2nd Flower Arrangement Class by KSA
Wow, I got these flowers from our own Kechara Saraswati Arts dept!!
They are learning flower arranging and they arranged this arrangement you see here. Not bad for new people at this art of flower arranging. Thank you for the beautiful arrangement. I love flowers.
We will have this in KWPC!!
Tsem Rinpoche
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
Paul Yap the Head of KSA has lots of fore sight. After starting the class for beading and earring making, he and his team of volunteers and staff thought about flower arrangement which had already started with the 1st class. This will be the 2nd class. Ashley has also kindly conducted with her experience to train people in this class. On the 2nd flower arrangement class she conducted she has specially requested for an arrangement of a beautiful bouquet to be offered to Rinpoche. Her classes are also not wasted to the people that came to learn. but also it has been handy for the opening of the new Gompa. There were more than a hundred orders for flower arrangement for offering to the new Gompa. Volunteers and members who had experience came to help out the two florist Deborah and Lily Chew to help in the arrangement so that more orders can be taken to generate funds for Kechara House.
Flowers however fresh, beautiful, colourful and fully blossomed leads ultimately to one end. The ending of “impermanence” for all things to come, be it beautiful or ugly. But flowers are a necessesity to show joy, beauty and lovingliness. They always display a kind of therapeutic sense of pleasingness to one’s mind. It also contains a kind of warmness and friendliness, caringness to whoever receives them. It is said that in spirituality, offering of flowers to the Buddhas will create the merits for one to be born in beautiful forms in their future rebirth. It is very educational and useful for KSA to conduct such flower arrangement classes. The flowers as displayed in the pictures look so marvelously and professionally done with patience and care. A big thank you to the KSA team and helpers for this glamorous arrangement.
Flower arrangement can be divided into two classes of use for people. For spiritually use it can act as a meditation tool. And is an art for creative
people. Flower arrangement can be very interesting if you have the flair
for creation. Just like when are making cakes you can create so many things to make the cake looks interesting. It would be a very good idea to start classes now and train people now in this kind of skills. When KWPC projects come up and is such a big project that when tourists or visitors cOme they may need flowers to make offerings. We can then start a flower arranging division where funds can be generated for KWPC maintenance. Definitely we should prepare the flower arranging classes to form a division for the future which will be useful for generating funds for KWPC.
Congratulations on Ashlee and her team on providing and expanding the enjoyable activities that KSA has to offer in the name of bringing those inclined to these activities to the Dharma. As already explained above, flowers have great meaning in Buddhism, the most significant of all being the Lotus, representing the purity and enlightenment emerging from the muddy Samsara. KSA is a great way to bring people together in doing something creative and fun yet meaningful. It never ceases to amaze me how KSA has itself blossomed and grown to produce beautiful new creations to make Dharma accessible to more people.
Tchogyam Trungpa Rinpoche also used flower arranging as one of his “Eastern disciplines” to help synchronize the mind and body together properly. Among the Eastern disciplines he recommended are kyudo, the Japanese art of archery and the tea ceremony. From the Western tradition, he recommended the discipline of horseback riding which his wife Diana Mukpo excelled in. In the Shambhala tradition, synchronizing mind and body is a very big deal. The king principle in the Shambhala world is the universal monarch who joins heaven and earth. Everyone of us can join heaven and earth. Everyone of us can be king or queen. I like Tsem Rinpoche’s idea of introducing the art of flower arrangement in KWPC. How exciting. We can learn different styles, Western, Japanese, Chinese etc.
I am so glad to hear and learn recently from Kecharians that offering flowers to the Buddhas have a particular significance in creating the causes for a beautiful form. Well, at least now there’s still some hope for people like me who are born on the other side of the scale – though am not sure if such a selfish motivation for gaining a beautiful form will backfire. Traditionally, we are used to offering incense at the temple (though I can’t say that my ethics are any good) but now with new meaning in flowers, am motivated to give it a try. Besides, flowers are beautiful aren’t they? And not to mention, much cheaper than plastic surgery.
Flowers, glorious flowers. Something that represent love and beauty.
We give flowers to express our love to our love ones. We give flowers to the sick to cheer them up and to show that we care. We give flowers to the mother with new born to congratulate them and to welcome the baby to this world. We give flowers to the graduates to share their joy and wish them well. Beautiful flowers can mean and represent many things. Thus, this is one of the ways that we can bring spirituality to people through art by our very own Kechara Saraswati Arts. A healing and therapeutic to one’s mind. This will eventually carry on to our beautiful KWPC!
The flowers in the picture are so beautiful; colours are so vibrant and arranged with so much love and care.
Congratulations to KSA and lead on to make it big!
I’ve heard the great master, Thich Nhat Hanh, give many teachings where he uses the flower as an example to his point. For me, flowers bring a poignant teaching to live in the now, appreciate the beauty and bliss of the moment in full blossom, but also to contemplate on the impermanence on all things, which inevitably wither away in the end.
In an aesthetic sense, how beautiful is is for KSA to bring so much joy to others through producing such fine work. And also, it’s such a fun way to learn new skills while at the same time being reminded that there is nothing we can’t do if we put our minds to it.
Kind regards,
Sandy
Kechara Saraswati Arts is very nice place for everyone! In here we can find our hobby, and do something for ourselve!
In here we can have a lot handycraft. we can make a lot thing offer to altar or as a gift to our friends!
Have you think that we can make a birthday card , clay toys i do it before! Coz i make a card to or ….? If we make it as a present for someone we love?
try to make it now! coz i make birthday card for my aunty! she feel so warm and happy! this is the one and only one! the special card for her!
http://www.kechara.com/arts/
Everyone loves flowers. Not only is it pretty, it represents love and appreciation. Now we learnt something new about flowers in Dharma which is impermanence. Like the saying does, Time and Tide Waits for no Man. Therefore, we must be the best person we can be in our lifetime and do good deeds that would benefit others. By doing Dharma work, we embrace good qualities.
It is easy for the public to get connected to Kechara through floral arrangement classes and painting conducted by KSA. Hopefully, these labor of love would eventually bear fruits and allow all participants and volunteers to collect a lot merits along the way.
Flower arrangement is an important form of art that has many benefits. Learning this skill can reduce stress and uplift the spirit. It can also heal illness and depression .Flowers make intimate connections. When we offer flowers to somebody we immediately put an impact on happiness to the receiver upon receiving. We are also practicing the art of giving. We offer flowers as a symbol of love, appreciation and devotion. Flowers speak for our heart. Buddha says,“ If we could see the miracle of a little flower clearly, our whole life would change”.I have attended both classes conducted by Ashlee, our teacher, a kind, patient and beautiful lady who taught us step-by-step instructions and all the baskets of flowers turned out very well and beautiful. Join in the class and bring back all this good and positive feelings. KSA is not only limited to learning ,it is also about sharing. We share knowledge of Dharma, arts, happiness , work ,problems, tears.joy and laughter. Come in and discover the beauty in you and KSA.Thank You Rinpoche and Paul for the vision of a beautiful and successful KSA at KWPC.
Kechara Saraswati Art Studio (KSA) is going to expand into a real Art Studio in within a few months time, besides of acting as a production house, KSA will be moving to another level, which we will cater a lot of different Art and Creative classes for public. Flower Arrangement is our first step for moving towards our goal as well as Rinpoche vision – Bring Arts to people life through Spirituality. Please stay tune and keep in touch with us, as KSA is in the midst of planning to come out more creative classes for kids and adults.
By the way, thanks to Ashlee for her lovely time in conducting beautiful flower arrangement class. Ashlee is very busy, as she has a good job and travel alots for her job, but she willing to take out her personal time to conduct class and bring arts to people. Thank You Ashlee and Thank You Rinpoche.
Dear Rinpoche,
When you mentioned about to have flower arrangement class in KWPC, sincerely speaking I had little bit of hard time searching with my two eyes across the little sky of mind that what fun we can generate from it, the answer remains logical to me that there are people who will enjoy it, until i got this piece of message across to a colleague via communicator, I recollect the folds of value i have missed. She told me this and she told me that about flowers and plants: do you know you can share 1 or 2 drops of milk into the water of your plant?? do you know you need to trim the yellow leaves away before it affects the rest of the plant?? In winter country, you need to set aside the cold water for few days before pouring onto the plants!! Do you know you really need to let go when they wither and die?? I really feel her passion and happiness the moment she talked about flowers and plants even with only words on the screen, then i was deeply moved by one simple thing, the simplest way of happiness, that is to feel happy for other’s happiness, (May all sentient beings have happiness and the causes of happiness!
~wink wink).
Ashlee got me to accompany her to the class. I thought it was going to be boring but I was very wrong! Right in front of my eyes, a bunch of ordinary looking loose cut flowers was skilfully transformed into a beautiful bouquet of flowers!
I noticed how much the participants enjoyed themselves and of course admire the end result of their creation. I strongly recommend and encourage everyone to sign up for the classes and learn to do flower arrangement. It is really fun and the end result is satisfying as well!!! And you have something beautiful to offer the Buddhas too. : )
Flowers, to many, represents love. To those who have some dharma knowledge, it is a reminder of impermanence. When a flower blossoms, it is likened to a woman in her prime and when it withers, aging. I have come across many friends who do not like to receive flowers because they do not like to see it withering. I understand now that this is how their mind operates, clinging on to beauty, name and fame and not wanting to face the true nature of all phenomena; impermanence.So to all out there who fall into this category, the next time you receive a bouquet of flowers, admire its beauty and contemplate its deeper meaning.
Its great that Kechara Saraswati Arts are expanding their portfolio into non-religious forms of artistry and creativity, such as this flower arranging class. It provides a much needed service and flower arranging is a great outlet to destress the mind and express one’s creativity.
I would love to see KSA’s presence expand into shopping malls, with creative arts for kids and the entire family. There are many such shops all over town these days, but KSA has added advantages – they are non-profit, they support a good cause, they are trained by genuine artisans and hey, they ARE the first Himalayan arts studio in south east asia!
KSA is truly Spirituality through arts coming alive
Terima Kasih Rinpoche!
Yup I must make the time to turn up for their Sat floral arrangement class. It would be such a refresher to learn again since my days in the church when I used to help out the ladies for the altar floral arrangements and now in turn to honour Rinpoche and Kechara.
Nothing is wasted, all are for a good cause and in due time.
KSA Boleh!
Lovely flowers arranged by KSA class! How wonderful to be able to arrange these flowers with your own hands and offered to our Lama. By doing so, Ashley and group is practising the 6 paramitas – Bodhisattva way of life. And the outcome is the offering to Rinpoche for his long and healthy life is so meritorious. If one comtemplates this action from getting the flowers, meeting at KSA, sharing how to arrange these flowers, doing the flower arrangement, taking time off just to do these things patiently, contributing ones time, money and effort in this process attribute to practising the 6 Paramitas, the seed qualities of a Bodhisattva. The whole process entails practising generosity, patient, perseverance, wisdom, meditation and compassion which are the 6 Paramitas.
Visit KSA if you like this method of practice for your spiritual path to enlightenment: http://www.kechara.com/ksa
The flower arrangement in KSA is a very good approach for public. Through art bring Dharma to others, this is what exactly KSA doing right now. In Malaysia, most of us heard about Dharma 50% of us will run away. Why?? Because most of us have a wrong perception that Dharma is religion theory.
But if we matched art and dharma together, we bring dharma to them sincerely people will feel it. KSA is play a role spreading dharma through art!!! How KSA spread dharma?? The flower arrangement class is a good example.
One of my coursemate told me, she will join Kechara because we have flower arrangement class. That is a way to attract people. Yes, it is good for KWPC have this kind of classes in future. (http://www.kechara.com/peace-centre/)
Kechara Saraswati Arts since moving into it own building had grown leaps and bounds! It is the brain child of Tsem Rinpoche in introducing an art department for Kechara members and friends and it is also creating causes for the manifestation of Kechara World Peace Centre where there will be various types of activities for people from every walk of life.
Rinpoche always say that everybody deserve a chance to be healed, hence, Rinpoche ‘gave birth’ to KSA where it offers alternative people an alternative way of receiving and learning dharma to improve their life.
Many talented artists amongst our Kechara members and friends had sprouted from KSA where they are able to create, paint, make beautiful offerings for the buddhas. It is also an act of beautifying Buddha bodies for the lucky ones to invite home to collect merits, an action of benefiting others.
Not forgetting the talented team in KSA led by our Liaison Paul Yap who had spearheaded Kechara Discovery in sourcing for good quality Buddha statues, offering items so that they are more affordable for everyone to invite home. Kudos to KSA team!
I love flowers & flower arrangement is indeed therapeutic and a good way to de-stress. It makes me happy that when i offer flowers as a caring gesture and bring a smile on someone. As pointed out by Wai Meng & Ruby, flower signifies “Impermanence” in Buddhism. Beautiful flowers will wither and die and it applies to everyone. I remember Rinpoche once pointed out that most of us are so “cheap”..always buying “chrysanthemums” to be offered to the Buddhas as it is cheap n last the longest.(For example, would u pay $20 for flower that last for 3 days or same amount that last for 1 week?). We should offer the best flowers to the Buddhas based on our affordability and not on the basis of how long it will last. It is a lesson in itself for us to cut away our stinginess and recognize nothing last forever.
Kechara Buddhist Organization is so special and Rinpoche recognizes that different people has different needs,talents & interests. Thus there are 12 depts where everyone can contribute to. Log on to KH website for more info: http://www.kechara.com.
Every activities that we engage ourselves, be it small or big, create the causes for our retreat centre (KWPC) to manifest.
KWPC will be very beneficial and it will put Malaysia in the Buddhism map.
Thank you Ruby for your sharing. This is the whole new angle of looking at flowers! Until now, I always think flowers represent nice things and it is very appropriate to send flowers to those we love and care. I personally don’t like to receive flowers, not because I don;t like them, but the Accountant in me just cant understand why should someone spend so much money to buy something that can only last a few days! haha silly right? But I love sending flowers and see how happy the recipient is! From now on I will look at flowers differently as it will remind me to let go of all our attachments!
Thank you Ruby for your sharing. This is the whole new angle of looking at flowers! Until now, I always think flowers represent nice things and it is very appropriate to send flowers to those we love and care. I personally don’t like to receive flowers, not because I don’t like them, but the Accountant in me just cant understand why should someone spend so much money to buy something that can only last a few days! haha silly right? But I love sending flowers and see how happy the recipient is! From now on I will look at flowers differently as it will remind me to let go of all our attachments!
Kechara Saraswati has been Rinpoche’s brainchild to bring Dharma to those who are artisitic. Dharma can be spread in a variety of ways and not just conventional Dharma teachings. People who do go for Dharma teachings is just a small segment of a larger crowd wishing to express spirituality.
Hence, as many had already commented about the Buddhism of impermanece through a flower, many more could come to the Dharma because of the artistic pursuits of Kechara Saraswati. All of us know that artistic folks often are very different and Dharma would have to be presented in a very different and often artistic manner for them to appreciate and practice. That would be Rinpoche’s goal – to bring in those not normally attracted to the Dharma.
More and more creative classes are available at Kechara Saraswasti Art department this day. Flower arrangement is one of the new classes available for people interested to learn. Eventually all this art classes will be available at KWPC building is up for artistic people express their spiritual journey experience through art. This are all rinpoche idea to have for the artistic and creative people to bring them into dharma. KSA also preserve the tradition of Himalayan art at south East Asia. At Ksa you find the painting statue, making Tibetan thangka, making Buddha clothes, beautifier the buddha image by putting the jewelry on the statue and etc. Many sincere people don’t know much about dharma come to volunteer at KSA , contribute their time and love through art. KSA have benefit many people at Kechara organization .
Regards,
Chia
Flowers , to Buddhists, symbolizes impermanence .
From a bud, a flower in full bloom to a wilted flower , the cycle is like our life. Observing this cycle in flowers is like seeing our own life in the fast forward mode.
Ruby said some people do not like to receive flowers as gifts because it reminds them of their own impermanence. A more beneficial attitude would be to enjoy the flowers in full bloom but do not be attached to its transient beauty . Apply this to our own life will help us in developing detachment from the seemingly nice and enjoyable things in life, take essence of this life and be of benefits to others.
Thank you Ashlee for spear heading this flower arranging class. Finally another one of Rinpoche’s vision is coming to fruition!
We have been talking and wanting a flower arranging class and a florist for a long time now. I am so glad to see these new creative classes taking shape in Kechara Saraswati Arts. I hope in no time we will have a Kechara florist!!! We always need flowers!
What is fantastic about KSA is that it gives anyone the opportunity to express their creativity and for those interested in Dharma, it is doing Dharma through art! You see here in Kechara, you don’t have to force yourself to be a certain way and just do chanting or studying. You can just be yourself, engage in what interest you and still do Dharma. And I think this allows people of different interest and talents to express their spirituality while practicing or learning the Dharma.
KSA is the first Tibetan Arts Studio in South East Asia, inspired by H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, KSA is a place for those who have a great affinity with arts or anything to do with creativity. Yes, flower arrangement is one of the classes available there. You can easily spend a good afternoon there, rolling mantras, sewing clothes for buddhas, brocade for Thangka or picking up a paint brush and start painting buddha statues. It is nice to see that our own Kechara has so many talented and devoted students like Ashlee, who consistently has been arranging flower for years for the Setrap chapel in KH2. Thank you Ashlee for your contribution, and I am looking forward to therpatic flower arrangement classes to be conducted by you in our KWPC.
Everyday, many activities going on in Kechara Saraswati Art (KSA) such as flower arrangement has became one of the popular one lately. I love flowers. Although flowers are impermanent and they only bring a very short term happiness to people but flowers definitely put a smile on my face if I would to receive one.
Ashlee, a mother of 2 kids, not only a busy career woman but dedicated her time constantly to dharma. She is also leading the Manjushri Kids’ Class in Kechara House ll, which holds every Sunday, 2pm. I want to say thank you sincerely to Ashlee because I appreciated her love towards dharma.
“Ashlee, don’t think flower arrangement is a small thing to do in Kechara. What you have done brought peace of mind, self worth and happiness to the people who came for the class. The beautiful flowers was offered up to our most precious and beloved guru which enable you all to collect tremendous merits. All these happened because of you, Ashlee!”
KSA was one of the very first departments I involved in when I first came to Kechara even before I joined KSK. I had many assignments from Rinpoche in KSA making pearls offerings to Vajra Yogini such as making HER pearls dresses, jewellery like earrings, necklaces, bangles etc. I love to hang out at KSA for hours just to concentrate myself on something very simple like rolling mantra. I find peace in my mind by coming to this place, KSA.
If you can paint, sew or basically just talented the arty-crafty way, come over to Kechara Saraswati Arts (KSA) in SS2 PJ. It is one of the many departments of the Kechara Organisation bringing spirituality through the arts. This is the place where many Buddha statues come to be “beautified” – to be offered with fabulous brocade, sparkling beads and jewellery, even beautifully painted with gold dust and enhancing their facial features – before they are invited to the homes of many students and friends.
Dharma is not all about studying scriptures and meditation – here in KSA you will be contributing your talents, skills and time in the different divisions – sewing, painting, mantra rolling, flower arrangement, beading.
This is the reason why I am completely drawn to Kechara House, Buddhism for the modern times.
We have 12 departments with a great variety of activities which suit people young and old and from all walks of life.
Kechara is a Buddhist organization that caters for your interest from art, writing, feeding the homeless etc whereby you will be at home to act on whatever you are passionate about.
KSA is the place for the creative and artistic, and it is the first Himalayan Art Center in Kuala Lumpur. Under the leadership of Liaison Paul, many activities have been organized and flower arrangement is but one of them.
Thank you Paul and team for your contribution.
Rinpoche has talked about having classes like flower arranging courses when we eventually have our retreat centre in the hills, KWPC. It’s not just some arbitrary practice, but also another method that can be use for healing, creativity, even therapy (not to mention the countless benefits of offering flowers in the Buddhist sense, as explained by everyone above).
KSA has grown leaps and bounds just in the last few months under the leadership of Liaison Paul Yap (LOVE YOOOO PAUL, LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE – see handsome, fabulous, amazing, wonderful accounts of him here: http://www.kechara.com/about/our-team/whos-who/paul-yap/) making it such a central place of gathering for many people who want to express their spirituality through their creativity and artistic inclinations. It’s proven to be a wonderful way of bringing children together with their friends and parents too.
I was brave recently and started going in to volunteer – painting and such. And surprised myself. If I can manage this, ANYONE CAN, and it really is such a beautiful, peaceful, contemplative to be. It’s just you and the Buddhas, a paintbrush, flowers and a whole lotta love.
I have attended one of Rinpoche’s teachings in the recent Lamrim recitation retreat and Rinpoche touched on the subject of flower arrangement classes to be held in our future KWPC. Rinpoche told us that Flower arrangement can be a theraphy for depression and stress.
I agree because the amount of concentration you have to put in to decorate and arrange the flowers and actually took your time away from your problem and ease your tense.
KWPC will not be only a Dharma learning institution but also will have activities that can calm our mind down such as flower arrangement. May many more people will find peace in these classes.
Kechara Saraswati Arts is a very important department where it firstly established to assist Kechara Outlets to do decoration of the statues and mantra insertion. As time goes by, there are more and more talented people join Kechara and even volunteering themselves in this meaningful department, it then extended the service to make more creative item like flower arrangement, making greeting cards, small pouches, etc. now they also conducting kid class every week reason is to enhance they children’s creativity and their imagination, at least by bringing the children to shopping, we can bring them to do something more meaningful, and gaining this knowledge it will be very useful for them in the future which not buyable with money easily. You can visit http://www.kechara.com/arts/ for more info
http://blogs.princeton.edu/wri152-3/f05/dtso/flowers_and_buddhism.html
I found this information from this blog In relation to Wai Meng’s comments on flowers representing impermanence. Vincent van Gogh has also related his life with his paintings focusing on flowers in Buddhist context. One of van Gogh’s letters to his brother Theo said, “Come now, isn’t it almost a true religion which these simple Japanese teach us, who live in nature as though they themselves were flowers?” (qtd. Edwards 168).
He sees himself as if he were a flower by living in a natural setting. It was said that the sunflower series were actually self-portraits. Van Gogh sees himself as flower living in nature and also Japanese.
In his most well-known works, Fifteen Sunflowers in a Vase (1888), Van Gogh uses intense yellows and orange hues to bring the flowers to life, capturing in his painting the brief period in which the sunflowers are opening. As Nemeczek stresses, “Van Gogh’s most famous flower still lives thus came into being in great haste ‘for the flowers fade so soon, and the thing is to do the whole in one rush.’” (Nemeczek 90). The brevity of the peak of life for the sunflowers relate to how samsara only allows a limited amount of time for each section of the life cycle. The sunflowers would flower brilliantly for a short while, die off, and then grow back again next season. The relation of flowers to the Buddhist cycle of samsara correlates strongly to how in Self-Portrait Dedicated to Gauguiin, van Gogh paints himself as a Buddhist monk.
Flowers, to many, represents love. To those who have some dharma knowledge, it is a reminder of impermanence. When a flower blossoms, it is likened to a woman in her prime and when it withers, aging. I have come across many friends who do not like to receive flowers because they do not like to see it withering. I understand now that this is how their mind operates, clinging on to beauty, name and fame and not wanting to face the true nature of all phenomena; impermanence.
KSA Boleh!
Flowers symbolically represent that all things are impermanent. To long life gods, our lives are but a brief moment compared to theirs, the ants’ lifespan are but a brief moment compared to ours. Impermanence is very good though, if everything was permanent we would never be able to be enlightened we will have to stay deluded forever and ever and Buddhahood will not be possible.
Hence impermanence also means our state can change from good to bad and bad to good. Impermanence means we can change for the better, that is one positive aspect about impermanence. Impermanence also means when our bodies cannot function anymore, we will have to die to get a newer body to be able to practice the dharma. The decay of the flowers should remind us that this life will end and before it ends we must do something worthwhile and meaningful with our precious human existence.
KWPC will be an influential learning centre in the future in this region and Rinpoche is determined to make it happen for the people in Malaysia and in this region. May the causes we create now, result in KWPC becoming very very beneficial.