Ask The Pastors

Note: This section of H.E. Tsem Rinpoche’s blog is meant for Dharma questions or questions related to Kechara and our lineage. If the question is not relevant or out of our scope, we will respectfully request you to seek an answer on a more relevant platform. Before posting your question, we would also like to suggest that you look through some of the older posts (or do a search on this blog) before you post a question as your question may have been already answered in an older post.

Question asked by Paul Tcheuw

Your Eminence, you have indicated your desire to be humble, and yet Kechara is basically centered on you. Its relations with Ganden Shartze are rather distant in comparison, for example, to Namgyal Monastery and its overseas branches. And unlike Namgyal or the FPMT, which maintain stables of affiliated teachers, Kechara’s direction is largely determined by the pet projects and opinions of one person. I have even heard that you discourage your students from attending rival dharma centers. The result is a relatively narrow range of Gelugpa practice, and hundreds of followers vying to spend time with you. Have you thought this through? Is this structure really best for your students?

Reply by tsemtulku

Dear Paul,

Nice questions.

1. Kechara cannot be compared to any other centres in the world. Any centre cannot be compared with another centre. You have cultural, geographical, and mindset differences. Each lama/centre will have to work through these uniquely.

2.His Holiness the Dalai Lama has indicated he is a humble monk and wish to be humble, yet look at his activities and his word is the final word for me and many. Although I am very far from the Dalai Lama, when you work hard to open a centre and you have put your energies, youth, time, effort, resources into a centre and it is fledgeling, you have to keep a close watch to make it thrive. Would you let others raise your children when they are very young? Of course not. As your children grow, mature, and become adults they will come across many teachers in life and they are ready/stable for it. Anyone from Kechara can leave at any time. Some have left, many have stayed. It is ok.

3.My relations to Gaden Shartse is not distant. I have had a very close relationship with them for many years and raised tremendous amounts for their sacred projects. I am sure they are very grateful to me and Kechara for the tremendous service we have done for the sangha. And we have tremendous gratitude for being allowed to serve the sangha. I have brought over 280 students to Gaden Shartse and I still send students to Gaden Shartse from time to time. I do have visiting monks also, in fact one is coming soon. Visas, language barriers, permits, and culture add to some travel plans at times. Because of my presence in Malaysia and Singapore four other centres directly affiliated with Gaden Shartse has sprung up over the last decade. I rejoice in this. I do not wish to open centres in other parts of the world at this time although requested. I rather build a learning institution that will continue after my death rather than many centres dissolving.

4. FPMT no doubt is a great organization. But in the beginning decades ago, Lama Yeshe had to work very hard to get it to what it is now. The rules, regulations and procedures were all set out by him very firm and clear initially and everyone followed. It is only in the last two decades you see more and more teachers from Sera being invited to help with the many centres around the world as it is too much for a few persons to handle.

5. If you see Tsu chi organization which has over 800 chapters in the world is run, operated and conducted by one single nun in Taiwan. Her sacred name is Rev Chen Yen. Her centres/cafes/relief places throughout the world and here in Malaysia only carry her teachings/ practices and doctrine only yet they are not incomplete. It has worked out very well. That is her style. Same as was Mother Teresa’s. I like this style for the East.

6. I know of many other lamas and centres that are only affiliated with the teachings of their lama and not so much their Monasteries as it suits them. I know of lamas/centres who are affiliated with their Monasteries and that works too. There is no hard and fast rule. So I do not presume any nor judge.

7. Whatever structure I have set out for Kechara and my students is through 17 years of experience here in Malaysia. I’ve taught and travelled to so many dharma centres of all lineages all over Malaysia, Singapore, China, Hong Kong. I have concluded it is best to respect all lineages, encourage others toward their own lineages and encourage them toward strong guru devotion towards their teacher and be stable and firm in that. I have met hundreds of people who have recieved countless initiations from lamas they cannot remember the name nor the practice and are very worried. I have met people who go from one centre to another and another year after year not benefitting the centre nor themselves. I have very firm ideas and very firm direction. My projects are not pet projects but stem from a strong vision of how to benefit society from my lifetime experiences in various ‘sufferings’. I will make the depts grow and become very beneficial and that is for sure. That is my unique style and those who have aptitude and affinity may join. Again Kechara is not the best for everyone, but Kechara is wonderful as Kecharians make it wonderful.

The teachings I share in Kechara come from a firm basis, true lineage and has confirmed results..they are not a narrow range of Gelug teachings. Even the great monks at Sera, Gaden, Tashi Lunpo, Tashi Kyil, Gyuoto, Gyume, do not go to other lineages to study or get practice. Nothing wrong. The great Sakya, Kagyu, Nyingma Monasteries do not come to Gaden, Sera and Drepung to study either and that is very ok. They are all nearby eachother also. Even within Gaden we have many great teachers, but we do not go to all the great teachers for teachings. We stay and serve our teacher and learn from him. When we have exhausted learning the knowledge he has, then he will send us somewhere else..and that would be near impossible.. But we respect all teachers in Gaden and their students.

Will you ever see Gaden Tripa giving a Vajrakilaya initiation? Will you ever see a Kagyu throne holder give a Je Tsongkapa initiation and explanation? Will you ever see Gelugs going to a Kagyu Monlam or vice versa? No you don’t and that is ok. Once you graduate from Harvard PHD, you do not need to go Cambridge. It is fine. Both Ivy leagues are fine. All lineages of Tibetan Buddhism teach the authentic path and each one is fine. Even in Gaden, many monks do not know the full corpus of Gelug teachings as elucidated by the Incomparable Tsongkapa, and they spend all their time in the dharma. How do expect lay people here, who have family, work, bills, entertainments, doubts, heavy karma, distractions, fun to learn even a fraction of what I have shared with them here, let alone, the whole corpus of teachings of Tsongkapa and forget about the other sacred teachings of the other lineages.

I do not recommend my students to participate in other centres and I strongly discourage other centre students to participate in other centres and in Kechara. I strongly discourage centre hopping. I encourage everyone to stick to one teacher, one lineage, one practice, one direction. Avoid confusion and avoid overload.

I have thought this through thoroughly and consulted my teachers. And yes this is the best direction for Kechara. It may not be the best for others, but not everyone needs to join Kechara. Kechara is not right for everyone and that is alright. Hence there are so many centres, traditions and lamas and everyone is free to choose what you like. Once you choose, stick to it all the way. Be loyal.

I will remain humble, because everything at death is left behind, even my reputation, so by contemplating on the senselessness of many worldly activities not motivated by the dharma, I gain great fear at wasting time on anything else besides bringing dharma to others in a short, concise and simple way. I am humble, because my only aspiration is for dharma and I feel very fortunate to be blessed to meet the Buddha’s teachings and great masters that have set my direction over 30 years ago. Humility is knowing you are just an instrument and not the source and that is what I am.

Remember, I never chose to be a dharma teacher. I do not want to be a dharma teacher. It was H. E.Kyabje Lati Rinpoche who insisted I do so. I respectfully debated with him regarding this in Pukhang Khangtsen over a decade and a half ago and he chided me. Even last year, I wanted to bring a senior monk from Gaden to take over and I wish to retire into retreat in North India, Nepal or Chiang Mai, but my teachers did not accept.

Whatever I do is not perfect, but I do the best I can. I am not the greatest dharma teacher in the world, but I do have genuine concern for those I teach and 100% have trust in the Buddha Dharma.

I thank you for your questions. And I hope my taking time to reply you will make you and many others understand better.

Tsem Rinpoche

Question asked by Dawud

What do you think of your Wikipedia article? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsem_Tulku

Reply by tsemtulku

Some parts of it are accurate and some are not. Thanks

Question asked by Jules

Enter Your Question HereWhy is it considered important for vows to be received from someone else who has the same vow? This seems like an Indian cultural assumption. I mean, we don’t necessarily have to receive marriage vows from someone who is married. Why couldn’t we just stand before an image of a deity and directly undertake to practice that deity, without any guru to initiate us?

Reply by tsemtulku

Marriage vows do not take you to enlightenment, nor plant the seeds of enlightenment and it is not sworn to anyone but the one person in front of you. It is a promise.

Vows taken from a master, come from their master stemming back to the Buddha who originally gave the vow. Hence since it arises from the mind and speech of a Buddha, these vows come to be causal for the resultant enlightenment manifested in a Buddha.

Once you have taken the vow, it may be renewed during Daju for tantra or in front of an image.

Question asked by Zhengdao

Dear Rinpoche, is it normal for a practitioner to choose a meditation deity because they feel drawn to it? Or should they wait until they have a guru who can assign them a particular deity based on his knowledge of their spiritual needs? For example, you had visions of Vajrayogini as a child, but at what point did you realize that she would be your main practice (and not say, Yamantaka, or the other deities which you also made a connection to)? Did someone advise you to choose Vajrayogini, or was it your own decision? Thank you! _/|\_ (hands folded)

Reply by tsemtulku

I will answer your questions below…please see:

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Dear Rinpoche, is it normal for a practitioner to choose a meditation deity because they feel drawn to it?

Yes, of course you may choose a deity because you feel drawn to it. You might subconsciously know you need this particular manifestation for this life or an imprint of your practice from another time or connection from another life/lives. It is perfectly ok to choose your own deity. But stick with it and keep it secret. Be humble about it then attainments will come.

Or should they wait until they have a guru who can assign them a particular deity based on his knowledge of their spiritual needs?

If you wish a guru to assign, they you may practice any deity until a guru assigns or you can wait till a guru assigns. Again anyway is ok because all the deities are enlightened beings so there is no way you can go wrong.

For example, you had visions of Vajrayogini as a child, but at what point did you realize that she would be your main practice (and not say, Yamantaka, or the other deities which you also made a connection to)?

I didn’t have any visions of Vajra Yogini as a child unfortunately for me. The deities I practice was assigned to me by my root teacher without me asking. So I just followed up till now (thirty years already) what he assigned and have no doubts. Others may have visions and follow their visions..and that is ok. But we must make sure with a qualified guru our visions are genuine. But a long story short, for me, I practice what my teacher gave me and will continue doing so with no change until I die. I trust my teacher fully and commit fully.

Did someone advise you to choose Vajrayogini, or was it your own decision? Thank you! _/|\_ (hands folded)

I didn’t choose this or that, it was my teacher who so kindly in his great wisdom choose for me all my practices. I just prostrated, offered mandala, and promised I will follow. I will only follow the practices my teacher has given me. Mind you, I have to do over 100 different yidams a day to keep up the various initiations I have recieved so I can pass it to others. But I do not recommend that for you or anyone. I am not advanced, just keeping up my commitments.

I hope this helps you. I sincerely wish you to follow your practice all the way through thick and thin.

Most happy for you and your questions, Tsem Rinpoche

Question asked by Raluca

Y.E.(formula omologated :)), I noticed that most Buddhists point to the heart chackra when speaking about the mind. Why? No confusion with the spiritual heart?- another notion often vehiculated. I would appreciate Your opinion. YOU are a true inspiration and I thank You.

Reply by tsemtulku

Dear Raluca,

We have 72,000 psychic channels in which our winds/mind travel throughout our body. These channels converge at the various chakras throughout the body…At the heart centre all the channels condense into three main channels then one central channel..within this central channel abides our very subtle mind. This mind is who we are and the ‘us’ that leaves the body to reincarnate. So our minds do not abide in the brain but at our central channel at our hearts…

This subtle mind abides at the central channel at our heart centre region. Hence in Buddhist tantric meditation, the focus would eventually be there to control the processes of the mind.
I hope this helps you..

I am happy I can be of alittle help to you..Much prayers.

Question asked by Nicholas

Dear Rinpoche,
I pray for your speedy and full recovery and thank you for being with us, providing us salvation of spirit and mind. I was just wondering why Lama Tsongkapa never reincarnated in a human form again. Thanks and many blessings to you.

Reply by tsemtulku

Dear Nicholas,

Thank you for your good wishes. I appreciate it very much.

Lama Tsongkapa has incarnated in human form again. Ven Dromo Geshe Rinpoche was recognized by HH 13th Dalai Lama as the incarnation of Lama Tsongkapa.

Lama Tsongkapa will have many emanations/reincarnations both recognized and unrecognized benefitting many beings. Not all incarnations necessarily need to be recognized in order to benefit others. Depending on time/place/geography will be open about who they are. Also incarnations will take place in other dimensions, other worlds, other zones. Remember, there are billions of habitated planets in our Universe and nearby universes…

I wish you well and do keep up your sincere practice of Lama Tsongkapa Guru Yoga daily with Migtzeyma. Very beneficial for you.

Question asked by Philip Yong

We human beings can purify our karma/ do good to be reincarnated into a equal or better form for our next lives. I would like to know how does animals do so? What can they do for them to be reincarnated to a better form?

Reply by tsemtulku

Animals, hell beings, spirits can do very little in their present form to take a higher rebirth. But all beings have positive imprints that are dormant and needs to be triggered in their mindstreams from many lifetimes ago already.

For animals, we can blow mantras on them, take them around a stupa, place holy texts on their heads, recite sutras for them to hear, put Buddha images on their heads, give them blessed water, mani pills, etc…when we do this, we plant more seeds into their mindstreams. At the time of death, these seeds can be triggered. When triggered, they can then take a good rebirth due to the ripening of their positive imprints. Hence it is very good to do our best to not take birth in those situations in the very first place as it is very hard to get out again.

We have to use our human rebirths in the most spiritually beneficially way and not waste it on samsara’s games/tricks and traps….human rebirth with all leisures and endowments (Lam Rim) is very rare to get and near impossible.

Question asked by Michael Kuang

As it is mentioned in the Setrap prayer book.."Just as you sworn before the lord of power Hayagriva..
Is there a relation between Hayagriva and Setrap?

Reply by tsemtulku

Hayagriva is the Yidam form of Amitabah Buddha. Setrap is the Protector form of Amitabah. They are both emanations of Amitabah.

Also when Setrap was assisting Guru Padmasambhava, Padmasambhava took on the form of Hayagriva (His yidam) to ‘speak’ and give instructions to Setrap.

Usually when we do our sadhanas, for those who have the initiation of Hayagriva, you would visualize yourself as Hayagriva to request Setrap to do this and that. When Setrap agrees, then he has agreed or ‘sworn’ to Hayagriva.

These are the various ways Setrap has a relationship with Hayagriva.

Question asked by Wei-ni

Rinpoche, should we not eat with our families if they are not vegetarian? Also, what about milk, eggs, and wearing leather? Thank you!

Reply by tsemtulku

You should eat with your families even if they are not Vegetarian. You just pick out what you can eat and avoid what you cannot. After all religious and moral beliefs should not divide families.

You can buy milk and eggs from farms that are natural and that don’t hurt animals. Go to organic stores.

If you can avoid leather, that is best..sometimes you can’t and it’s there already.

Question asked by Steve

Did you read comic books when you were a kid? If so, which ones? (I'm guessing Dr. Strange but I think I saw a Wonder Woman on your site.)

Reply by tsemtulku

My step mom when she immigrated to the US, she was illiterate. She self taught her English reading and writing by comic books. She bought massive amounts of comic books. She would read comics daily at night just before she went to sleep. She enjoyed that very much.
We use to go together to a nearby store to buy comics almost every two weeks. She let me pic what I like and she get what she liked. So I liked many types of comics that time:

DC comics-I love superheroes of all sorts (not hulk though)
Ghost stories
Richie Rich
Scooby Doo
Archie’s
Peanuts
Josie and the Pussycats
Jetsuns
Fred Flinstones

Were some of my favorites that I can recall…

Question asked by Hong Fat Ham

According to Wikipedia, the style “Your Eminence” is used of Roman Catholic cardinals, along with certain Orthodox patriarchs or archbishops and Muslim imams. Whose idea was it that you should use “H.E”, and why was this style (rather than His Beatitude, His Grace, etc.) thought appropriate to your role?

Reply by tsemtulku

Dear Hong,

Not everything in Wikipedia is accurate or correct. It is updated by anyone and anytime.

Many of the Tibetan titles if translated into English sounds odd.

I think it was some of my students who wanted to show deep respect that they started calling me Your Eminence. In the Ashvagosha’s writings, it says that we should never address our teacher directly by the name, and that we should add some honorific titles to show respect. What titles is up to us. It is good for our practice to do so and helps others to gain faith in our teacher if you do so according to Ashvagosha.

Certainly I am not deserving of such a title.

Your Eminence is not exclusively or copywritten just for the people you mentioned I would assume. Any religious figure can use it..

Interesting question..thanks.

Question asked by mima

What can be done to stop someone abusive behavior towards others and animals or how to handle the best way an abusive situation?

Reply by tsemtulku

If you can speak to them, then you try. If you cannot leave them. But you must make the determination never to harm and be stable in this practice in your life to be an example to many in the future. These ppl should inspire you to do more in time.

It is not easy I know.

Question asked by Evelyn

Dear Rinpoche, Is everything that I experience the result of my own mind (perhaps over many lifetimes)? For example, if I have the karma to hear Buddhist teachings, then I will hear them. If not, then not. In that case, the compassion of the teachers, Buddhas and bodhisattvas seems not to matter—the teachings are generated by my mind, and would appear (or not) regardless of what others decide. Can this be right? (At the risk of self-contradiction, I am grateful to you for answering our questions!)

Reply by tsemtulku

Dear Evelyn,

1. Everything that you experience is the result of your mind and yes from hundreds of thousands of lifetimes. Being that it is over hundreds of thousands of lifetimes, all types of imprints both positive and negative lay dormant to be experienced. For example, if you are very angry, and that is what you are experiencing at the moment, the minute you see a Tsongkapa thangka, it might trigger a powerful imprint you have from another life, then open it and you calm down fast and the anger goes away. So whatever you are experiencing at the moment is not permanent and can be changed short and more so for the long term. The imprint of dharma was triggered by seeing Tsongkapa. So your angry mind switches to calm mind. Similarily your mind is not ready to hear dharma, but meeting a teacher may trigger a distant dormant karma to open you up to listen.

2. The compassion of the attained ones does matter. If they had no compassion, they would not skilfully bring the dharma to you in small amounts till you can digest more. Also even if your mind is not ready, because they have compassion they will wait till you are ready. If they don’t have compassion, when you are ready then they won’t wait. Their compassion is very important for you and others seeking the dharma.

3. Compassion of the attained beings will also be turned into skilfullness in which even if you are not able to percieve the dharma, they plant dharma imprints in your mind without you even knowing, so in the future these imprints can ripens so you can hear the dharma,practice and extricate yourself from negative predicaments. Their compassion will never be wasted..

I hope this helps you. Most important is generate the thought daily with prayers that you wish to hear the teachings and practice. Then you will trigger open the seeds of the causes planted from another time to hear the dharma and plant further causes daily… Coupled with the compassion of a teacher waiting to impart the dharma to you, you are on the right direction.

Tsem Rinpoche

Question asked by Chi Chi

Following up on my question yesterday, your website (http://v7.tsemtulku.com/biography/spiritual-lineage) states that “Tsem Rinpoche’s spiritual lineage goes back many incarnations beginning with one of the disciples of Manjunatha Je Tsongkhapa” and again,“H.E. Tsem Rinpoche's line of incarnations begins as one of the eight main disciples of Je Tsongkhapa.” Yet you say you have never had a past life as a disciple of Tsongkhapa. I am confused.

Reply by tsemtulku

Don’t be confused. Humility is a great asset. I chose to practice humility. Who I was or suppose to be makes no difference for you or anyone. It is WHO I AM NOW. If who I am now benefits you, then that is the real important issue.

Question asked by Chi Chi

Which disciple of Tsongkhapa were you in your previous life? (According to HH the Dalai Lama.)

Reply by tsemtulku

I wasn’t a disciple of Tsongkapa in my previous life.
Thanks

Question asked by Thierry

Dear Rinpoche, I come across dead animals on the road everyday, cats and dogs mainly. These animals are dead already when I see them and sometimes I see their bodies decompose day after day. Whenever I come across these animals, I do the Medecine Budhha mantra (7 x) and Namgyalma mantra (7x) focusing my mind so that they get a better chance at encountering and practicing Dharma in their future lives. Is this the correct thing to do, or is there a more efficient way to help their mindstreams?

Reply by tsemtulku

Dear Thierry,

What your doing is very good. You can also get consecrated holy water with HH Dalai Lama’s mani pills in it and pour alittle over these animals when you come across them. You can of course give it to living animals also to drink or bath.

For the future:

You can keep a piece of their hair or bone and do a ritual on it called Vajra Yogini Ruchok which is very powerful to purify their karma to help them take rebirth. After the ruchok is done, their hair or bone may even be inserted into a stupa for the sake of them collecting merits. As long at the stupa exists, these beings will collet merit. You will have to have the Vajra Yogini empowerment to perform this ritual. Not only animals, but human hair and nails can be used also.

I thank you for your sincere concern for animals. It would be nice to have a huge animal sanctuary and on it have a huge stupa for all the animals to circumambulate around.

Tsem Rinpoche

Question asked by Aloysius

Unlike liberal faiths such as Unitarianism or Reform Judaism, Tibetan Buddhism appeals primarily to the authority of its texts and lamas. This has consequences, for example, in its attitude towards women and gays. Do you feel this aspect should be reformed? Should Buddhism embrace postmodernism?

Reply by tsemtulku

Buddhism should definitely embrace postmodernism. Many things that applied in Tibet does not apply now. As Tibetan Buddhism slowly comes into the hands of the younger lamas/teachers, the change will be natural and a given.

The texts and senior lamas are ‘strict’ in their views, but they are also very skilfull and can adjust. Time and need will play a big part.

So I don’t think there will be any ‘problems’ for women. And there has been no ‘problems’ with gays or any human being just being who they are.

Question asked by Roland Yap

Dear Rinpoche.

How are you?

May you have a long and healthy life.

May all your Dharma Wishes come true quickly.

Please forgive me.

With love and respect.
Roland Yap

Reply by tsemtulku

Thank you for your good wishes. I wish you the best. Always create causes for good things to come. Never create causes for further sufferings, confusion and unhappiness to come. It is all in our own hands. Tsem Rinpoche

Question asked by Ivy

Dear Rinpoche,

Is it ok to start on preliminaries now even if we don't have access to a lama to prescribe them for us? If so, how would you recommend we go about starting?

Much care,

Ivy

Reply by tsemtulku

Dear Ivy,

It is very ok to start on preliminaries without a lama.

1. Set up a simple Shrine according to your means and have an image of a Buddha, a text (Lam Rim) and stupa. Representing your wish to achieve the Body, Speech and Mind of a Buddha.

2. Make minimum of 8 water bowl offerings per day of water or more.

3. Read up on how to do prostrations, mandala offerings, vajrasattvas mantric meditations, Guru Yoga of for example Tsongkapa, and Refuge recitations with correct contemplations. I have a video on youtube on how to do prostrations, and how to do guru yoga of Tsongkapa.

4. Read up on as much dharma as you can. Knowledge for a beginner is much more important for practice than anything else.

5. Take simple vows of vegetarianism if you are not already for short periods of time regularly and extend it over time. Take these vows on your personal shrine is fine.

6. Be easy on yourself and take breaks often. Do not go for high sounding initiations that promise easy enlightenment as there is no such thing as easy enlightenment, or complicated practices and rituals when you are new. Must have knowledge and understanding of Tantra before entering it’s door. It’s a lifetimes commitment and not for ‘casual’ shoppers. Be ready by study.

7. Lam Rim, Wheel of Sharp weapons and 50 Verses of Guru Devotion would be excellent to read, re read and study.

8. You can start on the Guru Yoga of Tsongkapa and prostrations at first for now. Do just 21 prostrations in full length for now. But learn up how to do it first.

I wish you luck and spiritual attainments. Be easy on yourself. At the heart of the preliminary practices is to be familiar with our minds and how it tricks us thinking more of everything is better when it is not the case. Understanding that many things that makes us ‘happy’ or sad are just projected. When the supporting factors are taken away, they don’t exist. If they don’t exist, then we should not get caught up in their web.

May you have success,

Tsem Tulku Rinpoche

Question asked by Winnie Wang

Hi Rinpoche! What advice do you have for your fans in Taiwan? Should we try to come see you in Malaysia, or is there some Buddhist group here you would recommend?

Reply by tsemtulku

Dear Winnie,

Thank you for writing in. I am glad to see you here.

If you find what I am sharing beneficial and wish to do more, may I gently recommend for now to do:

1. Eight Verses of Thought Transformation. To learn up on it very well and apply daily. To master these teachings.
2. To complete 100,000 Migtseymas per year in short retreat.
3. Take short Vegetarian vows with the goal of going all the way within 6 months. Dedicating the merits to one’s parents and for the animal realm.

4. To be involved with an animal shelter in your area and rescue, care, love and help animals.
5.Read the Wheel of Sharp Weapons once a month.
6. To read on Shantideva’s exposition on Bodhisattva-cha-avatara. Explanation for development of Compassion, Universal Responsibility, affirmative action and eventual Bodhicitta.
7. To be good citizens and never break the law.
8. If you are nearby with each other, you can set up Study groups. If you are interested, contact Ms Yek Yee on how it’s done in other cities in Malaysia. yekyee@yahoo.com. The study groups for now can get together once a week and watch and study one of my videos on youtube or take a subject from this blog to discuss.

I send you my best and warmest regards. I send you prayers for a successful spiritual unfolding that can only give meaning to you and many people’s lives.

Humbly,
Tsem Tulku Rinpoche

Meet the Pastors

Combining the responsibilities of the ordained and the appearance of a layperson, pastors are the connection between the sangha and the everyday practitioner. They are ordinary people who have taken an extraordinary step in dedicating their lives towards sharing the Buddhist tradition. As laypeople holding vows, pastors will make the Dharma accessible to more people, giving them guidance and sharing knowledge. The pastors are usually present at Kechara House and available for consultation anytime. For more information, contact house@kechara.com.

Pastor Chia (sangha to be)

As a pastor, Chia will dedicate his life to befitting others through spreading the works of Tsem Rinpoche and Dharma to many people, through the use of pujas, rituals, counseling and sharing of his knowledge.

Ordained as a Pastor in 2011, Chia Song Peng has had a rich and varied Dharma career. He has held a core position with the Kechara Paradise retail outlets, served as a personal attendant to Tsem Rinpoche, embarked on various pilgrimages and received initiations into higher yoga tantric practices. He is accomplished in many pujas and has a deep understanding of the Dharma.

As a pastor, Chia has dedicated his life to befitting others through spreading the works of Tsem Rinpoche and Dharma to many people, through the use of pujas, rituals, counseling and sharing of his knowledge.

When Chia first met Tsem Rinpoche, he was asked if he wanted to become a monk, however even though this was his aspiration he informed Tsem Rinpoche that he would do so at a later date. For Chia, as he has is already in the Dharma full-time, it would be best if he became ordained. Tsem Rinpoche has reminded Chia from time to time to work towards becoming a monk and he promised that he would do so in the future.

Kechara began from nothing to become a growing Dharma organisation with major projects such as Kechara Forest Retreat, so Chia thinks that this is the perfect time to become ordained as a monk. Recently Tsem Rinpoche asked Chia again if he would like to be ordained, this time Chia said yes.

Pastor Khong Jean Ai (sangha to be)

Jean Ai wishes to become a vessel that holds the teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa to benefit future generations, inspiring others to live by the Buddha’s teachings.

Jean Ai met His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche as a young child and through her parents' involvement with Kechara over the years, she has never known a life without His Eminence. Jean Ai was a regular volunteer of Tsem Ladrang during her childhood and teenage years. After graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Warwick in the UK and working at the London Probation Service, she returned to Kuala Lumpur to join Tsem Ladrang's e-division. There she managed kechara.com, responsible for the weekly Kechara e-newsletter, including content generation and editing. Since then she has joined His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche’s writing team, responsible for executing Rinpoche’s personal instructions and managing his correspondence.

Having visited a nunnery in India in 2004, Jean Ai remembers noticing how happy and purposeful everyone was. She had a feeling of familiarity and the sight of the robes comforted her. Immediately, Jean Ai messaged her mother who told her to ask Rinpoche’s advice. Rinpoche told her to complete her secular education so that when she taught the Dharma her words would carry the credibility and weight of a university degree, something she completed with the motivation that some day she wanted to become a nun.

Through her ordination as a nun, Jean Ai wishes to become a vessel that holds the teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa to benefit future generations, inspiring others to live by the Buddha’s teachings. Through this she hopes to repay the kindness of her parents and her Guru. Above all she wants to abide in a state free of suffering, and she wants this for others as well.

Pastor Shin Tan (sangha to be)

For Shin, this is a great step forward to being fully committed to the cause of others and repaying others’ kindness through sharing the Dharma with others.

Before joining Kechara, Shin worked as a lecturer and provider of content and e-learning content solutions for various start-ups. Whilst providing training to educators teaching students in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) at various colleges, she was invited to attend a Dharma talk given by His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche at Kechara House. This event rekindled her interest in Tibetan Buddhism, as she recalled the joy of accompanying her parents to teachings as a teenager.

Joining Kechara Media & Publications in 2006 as a volunteer, Shin assumed a full time position there as a Marketing Executive, with the aim of making His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche’s teachings available to more people around the world. Shin is now a member of the Tsem Ladrang Team, who takes care of His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche’s secular matters, enabling Rinpoche to focus on teaching the holy Dharma.

Shin states that when she decided to join Kechara full time, she had already decided to be of some benefit to others and spend the rest of her life doing only that. Working closely with His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche, seeing his tireless effort in helping others and spreading the Buddhadharma through the Gaden tradition despite tremendous challenges has made her realise that the next logical step is to become ordained as she has the opportune conditions to study with her Guru. For Shin this is also a great step forward to being fully committed to the cause of others and repaying others’ kindness through sharing the Dharma with others.

Pastor Adeline Woon (sangha to be)

Since finding her spiritual home here in Kechara, Adeline has made dharma work her life’s mission and wishes to dedicate herself fully towards the benefit of others.

Adeline stumbled across His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche's blog towards the end of 2010 and has been following his blog and Facebook page ever since. Since graduating from Dharma Drum Buddhist College Taiwan with a Masters of Arts in Religious Studies in July 2012, she returned to Malaysia and joined Kechara as a Senior Education Executive. Adeline was attracted by His Eminence’s straightforwardness and impressed at Kechara's growth under his guidance. To Adeline, His Eminence is someone who walks the talk, keeps his promises and sincerely cares for others displaying an excellent example of guru devotion, qualities that she seeks to develop herself.

Since finding her spiritual home here in Kechara, Adeline has made dharma work her life’s mission. It was in May 2013 that she officially requested His Eminence for ordination as a nun to dedicate her life fully for the dharma. According to Adeline, become ordained means that she is being true to her calling to live according to the dharma and be of benefit to others.

This however can only be achieved by meeting and studying under her root Guru. Adeline has been fortunate enough to have met with hers - His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche.

Pastor Niral Patel (sangha to be)

It is Niral’s motivation for full ordination to better himself, learn the teachings of our lineage in order to preserve them for future generations. He wishes to benefit others, just as he has benefited and is still benefiting from Tsem Rinpoche’s explanation of the Dharma.

Niral was born and raised in the UK, having graduated with a BA in Anthropology, he was working as a Financial Administrator for a Serviced Apartment & Hotel company as well as a Management Services company before stumbling across His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche’s Youtube channel, entirelyby accident. It was through His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche’s teachings that he began to understand the importance of practicing the Dharma, in order to benefit himself and others around him.

Having been in contact with one of Tsem Rinpoche’s long time students in the UK, he was encouraged to visit Kechara in late 2012 for a 10 day visit. At the end of the visit Tsem Rinpoche requested Niral to come to work at Kechara, to which he agreed.

Niral moved to Malaysia in February 2013 to work as an education coordinator at Kechara House, assisting the Education Division in the creation and implementation of the new education syllabus, teaching teenagers during the Kechara Sunday Dharma School. Ever since meeting Tsem Rinpoche, he has always been encouraged by Tsem Rinpoche to do more Dharma work and strive to better himself. It is with that in mind, that Niral has requested monastic ordination.

Pastor Tan Gim Lee (sangha to be)

Gim Lee’s main focus is to guide and help anyone who steps through Kechara’s doors through Dharma sharing, counselling, performing pujas and other Buddhist services. She wishes to repay Rinpoche’s kindness by spreading Lama Tsongkhapa’s holy teachings and inspiring others on the spiritual path.

She discovered Kechara by chance in 2006 and started to participate Kechara's activities almost immediately especially the retreat to collect 10 million Migtsema recitations. In April 2006, when Gim Lee met H.E. Tsem Rinpoche and first listened to his teachings, she wept uncontrollably. Though she could not understand it at the time, she had finally found her perfect teacher. She is especially touched by Tsem Rinpoche's compassionate method of teaching by setting his own examples.

Having joined as a staff of Kechara House responsible for housekeeping in 2009, Gim Lee is now one of Kechara House's Front Desk Managers predominantly based in the retreat centre in Bentong, Pahang. She also teaches the Sunday Dharma Class and moderates Dharma discussions on Tsem Rinpoche's blog chat.

The many teachings she has received from Tsem Rinpoche have changed her priorities in life. She found answers to her questions about the purpose of life, and she has realised that the way to overcome the sufferings of pain and anger is by following the path of compassion and wisdom as taught by Lord Buddha. These realisations have led to her request to be ordained as a Sangha member.

As pastor now, and later as a Buddhist nun, Gim Lee's main focus is to guide and help anyone who steps through Kechara's doors through Dharma sharing, counselling, performing pujas and other Buddhist services. She wishes to repay Rinpoche's kindness by spreading Lama Tsongkhapa's holy teachings and inspiring others on the spiritual path.

Pastor Loh Seng Piow (sangha to be)

Loh Seng Piow developed a strong wish to help Rinpoche in spreading the Dharma to the world. With that determination, Loh Seng Piow chose not to pursue his PhD degree in Cambridge University (for which he had been offered a place), resigned from his research job, and joined Tsem Rinpoche as full-time Dharma worker, and has never looked back since.

Back in 2001, Loh Seng Piow had no inkling of just how involved in Dharma he would become. As a Masters degree-holder in Engineering, Loh Seng Piow was working as a research engineer in Singapore when he met His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche. Rinpoche’s talk left a strong impression on him and after a few encounters with Rinpoche, Loh Seng Piow started developing websites for Rinpoche and Kechara.

Loh Seng Piow was trained in science, but soon realised that there were many questions that science could not answer. At the same time, he also felt that science and technology are not the solution to human problems, as humans are much better off compared to thousands years ago, yet the problems in this world are still the same, if not more, and we do not seem to be happier than our ancestors.

Loh Seng Piow soon realised that the Dharma is the ultimate solution to human problems, and that the methods used by His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche are very suitable for this modern era. Loh Seng Piow developed a strong wish to help Rinpoche in spreading the Dharma to the world. With that determination, Loh Seng Piow chose not to pursue his PhD degree in Cambridge University (for which he had been offered a place), resigned from his research job, and joined Tsem Rinpoche as full-time Dharma worker, and has never looked back since.

Meeting Rinpoche was a very refreshing experience for Loh Seng Piow, as he never knew Dharma could be so unconventional yet maintain its essence. As Rinpoche’s personal attendant, Loh Seng Piow has had many incredible moments with Rinpoche and considers himself extremely fortunate because he sees real Dharma in action, both on and off the throne. It challenges him to practice Dharma 24/7. In this way, Rinpoche has blown away his old and persistent way of thinking, which was very much focused on the outer rituals of Dharma.

Having seen that Tsem Rinpoche truly embodies what he teaches, Loh Seng Piow is convinced beyond doubt that it is possible to develop our minds to a higher state, and ultimately achieving enlightenment. All these factors have propelled Loh Seng Piow to take a step further in his Dharma career to become ordained as a pastor in order to be even more effective in sharing and disseminating the Dharma to benefit others.

Pastor Yek Yee

Naturally an introvert, Yek Yee has transformed what was once her weakness into her strength; making what was once impossible now eminently possible.

Independence was forced upon Kok Yek Yee from the tender age of nine, when she had to juggle between work and school to make ends meet. Always the introvert, Yek Yee had few friends and had difficulty expressing herself. So it was unexpected when she chose a career in journalism.

Yek Yee excelled as an award-winning reporter with Guang Ming Daily and Nanyang Siang Pau. Her articles garnered her a fanbase, and in writing, she found an outlet for the thoughts and feelings that she could not verbalise. However, despite her success, Yek Yee was not satisfied. Temporary happiness was not what she was looking for – success, money, relationships, or fame was not the key.

In her search for happiness, Yek Yee met H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, who told her “don’t retaliate with your speech, but use your power of writing to express yourself”. This led her to join Kechara Media & Publications as a writer; subsequently she was appointed Senior Editor as well as a Liaison to His Eminence.

Yek Yee now holds a core role in Kechara Care, giving advice, tours, counseling and teachings to whoever walks through their doors. Through courage and determination, she has transformed what was once her weakness into her strength; making what was once impossible now eminently possible.

As a Pastor, her patience and open-mindedness developed through her journey with Kechara will bring comfort and solace, and her new-found ability to nurture and teach others will bring hope to many.

Pastor Lanse Chiah

Having been a Pastor for a year, Lanse wishes to continue with her integral duties by renewing her vows again.

Lanse graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from Jinan University in Guangzhou, China in 1999 and became a part-time lecturer for several years, teaching western medicine in a Traditional Chinese medical college in Kuala Lumpur.

For a long time, Lanse remained an atheist, subconsciously searching for a spiritual guru as she sought answers to questions she harboured in her mind, questions that had led her into a state of depression during her time at university. As such, she would often read philosophical books in her search for answers.

Lanse first came to know of Kechara in 2007, through her friend of over 10 years, Pastor Yek Yee. She was surprised to see a complete transformation in Pastor Yek Yee, whom she had always known as a non-spiritual person. The first book by Kechara that Lanse chanced upon was the Chinese version of Be Greedy. Naturally, Lanse was skeptical at first, thus she read the book in an attempt to find mistakes with the philosophy. However, she couldn’t find any and was left impressed by how logical the explanations in the book were.

In March 2009, Lanse joined Kechara Media & Publications (KMP) part-time to carry out Chinese translation and help with transcription. The following year, she contemplated upon whether to pursue a full-time medical or a Dharma career, finally deciding on the latter. Lanse came to realise that, although both careers share the same motivation of easing people’s sufferings, she felt that her work in Dharma could lead to a greater contribution for the sake of all sentient beings in a deeper, spiritual sense.

Having been a Pastor for a year, Lanse wishes to continue with her integral duties by renewing her vows again.

Pastor Han Nee

It was not until she witnessed how Rinpoche brought peace and comfort to her dying mother, that she realised she also wanted to touch others with the Dharma.

Lim Han Nee, a mother of two, is a retired secondary school principal. She retired in December 2000 after a 30-year career in education. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Education at Leicester University in the UK, at the end of 2001.

After gaining her master’s degree, Han Nee considered further options of embarking on a doctorate in education or spending her years in retirement, travelling and visiting family. At the same time, she was also in search of her spiritual path. She had begun exploring Theravadan and Chinese Mahayana Buddhism for answers to questions she had.

In December 2004, Han Nee attended a teaching retreat on the topic of the Lamrim and White Tara held by His Eminence Gelek Rinpoche. As the retreat proceeded, she found her questions were being answered. Then in June 2005, Han Nee was introduced to Kechara by her sister, where she met her spiritual guide, His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche, who has recently told her that she must go all the way in the Dharma for the benefit of others.

Han Nee had been a school guidance counsellor for nearly twenty years. However, it was not until she witnessed how Rinpoche brought peace and comfort to her dying mother, that she realised she also wanted to touch others with the Dharma.

A member of Kechara’s Puja Team, who conduct sponsored pujas in Shabten Khang, Han Nee is also a member of the Education Division with the portfolio of Content Development. Apart from this, Han Nee is also a member of the weekly Kechara Chat Time team.

Pastor David Lai

In 2014, with a sincere wish to benefit others, David decided to be ordained as a Buddhist pastor to continue serving the spiritual needs of the organisation.

David Lai has been a student of His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche for over a decade now and was one of the founding members of Kechara. He joined Kechara as a full time staff in 2005 and has been working in various departments beginning with the Kechara Paradise outlets.

Right from the beginning, David had been advised by His Eminence to go into writing. Overcoming various hurdles, David finally began his literary career with the publication of his first book and autobiography, There’s No Way But Up in 2009. The book charts his spiritual journey from his childhood and culminates in the meeting with His Eminence.

The positive feedback from this book led him to write various other publications like Vajrayogini and Other Power Places in Nepal – a pilgrim’s guide of Nepal, Tales My Lama Told Me – a book on short stories and Conversations in Love – a book on relationships. These books continue to inspire and bring people onto the Dharma.

Besides writing, David has found his passion in sharing the Dharma since his earlier days working in the Kechara Paradise outlets. Over the years, David has received innumerable teachings from His Eminence, ranging from public teachings to personal instructions and advice. He is known to passionately share these teachings whenever he can and to whomever he meets. In 2014, with a sincere wish to benefit others, David decided to be ordained as a Buddhist pastor to continue serving the spiritual needs of the organisation.

Pastor Henry Ooi

Born in 1952 in Penang, Henry moved to Kuala Lumpur in search of work after he finished his Form Five studies in 1969. He worked at different types of jobs and it was when he was jobless in 1997/8 that he met His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche at the house of his cousin, Ruby (now Dato’ Ruby Khong), when Rinpoche was giving a dharma teaching. At that teaching Henry was awed by how Rinpoche taught Dharma with simple yet profound explanations.

With the kind guidance, teachings and Dharma practices by Rinpoche including instruction to engage in their first spiritual retreat, Henry and his wife Angel started a small business that soon became profitable. A few years later after Kechara House Buddhist Association was founded, Rinpoche started to enrol students as liaisons and that was when Henry and Dato’ Ruby offered themselves. Later more students were elected as liaisons that saw the birth of Liaisons Council. The Liaisons Council is now known as the Board of Directors of which Henry is one of its members.

Currently Henry is the Project Director, overseeing the construction and completion of projects in the Kechara Forest Retreat. Prior to this appointment he was the Head of Department in Kechara Paradise retail outlets of which he served for about ten years. He still remains as its company director as well as director for most of the companies within Kechara. He served one term as vice president of Kechara House Buddhist Association from 2012 to 2103.

After following Rinpoche as a Dharma student for all these years, learning and practicing the Dharma, Henry knows the importance of the pastors’ role in Kechara founded by Rinpoche. He wants to become a pastor to serve Rinpoche, to serve Kechara, and to serve the public. As he aspires to be a monk as he grows older, being a pastor of Kechara will pave the way for his aspiration. Henry believes that as one gets older in life, one should have already prepared for the imminent, death. And what a beautiful death it will be, to die in Kechara Forest Retreat in a monk’s robes. This is the kind of death that Henry wants. But before the imminent death happens, Henry wants to continue working in Kechara Forest Retreat, serving the community and whoever comes into it in whatever way he can. And when he is not physically anymore to serve others, he will request instructions from Rinpoche to enter into retreats in Kechara Forest Retreat.

Pastor Patsy Gooi

All that Patsy wants now is to spend the rest of her life doing dharma work, dharma practices and being of benefit to others.

Formerly a full time housewife with plenty of free time, Patsy had the great fortune to visit Gaden Monastery and meet H.E. Tsem Rinpoche almost twenty years ago. That one week stay in the monastery changed her view of life. Prior to that, she had no spiritual inclinations but meeting Rinpoche stirred something inside her, and she realised that there was more to life than just eating, sleeping, shopping and having fun. Rinpoche’s approach to dharma was logical and practical but most importantly, he stressed that we should always focus out and work towards benefitting others. Rinpoche made dharma easy to understand and his advice was and still is, to “change inwardly, not outwardly.”

In 2009, after years of practicing and applying what she had learned from Rinpoche’s teachings, Patsy decided to set up a Kechara retail outlet in Penang to share the dharma with others. She knew that Rinpoche’s teachings were very applicable to the people of our time and that his activities would benefit others just as they had benefited her. She also wanted to repay the kindness of her Guru who had constantly helped and guided her. Today, Kechara Paradise Penang is not just a dharma shop but also organises puja sessions, animal liberation and dharma talks.

In 2010, again with Rinpoche’s blessings, Patsy set up the Kechara Soup Kitchen Activity Center in Penang. Saddened to see the plight of the homeless and urban poor on the streets, Patsy decided to practice “compassion through action” as taught by Rinpoche in the most active way she knows. Today, together with her team of volunteers, Patsy feeds the homeless and urban poor four times a week and provides basic food provisions to many hardcore poor families on a monthly basis.

All that Patsy wants now is to spend the rest of her life doing dharma work and dharma practices, and that she may be of benefit to others.

Pastor Albert Ratchaga

In 2008, Albert Ratchaga began working as a part timer in Kechara Paradise, but as he learned more about the works of Rinpoche and Kechara, Rinpoche’s kindness and compassion touched him deeply. He realised that his work gave his life more meaning and decided to join Kechara full time.

Through his work as a sales executive, Albert was able learn more Dharma from Rinpoche's teachings and use this wisdom to assist those who entered his store to overcome their problems, thus improving their lives.

Albert soon developed a deep wish to follow in Rinpoche’s footsteps and in 2016 was ordained as a Pastor to continue benefitting and serving others.

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Meet the Pastors

Pastor Chia (sangha to be)

Pastor Khong Jean Ai (sangha to be)

Pastor Shin Tan (sangha to be)

Pastor Adeline Woon (sangha to be)

Pastor Niral Patel (sangha to be)

Pastor Tan Gim Lee (sangha to be)

Pastor Loh Seng Piow (sangha to be)

Pastor Yek Yee

Pastor Lanse Chiah

Pastor Han Nee

Pastor David Lai

Pastor Henry Ooi

Pastor Patsy Gooi

Pastor Albert Ratchaga

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