From a Free Thinker to a Buddhist
Before I begin my story, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my guru, H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche for giving me this opportunity and platform to learn the Dharma.
I was brought up with a Taoist background, and since I was a child, I was told to pray to get my wishes fulfilled. For example, I would pray to get good grades in school, I would pray to win a lot of money when I gambled (occasionally during Chinese New Year), I would pray to strike the lottery and so on. I would offer a lot of joss sticks to the gods at the family altar and pray for all those things.
Then as I grew up, I realized that the Gods, Buddhas or celestial beings could not help me just through prayer alone. I figured that if everybody could get rich just by sitting at home and praying, then there would be no need for work. Hence, I stopped praying and began to idolize money. Money became my religion. I would only do things to benefit myself and maintain friends only if they were of benefit to me. I would limit my time with friends that did not benefit me in any way.
I was introduced to Kechara early in 2008 when I was looking for a part time job before Chinese New Year. My uncle is a longtime student of Rinpoche; he happened to visit from the UK and heard that I was looking for a part time job. So he introduced me to the Kechara Paradise outlet and I was hired on a part time basis. In my third month working in Kechara, I met Tsem Rinpoche for the first time and that meeting with Rinpoche totally blew my mind. He totally changed my long-held views on life and spirituality and turned my life around.
That month, we were having a roadshow in 1Utama shopping mall to showcase our statues and Himalayan items. Rinpoche dropped by to show his support and that was how I came to meet Rinpoche for the very first time. At that time, I didn’t know who or what a Rinpoche is but I did find his name quite ‘interesting’.
Somehow, Rinpoche knew I did not believe in Buddhism and so he used a skillful way to give me a teaching. He said that even though I can’t see the Buddha, that does not mean that the Buddha does not exist. This is just like electricity; we can’t see electricity but when we see the lights are turned on, it proves electricity does exist. Similarly, when we see the growing Sangha community and the temples, it proves the existence of Buddha, because without electricity, there would be no light and without the Buddha, there would be no Sangha. After listening to that sound logic, I was still stuck on the need for more proof that the Buddha existed. But it made me think deeper because what Rinpoche said made a lot of sense.
The following month while I was working in the office, Pastor Shin came knocking on the door. She said that Rinpoche had a gift for me. I was very surprised, not so much by the fact that I had received a gift but because I had barely worked in Kechara for three months and while most of the people in Kechara still didn’t know me, Rinpoche had already noticed me. Just imagine the CEO of a company giving a gift to a new staff that he only met once and who is still under probation. This had never happened before in any of my previous jobs (in fact, I think this would never happen in most companies!)
Pastor Shin then presented me with a briefcase so that it would be easier for me to carry my documents, files and notebooks around with me. This was my first time experiencing Rinpoche’s kindness and generosity. Rinpoche will always be Rinpoche and since the first day I got to know Rinpoche, he has always shown us kindness through his actions. He will always notice what people need and he will present that person with the most suitable gift. Rinpoche’s actions have totally undermined all my long-held beliefs and practices and I began to realize what I had done in the past was a waste of time as I was engaged in meaningless activities.
Rinpoche gathered the staff from every department to shop for food to store in their offices so that they would have something to eat when they were hungry
At the end of 2008, I was invited to observe the Liaison Council meeting (now known as the Board of Directors meeting) in Rinpoche’s residence. The meeting started around 10pm, which I initially thought would end very quickly since it was already so late, but the meeting unexpectedly ended around 5am. This was my first time attending such a long meeting. Although it was tiring, I felt really excited and fortunate to be able to participate in that meeting with Rinpoche. From what I can remember, they talked about the operations and updates of every department. Just imagine, with 13 departments, even if it took just 20 minutes per department, the meeting would have lasted at least 4-5 hours.
On top of that, the liaisons had to address human resource issues – how best to handle people with attitude problems and deal with those who had damaged the organization. They would discuss various ways to help that person overcome the issue and become better. This is unlike any other organization, where an employee with an attitude problem that damages the company would immediately be fired. But in Kechara, they are given a second chance to prove themselves. In fact, they are given many chances and Rinpoche would even assign certain Liaisons to counsel that person and guide him/her to improve their attitude so they can continue to practice the Dharma. During the meeting, Rinpoche would also always slip in a Dharma teaching that was relevant to the issue being discussed. That would help the group resolve the problem in the best possible way that is beneficial to everyone involved.
After the meeting, I told myself that this is so strange. They are a bunch of crazy people because everybody on the outside are just fighting against each other to gain fame, power and money, but here, they are fighting to help each other. This meeting was really an eye-opener for me and after hopping from so many jobs, finally I found where I want to be. This company is amazingly meaningful and Rinpoche is even more incredible.
In 2013, Rinpoche gathered 20 people across the various departments and presented us with snacks and food. Rinpoche will never let anyone in his life go hungry. Rinpoche loves to feed people and this is the nurturing side that he attributes to his upbringing and also because he knows what it feels like to be starving all the time
While working in Kechara Paradise, I read some Dharma books written by Rinpoche and watched his teaching videos. This broadened my understanding of Buddhism and changed my perception of spirituality, that it was not just about praying to fulfill our wishes and wanting things to go our way all the time. In one of the teachings, Rinpoche explained that we are already very greedy, thus we don’t need the Buddha to make us even more greedy with our selfish prayers. When we pray, we shouldn’t tell the Buddha what to do; we should instead humbly request for guidance and ask the Buddha to guide us through our difficulties.
In 2009, I was very fortunate to be selected to join a purchasing trip to Nepal. The trip was to acquire many new holy statues and various other items for Kechara Paradise. During the 10-day trip, Pastor Henry shared about Dharma Protectors and their functions, and we also visited a few holy temples in the Kathmandu Valley to make offerings and to learn more about Dharma.
In March 2010, I decided to take refuge with His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche and to officially begin my journey in Kechara as my spiritual path. In the process, I had to unlearn my past beliefs and to take to heart the new spiritual teachings of Rinpoche and Kechara.
Kechara Paradise has been a great platform for me to share the Dharma that I have learned from Rinpoche. For the past eight years in Kechara, I was glad to have been able to help many people overcome their problems by sharing what Rinpoche taught me. I was able to assist them in setting up their altars and to show them how to pray to the Buddhas with the correct motivation. This is the type of satisfaction that money can’t buy. Yes, I used to earn a lot more but there was never a single night that I felt as contented as the days I had spent in Kechara. I used to think that money is more important than anything else in the world but today, I actually feel that money is far less important and we should not focus on it so much. When we are too attached to money, it will corrupt us and create even more suffering. Dharma should be the most important aspect of our lives. These days, I feel a greater sense of security when I practice the Dharma than when I had more money.
Rinpoche said, “Never think that in a Dharma center, everyone will be holy-schmoly. As long as there are people, there will be politics.” But no matter what happens, my Dharma brothers and sisters will never betray me
I cannot thank Rinpoche enough for what he has given me all these years. Since the first day I met Rinpoche until today, his compassion and motivation has never wavered; he is always consistent in benefiting others. With such a great example from my Guru, I realized that no other path is more important than my spiritual path, and I want to spend my remaining days in Dharma and to do work that benefits others. I feel very happy whenever I see someone overcome their difficulties, hence in 2016, I requested Rinpoche’s permission to be ordained as a Buddhist Pastor so I can follow in Rinpoche’s footsteps to serve others and to benefit more people.
Rinpoche scarcely does anything for himself, it is always for others. Thank you Rinpoche for all you have done for others and for me.
This is a photo of me taken in front of a hospital. Just the night before, Rinpoche noticed that I was not feeling well and immediately arranged for his assistant to send me to the hospital for a full medical check up. Rinpoche is always concerned, kind and cares for everyone
This was taken during the Pastor Ordination Ceremony in October 2016. I was giving my first Dharma talk as a pastor
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Thank you Pastor Albert for sharing your spiritual journey. I find it very interesting. Rinpoche is ever so caring and kind. It is always inspiring to read the someone’s spiritual journey, especially someone we know personally. Thank you for taking on the pastoral role and dedicating your life to others. Wishing you all the best in your spiritual journey.???
Thank You Pastor Albert for sharing of your spiritual journey with us. It is Wow to me that how Rinpoche turned you into new leaf from money/benefit centric person to focus out person. That is power of Guru, Dharma and center. I was like you; I even particular choose to perform the ritual benefiting my wealth such as preparing the water for offering prior to weekly puja. It showed how narrow minded I was. Pastor Patsy was strongly encouraged me to blog chat and attending the Dharma class in KH. With blessing of Rinpoche, help from Pastors and senior Kecharians, my mind started focusing out to help others instead of thinking of myself only. That is how amazing of Guru, Dharma, and center. I always believe in One Center One Lama. Thank You Rinpoche for all these. Center is our home of Dharma, our power charging spiritual house. I would like to help as much as possible to my Center and my Guru.
Thank you Pastor Albert for sharing your spiritual journey. The pictures and stories described here brings back so much memories, of Rinpoche’s care and kindness proud that you have now become a Pastor and is serving many more people.
Thank you Pastor Albert for your sharing. The background you described before you encountered dharma is the story of most people. We are socially conditioned to equate material wealth with success in life, more so in our Asian society. Being rich means one can enjoy life, live comfortably and indulge in a lifestyle of luxury. This is everybody’s dream, usually. In the quest for wealth, we find that nothing is ever enough and we want more and more. Religion would be furthest from our minds.
For a person to come to a realisation that all this money chasing is futile and development of inner qualities and selflessness is more important, is truly remarkable because it goes against the grain.
Whether we engage in secular or Dharma work, it is not always easy and there will be many challenges. Thank you, Pastor Albert for such a candid sharing of your spiritual journey which not only serves as an inspiration but we can also draw strength from your sharing as we walk our own spiritual path. Thank you also for the more intimate glimpses of how Rinpoche continuously infuses Dharma knowledge onto everyone and showers people who he comes across with loving kindness and generosity. It is amazing that we are really so fortunate to have Rinpoche here to continue turning the wheel of Dharma. Rejoice in you taking on the pastoral role to assist in spreading Dharma and put into action your resolve of dedicating your life to serving others.
It is always inspiring to read the someone’s spiritual journey, especially someone we know personally. Most of the time, we are too busy to chit chat and understand each other more, therefore, this is the first time I heard about Pastor Albert’s journey.
As Pastor Albert said, Rinpoche is forever skilful in bringing Dharma to people. To me, Rinpoche is also very skilful in bringing Dharma knowledge to people. In my case, I had a lot of fix perceptions about Buddhism and Sangha, but within a short span of time, Rinpoche is able to break the perceptions and instil the genuine Dharma into me.
I wish Pastor Albert all the best if his spiritual journey, and continue the teaching & vision of Rinpoche of serving others.
Thank you Pastor Albert for your inspiring spiritual journey with the kindness and care of Rinpoche. I remember the first time I met Pastor Albert was when my family chanced upon Kechara Paradise in One Utama Shopping Centre. My husband was curious of the many Tibetan Buddha statues and various items. Pastor Albert was very kind and patient in answering our questions. From then this outlet was practically a place to visit during our weekend shopping day. When one of my office staff faced a problem of her son being disturbed, I rang up Pastor Albert for advice and he suggested that she attend the protector Setrap Puja at Kechara House (2). That was the start of our spiritual journey in Kechara. After the first attendance, it is my husband and I that became members and attended the various pujas regularly. So I credit Pastor Albert’s kindness and guidance for my being in Kechara under our compassion Guru, H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. I always see his love for Rinpoche reflected in his words and actions…this is the reason that made me curious to explore Rinpoche’s video teachings on Youtube. Thank you Pastor Albert and may you always remain strong in your faith and trust to lead more people into the compassion of our Guru.
Thank you Rinpoche for your love for all and for bringing us the precious Dharma and practices into our lives. May we all be blessed with the merits to realise the preciousness of our Guru and strive to fulfil his wishes for more to gain connection with his pure lineage teachings. _()_
Just like our Pastor Albert said, we will never be able to thank Rinpoche enough for all good things he has done for us, and given us all these years! Rinpoche has an unwavering compassion, motivation and consistency in helping and benefiting sentient beings. Many, many would earnestly pray and hope, if not this lifetime, but the next, and the next, if ever there will be the good Karma to be born a human being again, to be able to follow the golden footstep of our Bodhisattva Guru, Rinpoche, who works and lives solely for the sake of all beings! For own wretched self i am nothing, but of course the best thing that ever has happened to me was meeting Tsem Tulku Rinpoche! As what Pastor Albert said, “Rinpoche scarecely does anything for himself, it is always for others.” So you can see how lucky I was to be able to meet up with our Rinpoche! Frankly, this was the best gift that I can ever have in my life, because he had done so much good for my family and myself! Pastor Albert, if you can follow every actions done by our Rinpoche, and, like Pastor David said, even for just the amounts of generosity and kindnesses, you are truly following a “Buddha”. Om Mani Padme Hung.
Thanks Rinpoche and Pastor Albert for this great sharing of an inspiring spiritual journey.
Pastor Albert and I been knowing each other since 2009, before I join Kechara as a full time staff. What he told me is always consistent that to always work for Dharma, to serve others. He is also the one that tell me straight on the face that how my bad attitude affects others and I should change for the benefits of myself and others. I truly appreciate a Dharma brother like this, who always does his very best to help others.
About 3 weeks ago, my mom was in an ICU wad in a hospital, doctor told my family that my mom was in very critical stage and might not able to make it, that she might only have a few hours to live. My family was devastated. Pastor Albert kindly came after his busy working schedule to the hospital and did a blessing on my mom. He asked my family to go back to rest, and asked me to rest, and he stayed there to wait if there’s anything as he knew that the whole family was very tired. He waited from midnight to the next morning. We are glad that my mom survived the night. This is only one example of how kind he is. Pastor Albert always be there to serve no matter how tired he is.
I can’t say thank you enough to Pastor Albert for being such a walking inspiration. He was just like you and me, yet he takes Rinpoche and Dharma in him closely and live his life with it, be the light among us.
Thank you Pastor Albert.
Dear Albert,
This was a heartwarming account of your spiritual journey and its really nice to read about it. From what I read, I find that you are smart and that you also have a kind heart that you are not too aware of. I hope you will continue further in your Dharma career in spreading the Dharma and finding fulfilment as a pastor and as a part of Kechara. Just with the amount of generosity and kindness that Rinpoche had shown you, may you also show it unto many people who come to Kechara Paradise seeking assistance to solve their problems. All the best to you.
Dear Pastor Albert,
Thank you for sharing your spiritual journey. I always find it helpful and inspiring to read stories about other’s spiritual journeys as there will usually be some simple yet profound teaching. Your life story is a clear example of how loving money would not bring anyone everlasting happiness but quite the opposite. You have personally experienced contentment even though you have far less now financially, compared to the when you had a lot more previously.
Thank you for taking on the pastoral role and dedicating your life to others. Wishing you all the best in your spiritual journey.
I’ve known Pastor Albert Ratchaga since 2008. What I like about Pastor Albert is his sense of humour, patience and willingness to help others. I wish him all the best in his Pastorship and spiritual journey.
Thank you Pastor Albert for sharing your spiritual journey. I find it interesting. Rinpoche is ever so caring and kind. Pastor Albert’s dharma knowledge is also quite strong. Before he became a Pastor, whenever I visit Kechara Paradise, Pastor Albert would share and explain the dharma very well with me and my hubby. Pastor Albert is friendly and caring too. I remembered once when I was having backache and I went to Kechara Paradise in Sunwaymas, Pastor Albert took out a chair for me to sit and attached a lumbar support so that my back doesn’t hurt so much. Thank you very much Pastor Albert for your care. May Pastor Albert be able to benefit more people with the Dharma knowledge that you learnt from Rinpoche.
With folded palms,
Vivian
This is a very good and sincere sharing, Pastor Albert. It is so true that all the organisation will not accept a person who did mistake but Kechara is an organisation that will do the otherwise by retaining those who did wrong and do whatever they can to help and transform this person. So compassionate. This also means that everyone in Kechara team has the same motivation and that is to serve for the benefit of others although they may need to deal with uneasy people in the team and various challenges.
Appreciate Pastor for your time and dharma sharing to all of us so we can learn and change.
Well done Albert! You deserve to be in the platform you are in now and I wish you every success in your spiritual journey ahead.
Dear Pastor,
It is very interesting to read your spiritual path experiences.
It is true that when we go all the way with Dharma, we could benefit people by dharma and this could influent them in a good way.
I always see you nurtured a lot of people to Kechara by explaining to them politely and patiently with Rinpoche’s teaching. Your passion for dharma is great.
I like the description on Electricity and Buddha.
Thank you Pastor for the inspiration.
Regards
Freon
Rejoice to Pastor Albert….you have chosen your choice to join the many Pastors at Kechara as a Pastor.I am happy for you following the spiritual path of our Precious Guru.Thank you for sharing your sincere thoughts of the journey joining kechara.Wonderful journey from a free thinker to a Buddhist to serve and benefits others along your spiritual path. Rinpoche ‘s teaching have indeed changed many lives to be a better person.Mind transformation ,compassion caring kindeness,helpfullness and generosity through Rinpoche action or work , we learn from there one of those teachings.May Pastor, you will continue serving the good work and teachings of Rinpoche to more and more people then.
Thanks again Pastor Albert.
Thank you, Pastor Albert, for the sincere sharing for your amazing journey with Kechara and the inspiration to serve others because of Rinpoche’s teaching. Rejoice to you for the renunciation on material gains and given up on attachment to worldly desires. Rinpoche’s teaching is the fountain of Buddhism nectar that quenches our thirst for all secular needs and a huge force of motivation for us to work for the benefits of others. May Rinpoche’s teaching reach and benefit more people through your good work.