Erik and Jim come to Kechara
Dear Friends,
I was happy to meet the Yeh brothers. Jim lives in Canada and Erik lives in Calcutta, India! They both flew here to meet myself and volunteer at Kechara Forest Retreat. We had a good session of meeting. I was able to share with them the meditation on Tsongkapa’s Guru Yoga. I was happy to do so. It will be a great practice for them to do daily and for everyone in fact. Then we had a short question and answer session. Among the many things Erik related, he said my blog/teachings has influenced him to cease the tanning business. I have never met him, but my blog had this effect on him. Fantastic! My blog can bring benefit and save animals!! That would mean thousands of animals would be saved. I was immensely touched by this and was immensely happy I have a blog that people can connect with for knowledge. I was tremendously happy with my blog to have this type of good effect on people. I am blessed to serve others through my blog. Thank you Erik for the information you shared with me. Thank you for your consideration to change. Thank you for practicing. I was happy to meet you and your brother. I am very happy you will spiritually awaken. I happy for both of you Erik and Jim!
See the short interview in which Erik talks about his feelings, tanning, plans and changes. He speaks from the heart and very well.
I wish the Yeh brothers tremendous good luck and good fortune along with spiritual awakening. Hope they can do much more Dharma work in the future. It would benefit them and many others.
Tsem Rinpoche
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(By Pastor Loh Seng Piow)
A week ago, two brothers Jim Yeh and Erik Yeh visited Kechara all the way from Canada and India!
In the 1930s, their grandfather migrated from China to India, and they settled down into a Chinese community within Calcutta, or Kolkata, and established a family business there. Jim and Erik’s parents were born in Calcutta, and they themselves were born and raised in India as part of a family of 6 children.
A few years ago, Jim and Erik’s parents decided to retire and immigrate to Canada. Jim decided to follow them and pursue his career as a graphic designer, however as the eldest son, Erik decided to stay in India to continue the family business in the tanning industry. He mentioned that he felt a sense of obligation and responsibility to do so, as the business has been passed down from generation to generation.
Tanning is the process of treating animal skins with various chemicals to produce leather. The skins of the animals are dehaired, degreased and soaked in water for a few hours before chemicals are added. They use chemicals to alter the protein structure of the skin, making it durable and usable. The leather is dyed into many different colours and shape based on the order.
Erik told the Blog Team that thousands of cow hides are delivered to his tannery every day. Although it is based on the demand for leather that the numbers drop or increase, on average about 3000-5000 cow hides are delivered per month!
One of Erik’s sisters, Mavis, has been following Tsem Rinpoche on Facebook for a while now… whenever she likes anything on Rinpoche’s page, it shows up on Erik’s newsfeed. One of the images that appeared was an snapshot of Rinpoche in a cowboy hat 😀 . He thought to himself, “Who is this person?” And left the thought at that!
It was last year when Erik was having some problems with his business that Amy, another sister of Erik’s, introduced him to Rinpoche’s blog. Amy really wanted to help her brother, and so taught Erik the protector Setrap’s mantra. He told himself to keep an open mind, and to watch one of Rinpoche’s Youtube teachings, “Nothing Changes, Everything Changes” (see bottom). The video made a big impact on him, and he started to chant Setrap’s mantra every day. After a while, he found that things were getting better.
Erik started to watch more videos and eventually decided that it was best to become vegetarian. He wanted to make that change for both health reasons, and because of the animals.
When he had that thought, he felt that it was perhaps contradictory to be a vegetarian and yet still own a business that led thousands of thousands of animals to their death. Due to this, he shared that he has been having doubts about his business and had planned to close it for a while now.
Closing his tannery will lead to the saving of many millions of lives in the long run! And this all came from Erik being inspired by Rinpoche’s teachings! Rinpoche’s online Dharma teaching is able to influence Erik to make this positive major decision in his life.
When Jim informed Erik that he would be making a trip to Malaysia to visit Kechara, Erik wanted to come.
The Blog Team approached Erik to learn more about Erik and his journey, please watch his video below:
Erik “meditating” on a stone rhino.
Where are you going, Erik?
Jim (Erik’s brother) and Eric Choong, our resident fashion designer.
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Everything Changes and Nothing Changes
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Wow! Time really flies. Just like that, it has been more than 3 years since u first came to Malaysia & Kechara Forest Retreat. It is very inspirational to hear such stories that people listen to Rinpoche’s teaching and it changed their mind and want to do something better for others.
I wish Jim & Erik can come here more often, and eventually move to KFR 🙂
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this inspiring story here. Learning of dharma is totally different in this new age now. With the advancement of technology now, we do not need to be near the Guru to learn dharma anymore. A perfect example will be this blog. Anyone from anywhere can access to dharma teachings on this blog anytime as long as they have an internet connection. Unlike the olden times, one does not necessary to travel to receive teachings. They can just on their computer and have access to teachings in their comfort of their home. This made dharma learning much more convenient and simple.
This is the importance of online dharma work now. As Dorje Shugden always says, Online dharma work is the in thing now. We need to focus on it more than ever.
Humbly,
Chris chong
Thanks Rinpoche for the sharing.
And thanks to Rinpoche for creating this blog so that many people from around the world can benefited.
Although Rinpoche now is at US, but all of us stil can be connected to Rinpoche through this blog too.
Thanks Rinpoche again.
Enjoyed the company of the Yeh brothers we went eating and did all sorts of stuff together during their stay here. Good Fun.
I look forward to Erik taking more action to help animals and such back in India.
Bro, we enjoyed your company too. Thanks for making sure our stay was a memorable one.
Hope to catch up with you real soon in my next visit.
Erick is one truly inspiring. Why do I say this is because Erick showed by action and not just talk and talk and talk.
I came across many people who gets very angry while watching video of how animals being abused and killed, they are scolding how cold blooded for those people who did this to the animals, but when they are scolding and cursing that moment, they are holding the chicken drumstick, eating pork rice, enjoying their meat, then I was like telling them, what is the difference between you and them? they killed and you eat, aren’t you contributing to this cause of the animals being abused and killed?
People kill the animals because there is the demand in the market, so when this is where they can earn their fortune, they will have to keep their kind heart aside and start killing, but if everyone of us stop eating meat, then they won’t kill anymore.
Just like Erick here, he didn’t want to be the cause for the animals to die for him, so he wanted to stop the business, his case is not just being a vegetarian, but giving up his fortune maker, what a great decision and great heart.
Thank you Erick for your loving care and kindness, many animals can prolong their lives and that’s because of you.
Dear Erik and Jim, I am very happy that the both of you learned, absorbed and changed for the better after listening to Rinpoche’s teachings. Its also great to know that Rinpoche have moved the 4 of you in many ways that is helping or helped you. Although, we didnt get the chance to chat much during your visit but I am very sure you guys will be back soon for another visit! And I support your decision to end animal cruelty in every way!
What a wonderful guy he seems very intelligent, able to contemplate and think rationally with his actions. Im glad Erik got to have an audience with Rinpoche, its nice to know Rinpoche’s blog and videos were able to inspire him into becoming a vegetarian. I like the fact how he started small by nothing eating meat for a day, that lead to a week and now a full time vegetarian. Im glad he has become a vegetarian. I never knew what tanning was and when i first read the beginning i thought spray tanning. I can’t imagine being apart of the slaughter of millions of cows. Im happy to hear Erik is considering closing down his business and I really do hope that he does. I hope Erik finds peace and happiness in his heart and that his problems are solved. Take care.
meanwhile in justin bieber ass
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I’m so happy able to meet Erik and Jim at Kechara house during WESAK Day , they are very nice . Rejoice for Erik because given up his family business to save more animals and he also became vegetarian too . Thank you Rinpoche for sharing .
Amazing, that Rinpoche’s blog teachings can benefit so much. Congratulation to Jim and Eric find the right path. Really rejoice for you both and hope you will spread Dharma to benefit more people’s. Thank you for sharing your wonderful and touching story to us.
Jim and Erik really appreciate Dharma and Rinpoche a lot, they made the effort to come all the way from where they live just to visit Kechara. They were mot even sure if they were going to see Rinpoche.
Ediv and Seng Piow have done a good job in bringing Rinpoche’s teachings to many via internet because of Rinpoche’s teaching, Erik has potentially saved millions of lives. Rinpoche’s teaching might see to have influenced only one individual, but in fact the positive impact is huge as in Erik’s case.
To Jim and Erik, welcome aboard to the spiritual journey.
Last few day when Helena and Kechara house volunteer in Kechara Forest Retreat , Helena post up some photo during cleaning the place.
One of our old friend ,
He say that : ” My house also need your help wor.. when u voluntary come le “.
Louise Lee: ” ehhh why not u come to help us? in the same time u can keep fit.”
He say that: ” I am sending a chicken to be kill in every 7 minutes .”
Im say he say this. That why i share Erik & Jim video in facebook. I hope that he can understand both brother have same problem he face.
If sometime doing something good, nothing can stop us. If we want to change, nothing can stop us !
Helping and benefitting others can be done on many levels. Sometimes, the things you do, your actions, your intiatives, your projects creates a bigger tidal wave in helping others than on a physical level where you are restricted to only those around you.
Rinpoche has told us many times that his blog will reach the hearts of many because Rinpoche’s motivation behind this blog is to help and benefit others, to bring the teachings of Lord Buddha to others that will relate with people today. Therefore, us sharing the knowledge, many articles and advices on this blog will also indirectly help many others. Since there is a platform, all we got to do is help to spread it around.
If this blog has benefitted you, use it to benefit others as well, and in this case, the benefit is on many levels – to both human and animal.
I’m delighted that Erik and Jim had a memorable Wesak, and a rare audience with Rinpoche. I am glad that Erik has direction and his doubts, cleared. And best of all, due to the love of their sister, Amy and Mavis, it has brought them the most precious gift they can receive in this lifetime – the Dharma.
It’s really awesome to learn that hundreds and thousands of people around the world are receiving teachings from Rinpoche through this blog, Erik and Jim are one of them. It’s also great to know that Erik had planned on closing down his tanning business temporarily, it’s not an easy decision to make as it’s a family business he is running, but with this, he will save massive of lives.
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
It is hard to come by the Buddha Dharma. Modernization and materialism is often put to blame. But here’s a refreshing twist to things, HE Tsem Tulku Rinpoche brings the age-old Dharma of Buddha into today’s modern world through this very blog!
How wonderful to know that these friends whom have come from afar have benefited from the blog and on top of that, transformed into better people. Through the blog, they have received Rinpoche’s kindness and the Dharma, taken them to heart and have transformed tremendously! There’s no doubt about it that we can bring this out to the world with little effort (even in the comfort of our homes!) with a few swooshes and clicks, we get to share this beautiful message of hope to people. And hey, we never know what’ll happen! U might save a life!
Welcome to Malaysia, and most importantly, welcome to Kechara, the Yeh siblings! So nice to know that you guys had an audience with Rinpoche and got great teachings from the living Buddha Himself!
I rejoice in Erik’s decision to consider shutting down the tannery even though it is a family business.I agree that it would be contradictory to adopt the vegetarian diet and run a tannery at the same time. Inspiring.. thank you Erik!
We should be seeing you guys around soon enough.. =)
Till then, take care Erik and Jim! Maybe you guys could come along with Amy and Mavis the next trip. The Yeh clan! hehe
Thank you for sharing, Rinpoche!
Rejoice for the Yeh family able to receive Rinpoche’s blessing and advice.It was not easy to decided to cease the family business.The closing decision have saving many lives.
Rejoice! Rinpoche’s blog has benefited so many all over the world. I am happy that Jim and Erik had the opportunity to learn from Rinpoche’s blog though the kindness of their sister, Amy. By learning, contemplating and applying what they learned from the blog, they have created the karma to have this rare opportunity of having an audience with Rinpoche and received teachings of Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga.
I wish the Yeh family all the best in their spiritual journey. I truly rejoice for all of you!
I am so Happy that Erik and Jim came to Malaysia. Got to meet the “real” person in real time, how cool is that. Yes, Tsem Rinpoche Blogs, facebook, twitter and even You Tube channel have brought Dharma to lots of people. Even manage to get some people transforms into better person.
Keep in touch on Blog Erick and Jim.
Rinpoche’s blog has touched and helped many people around the world. Thank you Rinpoche for your continuous love and care to everyone of us on this planet. i wish Jim and Erik with smooth sailing along their Dharma paths and continue to spread Buddhism to anyone who is yet to receive Dharma.
Firstly, I would like to thank all Kecharians for making our stay a memorable one. For giving us your valuable time and ensuring that we had a pleasant stay. I didn’t expect to have an audience with Rinpoche and I was nervous (because I had some uncomfortable questions to ask) and at the same time I was very excited (he is a living Buddha after all).
I would like to point out that I am yet to quit my line of work. What I’d like to share is that, I now have a clear sense of direction, as opposed to having doubts and uncertainty before I met Rinpoche. I shall continue my practices, read more, absorb whatever teachings I can through this blog. I know that the right thing is to keep my practices and never give up as advised by Rinpoche. With his blessings, I know that I will eventually find an alternative.
Thank you, Rinpoche. For the spiritual awakening.
Hi Erik, great to know that you’re back in India safely. I’m didn’t have a chance to see you before you go, sorry about that.
Great that you had a wonderful experiences with Tsem Rinpoche in Kechara Forest Retreat, and may you fulfill all the plans that you might have in your mind very soon.
It’s very compassion of you to have the idea of changing to any business, because you’re not that kind of person that can enjoy prosperity out from others suffering, this is the real you, a soft heart for others.
Sometime it will be confusion, pain or difficulty when we trying to change our life which we already stick to it for many many years. When difficulty arise, keep your guru samaya clean and follow your lama’s advise, and your Dharma protector will be able to show you the correct path to go.
Don’t have to worry so much, because everything seems difficult to us will become nothing if we continue to working toward it, just like when we first learn how to walk, it has become very easy for us now.
Remember Kechara is your spiritual home, where your heart really belong, talk to us if you have any questions, and we hope we can get together and bring more happiness to many others.
Bryan
It’s totally amazing isn’t it how millions of people from all around the world such as India, United States, United Kingdom, Thailand and at least another 20 other countries have visited this blog and another at least 100 people have had their obstacles cleared, their questions answered, that very sick person healed as well as those that were feeling down had their hopes lifted.
It was very nice of Erik and Jim to come all the way to Malaysia to visit Rinpoche and Kechara…. getting to know them though the article and video above it is very sad that Erik had to run the Tanning business but I hope that whatever Prayers Rinpoche had instructed Erik to do will help the cows gain a better Rebirth.
I am really glad that some of Erik’s problems have been lifted of his shoulders and I hope that when he gets back to Calcutta, India whatever problem that is to come to him will be gone.
Thank you Rinpoche for always helping students/followers from any country near or far.
Love
Jutika
I have managed to have a short conversation with Erik and Jim during Wesak Fair when both of the brothers were helping to set up the tents. When i found out from them that they were from India, and looking from their outlook, i was like huh, and i ask again….well it was very surprising for me. So, then Erik told me that his grandfather has landed in India, so as for my ancestors has landed in Malaysia while fleeing from China, and we had a good laugh.
While in the conversation, i also came to know that his family business was leather tanning, and the first thought that came to my mind, was the karma that is created from the family business. I was very fearful knowing this information, as knowing about karma.
After reading this blog, and the interview, it is such a rejoice that Erik has this realization from Rinpoche’s blog. Kudos Erik and Jim.
All the best in your next business endeavor, Erik and Jim.
OM MANI PEDME HUM.
Doreen, it was a pleasure meeting you.
You were not the first person to ask about what I do for a living. And although I know it made Jim uncomfortable because I was being asked the same question by whomever I met. However, I was not embarrassed or evasive (as Doreen mentioned about Karma) when answering because deep down inside, I knew I would not be continuing it for the rest of my life.
I recall from one of Rinpoche’s teachings about jealousy and he talked about admitting/acknowledging one’s fault rather than living in denial. For me, I have taken that first step and I’m glad I didn’t try to evade the questions about what I do for a living.
Dear Erik
I am glad that you were not embarrassed or evasive and I do understand that you had taken this business on without knowing the ramifications, which is what most people do. Most people do things out of ignorance, which as Rinpoche says, is the worst of our three delusions, the others being attachment and anger. Now that you have Dharma knowledge and the fact that you are planning how to stop the karma from your work now is wonderful.
I wish you all the best and look forward to meet you again! Hope it will be soon 🙂
Dear Erik,
You have also thought me a lesson, avoidance and denial is a sufferings that we create for one self.. Once we accept, admit and and knowledge, that is where our sufferings become lesser, easier, and moving forward.
Hope to see you and Jim back in Kechara or KFR! This time, bring your family.
Dear Erik,
I have the same thought as Doreen , admitting/acknowledging one’s fault rather than living in denial….Thx for sharing…
Hope to see you again in Kechara 😉
Jim is a sincere and humble practitioner from Canada. He is friendly with others. He told some of us yesterday that he was extremely happy when he saw Rinpoche and have the chance to hang around with a living Buddha. He also feels grateful that Rinpoche gave him Refuge precepts and also Rinpoche’s care and gift. Rejoiced for Jim and happy to meet him yesterday at KFR and be able to work together with him.
It is so nice to see that people would come from so far away just to meet Rinpoche. It is a sign that times are changing and people’s guru devotion are increasing. It is wonderful that Erik wants to stop the tannery. There will be so many lives saves as less tanneries exist.
All the leather we own are the product of murder and we should lessen our uses of leather or stop using leather!
It is so touching to see that Erik has given up his job just to save these animals.
Being vegetarian is better than eating meat,because the animals are in a lot of pain when they are slaughtered,which means that you are making the animal suffer because of your desire.
We should always be vegetarian to stop all these animals from suffering because of you
I sense the apprehension in the video and you have come a long way. Things will not be easy in the coming days/years but now that you have Dharma/Rinpoche’s teachings to guide you, hopefully, it would ease the transition. And of course you can always count on us to support you in your future endeavours.
Thank you Rinpoche for bringing dharma into our lives!
Amazing on how Rinpoche’s blog teaching can inspire and benefit so much! Rejoice for Erik & Jim!
It’s quite amazing how Rinpoche’s blog has reached so many people from different walks of life and different countries. Many visitors have come to visit Kechara from UK, Germany, Luxembourg, USA and many other countries because of the reach of this blog and Rinpoche’s facebook/twitter accounts. Rinpoche himself has often said that he does not like using the computer much but because of the benefit it gives to many, Rinpoche spends hours on end on his blog. If you like what Rinpoche has written, please share it with your friends so that they will receive the blessings too.
i am very happy that Erik and Jim had the opportunity to meet Tsem Rinpoche this trip. We may think how lucky they are or what good karma they have to meet Rinpoche but truth betold is that they created the karma for this. They watched the teachings, they acted on the teachings and they decided to come many miles to see Kechara for themselves. I know Jim has also been contributing to Rinpoche’s work from his home in Canada for awhile, with no expectation of return. When we give with no agenda, karma dictates that we will receive, and I am happy that Jim and Erik have certainly received wonderful blessings on their Dharma journey.
“Everything Changes and Nothing Changes”, thanks Rinpoche for this powerful phrase.
Thanks for Erik and Jim for sharing, may more and more peoples can transform in the soonest time like Erik after inspire by Rinpoche…
Rejoice for Yeh family, u all choose the RIGHT path…
We (the Yeh family) sincerely thank Rinpoche for taking the time to meet Erik and Jim. I used to worry about Erik a lot, knowing that he had a lot to bear and on his own without much guidance from anyone. I am extremely happy for Erik and rejoice in his karma to meet Rinpoche. I know Erik is very okay now with Lord Setrap on his side and our beloved guru Rinpoche as his guide. We are forever indebted to Rinpoche for Your Eminence’s tireless teachings and for transforming our minds. Thank you again Rinpoche for bringing peace and awareness to Erik and creating the cause for him to cease animal cruelty. With folded hands, Amy.
Amy, you do not know how happy and relieved I am that Erik and Jim actually got a chance, a rare chance indeed to meet Rinpoche during this auspicious Wesak week. What a way to end it eh?! It also means that they were both very sincere and they created the causes for this to happened of course thanks to you and Mavis’s help and support in introducing them to Rinpoche’s blog. You see just from your interest in Rinpoche’s blog, you both have benefited your loved ones…and the best gift anyone can give to those they love, is the Dharma to help them stop or handle their pain or suffering better. This is how you love someone the right way 🙂 Through your example, your own transformation, and your interest, you have managed to influenced your brothers positively – you must give yourselves a big “pat” on the back!
I am thrilled Erik got the teachings from Rinpoche and a beautiful Buddha Shakyamuni and the best of all is the practice of Guru Yoga practice given to them by Rinpoche 🙂
Bryan and I did not get a chance to say Good Bye to Erik… perhaps it is a good sign which means he will sure to be back or perhaps even consider relocating hahaha! Well, we are all very happy for both of them. Imagine Rinpoche’s blog can benefit one person who will in the end save or stop the killings of millions of cows just from realisation and mind switch from Rinpoche’s blog teachings – this is what we call real Dharma applied! Erik must have some good merits to be able to receive these teachings and for it to take effect. Truly from the bottom of my heart I rejoice for you all!
Dear Amy,
Thanks so much for bringing Dharma to your family. Like What Joy mentioned, it’s lucky that Erik and Jim able to meet up with Tsem Rinpoche and received very beneficial direct teaching from Tsem Rinpoche, which I believe it will change Erik and Jim’s path just like any of us.
This blog have bring many people from around the world together, I don’t think both of us will become friends without this blog or Tsem Rinpoche. Even though we never meet each other in person, but we have the same goal which is bring happiness or peace to many others, starting from our family members, and you guys did such a good job.
Very rejoice that Erik and Jim able to received teaching, blessing, personal advise, questions answered directly from Tsem Rinpoche. It’s great to know that Erik can see his path clearer after the audience with Tsem Rinpoche.
I’m happy to see both Erik and Jim here in Kechara Malaysia, and I hope Erik and Jim will work harder and towards the direction that Tsem Rinpoche have shown them directly or indirectly.
Of course, it will be our pleasure to receive you and Mavis here in Malaysia one day. Who knows, maybe the Yeh’s family is the cause for Kechara to take root in Canada and India for the future, let’s pray that we will able to continue to bring dharma to many others.