat them with love and care, they would feel loved.
Thank you Beatrix for doing a very good research on these animals!
Wow what a intensive search on 80 different animals. Have always been a avid lover on animal discovery channel and understand all about animals. There are one or two species shown in there that I never once seen before.
In Tsem Rinpoche Blog we can practically learn almost everything.
🙂
Yes Wooi Shen, I could not agree more! And in addition to what you’ve said, we should also try to avoid zoos as much as possible, and anywhere else that traps wild animals.
If the animals were born and raised in captivity, that’s another story because they won’t be able to survive if they were released into the wild.
But for animals who are captured and trapped in a zoo, they should’ve been left in the wild. It’s the best place to study and learn about them, which is their natural habitat.
Thank you for your comment! I hope you will always keep speaking up for animal rights and help to raise awareness for responsible pet care among your friends and whoever else you meet!
Thank you Beatrix for the sharing. It’s such an interesting post on animals. The more we human know about the animals the more we feel how amazing they are. Haha, don’t ever think only human are special and amazing, or thinking of using animals for our interest – to work for us, to provide entertainment, for trasnportation, for medical experiment, as food and etc…
Thank you Beatrix for sharing this interesting and informative post. 🙂
There are many animals have their special characteristic that I know now after read your post.
Amazing goats and octopus have rectangular pupils which allow them to see nearly 360 degrees around themselves. Octopuses have nine brains — one central brain, eight at the base of each arm, for movement control — and blood the color blue from a protein called hemocyanin.
Thank you Beatrix Ooi for such a informative write up about animals. We as a human I think for least of it we should respect all these animals who are very different from us at least we do not kill them because we are not the any being who live in this planet.
Thank you, Beatrix. Learning about the animal kingdom got me thinking the sky is the limit. What we think is impossible is truly possible for some other beings.
Example, I can’t imagine how certain animals such as the Arctic fox can survive temperatures as low as -60 degrees Fahrenheit while I myself suffer at just 20 degrees. LOL. I guess this is because the human realm and animal realm is just different.
As a human being, we have different limitations in physiques but not the mind. Animals cannot think in a cognitive manner like we do. Irregardless, animals do feel pain and emotions. They deserved to be treasured and left unharmed.
Good researched information, Beatrix. Many facts I didn’t know of until now. Some light comments instead of the usual boring ones. ?
Love,
Dad
#21 Sharks are immune to cancer.
I read of this many years ago that scientists were trying to find out the secret. But I guess they are still unsuccessful or maybe commercial politics has the upper hand.
#31 Starfish don’t die of old age.
Then how or what do they die of? Being eaten by predators?
#33 Hyenas regularly eat the faeces of other animals.
Eeeewww…I didn’t know of this.
#40 A mole can dig a tunnel 300 feet long in just on night.
Imagine if there’s a giant mole…the KL Smart Tunnel would have taken just days to be dug.
#59
Sea otters like to hold each other’s paws when sleepingso they don’t drift apart.
Awwww…I scratch your back, you scratch mine.
#63
Howler monkey – as the loudest land animal on Earth, they can be heard 3 miles away.
Who needs a bullhorn?
#69 A hedgehog heart beats 300 times a minute on average.
How many times when they’re in love? ??
#80 The Chinese soft shelled turtle is the first animal known to pee via its mouth.
Gross yet sad. Having the karma to be reborn as one. Long life, no speech but instead pee breath.
This is just truly amazing. Imagine each individual animals have their own ‘special ‘ characteristics.
These are things which we didn’t know and it just blow your mind away on some of the nature of the animals.
Can you imagine the Horror Frog breaking its own bones to create claws.
Gold Fish has a memory of up to 5 months
These is so awesome. With this post I’m sure more people can be more aware of their pets needs and give them the love.
This is a truly amazing deck of fun facts about animals. I enjoy reading it very much as well as learning a great deal about animals that I never knew before. For example:
1. Sharks cannot develop cancer – wow! I hope this is NOT the reason why people love shark fins.
2. Oyster can change gender – what an ability!
3. Octopuses have 9 brains – I wish we can too, then we can multitask better.
Thank you Rinpoche and Beatrix for this article. It is very entertaining.
I’m glad that you enjoyed reading the article, the animal kingdom is fulled with amazing creatures which some of them, we have not even heard of. I too find the octopus fact very interesting, if only we can have that too hehe!
Thank you Beatrix for compiling so many cute animals with each of their characteristic and interesting facts not known by myself hehe.
We should treat all animal as equal, as they same like us has feelings, shares similar DNA, and are intelligent.
This article will be good for parents to show different animal facts, and teaching their children to love animals and treat each sentient being as equal.
You’ve brought up a very good point there, parents should start educating their children about animals from a very young age to get them familiarised with the fact that animals are sentient beings too. They have not done anything to mankind and in my opinion, we should be fair and treat everyone living on this planet equally. 🙂
What an interesting article on things that I didn’t know about most of the animals. Imagine the Chinese soft-shell tortoise urinating through its mouth or getting poison by a bird (hooded Pitohui) or elephant shrew is actually related to the elephant. And most of all settling the argument of the Zebra being black with white stripes or white with black stripes.
Thanks Beatrix for writing this fun article.
Thank you Beatrix for these fun facts about these animals. The information is really cool. What I have never thought about is the information for the goldfish. That really shocked me. I always thought they only have the memory of 3 seconds.
I am also shocked to see that the Chinese soft shell turtle pees from its mouth. I find that weird and slightly disgusting. But I guess what is considered as disgusting will be only be defined by how we perceive things. Thank you for sharing these interesting fun facts about the animals.
I used to think that about the goldfish too! It’s scary how myths can affect us. In society nowadays, we really can’t afford to follow other blindly, having knowledge is very crucial.
Such an interesting post, Beatrix. There are so many interesting facts that never crossed my mind and I am glad you share them with us. I always remember that goldfish have a short memory few seconds, that’s why they can live in a small glass tank amusing themselves with the views which always seems new and interesting for them. I mean few seconds of memory means things are always new to them. Hence, we always use “a goldfish memory” on someone who had bad memory, hehe! Thank you kindly for sharing with us.
I’m glad that the article was interesting, I have never knew that goldfish have such a long term memory span because what I have been told in the past was, goldfish’s memory span can only last up to 7 secs or so. I’m glad that the myth is debunked. 🙂
This post was so interesting to read! One of my favourite posts for sure!
I think for me, the most unbelievable fact that I didn’t know was that the snow leopard can jump up to 50 feet in a single jump. If I’m being honest I am not sure i believe this or not xD I mean, 50 feet is a long way up and i can’t see any animal that can do that. But i will search it up and get to the bottom of that.
The second most interesting fact in the post was that ferrets sleep up to 20 hours a day. Thats the life i wish i could have! A life with so little responsibilities that i can sleep and sleep and sleep! How great would that be??? Couldn’t think of a better way to spend my time.
I’m glad that you find this post interesting, I have too learnt a lot from it. The animal kingdom is just amazing, full of wonderful and beautiful creatures. Regarding the snow leopard, I too find it slightly impossible but apparently, they are that awesome! Ferrets are cute and yes, I agree that they have a pretty good life hehe!
The star-nosed mole use its nose better known as the Eimer`s organs with which this hamster-sized mole feels its way around. With the help of its Eimer’s organs, it may be perfectly poised to detect seismic wave vibrations.The mantis shrimp has two types of mantis shrimp. 1 is the smasher,its punch is so fast that water moves out of the way .2 is the spear it has mantis like claws but upside down .It ambushes its prey by stabbing it.the mantis shrimp`s eyes move indenpendently .thank you for sharing
Thank you for the extra information Aldan, they are very helpful 🙂 These creatures are very incredible indeed, they have the special abilities which we humans do not have. Mankind is not so superior after all 🙂 To read more about animal-related article: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/animals-vegetarianism
Dear jiejie Beatrix,
did u know that the Cassowary can swallow an apple hole.If u have time go to youtube and type; Animal Facts That Will Make You Feel Weird;
Thank you jiejie Beatrix for posting this blog post . I have a pond and an aquarium full of fish and small little shrimp. And there is a lot I don’t know about animals . I only know the basics of animals but this is really cool!
Hello Hayden! I’m glad that you have learnt from this post, while I was doing the research, I have also learnt a lot because most of the facts listed here are the ones I have not heard or read about too. There’s a list of interesting animals related articles on the blog which you can go and read up at your free time 🙂 : https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/animals-vegetarianism
Thank you for sharing this interesting articles. I am not an animal lover however i do not like to see animals in bad shape and ill treated. Once i was asked by my ex colleagues to have a dog as a companion. I said no as knowing my parents cannot accept it. Like what you said it is a responsibility and commitment as they are also sentient beings. They need care and love like all of us.
Not knowing some of the existence till i read this articles of yours. Some of are huge , weird and scary.
I totally agree with what you have shared here, keeping a pet is a huge responsibility as it involves taking care something that’s alive, a sentient being. It’s definitely not something to be taken very lightly.
I’m glad you find the article interesting, hope to see you around more often. Have a great weekend! 🙂
Good job on this one. So many interesting facts that I didn’t know. Here’s one from me. Did you know that ostriches eat small pebbles/stones to help with their digestive system?
I really like the one about sea otters holding hands while sleeping. So cute!
Thank you for this post. I really enjoyed reading it. 🙂
Thaank you so much Beatrix lah sharing such amazing facts, i learnt lots of new animals though. They are very mind blowing ones… creatures are created in unique ways. Some are really weird hehe. Thank you
I’m glad that you find the article interesting and educational, I myself have learnt a lot from this article. Animals are truly amazing creatures and yes, just likes humans, some are really weird hehehe! Have a great weekend! 🙂
Wow, the animal kingdom sure is absolutely fascinating! This page has so many interesting facts that i did not know about. Some of them however, i did, especially the one about the giraffe’s tongue. I remember a holiday in Kenya, during which i was able to feed a giraffe in the wild, and their tongues are really long and feel like sandpaper. That is one event that I’m not going to forget any time soon!
I really like the picture and fact about the sea otters. It is incredible to see that they do this and is very cute to see. It shows that animals are sentient beings, something that we all need to remember as Buddhist practitioners.
Giraffes do have very rough tongues! I remember when I was young, I went to the safari and there was a session where the public was allowed to feed the giraffes some bananas. When I saw their super long tongues, I backed down really quickly and did not dare to feed them. My brother did however, and the giraffe almost swallowed his hand, it was so funny hahaha!
The sea otters are truly cute, I agreed with what you have written, this goes to show that animals do have feelings 🙂
Like you, I also prefer dogs as my pets rather than any other animals. Since young, my family had dogs all our lives. We have received lots of protection from our dogs including their love and attention but taking care of them is huge responsibility that we cannot neglect, especially when we need to be away.
Anyhow, I thoroughly enjoyed reading all the many weird characters you shared on other animals which I didn’t know existed.
My particular favorites were ostrich roars like a lion. I would have mistaken them to a real lion’s roar. To get rid of scorpions were to place alcohol on them? Maybe not so cruel. Particularly cancer cannot affect sharks at all? Perhaps medical research can find out if that can help cure human cancer illness too. Lastly, the Chinese soft-shelled turtle can pee through its mouth? That’s rather grose.
DO keep up your writing as this was an interesting article to learn about on ‘weirdness’ of animals.
Thank you aunty May, I’m glad that you have enjoyed reading the article. I must say that the ostrich and shark ones were really interesting. It’d be exciting to hear an ostrich roar hehehe!
Dear Beatrix Ooi
Thanks for sharing this interesting article.I didn’t know at all till i read it.
Do agree with you that kindness is the greatest wisdom.
Thanks again.
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KECHARA FOREST RETREAT PROGRESS UPDATES
Here is the latest news and pictorial updates, as it happens, of our upcoming forest retreat project.
The Kechara Forest Retreat is a unique holistic retreat centre focused on the total wellness of body, mind and spirit. This is a place where families and individuals will find peace, nourishment and inspiration in a natural forest environment. At Kechara Forest Retreat, we are committed to give back to society through instilling the next generation with universal positive values such as kindness and compassion.
Momo is a dumpling made of all-purpose flour and filled with either meat or vegetables. Inspired by Tibetan dumplings, the dish is a very popular Nepali street food. It is one of my favourite foods. Last year while in Kathmandu I am fortunate given the opportunity to learn and made vegetarian Momos.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing as it reminds me of trip there visiting some of the Holiest sites and trying my hand making momos then.
Bouddha, also known as Boudhanath, is a stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal which is located about 11 km from outskirts of Kathmandu. Its massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal and the world. The Boudhanath Stupa pyramid is coated with over 60 pounds of gold, is one of the largest and one of the most significant Buddhist monuments in the world. This great Stupa is home to precious relics and this semi-circular structure stands out with its majestic mandala, recognized by UNESCO in 1979 as a World Heritage Site. The Boudhanath is the most sacred sites in Tibetan Buddhism outside of Tibet, reflecting the cosmological tenets of Buddhism. Was there last year June joining thousands of pilgrims circumambulate the stupa.
The aerial view of this Boudhanath Stupa is magnificent indeed. Looking merely at the pictures is a blessing.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Shanti Stupa in Pokhara was built by Nipponzan-Myōhōji monk Morioka Sonin with local supporters under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fujii, a Buddhist monk and the founder of Nipponzan-Myōhōji
A famous site where locals as well as foreign tourists will go there throughout the year. One have to climb 400 steep steps to get to the Pagoda, it was worth the climb, as its situated on the Anadu Hill at the height of 1100 meters.
Shanti Stupa shrine was built as a symbol of peace designed to provide a focus for people of all races and creeds, and to help unite them in their search for world peace. It has also become a tourist attraction as it provides a panoramic view of the Annapurna range, Pokhara city and Fewa Lake. The white pagoda has two tiers for tourists and religious visitors to circumambulate. Its location on the hilltop provides a splendid view of sunrise and sunset for visitors. Hopefully I could visit this amazing Holy site soon.
Thank you Rinpoche for this great sharing
Its an old blog yet its hold many wonderful memories for The Tsem Ladrang team , I am sure. They are the ones who found a beautiful house in the hills of Naranthan in Kathmandu, Nepal. The place is serene and peaceful with beautiful mountains ranges. Looking at the old pictures its breath-taking and brilliant. The Ladrang is surrounded by scenery of outstanding natural beauty. Having a spacious yard, guest quarters, butterlamp house, to mention a few. The Ladrang has a spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and Kathmandu Valley.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing and teachings.
Buddhist Pilgrimage in Nepal is the best trip that takes us to the spiritual centers where Buddhism’s practices and meditations emerged. Nepal is popular for its Buddhism practices and itself is the birthplace of the originator Gautam Buddha. This beautiful Himalayan nation hosts the amazing Buddhist trails, monuments and stupas. It’s the place where the Buddha meditated and the Buddha enlightened the people with wisdom. Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, boasts many caves, stupas, and monasteries that are associated with Bodhisattvas, Buddha and Siddhas. The cave of Naropa and his guru Tilopa is beside Pashupatinath temple, bank of the holy Bagmati River. All these caves is considered as the holy site and Buddhist pilgrimage sites as the caves is the place where Naropa received training, teachings and had visions of Vajrayogini.
I am fortunate to have visited this Holy caves while at Kathmandu last year.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing .
The Lord Buddha was born in 623 BC in the sacred area of Lumbini, southern Nepal.Lumbini is one of the world’s most important spiritual sites for the Buddhist pilgrims from around the world. The site is a popular place of Buddhist pilgrimage for many yearly. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. The tranquility, aura and peace that we would experience in Lumbini makes it among the most holy places to visit in the world. I am fortunate going to this holiest place of Buddha birthplace last year with my Dharma brothers and sisters .It is the place where, according to Buddhist tradition, worth visiting
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Very interesting and informative article. In most cultures, women is consider as lower in status compared with men. Ancient times in India, man took the lead while women is seconded. But times has changed for the better where women are not degraded in society. They receive equal recognition, appreciation, and stature, yet in countries and places around the world, women are still viewed as inferior and treated accordingly. But in Buddhism women have been increasing in number and has proven that many of them have gained full enlightenment in a female body. In Buddhism is concerned there’s no discrimination toward women ,both men and women are equal. There‘s many female Mahasiddhas and Yoginis as in this blog. May it inspired many more to come. Interesting article and its great sharing knowledge.
Thank you Rinpoche with folded hands,
Sleep paralysis is a feeling of being conscious but unable to move. It occurs when a person passes between stages of wakefulness and sleep. During these transitions, one may be unable to move or speak for a few seconds up to a few minutes. Some people may also feel pressure or a sense of choking. Sleep paralysis is a temporary inability to move or speak. It’s not harmful and should pass quickly, but at times can be frightening. It can affect anyone but is most common in young adults and they might have hallucination. The scary facts about sleep paralysis is those who suffer from it have said it felt like someone was choking them on their chest so they could not breathe.
As for me I have not experience as such before as least i know now what i can to do.
Thank you Vinnie Tan for sharing. Interesting read of these stories related to sleep paralysis.
nteresting as this texts been composed after being inspired to do so . That’s interesting as this nature are traditionally considered exceptionally potent in their blessings if the claim of divine inspiration is authentic. According to the account in the introduction, the author composed this text after being divinely inspired to do so. It’s a very rare kind and its acceptance been recognised and received praise by very high lamas of our tradition. Reading this article tell us all of how powerful Dorje Shugden when we invoke in our prayers.
Interesting read of the short biography of Ven. Geshe Kunchok Gyaltsen, the author of Mass of Vajra Fire.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
That’s wonderful Rinpoche has composed prayers in English so as everyone could recite and practice. For beginners is such a meaningful insights and perspectives without commitments and initiation. Moreover each prayers is for a specific blessing that helps practitioners to gain attainments and overcome obstacles. Easy and simple for everyone to start off.
We are fortunate that everything Rinpoche did brought tremendous benefit to all sentient beings. Whatever prayers Rinpoche has composed are especially potent with blessings.
Thank you Rinpoche and writers for this sharing.
A great article , revisit this again of Tibetan Lamas and their dogs. As now I have a pet doggie with me, I came to understand more of them . Dogs are the most amazing creatures, they give us unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive. Buddhists believe dogs also have the potential to become enlightened and can teach us about responsibility, love, and other Buddhist principles. The Q & A by Sandra Klein’s interview with the Venerable Gonsar Rinpoche gave us a better understanding and very informative of Tibetan dogs under Lamas care. ccording to the Buddha Dharma, all sentient beings have Buddha nature — from ants to humans. Though we often look at dogs as wonderful companions an teach us to embrace Buddhist principles. They, themselves, embody many of these principles.
Thank you Rinpoche for this great sharing.
Living with my wife, whose world is meticulously painted with the hues of OCD, is a journey that intertwines the essence of love with the complexities of the human mind. Her relentless pursuit of cleanliness and order, transforming even the most negligible corner into a testament of organization, often dances on the fine line between admiration and frustration. The sight of her steering clear from trash bins as if they were labyrinths of chaos, serves as a poignant reminder of the battles she fights within. Yet, it’s through these very battles that I’ve learned the profound language of patience and the unspoken strength of support. Therapy, in its gentle embrace, has been a beacon of light for her, guiding her through the stormy seas of OCD. It has not only offered her solace but has also unveiled the strength of her spirit, teaching us both the beauty of resilience. As she journeys through the pathways of healing, I stand by her, a testament to the power of love and the enduring promise of hope. Together, we navigate the complexities of her world, discovering that within the challenges lie opportunities for growth, understanding, and an unbreakable bond. https://www.mindfullyaliveonline.com/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/
Venerable Ajahn Chah was a Thai Buddhist teacher of the Buddhadhamma and a founder of two major monasteries in the Thai Forest Tradition. Well respected and loved as a man of great wisdom, he was also instrumental in establishing Theravada Buddhism in the West. Interesting life story, how he chose to leave the settled monastic life and became a wandering ascetic. Walking across Thailand, lived in forests, caves and cremation grounds while learning from the meditation monks of the Forest of various monasteries. He wandered through the countryside in quest of quiet and secluded places for developing meditation. He even lived in tiger and cobra infested jungles, using reflections on death to penetrate to the true meaning of life. After years of wandering, Venerable Ajahn Chah established a monastery where he taught simple, practice-based form of meditation, and attracted a numerous of students including western foreigners. He was one of the greatest Dhamma teachers of the modern era. His wise teachings have continued to guide thousands of people along the path of Dharma. Venerable Ajahn Chah’s teachings of the Thai Forest Tradition gradually spread across all over the world. Several of Ajahn Chah’s Western students have since established monasteries throughout the world. Just in Thailand itself, there are more than 300 branch monasteries in Ajahn Chah’s tradition. Ven erable Ajahn Chah used his ill health as a teaching point, emphasizing that it was a living example of the impermanence of all things and reminded people to endeavour to find a true refuge within themselves. The legacy of Venerable Ajahn Chah’s teachings and legacy continues into the modern age.
Thank you Rinpoche for this great sharing.
Wonderful blog written on the practice of Kalarupa for us to understand better. As an emanation of Manjushri, Kalarupa’s practice helps us to destroy ignorance and to develop wisdom overcoming our anger and suffering . Awesome Kalarupa manifested in multiple forms to help sentient beings who personifies enlightenment by the conquest of anger. Kalarupa also regard as one of the three main Dharma protectors of the Gelugpa is extremely fierce and ugly, and tames all kinds of spiritual ugliness. The fierceness of his iconography teaches us to remind ourselves that all the causes and effects of anger arising from ignorance are dreadful and distorted.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Antionette for this detailed sharing,
Nepal is a very spiritual country, having a huge Dorje Shugden mural in Kathmandu, is indeed a big achievement for Kechara. Located on Charkhal Road in Dilli Bazaar, the mural can be found midway between our two Dorje Shugden chapels which are in Putalisadak and Chabahil. It is also very close to one of Kathmandu’s largest shopping malls. Many locals , tourist will be able to connect them to a powerful deity that is so closely associated with their culture. Well the mural not only beautiful but also full of symbolism and everyone merely by seeing it is blessed. Thanks to those talented artists and generous sponsors making it a success.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
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Concept: Tsem Rinpoche Technical: Lew Kwan Leng, Justin Ripley, Yong Swee Keong Design: Justin Ripley, Cynthia Lee Content: Tsem Rinpoche, Justin Ripley, Pastor Shin Tan, Sarah Yap Admin: Pastor Loh Seng Piow, Beng Kooi
I must thank my dharma blog team who are great assets to me, Kechara and growth of dharma in this wonderful region. I am honoured and thrilled to work with them. I really am. Maybe I don't say it enough to them, but I am saying it now. I APPRECIATE THESE GUYS VERY MUCH!
Tsem Rinpoche
About Rinpoche
Name
H.E. Tsem Rinpoche
Root Guru
H.H. Zong Rinpoche
Ordained by
H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama
Affiliations
Pukhang Khangtsen, Gaden Shartse Monastery
Founder and Spiritual Advisor, Kechara House Buddhist Association Malaysia
President, Tsem Rinpoche Foundation, Inc.
Honorary Doctor of Psychology, The Open International University
Hear the holy voice of Kyabje Zong Rinpoche giving advice on the practice of Dorje Shugden to those who had received the life-entrustment initiation. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche wanted to make sure those present received the maximum benefits from their practice, and that they kept their practice well. LEARN MORE >>
In Tibetan Buddhism, it is always said that whatever we practice must come from an enlightened source to be beneficial in our spiritual journey. As such in this video, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche shares with us the history and reincarnation lineage of Dorje Shugden to explain how great this Dharma protector is through the examples of his previous lives, showing us his powerful spiritual attainments. LEARN MORE >>
Dear everyone... This is a good condensed talk I gave on Guru Yoga of Tsongkapa. This is the one you should share with others when they are interested in a not too lengthy explanation. It is the perfect practice for everyone who wants simplicity yet effective blessings. You can share this with more people, it will be good.
"If you say you don't have money to help a animal shelter, why then do you have money to buy meat?"
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"Eating animals is not our God-given right, but being kind to them is."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"What makes us good humans is not how we abuse animals, but how much we allow them to live and be happy freely."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"We need another and wiser and perhaps a more mythical concept of animals.... We patronize them for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken form so far below ourselves. And therein we err, and greatly err. For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complex than ours they moved finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth."
~ Henry Beston, The Outermost House
"Not eating animals is only unnatural when we are not used to it."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES
"We may encounter defeat, but we must not be defeated."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"What you are today, is the choice you made yesterday."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"You think you can choose your life? What an ego trip!"
~ Lama Yeshe
"If TODAY you are dissatisfied, you must make the changes to create different results for TOMORROW."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
SPIRITUAL QUOTES
“Meditating on Dorje Shugden while reciting his mantra will open the gateways to higher dimensions, blessings and protection.”
~ Tsem Rinpoche
“If one does the recitation of the Lama Tsongkhapa guru yoga prayer for even one month using one of the visualizations for great or clear or quick wisdom, one will definitely see development of that wisdom. It is proved by experience. There is no doubt that by doing the Lama Tsongkhapa guru yoga practice one can meet Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings from life to life. And furthermore, it gives one the opportunity to be born in the pure realm of Lama Tsongkhapa, Tushita, whenever death happens.”
~ Pabongkha Rinpoche
"I was 18 years old in 1983. That was a very special year as I met His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche and received innumerable precious teachings and empowerments from Him at Thubten Dhargye Ling Centre in Los Angeles, California. It was the best time of my life. A time that seems so magical and surreal to me. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche is Heruka Buddha and I met Heruka."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"If being me offends you, maybe I'm not the problem."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"Never abandon your spiritual teacher no matter how many inner obstacles you need to overcome."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"Actions to force something to be permanent makes all the karmas arise."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"The dharma is not easy to listen to… because some people take it as criticism. But Dharma should not be just feel good only for the moment but for deeper contemplations."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"Whether we do work and suffer but for others or we do work and suffer for ourselves, either way we have to suffer. That is the nature of samsara. So let us suffer for others and then suffering has meaning."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"Those who really want the dharma to grow within themselves and to grow for others should never fear hard work, timing, difficulties, struggles, disappointments because it is for a good cause. Working for Dharma is not a prison or work, but it is purely spiritual practice. It is purely collection of merit and purification. Actually not doing dharma work is the real prison."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"His Holiness Zong Rinpoche stressed the need to continue to practice even when we come up against obstacles, and that we should continually review our progress. He stated that a happy, luxurious life was like a good dream, and that obstacles and difficulties were like a bad dream. We should give them no significance, but simply carry on working towards real, everlasting happiness."
~ Ngala ’ö-Dzin Tridral
"Things in samsara always go wrong. That's its nature. Don't be surprised."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"Knowledge never quenches the thirst, only application."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
LIFE QUOTES
"I pity men who occupy themselves exclusively with the transitory in things and lose themselves in the study of what is perishable, since we are here for this very end-that we may make the perishable imperishable, which we can do only after we have learned how to approach both."
~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"Money amplifies negative characteristics and that can cause problems.
To walk away from that was actually very easy. I didn't even consider it."
~ Angeline Francis Khoo
"I shall not commit the fashionable stupidity of regarding everything I cannot explain as a fraud."
~ Carl Jung
"There is a devil there is no doubt, but is he trying to get into us or trying to get out?"
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"If you love someone, show it by being honest, respectful & honorable with them."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."
~ Henry David Thoreau
"If I can just be the way I am & you the way you are & we accept each other, world peace is near."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"I am Asian, you are some other beautiful color. Together we make diversity so beautiful."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"It's amazing how some people have never met me or know who I am, but based on a few things they read here & there & rumours, they have formulated a new personality for me & all the things I've never done they passionately speak about....I find it funny and entertaining now. I guess we can't spend our lives fighting rumours...we just have to work hard & then rumours get proven wrong on it's own as a by product. No point explaining repeatedly. Just do our work & show results!!"
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"There's a difference between patience and laziness. Patience comes from respect while laziness from disrespect of others."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"Although outwardly we have so much, we have so many conveniences, inwardly we have become more unhappy, so, acquisition is not the secret to happiness. The more we get, the more we have, the more unhappy we become."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"Before we experience any pain, we already had a fixed view of how things should be. When the experience we encounter contradicts our views, then the pain arises. The pain arises due to our fixed views not so much the experience itself. So the secret is changing the views. Re-educating ourselves on our views."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"You know since very young, for better or worse, I always did the things that others told me not to do. I wasn't really good at following the rules. Even now with how I share Dharma and my practice, I just do it the way I think it should be done but I do it sincerely. Not what others tell me what I can and can't do."
~ Tsem Rinpoche
"Love me or hate me, both are in my favor... If you love me, I'll always be in your heart... If you hate me, I'll always be in your mind."
~ William Shakespeare
"One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous or honest."
~ Maya Angelou
Devotional Songs
Sung by Mary Fewel Tulin, these mystical songs in praise of the guru originate from the Sikh tradition. Yet, they are applicable to all traditions for those who want to venerate their guru.
The Known and unknown are both feared,
Known is being comfortable and stagnant,
The unknown may be growth and opportunities,
One shall never know if one fears the unknown more than the known.
Who says the unknown would be worse than the known?
But then again, the unknown is sometimes worse than the known. In the end nothing is known unless we endeavour,
So go pursue all the way with the unknown,
because all unknown with familiarity becomes the known.
~Tsem Rinpoche
Photos On The Go
Click on the images to view the bigger version. And scroll down and click on "View All Photos" to view more images.
4 years ago
According to legend, Shambhala is a place where wisdom and love reign, and there is no crime. Doesn't this sound like the kind of place all of us would love to live in? https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=204874
4 years ago
108 candles and sang (incense) offered at our Wish-Fulfilling Grotto, invoking Dorje Shugden's blessings for friends, sponsors and supporters, wonderful!
4 years ago
Dharmapalas are not exclusive to Tibetan culture and their practice is widespread throughout the Buddhist world - https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=193645
4 years ago
One of our adorable Kechara Forest Retreat's doggies, Tara, happy and safe, and enjoying herself in front of Wisdom Hall which has been decorated for Chinese New Year
4 years ago
Fragrant organic Thai basil harvested from our very own Kechara Forest Retreat farm!
4 years ago
On behalf of our Puja House team, Pastor Tat Ming receives food and drinks from Rinpoche. Rinpoche wanted to make sure the hardworking Puja House team are always taken care of.
4 years ago
By the time I heard about Luang Phor Thong, he was already very old, in his late 80s. When I heard about him, I immediately wanted to go and pay my respects to him. - http://bit.ly/LuangPhorThong
4 years ago
It's very nice to see volunteers helping maintain holy sites in Kechara Forest Retreat, it's very good for them. Cleaning Buddha statues is a very powerful and effective way of purifying body karma.
4 years ago
Kechara Forest Retreat is preparing for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations. This is our holy Vajra Yogini stupa which is now surrounded by beautiful lanterns organised by our students.
4 years ago
One of the most recent harvests from our Kechara Forest Retreat land. It was grown free of chemicals and pesticides, wonderful!
5 years ago
Third picture-Standing Manjushri Statue at Chowar, Kirtipur, Nepal.
Height: 33ft (10m)
5 years ago
Second picture-Standing Manjushri Statue at Chowar, Kirtipur, Nepal.
Height: 33ft (10m)
5 years ago
First picture-Standing Manjushri Statue at Chowar, Kirtipur, Nepal.
Height: 33ft (10m)
5 years ago
The first title published by Kechara Comics is Karuna Finds A Way. It tells the tale of high-school sweethearts Karuna and Adam who had what some would call the dream life. Everything was going great for them until one day when reality came knocking on their door. Caught in a surprise swindle, this loving family who never harmed anyone found themselves out of luck and down on their fortune. Determined to save her family, Karuna goes all out to find a solution. See what she does- https://bit.ly/2LSKuWo
5 years ago
Very powerful story! Tibetan Resistance group Chushi Gangdruk reveals how Dalai Lama escaped in 1959- https://bit.ly/2S9VMGX
5 years ago
At Kechara Forest Retreat land we have nice fresh spinach growing free of chemicals and pesticides. Yes!
Fresh eggplants grown on Kechara Forest Retreat's land here in Malaysia
5 years ago
Most Venerable Uppalavanna – The Chief Female Disciple of Buddha Shakyamuni - She exhibited many supernatural abilities gained from meditation and proved to the world females and males are equal in spirituality- https://bit.ly/31d9Rat
Mahapajapati Gotami, who was the first nun ordained by Lord Buddha.
5 years ago
Mahapajapati Gotami, who was the first nun ordained by Lord Buddha. She was his step-mother and aunt. Buddha's mother had passed away at his birth so he was raised by Gotami.
5 years ago
Another nun disciple of Lord Buddha's. She had achieved great spiritual abilities and high attainments. She would be a proper object of refuge. This image of the eminent bhikkhuni (nun) disciple of the Buddha, Uppalavanna Theri.
5 years ago
Wandering Ascetic Painting by Nirdesha Munasinghe
5 years ago
High Sri Lankan monks visit Kechara to bless our land, temple, Buddha and Dorje Shugden images. They were very kind-see pictures- https://bit.ly/2HQie2M
5 years ago
This is pretty amazing!
First Sri Lankan Buddhist temple opened in Dubai!!!
5 years ago
My Dharma boy (left) and Oser girl loves to laze around on the veranda in the mornings. They enjoy all the trees, grass and relaxing under the hot sun. Sunbathing is a favorite daily activity. I care about these two doggies of mine very much and I enjoy seeing them happy. They are with me always. Tsem Rinpoche
Always be kind to animals and eat vegetarian- https://bit.ly/2Psp8h2
5 years ago
After you left me Mumu, I was alone. I have no family or kin. You were my family. I can't stop thinking of you and I can't forget you. My bond and connection with you is so strong. I wish you were by my side. Tsem Rinpoche
5 years ago
This story is a life-changer. Learn about the incredible Forest Man of India | 印度“森林之子”- https://bit.ly/2Eh4vRS
5 years ago
Part 2-Beautiful billboard in Malaysia of a powerful Tibetan hero whose life serves as a great inspiration- https://bit.ly/2UltNE4
5 years ago
Part 1-Beautiful billboard in Malaysia of a powerful Tibetan hero whose life serves as a great inspiration- https://bit.ly/2UltNE4
5 years ago
The great Protector Manjushri Dorje Shugden depicted in the beautiful Mongolian style. To download a high resolution file: https://bit.ly/2Nt3FHz
5 years ago
The Mystical land of Shambhala is finally ready for everyone to feast their eyes and be blessed. A beautiful post with information, art work, history, spirituality and a beautiful book composed by His Holiness the 6th Panchen Rinpoche. ~ https://bit.ly/309MHBi
DON'T MISS THIS!~How brave Bonnie survived by living with a herd of deer~ https://bit.ly/2Lre2eY
5 years ago
Global Superpower China Will Cut Meat Consumption by 50%! Very interesting, find out more- https://bit.ly/2V1sJFh
5 years ago
You can download this beautiful Egyptian style Dorje Shugden Free- https://bit.ly/2Nt3FHz
5 years ago
Beautiful high file for print of Lord Manjushri. May you be blessed- https://bit.ly/2V8mwZe
5 years ago
Mongolian (Oymiakon) Shaman in Siberia, Russia. That is his real outfit he wears. Very unique. TR
5 years ago
Find one of the most beautiful temples in the world in Nara, Japan. It is the 1,267 year old Todai-ji temple that houses a 15 meter Buddha Vairocana statue who is a cosmic and timeless Buddha. Emperor Shomu who sponsored this beautiful temple eventually abdicated and ordained as a Buddhist monk. Very interesting history and story. One of the places everyone should visit- https://bit.ly/2VgsHhK
5 years ago
Manjusri Kumara (bodhisattva of wisdom), India, Pala dynesty, 9th century, stone, Honolulu Academy of Arts
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Videos On The Go
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4 years ago
Pig puts his toys away
Animals are so intelligent. They can feel happiness, joy, pain, sorrow, just like humans. Always show kindness to them. Always show kindness to everyone.
5 years ago
Always be kind to animals-They deserve to live just like us.
Whales and dolphins playing with each other in the Pacific sea. Nature is truly incredible!
5 years ago
Bodha stupa July 2019-
Rainy period
5 years ago
Cute Tara girl having a snack. She is one of Kechara Forest Retreat’s resident doggies.
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Your Next Meal!
Yummy? Tasty? Behind the scenes of the meat on your plates. Meat is a killing industry.
5 years ago
This is Daw
This is what they do to get meat on tables, and to produce belts and jackets. Think twice before your next purchase.
5 years ago
Don’t Take My Mummy Away!
Look at the poor baby chasing after the mother. Why do we do that to them? It's time to seriously think about our choices in life and how they affect others. Be kind. Don't break up families.
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They do this every day!
This is how they are being treated every day of their lives. Please do something to stop the brutality. Listen to their cries for help!
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What happened at Fair Oaks Farm?
The largest undercover dairy investigation of all time. See what they found out at Fair Oaks Farm.
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She’s going to spend her whole life here without being able to move correctly. Like a machine. They are the slaves of the people and are viewed as a product. It’s immoral. Billions of terrestrial animals die annually. Billions. You can’t even imagine it. And all that because people don’t want to give up meat, even though there are so many alternatives. ~ Gabriel Azimov
5 years ago
Our Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir speaks so well, logically and regarding our country’s collaboration with China for growth. It is refreshing to listen to Dr. Mahathir’s thoughts. He said our country can look to China for many more things such as technology and so on. Tsem Rinpoche
5 years ago
This is the first time His Holiness Dalai Lama mentions he had some very serious illness. Very worrying. This video is captured April 2019.
5 years ago
Beautiful Monastery in Hong Kong
5 years ago
This dog thanks his hero in such a touching way. Tsem Rinpoche
These people going on pilgrimage to a holy mountain and prostrating out of devotion and for pilgrimage in Tibet. Such determination for spiritual practice. Tsem Rinpoche
5 years ago
Beautiful new casing in Kechara for Vajra Yogini. Tsem Rinpoche
5 years ago
Get ready to laugh real hard. This is Kechara’s version of “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane!” We have some real talents in this video clip.
5 years ago
Recitation of Dorje Dermo‘s mantra or the Dharani of Glorious Vajra Claws. This powerful mantra is meant to destroy all obstacles that come in our way. Beneficial to play this mantra in our environments.
5 years ago
Beautiful
Beautiful sacred Severed Head Vajra Yogini from Tsem Rinpoche's personal shrine.
5 years ago
My little monster cute babies Dharma and Oser. Take a look and get a cute attack for the day! Tsem Rinpoche
5 years ago
Plse watch this short video and see how all sentient beings are capable of tenderness and love. We should never hurt animals nor should we eat them. Tsem Rinpoche
5 years ago
Cruelty of some people have no limits and it’s heartbreaking. Being kind cost nothing. Tsem Rinpoche
5 years ago
SUPER ADORABLE and must see
Tsem Rinpoche's dog Oser girl enjoying her snack in her play pen.
We were told by Uncle Wong he is very faithful toward Dorje Shugden. Dorje Shugden has extended help to him on several occasions and now Uncle Wong comes daily to make incense offerings to Dorje Shugden. He is grateful towards the help he was given.
5 years ago
Tsem Rinpoche’s Schnauzer Dharma boy fights Robot sphere from Arkonide!
5 years ago
Cute baby owl found and rescued
We rescued a lost baby owl in Kechara Forest Retreat.
5 years ago
Nice cups from Kechara!!
Dorje Shugden people's lives matter!
5 years ago
Enjoy a peaceful morning at Kechara Forest Retreat
Chirping birds and other forest animals create a joyful melody at the Vajrayogini stupa in Kechara Forest Retreat (Bentong, Malaysia).
6 years ago
This topic is so hot in many circles right now.
This video is thought-provoking and very interesting. Watch! Thanks so much to our friends at LIVEKINDLY.
6 years ago
Chiropractic CHANGES LIFE for teenager with acute PAIN & DEAD LEG.
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BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN NEW YORK STATE-AMAZING.
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Leonardo DiCaprio takes on the meat Industry with real action.
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Do psychic mediums have messages from beyond?
7 years ago
Lovely gift for my 52nd Birthday. Tsem Rinpoche
7 years ago
This 59-year-old chimpanzee was refusing food and ready to die until...
she received “one last visit from an old friend” 💔💔
7 years ago
Bigfoot sighted again and made it to the news.
7 years ago
Casper is such a cute and adorable. I like him.
7 years ago
Dorje Shugden Monastery Amarbayasgalant Mongolia's Ancient Hidden Gem
7 years ago
Don't you love Hamburgers? See how 'delicious' it is here!
7 years ago
Such a beautiful and powerful message from a person who knows the meaning of life. Tsem Rinpoche
7 years ago
What the meat industry figured out is that you don't need healthy animals to make a profit.
Sick animals are more profitable... farms calculate how close to death they can keep animals without killing them.
That's the business model.
How quickly they can be made to grow, how tightly they can be packed, how much or how little can they eat, how sick they can get without dying...
We live in a world in which it's conventional to treat an animal like a block of wood.
~ Jonathan Safran Foer
7 years ago
This video went viral and it's a must watch!!
7 years ago
SEE HOW THIS ANIMAL SERIAL KILLER HAS NO ISSUE BLUDGEONING THIS DEFENSELESS BEING.
This happens daily in slaughterhouse so you can get your pork and Bak ku teh. Stop eating meat.
ASK A PASTOR
A section for you to clarify your Dharma questions with Kechara’s esteemed pastors.
Just post your name and your question below and one of our pastors will provide you with an answer.
Scroll down and click on "View All Questions" to view archived questions.
Sirius asked:Dear pastors, Im currently trying to start my ngondro practice. I want to follow the instructions of Tsem Rinpoche. My question is what preliminary practice should we focus on first? If there was a proper order. The practice that I'm already doing everyday at night is Vajrasattva, but I'm missing the rest. Please give me advice. pastor answered:Dear Sirius,
Thanks for your question. We are really happy to read that you want to engage in ngondro practices. We do have an article about ngondro here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/preliminary-practice.html The article includes sample prayer texts for the retreats, etc. However, the article does not include the full prayers text for each, visualisation guides, associated contemplations, etc.
The ngondro practices are extended retreats, so unless you have had practice doing shorter retreats, I suggest you start by doing shorter retreats. For ngondro practices to be complete, you need to do 100,000 repititions of a the particular practice. You must do at least 1 full retreat session a day, with the requisite altar setup, offerings, full prayer recitation, etc.
Traditionally, the first ngondro practice to be done is the refuge ngondro. In 2022, we ran an online programme for those wishing to complete their refuge preliminary at home. While the programme has finished, all the materials, prayers texts, visualisation guides, contemplation guides and references are still available for people who wish to complete their refuge ngondro. There is a small fee associated with access to this. You can find some information about the programme here: https://www.kecharaforestretreat.com/practice-weekend-refuge/. If you would like access to the materials, you can contact care@kechara.com with your request to join the Refuge Practice Group.
However, please note that there are prequisities for joining the group, such as having completed Level 1 of our Lamrim course. Ngondro practices in our tradition are not beginner level practices, hence require some knowledge of the teachings before hand. If you have attended Lamrim courses at other Dharma centres, please indicate so in the email.
Hope this helps. Please do contact us on the above email if you have any further questions regarding this. Thank you.
Jason asked:The basic description of a boddhisatva I’ve read is “a person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so out of compassion in order to save suffering beings”. This doesn’t quite make sense to me since if they reach nirvana, they should have even greater capacity to help others so it doesn’t make sense to delay their enlightenment. I was wondering if the pastors could clarify on this issue. pastor answered:Dear Jason,
Thank you for your question. The path of a Bodhisattva, is actually quite vast, and the description you've seen is a simplification. The path of the Bodhisattva is explained is many different texts, for example it is explained in the higher scope teachings of the Lamrim, the Sutra of the Ten Bhumis, the Bodhisattvabhumis, etc. I'll try to give a simple overview here.
The very basis of the Bodhisattva path is what is called 'bodhichitta.' This is the motivation or mindset of achieving enlightenment so that you can bring all other sentient beings to the state of enlightenment. In other traditions, the goal of attaining enlightenment is for oneself alone. In the Bodhisattva path, which belongs to the Mahayana vehicle, the goal to achieve enlightenment is not for ourselves but for the sake of others. Once, you have generated this mindset, you are a Bodhisattva.
But there are differing levels of Bodhisattvas. There are ten levels, known as the ten grounds, of a Bodhisattva. So you progress in your Dharma practice of benefiting others and improving yourself for the sake of others, along these ten levels. Once you reach the 10th level, you are essentially enlightened, but you remain in the form of a bodhisattva rather than leaving your body and entering full enlightenment. The reason for this, is your motivation is not just for yourself but all other sentient beings who are still suffering.
When you achieve nirvana, you are in a state of bliss. Since you are in that state, you can remain there for a very long time without helping sentient beings. Hence Bodhisattvas remain to help all sentient beings instead of staying in that blissful state, due to their motivation for all senient beings to achieve that state of bliss themselves. I hope that this helps to answer your question. If not, you can refer to the teachings I mentioned at the begining.
Though not directly related to your question, you might find this short video teaching by Tsem Rinpoche interesting:
Why Bodhisattvas Are Like Peacocks
https://youtu.be/OHXULhL-UHo?si=FG80TpQACuYhbsCm
April 14, 2024 13:11
Kams asked:If a part of Buddhism is accepting reality as it is, rather than how we want it to be, I find it contradictory because human nature is innately selfish and basically "survival of the fittest" and all that. Of course, Humans have evolved to be intelligent and aware. But doesn't that make living by a code of ethical conduct denying our animalistic nature? thus denying the reality of the selfish human nature? I am simply curious about this and would like an answer. Thanks!pastor answered:Dear Kams,
Nice to see you here, you've asked a very interesting question. In Buddhism, when we talk about accepting reality as it is, this is in a very specific way, and usually not the way we think of when we read or hear the phrase 'accepting reality.'
Accepting reality here means not thinking about things as inherently existing. When we think about existence in this manner, it is not correct, because nothing in existence is static, it is ever moving, ever changing. To use a very common Buddhist term, it is impermenant. From the Buddhist perspective the understanding and living by impermenance is very important. I'll give a an example of this. In life, we go through ups and downs, times we are happy and times we are sad. And sometimes, this can be an emotion upheveal. When we experience happy times, we want them to last, we want to always feel that way, so when things go wrong, or not how we want them to be, we get upset. But if we live by impermanence during those happy times, we cherish them more, we live in the moment of being happy rather than wanting it to last. Similarly, when things go wrong, we know that eventually things will get better, because even sadness and all the negative experiences we have in life are impermanent. So 'accepting reality' is a very broad definition, but in Buddhism, it's actually very specific to certain things.
But your question touches on a very important point, and that is what you call our 'selish nature.' In Buddhism, this selfishness comes from karma and delusions. It's the way we naturally operate as humans. But as humans, or any type of being bound by the law of karma within samsara (existence) we create more negative karma and delusions. This only leads us to have this type of nature in future lives as humans, or leads us to suffer in lower rebirths such as the animal or hell realms, or leads us to have pleasures in the god realm. However, no matter what happens, we are still stuck because samsara is a cycle fueled by karma and delusions.
The goal of Buddhists is to transcend/escape this system altogether. We won't be bound by such selfish natures any more and since we are not bound by that, we are free from all types of suffering that occur within existence. Suffering itself is a very big part of the Buddhist teachings. In fact it was the first thing that the Buddha ever taught. But this was not done to make us depressed. It was done to make wake up to our current state within existence and then do something about it.
Here are some video teachings by Tsem Rinpoche that may explain things better:
Karma's Job is to Make You Suffer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycNTf-W1mLA
How Wrong Projections Bring Us Suffering (with subtitles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vICsghJhjqU
The Cycle of Wrong Perception & Wrong Experience
https://youtu.be/EXyhGaXBtK8?si=KktuiuZLd7y4SST4
Karma & Impermanence
https://youtu.be/sL5qn54rPlM?si=0-DwTs-QzKDxA_BX
Hope all this helps to answer your question.
April 13, 2024 03:23
Lee asked:Hello Pastors!
I have a questions about one situations:
I knew life is impermanent but I have saw some situations that please, help me to clear the doubts.
An younger girl has been long time prayers to lord Dorje Shugden but one days, she got an severe cancer but she still strongly devote to lord Shugden.
But in the end that she still die in young age.
How we should look at the situations like this dear Pastors?
Does lord Shugden not help us to find a way or atleast, good doctors or good medicine to help us?
Thanks.pastor answered:Dear Lee,
Thank you for your question. I'm very sorry to read about this situation. It truly is very saddening whenever someone so young passes away. When things like this happen, as Buddhists we need to remember the teachings of the Buddha, not just impermanence. The main one to remember here is karma and rebirth. We were attached to people who have passed away, because we knew them very well in this life. But this is not the only life that the person has had, nor the only life they will have.
When we are born, what experiences we go through in life, and ultimately when we pass on is all due to our karma and their consequences. Daily sadhana practice and devotion is good on a general level, but when the conditions for certain karma to arise occurs, we are faced with very difficult situations due to the arising of karma. If we have had the time and effort to practice deeply, such conditions will not arise but for most people, they will. This is part of samsara and the reason we need to get out of samsara by becoming enlightened.
When such conditions arise, we need extra help to overcome these situations than just our faith and daily practice. That is where other practices come into play, such as pujas, offerings, life-extending practices such as animal liberation, etc. Because the ripening of that karma is strong, we need a stronger method to overcome it than just daily practice. When we are going through such situations, it is best to consult those who can advise on what to do. In our organisation here are the contact details: https://www.kechara.com/contact/
Dorje Shugden and other practices can definitely help with these sorts of things, but it depends on our effort. Since the karma is so strong, it takes effort to help overcome that karma. If we put in that effort by making more prayers, more offerings, doing pujas or other practices, then yes, Dorje Shugden is able to use the merit from those practices and to help us find good doctors, good treatments and make the treatments more effective than they would have been otherwise.
Unfortunately, sometimes that karma is too strong for a person to be ill or to pass away. In those cases, even though the person has passed, their faith, devotion and practice is still beneficial. Why? Because there are future lives. We only experience the loss of a person in this life, but we should think about their future lives also. That is a reason that prayers, pujas and other activities is so much stressed in Buddhism when a person passes on. They are to help that person in their next lives, as an extension of our love and care for them in this life.
In the case of the young girl who passed away, her prayers and faith will not go unanswered in the long term, for her next lives, but unfortunately the ripening of her negative karma was too strong in this life. Dorje Shugden and the Buddhas will definitely take care of her and benefit her in her future lives, all the way until she becomes enlightened.
Here is something that you can do to help the young girl for her future lives: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/something-simple-for-the-deceased.html
Impermanence, karma, rebirth, etc has all been explained by the Buddha and is in scripture, like the Lamrim. When we understand the Lamrim better, we are able to help our loved ones better not just in this life, but for their future lives too. I really hope this helps you. I will keep the young girl in my prayers as well.
April 12, 2024 19:13
Lo asked:Does chanting mantras affect our energy bodies? For example, Could chanting the Medicine Buddha mantra be sending a sort of healing/alleviating effect to our energy channels and in that way, replicating the healing in our physical bodies?pastor answered:Dear Lo,
Nice to see you back here. Yes, chanting mantra definitely effects our energy bodies. Mantras themselves are the form of the Buddhas in sound vibrations. Chanting mantras helps to affect energetical changes within our body for a particular purpose.
Each mantra of a deity has a particular benefit that we receive when chanting. For example, Medicine Buddha is healing & long life. Manjushri is wisdom and intelligence. However, these are just the immediate benefits from their practice. But each deity practice is capable of leading us all the way to enlightenment.
As we recite mantras, the vibrations or energy of that particular mantra pervades our energy body, effecting a change associated with that particular mantra.
Here are some tips on how to chant mantras correctly: https://www.kechara.com/chanting-mantras-correctly/
Here is a fantastic teachings on mantras by Tsem Rinpoche: https://www.kechara.com/chanting-mantras-correctly/
Of course, just simply reciting mantras has an effect, but if you engage in mantra recitation with focus and as part of the practice of that particular deity, the benefits are definitely much stronger. I hope this helps.
Thank you
April 11, 2024 20:37
Lo asked:if the earth were to not exist, would the "human realm" and "animal realm" be completely eliminated from the wheel of samsara?pastor answered:Dear Lo,
Thank you for your very interesting question. If the earth stopped existing, the human realm and animal realm would not be completed eliminated from samsara. This is because we are only talking about one planet called earth. According to Buddhism there are many, many more planets or what are called "World Systems" in the universe, not just our planet earth. Buddhist cosmology extends far beyond just our planet.
The six realms then, cover all sentient beings in existence, this include life on other planets, and therefore covers what we might call 'alien' life forms that are not of our planet. So on other planets, you have physical beings, just like us. They fall into either the human or animal realms as well. They may not physically look like us, but their experiences and the sufferings they have are the same as those of the human and animal realms. For example, we feel physical pain and pleasure, those on other planets who fall under the human realm category would feel physical pain and pleasure too. Same with emotions, levels of intellect between the human realm and animal realm, etc.
An example of different world systems is the story of the Buddha Tara. It is well known that she achieved enlightenment, not on our planet earth but on another world system. Another example, highlighting this is the Sutra Dispelling Darkness in the Ten Directions, which you can find here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/prayers-and-sadhanas/sadhana-prayers.html#chokchu This sutra is commonly recited to dispell obstacles related to travelling and safety while travelling. It references quite a few world systems and the enlightened beings who have manifested there.
The only way that the human and animal realms would be eliminated from samsara, is not that a single planet would cease to exist, but that all sentient beings become enlightened. That is why the enlightenment of all sentient beings is the aim of the Mahayana tradition, to which Tibetan Buddhism belongs.
I hope all of this answers your question.
April 10, 2024 20:53
Lisa asked:Hello Pastors:
I will visit Thailand soon and I knew that Thai People that they are very devoted to Buddha but beside of this, they also worship many many gods.
I have one questions about one famous site in Thailand called Erawan Chapel:
They worship Four-faced Bhrama called Phra Phrom and how do you think about this God? Is he mundane or supramundane Dharmapala? Is it safe to make a prayer or a wish infront of Him?
I have been practice and prayer to Lord Dorje Shugden for long time and sure that, I don't know any prayer to Phra Phrom or any deities outside Gelug Traditions.
So, can I use a pray to lord Tsongkhapa and a pray to lord Shugden infront of Phra Phrom?
Thank you so much.pastor answered:Dear Lisa,
Thank you for your question. Within Buddhism, one of the tenets of the faith is to only take refuge in those beings who are enlightened. As I am sure you are already aware, the god realm is one of the six realms of samsara, and sentient beings are born within these realms endlessly until and unless they become enlightened.
As you mentioned Phra Phrom is Four-Faced Brahma, who is a god. He is neither a mundane or supremundane Dharmapala. There may be others gods with the same name as Brahma, but Four-Faced Brahma/Phra Phrom is a worldly god. However, he is a very high-level god who is very much respected, but not prayed to in the sense of going to him for Refuge.
While this particular shrine is very famous as it is said he grants wishes, petitioners who go to him must promise to fulfil certain offerings, etc., if their prayers are fulfilled. If their wishes are fulfilled and the promised offerings not made on time, it is also well-known that they will be struck with misforunte because he has become angry at them. This shows, he is a worldly god, still in samsara although very high-level and very powerful. The enlightened beings on the other hand, do not get any with practitioners, because they have no anger.
However, given this, of course you can still visit the shrine. You can even make the traditional offerings that are available there, such as flowers, fruits, etc. This is not the same as making offerings to the enlightened beings, nor does it generate merit. It is more like giving a gift to someone you respect. You are basically paying respect to him.
If you are strong in your Buddhist practice, when there you would not ask him for anything, make any wishes, etc. You are simply giving him offerings as a mark of respect. When there, you can pray to Lama Tsongkhapa, Dorje Shugden, whichever enlightened being you like, but you are not praying to Four-Faced Brahma, but reciting the prayers of the enlightened beings. This will help bless the shrine itself with the energies of the enlightened beings, as well as yourself, just like reciting prayers to the Buddhas would naturally bless you and environment when recited normally.
I hope this answer helps.
April 9, 2024 13:37
Lee asked:Hello Pastors!
I have questions about:
For some circumstance due to images of Lord Setrap too wrathful for few person and they not used to this images yet.
Could we share the images of lord Tshangpa Karpo for this kind of person to worship and practice with reciting lord Setrap's mantra daily? Is it ok? As i knew lord Tsangpa is peaceful form of lord Setrap.
Therefore, we could see lord Tshangpa same as lord Setrap, couldn't we?
Thank you so much.pastor answered:Dear Lee,
Thank you for your question. Yes, you are correct that Tsangpa Karpo is the peaceful form of Lord Setrap. However, the form, the nature of the practice, the mantra, etc is different. While it is not wrong for a person to have Tsangpa Karpo on their altar and recite Setrap's mantra and/or prayers. It wouldn't be as effective as having the actual image of Setrap on the altar and engaing in the practice.
Traditionally, if you are engaging in the practice, you would have an image of that deity on the altar. While all the enlightened beings, whether in their meditational deity form or protector forms are all one and the same, the practice and the nature of the practice differs. So it's better to have an image of the actually deity/protector that you are practising on your altar, to 1) create merit in relation to making offerings to that deity or protector and 2) to act as a focal point for your practice.
Traditionally, for Dharma protectors, the images were covered when placed on the altar, one reason being that they are wrathful and not everyone is used to that. So perhaps you can give them an image that is covered.
Alternatively, if Setrap's form or mantra is too wrathful for them, perhaps a more peace deity that has similar protective qualities would be better for them. Such deities include Lama Tsongkhapa or even Green Tara. These are meditational deities rather than Dharma protectors, but they can have the same protective qualities as a Dharma protector when practiced well. But obviously this would depend on why that person was practicing Setrap in the first place. I hope this helps.
If you would like more private advice regarding this, you can email us at care@kechara.com, referencing this question and our reply. Hope this helps. Thank you.
April 8, 2024 11:17
Jay asked:What are the requirements, prerequisites, commitments and vows for Hayagriva practice? I recieved Hayagriva Empowerment from my root guru but he’s been slow to tell me what all the vows, commitments, prerequisites and requirements for the practice?
You all have such detailed and specific answers for Dorje Shudgen, Yamantaka and Vajrayogini; I was wondering what if there was a unique or different answer for Hayagriva;
Thank youpastor answered:Dear Jay,
Thank you for your question. As you have received empowerment into this incredibly powerful practice and therefore have a guru-disciple connection with your root guru, you should make offerings and request him/her to explain more about the vows, commitments, etc. This would be best. Sometimes, gurus adapt the commitments to suit the students, give the empowerment as a blessing without commitments, etc. So, we cannot comment on the exact vows, commitments, prerequisites and requirements as this will depend on the guru who gave you the empowerment.
That being said, there are also many different practices of Hayagriva, according to various lineages and even with the lineages there are versions of the practice belonging to the lower tantra classification and the higher tantra classification, so the vows and commitments, etc., also differ according to type of tantra.
In general for the requirements and prerequisites you can follow the general information on the following articles, minus those that refer to Vajra Yogini's practice specifically:
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/inspiration-worthy-words/starting-on-vajra-yogini-now.htmlhttps://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/vajrayogini-the-powerful-divine-red-lady.html
These are generally having strong guru devotion, and (if you are from the Gelug tradition) study and practice of the Lamrim & other teachings. If you are from another lineage, the teachings may be different. You will also need to have completed some of the Ngondro practices or Preliminary Practices which are extended retreats. But again, all of this would depend on the guru who gave you the empowerment.
If the empowerment you received is a lower tantra type of Hayagriva empowerment, then you would need to keep your refuge and bodhisattva vows as they would have been given as part of the empowerment.
If the empowerment you received is a higher tantra type, then you would need to hold tantric vows in addition to the refuge and bodhisattva vows. You can read more about the vows here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/students-friends/vows-the-roots-of-all-attainments.html
While we do have all of this information available on this website, it is better to request your guru to give you teachings on what the commitments are, if any, of the empowerment you received. You should take the information here as a basis to educate yourself on what they are, but in terms of practice, this is something that only your guru who gave you the empowerment can tell you.
I hope this helps you a little.
Dear blog friends, you can submit your photos to this section by sending an email to tblogpics@gmail.com. Include your message in the "Subject" field (up to 250 characters only). Be sure to include your name in the subject field too!
3 days ago
Pastor Seng Piow guides us on the flow of Dorje Shugden puja, its benefits, significant of Chanting the names of Manjushri and also explaining the dedication for the sponsors and to those in need before we start the puja as we have 2 newcomers today.
4 days ago
Two Pastors in da house! Double the merits, double the happiness. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
1 week ago
Mr. Cheah Fook Wan offered lights and incense to The Three Jewels prior to the puja in Ipoh. (KISG - Kin Hoe)
1 week ago
Kechara Ipoh Study Group has carried out Mother Tara prayer recitations on Sunday afternoon in Ipoh. (KISG- Kin Hoe)
3 weeks ago
Powerful Dorje Shugden puja @ Jalan Seang Tek, Penang. Every Saturday, 3 pm. Remove obstacles and grant blessings to fulfil wishes. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta. 6th April 2024
4 weeks ago
Rejoice to the volunteers (also kind sponsors) who cleaned the Gyenze Chapel and made abundant offerings to Gyenze. ~ Alice
4 weeks ago
Offered beautiful flowers abundantly to Gyenze. ~ Alice
4 weeks ago
Offered beautiful flowers abundantly to Gyenze. ~ Alice
1 month ago
Our weekly Dorje Shugden Puja @ 23/3/2024 . William, as the umze is seen here burning incense powder as we are about to recite the Sangsol Prayer to Dorje Shugden composed by Ganden Serkong. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
1 month ago
And here's Mr Wong of KSK Ipoh who dropped by to pray and offered some donation to the Chapel. Kechara Penang Study Group. Pic by Siew Hong & uploaded by Jacinta.
1 month ago
Today's puja (16/3/2024) ended around 420pm, Jacinta was the umze of the day. Pic by Siew Hong. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
1 month ago
Group photo taken after the last session, sealed with King of Prayers. Come and join us next time! Sayonara - 9-10th March 2024 - Kechara Penang DS Retreat by Jacinta.
1 month ago
Abundance altar! Fruits, flowers, Mee Koo (traditional Penang buns), Bee Hoon, sourdoughs and snacks are some of the offerings to Rinpoche, Buddhas & Bodhisattvas. Kechara Penang Dorje Shugden Retreat 9-10th March, 2024 by Jacinta.
1 month ago
Siew Hong, one of retreatants and an active member of Kechara Penang group proudly presented her torma to be used during the Kalarupa puja. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
1 month ago
Torma making was taught by Pastor Seng Piow and held one day before the retreat. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
1 month ago
Penang Dorje Shugden Retreat cum Puja, 9-10th March 2024 led by Pastor Seng Piow with 12 retreatants. Uploaded by Jacinta
2 months ago
The celebration ended with a Dorje Shugden puja, dedicated to all the sponsors, our loved ones and as well as for the happiness & good health for all sentient beings. May Rinpoche return swiftly too and taking this opportunity wishing all Happy Chinese New Year and Gong Xi Fa Cai from all of us, Kechara Penang Study Group. Uploaded by Jacinta.
2 months ago
Seen here, Pastor Seng Piow set off firecrackers - welcoming of the upcoming year with enthusiasm and positive energy. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
2 months ago
In this pic, Pastor Seng Piow is sharing Dharma with newbies ~ Sharyn's friends. It's always good to make light offerings at the beginning of new year. By making light offerings, you are able to dispel the darkness of ignorance and achieve wisdom. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
2 months ago
One the day of Losar (new lunar year), it is always beneficial for Buddhist practitioners to get together in making abundant offerings to Buddhas on the altar to usher in goodness, prosperity and well-being of our loved ones. It's more auspicious this year as Losar and the Chinese New Year begin on the same date, 10th Feb, 2024. Back in Penang, our Kechara members came together to decorate the altar with abundance offerings for Dorje Shugden puja @3pm. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
3 months ago
Mr. Dared Lim was offering water bowls on behalf of Kechara Ipoh Study Group. (Kin Hoe)
3 months ago
Jun from Ipoh was offering mandarin oranges to Mother Tara and The Three Jewels. (Kin Hoe)
3 months ago
Prior to our puja in Ipoh, Mr. & Mrs. Cheah Fook Wan were preparing for the offerings to the Buddhas. (Kin Hoe)
3 months ago
On Sunday afternoon, Kechara Ipoh Study Group has carried out Mother Tara prayer recitations in Ipoh. (Kin Hoe)
3 months ago
Some of the best shots taken during Thaipusam in Penang. Swee Bee, Huey, Tang KS, Nathan, Choong SH and Jacinta volunteered. Wai Meng came all the way from KL to help out. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
3 months ago
Simple yet powerful ally ~ Bhagawan Dorje Shuden. Kechara Penang Study Group consists of Chien Seong, Hue, Choong SH, Tang KS, Swee Bee and Jacinta. Wai Meng came all the way from KL to help out. Uploaded by Jacinta.
3 months ago
Thaipusam in Penang. Some of the best shots. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta
3 months ago
Nothing beats having a sacred audience with our lineage lamas. It's not selfie or wefie, but we have the best 'groufie'!!! 20th Jan 2024, Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
3 months ago
Welcoming our lineage Gurus to our Penang Chapel today! Pastor Seng Piow explained the significance of having Guru Tree and introduced to us our lineage lamas, Buddhas, deities, protectors and etc.
4 months ago
Umze for the day was Siew Hong. She's just been with us for slightly more than a year now but she's proven her capability in leading the puja. Our Penang group members are so proud of her and her commitment in attending the weekly puja. Despite being eloquence and smart, she has beautiful chant as well. When she leads, make sure you are there to hear her chant for yourself! Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
4 months ago
Umze for the day was Siew Hong. She's just been with us for slightly more than a year now but she's proven her capability in leading the puja. Our Penang group members are so proud of her and her commitment in attending the weekly puja. Despite being eloquence and smart, she has beautiful chant as well. When she leads, make sure you are there to hear her chant for yourself! Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
4 months ago
Tara Recitation is on now at KISG - Wai Meng
4 months ago
Photo from Wan Wai Meng
4 months ago
A sea of yellow ~usually in Tibetan Buddhism yellow represents growth. We prayed that our Penang group will grow in terms of people, wealth and attainments too. _/_ Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
4 months ago
After Dorje Shugden puja @3pm, we had Rinpoche's Swift Return puja too. We laughed as Sis Swee Bee was commenting that Tang should smile ~ here's the reason why we laughed. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta Goh
4 months ago
4 months ago
Today's (9/12/2023)Dorje Shugden puja led by Gordon. Kechara Penang Study Group by Jacinta.
4 months ago
4 months ago
5 months ago
Dharma sharing by Hue before we proceeded with DS puja & Rinpoche Swift Return puja. Hue is one of the long time Kechara Penang members and he comes to puja regularly. He shared that he truly believes that Dorje Shugden and Rinpoche always there guiding him. He shared how sometimes DS will give him hints to avert troubles ahead or to alert him when he 'misbehaved'. Hope many will come to know more about this powerful Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden aka DS. Having Dorje Shugden is like having a powerful ally that will protect us day and night. Just trust Him and have faith. Kechara Penang Study Group, 25/11/2023 by Jacinta.
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This is a cool list of animals with unique abilities, strengths and characteristic. Despite some with very uncommon looks that could be appalling to other species, but it might be their strength or appeal among its own kind; like the soft-shell turtle or the Proboscis monkey. I guess the same could be said for human; everyone possess different abilities, strengths and characters. Therefore no single criteria can fully / truly describe one person nor can it be used as a general reference of all people. I hope what I am saying make sense. Thanks for sharing.
Very interesting❤
Wow! Thank you for these incredibly amazing facts Beatrix! I can’t resist repeating some of them. Didn’t know that-
– Ostriches can run faster than horses, and hippos faster than humans!
– A dog’s nose prints act like human fingerprints, for identification!
– The flea can jump 200 times its own height, equivalent to a man
jumping the Empire State Building in New York!
– On the other hand, elephants are the only animals that can’t jump!
– Two tigers never have the same stripes!
– The donkey can see all its four legs at all times!
– Sharks are immune to cancer!
– The colour red doesn’t really make a bull angry -they are colour-blind
to red!
– The ever elegant swan has over 25000 feathers on its body!
It just goes to show how unique and special each being is!
Wow….. Thank you Beatrix for sharing this amazing information. Some of the animals are quite common. Means, we can easily see them from TV, some petting zoos, or zoos, but didn’t know the amazing facts about them! For example, ostrich. Which was quite famous in KL a couple of months ago, where an ostrich ran on Federal Highway 🙂 Didn’t know that they can run faster than horses. But sadly, their eyes are bigger than their brain.
But it’s really amazing to know how animal evolved to suit the changes of environment and their habitat. For example for polar bear and siberian husky, if they don’t grow in this way, maybe they won’t be able to survive in artic. It’s how amazing every individual characteristic, their appearance, their behavior, that’s all combine and make them unique.
Thank you 🙂
Very cool to learn about the various species of animals and what is unique about them. Thanks Beatrix.
Thank you Beatrix for sharing these interesting fun facts about animals. truly amazing knowledge to learn about these facts.:)
#64. Clownfish,#48. Octopus,#11. Snail,#75. Hercules beetle,#50. Mantis shrimp,#47. Star-nosed mole. Just to name a few of the ones that caught my interest. Great write up Beatrix! Keep it up 🙂
FUN FACTS….the diversity of lives!!
IT took 2 billion years for lives to evolved from single cell life to lives as we know it today and yet the diversity and abilities of lives still boggles our mind. It shows how wonderful live is but also how ignorant we are.
All animals and plants along with it’s abilities and characteristics evolved according to Darwinian law of natural selection and of the survival of the fittest, conditioned by the natural environment and ecology where the species live or grow. This law naturally selects the best adapted species to thrive and be propagated in that particular environment; resulting in an amazing array of abilities highlighted by Beatrix.
Thank you Beatrix. I really enjoyed this post. It really opens up my mind.
Dear Beatrix,
Thank you for these amazing informations! Animals are, like you wrote, equal and have rights. We should never look down on them.
I agree, dogs are very loveable and need time and care. I grew up with dogs and it was fun. Only 4 years ago, I have discovered my love for cats. They have their character but are very sweet and smart.
I love the pictures!
Thank You Rinpoche for creating such an amazing and educational platform via this blog!
Thank you Bea for the lovely compilation.
There were so many information that caught my attention so I dont know which one to start with.
The most disturbing and pitiful are Chinese softshell turtles and Hyenas. Cannot imagine what karma to be born like that.
The one I laughed at, was the seahorse. OMB!! I cannot imagine myself going that ‘fast’!
I must have been a goldfish in my previous life and in this life, still a ‘goldfish’ trapped in a human body… lol
All of them are unique and special. Whether they are animals or not, we should always respect and treat them well.
Thank you Beatrix for these pictures and facts. Indeed there is so much that we (or rather I) do not know about these animals.
It’s nice to have young people like you who care so much about animals, and I love these beautiful pictures very much!
Animals are sentient beings are beings with consciousness and like us, deserve happiness and respect too.
Thank you for sharing in this article about the extraordinary friends on earth..i think there must be a reason for everything…why do birds have wings & fish have tails.? This makes me went in search for explanations…Why is that the ostrich eyes are so big ? Do you know that the ostrich eye is 5 cm in diameter and bigger than its brain ? …well the eyes is so big that it can easily see if there are predators around ….It’s also the same for giraffes with long neck so that it can see far to check for predators but with a long neck its advantage is that it can easily reach high up a tree for leaves to eat ..This article is really interesting and amazing.Thank you Beatrix.
Thanks Beatrix for posting this 80 animals photos. I can feel that they are in freedom. All this photos really help me gaining more knowledge on animal kingdom. I am so impressed by photo no 80,Chinese soft shell turtle because it can pee via mouth.
We should treat animals like our family members.We must show compassion and kindness to animals. This is what we want in Kechara .
Thanks Rinpoche.
With folded hands
Jason
Thanks for the write-up. Reminds me of the old radio program “Kee Huat Fantastic Facts”.
I like the one on scorpions – NO. 3. For someone who loves their alcohol, to be reborn as one would be such a nightmare. Imagine, one drop and you’re dead from your own folly.
No. 35, the seahorse is a surprise. My assumption was that it would be quite a fast swimmer if it wanted to. I mean, it’s a sea ‘horse’ and in the cartoon “Aquaman” he rode a seahorse to battles and rescues. How when we are ignorant, we will believe anything and stick by it as sacred truth!
There are so many others that are unique and interesting whilst some are scary. Goes to show the diversity of the animal kingdom or animal realm. All those unique qualities are what help them survive their environment.
Thank you for sharing such interesting facts.
Hi Fong,
If I’m not mistaken, the diversity is the result of our karma. All these animals have also had countless previous lives, and the unique combination of their karma has led them to take rebirth in various parts of the animal kingdom with different physicalities which have adapted to their environment.
Can you imagine being stuck in the deepest darkest part of the ocean for decades like one of those deep sea angler fish (picture below) or in the cold and barren Artic as a polar bear? o_O
And that’s in the animal kingdom! Even in the human realm, there are so many different forms of existence physically speaking. Some of are born without limbs, some are born with limbs but without intact mental faculties. Some are born in places where it is super hot, and some people are born in places where it is super cold.
The fact we can live in a place where there are no climatic extremes, where we have physical and mental faculties mostly intact (to the point they don’t present obstacles to our learning) is incredible if you consider the very high chance we actually stood of being reborn in a place with weather extremes, physical disabilities or mental disabilities.
We really should make the most of the chance we have and not make excuses to do more, because making excuses is just making obstacles for ourselves which we don’t need to have!
Anyway, I kind of went off tangent haha this was a real neat post. I already knew a couple of these, like the one about the flamingo (something about their oesophagal muscles not being very strong), the flea and the elephant (they don’t have knees). But like you, I did also like the scorpion one. And the ligers and tigons one, though I think they are sterile because of the interspecies mating…just like how when donkeys and horses mate, their offspring are sterile too.
Going through this article and learning interesting facts about 80 different animals has certainly made my Sunday a great and knowledge full one.
To be honest, a lot of the facts here surprised me such as the fact that a blue whale’s tongue is heavier than most elephants, sharks are immune to cancer, polar bear furs are actually not white and so many more!
Animals are sentient beings who like us have feelings, if we hurt them they feel pain and if we treat them with love and care, they would feel loved.
Thank you Beatrix for doing a very good research on these animals!
Wow what a intensive search on 80 different animals. Have always been a avid lover on animal discovery channel and understand all about animals. There are one or two species shown in there that I never once seen before.
In Tsem Rinpoche Blog we can practically learn almost everything.
🙂
Cool job. Keep it up Beatrix.
Do not keep a pet if you feel that you’re not responsible enough or you do not have the time and commitment to do so. Be responsible….
Is true they need more time to accompany them, walk, play, bath and etc….
Not just keep inside cage, give foods and water only….
Please treat animal equal…
Thanks Beatrix Ooi for sharing…..
Yes Wooi Shen, I could not agree more! And in addition to what you’ve said, we should also try to avoid zoos as much as possible, and anywhere else that traps wild animals.
If the animals were born and raised in captivity, that’s another story because they won’t be able to survive if they were released into the wild.
But for animals who are captured and trapped in a zoo, they should’ve been left in the wild. It’s the best place to study and learn about them, which is their natural habitat.
Thank you for your comment! I hope you will always keep speaking up for animal rights and help to raise awareness for responsible pet care among your friends and whoever else you meet!
Thank you Beatrix for the sharing. It’s such an interesting post on animals. The more we human know about the animals the more we feel how amazing they are. Haha, don’t ever think only human are special and amazing, or thinking of using animals for our interest – to work for us, to provide entertainment, for trasnportation, for medical experiment, as food and etc…
Thank you Beatrix for sharing this interesting and informative post. 🙂
There are many animals have their special characteristic that I know now after read your post.
Amazing goats and octopus have rectangular pupils which allow them to see nearly 360 degrees around themselves. Octopuses have nine brains — one central brain, eight at the base of each arm, for movement control — and blood the color blue from a protein called hemocyanin.
Thank you Rinpoche and the writers team.
Thank you Beatrix Ooi for such a informative write up about animals. We as a human I think for least of it we should respect all these animals who are very different from us at least we do not kill them because we are not the any being who live in this planet.
Thank you, Beatrix. Learning about the animal kingdom got me thinking the sky is the limit. What we think is impossible is truly possible for some other beings.
Example, I can’t imagine how certain animals such as the Arctic fox can survive temperatures as low as -60 degrees Fahrenheit while I myself suffer at just 20 degrees. LOL. I guess this is because the human realm and animal realm is just different.
As a human being, we have different limitations in physiques but not the mind. Animals cannot think in a cognitive manner like we do. Irregardless, animals do feel pain and emotions. They deserved to be treasured and left unharmed.
Good researched information, Beatrix. Many facts I didn’t know of until now. Some light comments instead of the usual boring ones. ?
Love,
Dad
#21 Sharks are immune to cancer.
I read of this many years ago that scientists were trying to find out the secret. But I guess they are still unsuccessful or maybe commercial politics has the upper hand.
#31 Starfish don’t die of old age.
Then how or what do they die of? Being eaten by predators?
#33 Hyenas regularly eat the faeces of other animals.
Eeeewww…I didn’t know of this.
#40 A mole can dig a tunnel 300 feet long in just on night.
Imagine if there’s a giant mole…the KL Smart Tunnel would have taken just days to be dug.
#59
Sea otters like to hold each other’s paws when sleepingso they don’t drift apart.
Awwww…I scratch your back, you scratch mine.
#63
Howler monkey – as the loudest land animal on Earth, they can be heard 3 miles away.
Who needs a bullhorn?
#69 A hedgehog heart beats 300 times a minute on average.
How many times when they’re in love? ??
#80 The Chinese soft shelled turtle is the first animal known to pee via its mouth.
Gross yet sad. Having the karma to be reborn as one. Long life, no speech but instead pee breath.
Hahahahaha PHO, what a unique comment from you! – “Gross yet sad. Having the karma to be reborn as one. Long life, no speech but instead pee breath.”
一个人能够拥有些兴趣爱好是一件好事,但是也得看个人的喜欢程度有多深才能将自己的爱好延续下去,不然就造成伤害,也是徒劳无功。
饲养宠物是一个责任,不是爱好,不是现在想要养就去买回来,不想要就把丢了这是非常不负责任,所以对动物都有感情,会感到开心,或是不开心,要人爱护,关心它们。
您養的是一个生命,而不是一个爱好!要有责任把它们照顾好,不要遗弃它们,
用仁爱之心善待生命,我们应该尊重所有的动物
This is a very interesting article and thanks for sharing Beatrix. Never knew of so many capabilities that the animals have.
This is just truly amazing. Imagine each individual animals have their own ‘special ‘ characteristics.
These are things which we didn’t know and it just blow your mind away on some of the nature of the animals.
Can you imagine the Horror Frog breaking its own bones to create claws.
Gold Fish has a memory of up to 5 months
These is so awesome. With this post I’m sure more people can be more aware of their pets needs and give them the love.
Thank you Beatrix for the interesting post.
This is a truly amazing deck of fun facts about animals. I enjoy reading it very much as well as learning a great deal about animals that I never knew before. For example:
1. Sharks cannot develop cancer – wow! I hope this is NOT the reason why people love shark fins.
2. Oyster can change gender – what an ability!
3. Octopuses have 9 brains – I wish we can too, then we can multitask better.
Thank you Rinpoche and Beatrix for this article. It is very entertaining.
Humbly, bowing down,
Stella Cheang
Dear Stella,
I’m glad that you enjoyed reading the article, the animal kingdom is fulled with amazing creatures which some of them, we have not even heard of. I too find the octopus fact very interesting, if only we can have that too hehe!
Thank you Beatrix for compiling so many cute animals with each of their characteristic and interesting facts not known by myself hehe.
We should treat all animal as equal, as they same like us has feelings, shares similar DNA, and are intelligent.
This article will be good for parents to show different animal facts, and teaching their children to love animals and treat each sentient being as equal.
Dear Frederick,
You’ve brought up a very good point there, parents should start educating their children about animals from a very young age to get them familiarised with the fact that animals are sentient beings too. They have not done anything to mankind and in my opinion, we should be fair and treat everyone living on this planet equally. 🙂
Very nice and interesting Beatrice, I have learned so much from this article. Fun to read and me me scrolling hehehe….
Dear Helene,
I’m very glad that you enjoyed the article and have learnt something from it, these animals are very interesting!
What an interesting article on things that I didn’t know about most of the animals. Imagine the Chinese soft-shell tortoise urinating through its mouth or getting poison by a bird (hooded Pitohui) or elephant shrew is actually related to the elephant. And most of all settling the argument of the Zebra being black with white stripes or white with black stripes.
Thanks Beatrix for writing this fun article.
Dear aunty Sofi,
I’m glad that you enjoyed the article, animals are extremely unique and it’s fun to learn about them 🙂
若要我选擇养一种宠物,我会首选狗。
小时候住在乡下地方,家里养了一隻菜狗,我们要去上学,需走一段好長的路才能到大路口,而它就会每天一大清早默默陪伴我们走到路口、看我们走远了!才回去,中午放学时,它又会準时守候在路口等我们回家,风雨不改l 直今我还是很怀念它,但愿它来世得人身,得聞佛法.其實动物你对它好,它们都能感受到.也不会出卖你,不管它是兇猛或馴良。那些喜欢吃野味的人,只要四脚朝天都殺来吃,我覚的不可思議,这些人并不晓的它们也会流血?也会痛?也有感觉?有一句偈语非常有意思「千百年来碗里羹,怨深似海悢难平,预知世上刀兵刧,但听夜半屠門声」。
Yoke Chim,的確,動物是有靈性的,只要我們對它們好, 它們一定
會感覺得到。 有時候, 動物會比那些不知感恩的人還來得好,因為至少它們不會做出甚麼傷天害理的事。 人類確實有很多地方必須向動物學習, 動物也是萬物之靈, 並沒有甚麼地位比誰高或類似的說法。謝謝妳的分享。:)
测試!
Thank you Beatrix for these fun facts about these animals. The information is really cool. What I have never thought about is the information for the goldfish. That really shocked me. I always thought they only have the memory of 3 seconds.
I am also shocked to see that the Chinese soft shell turtle pees from its mouth. I find that weird and slightly disgusting. But I guess what is considered as disgusting will be only be defined by how we perceive things. Thank you for sharing these interesting fun facts about the animals.
Dear Vinnie,
I used to think that about the goldfish too! It’s scary how myths can affect us. In society nowadays, we really can’t afford to follow other blindly, having knowledge is very crucial.
Such an interesting post, Beatrix. There are so many interesting facts that never crossed my mind and I am glad you share them with us. I always remember that goldfish have a short memory few seconds, that’s why they can live in a small glass tank amusing themselves with the views which always seems new and interesting for them. I mean few seconds of memory means things are always new to them. Hence, we always use “a goldfish memory” on someone who had bad memory, hehe! Thank you kindly for sharing with us.
Dear Pastor Adeline,
I’m glad that the article was interesting, I have never knew that goldfish have such a long term memory span because what I have been told in the past was, goldfish’s memory span can only last up to 7 secs or so. I’m glad that the myth is debunked. 🙂
So now that we know goldfish have a 5 month memory, that little bowl seems extremely cruel…
Thank you Beatrix! This article is very entertaining! I still can’t imagine how to pee through the mouth.
Thank you again,
Boon
I’m glad you enjoyed the article Boon! Hope to see you around more often! 🙂 Have a great week ahead!
This post was so interesting to read! One of my favourite posts for sure!
I think for me, the most unbelievable fact that I didn’t know was that the snow leopard can jump up to 50 feet in a single jump. If I’m being honest I am not sure i believe this or not xD I mean, 50 feet is a long way up and i can’t see any animal that can do that. But i will search it up and get to the bottom of that.
The second most interesting fact in the post was that ferrets sleep up to 20 hours a day. Thats the life i wish i could have! A life with so little responsibilities that i can sleep and sleep and sleep! How great would that be??? Couldn’t think of a better way to spend my time.
Dear Julien,
I’m glad that you find this post interesting, I have too learnt a lot from it. The animal kingdom is just amazing, full of wonderful and beautiful creatures. Regarding the snow leopard, I too find it slightly impossible but apparently, they are that awesome! Ferrets are cute and yes, I agree that they have a pretty good life hehe!
The star-nosed mole use its nose better known as the Eimer`s organs with which this hamster-sized mole feels its way around. With the help of its Eimer’s organs, it may be perfectly poised to detect seismic wave vibrations.The mantis shrimp has two types of mantis shrimp. 1 is the smasher,its punch is so fast that water moves out of the way .2 is the spear it has mantis like claws but upside down .It ambushes its prey by stabbing it.the mantis shrimp`s eyes move indenpendently .thank you for sharing
Thank you for the extra information Aldan, they are very helpful 🙂 These creatures are very incredible indeed, they have the special abilities which we humans do not have. Mankind is not so superior after all 🙂 To read more about animal-related article: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/animals-vegetarianism
Dear jiejie Beatrix,
did u know that the Cassowary can swallow an apple hole.If u have time go to youtube and type; Animal Facts That Will Make You Feel Weird;
Dear Aldan,
Thank you very much for sharing, I never knew about that. I will definitely check it out! 🙂
Thank you jiejie Beatrix for posting this blog post . I have a pond and an aquarium full of fish and small little shrimp. And there is a lot I don’t know about animals . I only know the basics of animals but this is really cool!
Hello Hayden! I’m glad that you have learnt from this post, while I was doing the research, I have also learnt a lot because most of the facts listed here are the ones I have not heard or read about too. There’s a list of interesting animals related articles on the blog which you can go and read up at your free time 🙂 : https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/animals-vegetarianism
Dear Beatrix
Thank you for sharing this interesting articles. I am not an animal lover however i do not like to see animals in bad shape and ill treated. Once i was asked by my ex colleagues to have a dog as a companion. I said no as knowing my parents cannot accept it. Like what you said it is a responsibility and commitment as they are also sentient beings. They need care and love like all of us.
Not knowing some of the existence till i read this articles of yours. Some of are huge , weird and scary.
Keep it up.
Rgds
Cecilia Goh
Hello Cecilia,
I totally agree with what you have shared here, keeping a pet is a huge responsibility as it involves taking care something that’s alive, a sentient being. It’s definitely not something to be taken very lightly.
I’m glad you find the article interesting, hope to see you around more often. Have a great weekend! 🙂
Dear Bea,
Good job on this one. So many interesting facts that I didn’t know. Here’s one from me. Did you know that ostriches eat small pebbles/stones to help with their digestive system?
I really like the one about sea otters holding hands while sleeping. So cute!
Thank you for this post. I really enjoyed reading it. 🙂
Dear aunty Sharon,
Oh wow, I know some birds who eat pebbles to help with their digestion but I did not know that ostriches do the same thing as well. That’s amazing!
I find the sea otters really cute as well, this shows that animals are just like us, they need love and companions.
I’m glad you enjoyed reading the post, have a great weekend! 🙂
Thaank you so much Beatrix lah sharing such amazing facts, i learnt lots of new animals though. They are very mind blowing ones… creatures are created in unique ways. Some are really weird hehe. Thank you
Dear Mr. Pema,
I’m glad that you find the article interesting and educational, I myself have learnt a lot from this article. Animals are truly amazing creatures and yes, just likes humans, some are really weird hehehe! Have a great weekend! 🙂
Wow, the animal kingdom sure is absolutely fascinating! This page has so many interesting facts that i did not know about. Some of them however, i did, especially the one about the giraffe’s tongue. I remember a holiday in Kenya, during which i was able to feed a giraffe in the wild, and their tongues are really long and feel like sandpaper. That is one event that I’m not going to forget any time soon!
I really like the picture and fact about the sea otters. It is incredible to see that they do this and is very cute to see. It shows that animals are sentient beings, something that we all need to remember as Buddhist practitioners.
Giraffes do have very rough tongues! I remember when I was young, I went to the safari and there was a session where the public was allowed to feed the giraffes some bananas. When I saw their super long tongues, I backed down really quickly and did not dare to feed them. My brother did however, and the giraffe almost swallowed his hand, it was so funny hahaha!
The sea otters are truly cute, I agreed with what you have written, this goes to show that animals do have feelings 🙂
Glad you likes the article.
Like you, I also prefer dogs as my pets rather than any other animals. Since young, my family had dogs all our lives. We have received lots of protection from our dogs including their love and attention but taking care of them is huge responsibility that we cannot neglect, especially when we need to be away.
Anyhow, I thoroughly enjoyed reading all the many weird characters you shared on other animals which I didn’t know existed.
My particular favorites were ostrich roars like a lion. I would have mistaken them to a real lion’s roar. To get rid of scorpions were to place alcohol on them? Maybe not so cruel. Particularly cancer cannot affect sharks at all? Perhaps medical research can find out if that can help cure human cancer illness too. Lastly, the Chinese soft-shelled turtle can pee through its mouth? That’s rather grose.
DO keep up your writing as this was an interesting article to learn about on ‘weirdness’ of animals.
Thank you aunty May, I’m glad that you have enjoyed reading the article. I must say that the ostrich and shark ones were really interesting. It’d be exciting to hear an ostrich roar hehehe!
Dear Beatrix Ooi
Thanks for sharing this interesting article.I didn’t know at all till i read it.
Do agree with you that kindness is the greatest wisdom.
Thanks again.
Hello Sam, I’m glad that the article was helpful 🙂 If you’re into animals, there’s a section on this blog that features a list of animals related articles- https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/animals-vegetarianism I hope you enjoy reading them, have a nice weekend! 🙂