What is a JP Thong?
Dear friends,
I was in my room doing some work when I received the March issue of Malaysian Tatler magazine along with a note from JP Thong stating that he was featured in it. I was pleasantly surprised, as the last time I read this magazine was when Dato’ Ruby was on the front cover of Malaysian Tatler along with a 12-page feature story of her and her works at Kechara Soup Kitchen!
The article was very well-written, and it perfectly summed up much of JP’s life, before and after pursuing his spiritual path. I am glad to see JP sharing his Kechara experience with Malaysian Tatler.
JP is one of my old students, I have known him for many years now. He is the perfect example of how spirituality can be modern, exciting and positively challenging for the young people in our time. Dharma “work” should never be seen as a way to pass time for the old and retired. If we can benefit many from doing Dharma full-time when we are aged, imagine starting whilst still young and healthy… we can benefit so many more people within our very short life.
I would like to say thank you to Malaysian Tatler for always being very supportive of our works and people. Take a read below! Thank you Jp for being you!!!
Tsem Rinpoche
Image scans from Malaysia Tatler
Led by the Light
Former hotelier and developer JP Thong tells Lily Ong how finding a spiritual guide spurred his reflection on his purpose in life.
A degree holder in Economics and French from New York University, JP Thong spent a number of years in the US as a student before returning home in 1992. He worked in sales before he was headhunted to develop the business of hotels and resorts in Los Angeles and Malaysia for a local public listed company. In 1996, he decided to join his parents’ company to manage their property investments and hotels before starting his own company in 2005 with a friend exporting furniture to Japan. But it’s not all about his career for Thong. He also performs with acapella group, the Wicked Pitches, and is president of Asiaworks Foundation.
Yet, he confessed that there was an emptiness inside that he could not fathom despite his successful material pursuits. enter the founder and spiritual head of Kechara House Buddhist Association Malaysia, His Eminence Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. His friend introduced him to the spiritual guide’s book Why I Make Myself Unhappy. Touched by what he read, Thong decided to attend a talk by the charismatic man in a bid to seek answers. “All my life, I seeked to know the purpose of everything. When I met His Eminence, I was in awe of how he answered the questions I asked in a knowledgeable and logical manner. The teachings helped me understand more about life and our ultimate purpose. it was then I thought it would do me good to build a platform for him to use to reach out to more people out in the world so they too could benefit from his teachings.”
As the liaison to His Eminence, Thong works 24 hours a day executing important tasks in the service of his spiritual guru. He also heads Tsem Ladrang (the headquarters of the Ladrang operations and Tsem Tulku’s main place of residence) as director of operations and sits on the board of directors of Kechara organisation. Though he was noticeably tired when we met him in the cosy tranquil interiors of Tsem Ladrang, his eyes lit up with passion and animation as he spoke about the work that he does.
At the top of his list of current projects is the building of Kechara Forest Retreat (KFR) in the mountains of Chamang, Bentong – a lush and beautiful forest that the Kechara team has acquired. He journeys frequently between KL and Bentong to “get my hands and feet dirty on the job”. Thong is also busy producing movies, a coffee table book and working on fundraising projects for the Kechara Group, amongst many other things. With so much on his plate, I couldn’t help but express my admiration at his ability to develop so many skill sets to manage such a diverse number of projects.
Thong then laughed and shared that when he was offered the task of managing Tsem Ladrang, he was initially uncertain as to whether he was qualified for the task and whether he could commit to a full-time job with Kechara. His doubts were put to rest when a turning point came in his life. “A close friend of mine was in dire need of spiritual help on the spot, and I was frantically trying to reach His Eminence for guidance. But as no one was in charge of Tsem Ladrang, there was no way of reaching His Eminence at that point of time. I felt so helpless, being unable to help my friend as he suffered right in front of me. Then I realised there are probably many out there like me, who needed spiritual help that His Eminence could offer, but reached a stumbling block with this same obstacle.”
Since accepting the job, Thong has embraced the importance of challenging his limitations. “Adapting and improving ourselves are values that His Eminence has always instilled in us. I am aware that there are many perceptions out there that what we do at Kechara is secular and commercial I can tell you in all honesty that all these tasks I am working on require a lot of my time and energy. I have realised, by doing these tasks I deem impossible at first, I am able to move outside of my comfort zone and get the job done – all for the better good.”
At a glance
About His Life Path: “In my wildest dreams, I never came close to thinking I’d work in a non-profit organisation.”
His Defining Moment: “I realised eating meat and practising compassion are contradictory.”
Life Motto: “What matters ultimately is between karma and me. True happiness and inner peace can only arise when we become selfless”
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Great Defining Moment and Life Motto. I like this kind of article, it inspires me.
it is nice that uncle JP shared his experience, he i s a nice guy and close with the dharma and Rinpoche. i have met him many times and he is very welcoming and kind. i hope he can do good things for the dharma in the future!
Although I have may not have worked closely with JP, but I could tell that he is a wonderful person through reading the comments from the people around him.. He is like a soldier, silently but strongly doing his job..
Rinpoche has written good things about JP as well. Hopefully I’d be able to work with JP in future to be inspired. 🙂
Thank you for sharing, Rinpoche!
JP is very kind and friendly. However, he is very serious on the tasks that he wants to do and will do it 100% and make sure all done with perfection!
He has changed so much from I first met him. Though he still strike for 100% perfection, but he is not so easily agitated anymore.
I sincerely thank him for taking up the role to be responsible to build our Guru’s home in Kechara Forest Retreat with high standard and very good taste. Thank you JP! Thank you so much!
他可是一个严格的领导人，非常的细心，每一个部分都必须细心的审查。乍听之下很多人以为他会是不通情达理的人，其实不然，他愿意坐下来聆听，给予我们劝告，有时是几个小时，他希望每一个人都能进步，对于一个和他非亲非故的人，Jp 是非常有耐心，也很关心人。
I remember the first time I saw JP – he was sitting right smack in the middle of the hall attending one of Rinpoche’s dharma talks. I was sitting at the back of the hall and could hardly hear what he was asking Rinpoche — all I could see what a young man eager to learn more.
JP is truly someone to look up to. He has accomplished so much, yet he is not resting on his laurels.
Thank you Rinpoche for this post.
I really enjoyed reading this article and never knew this side of JP Thong. I knew JP was very hardworking, tirelessly working day in day out in kechara never showing a moody face. Whenever a problem arised JP would sit there think of a solution immediately, without pondering about it that it happen and quickly came up with a great solution to the problem. I was really touched by the story in the article of his reason on taking the position at kechara because he felt helpless with his friends problem, its really beautiful that JP pushed himself out of his comfort zone and is now benefiting so many people. JP is a really lovely person. Thanks for sharing your experience JP, its wonderful how you shared your experience on tatler.
JP is truly the inspirational, he took on one of the greatest task in his life, that is Kechara Forest Retreat. He went all the way even he has not done it before, JP is fully committed with his Dharma Work, he never doubt about what he is doing whether correct or not, he just trust Tsem Rinpoche fully.
JP is young, he has a good career and luxury lifestyle, he can enjoy his life whatever way he want, but he clearly understands that life is impermanent, and his career cannot fulfill him anymore, he is looking for something much higher than that, so when he met Rinpoche the first time, he found the right path that can feed his query about what’s life’s all about.
He’s a cutie :3
Hahaha “What is a JP Thong” – I laughed when I read that title. What is a JP Thong? I don’t think the article really covered what a JP Thong really is. A JP Thong is:
1) kind AND remembers kindness
2) forgiving
3) extremely patient
4) fun-loving and knows how to indulge…
5) …but never forgets about his priorities
6) loves Rinpoche
7) appreciates logic
8) is able to empathise with other people’s suffering
9) interested in improving himself
10) just a really nice guy to be around!
Do you like JP Thong’s? Because if JP Thong’s are like that, then I like JP Thong’s! 🙂
Wow! Congrats JP! You look great in the picture!
I didn’t know that JP was involved in so much before he came to Kechara. He really know a lot and he is super smart too. No wonder he can do so much and multi task.
It’s really funny to see that people who achieved so much are still looking and searching for something. And JP show them that no matter who, what or how, you can achieve happiness in doing more for others. Just like his life motto!
JP is great at what he is doing in KFR! So happy to know that many will enjoy what he is doing. I am so proud to be able to learn and be inspired from you through this.
Thank you for the post Rinpoche!
It is great to see JP Thong sharing his spiritual journey. His encounter with Rinpoche really changed his life for the better. I hope this article will create more awareness of Kechara and more people can be benefited like JP.
Congrats JP on this article. On reading, i can’t but help thinking how ur path kinda resembled Buddha’s life. Life of guaranteed good living n yet u choose the dharmic path. Always wt a ready smile n hello, u certainly reflects what Kechara is. Always hardworking n carrying many important portfolios, u set a good example of what commitment to one’s Guru should be. Kudos!
Sofi, I really like what you wrote about JP. Much more interesting that what is told in the magazine is JP’s journey in Dharma and the battles that he has waged out of pure Guru devotion. But you will have to ask him nicely and buy him some drinks. Looking at his CV alone, you know that this person can get things done but what is truly admirable is how JP personifies the amazing transformation that arises out of listening to our Guru. Not to mention that he makes Dharma cool.
Good to see that JP Thong shared his life journey.Amazing thank you rinpoche for sharing.
I love the title… “What is a JP Thong?” It cracked me up because it really fits Mr. Thong 🙂
I’ve known JP since the day he came to one of Rinpoche’s teachings in 2006/2007. I remembered he sounded like a skeptic, quite arrogant but very inquisitive to learn. Jp was asking a lot of questions and the way he was asking to some of us sounded like he was challenging Rinpoche or rather debating which was actually quite refreshing to see someone with so much questions and wanting to learn! And one seating of teachings led to more teachings and well the rest is history.
JP was chosen to be the head of Tsem Ladrang and he had no idea, no clue how to run a high Tibetan Lama’s Ladrang, but he had the attitude of I will get the job done. And up until today, knowing him for so many years… this attitude of his is consistent. Yes JP is human, he has his ups and downs, but one thing for sure is that he went through stormy days but yet he is still here.. “getting the job done” and this is because He truly believes in Rinpoche’s vision and really wants to do something more meaningful in his life. Jp has been a great leader and good friend who will always be there for others and that to me is much more admirable than his eloquent speech, his business skills, degrees. The fact that he can pursue Dharma whole heartedly is admirable. I always thought that his story was similar to Sidhartas lol 🙂 Kudos JP and may Dharma be in you!
JP
Your Defining Moment tag is inspiring and so relevant.
Amazing! I never know JP has so much experience under his belt even before joining Kechara. I can see that he manages many projects and always busy. But it is for the greater good of making Rinpoche’s teachings accessible to more people and to the public through different avenues. It takes a lot of integrity, guts, and tenacity for a person to lead all these projects to completion. At the end it is for developing our compassion towards others because that is the goal of being spiritual.
Good to see that JP Thong shared his life journey, his encounter with Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and his work at Kechara in Malaysia Tatler. This surely will bring more attention to Kechara and which as time goes by will benefit more people who come to know Dharma through Rinpoche’s teachings.