I like Dharma Contemporary… cards!
I decided to record what the cards are all about. Easier to talk and share than type… Enjoy my short video clip.
Kechara has just produced a 3-part series of greeting cards!!! There are altogether 39 different scenes/cards/photos:
- 22 cards for the “Cool Kecharian” series
- 11 cards for the “Kecharian Life” series (comes in a pack of 22 cards)
- 5 cards for the “Blog Greeting Cards” series (comes in a pack of 5 cards)
When you take a look at the cards, remember this: All the models are Kecharians!! They are also produced by Kecharians, together with some of their friends.
I got the idea to make the “Cool Kecharian” series when I saw one of my students’ Facebook profile picture… It was taken in a vintage style (see right).
There are many many talented and beautiful people in Kechara, so I thought why not make a greeting cards series? From that series, “Kecharian Life” and “Get A Life” then came about.
We then got a team together to work on this project, lets call them the “Greeting Card” team hehe. They were:
- Beng Kooi – Project Manager
- Andrew Boon – Assistant Project Manager
- Cynthia Lee – Art Director
- Han Siew Fong – Producer
- Jace Chong – Assistant Producer
- Fang Chang – Talent Director, Designer
- Ethan Chu – Wardrobe & Props
- Bryan Ho – Make-Up Artist
- Eric Choong – Wardrobe and Props
- Phng Li Kim – Production and Marketing
- Additional Crew – Karen Chong (assistant wardrobe artist), Kheng San Lee (Props manager, backstage photographer), Darren Loke (Photographer), Dwayne Foong (Photographer), Sun Khiew (Make-up artist) and Shawn Wei (Make-up artist).
I came up with the quotes, model and the scene for each greeting card, and the team did the rest!
During the pre-production period, Jace scouted for suitable locations and took pictures of the area. After short-listing them, Cynthia (Art Director) went to each location to see whether the actual place looked nice. Some were not so suitable… so for 2 days both Jace and Cynthia would drive around to random places e.g. UPM, Kajang, Sungai Petalah, Semenyih Lake Gardens, Broga Hills.
It took a total of 6 days to shoot, 1 week of planning, 2 weeks to buy the props and wardrobe and 2 weeks for Digital Imaging, Final Retouching and Layout.
The greeting cards were available for the first time ever, during Kechara’s Wesak Fair last week!
They are beautifully done, and behind each of the greeting card is a lot of hard work, care and effort by those involved. They may have looked glamorous in the photos, but there was a lot of sweat and discomfort involved to make the cards look good!!
For the shoot at Broga Hill (“Kecharian Life” series), the call-time was at 4AM. The team (and models) then drove for an hour to the foothill of Broga Hill where they then climbed the hill for 45 mins!! This climb involved using their hands to go up 45 degree slopes in total darkness!
For the shoot at Bukit Jalil (“Cool Kecharian” Series), they spent half an hour looking for a tree which didn’t have big, red ants crawling all over them. A lot of improvisation had to be done on the spot as well. There was a shoot where the team spontaneously rented a table from a nearby coffee shop! Hehe
Art Director Cynthia commented that the team acted professionally, especially Bryan, Ethan and Jace.
With a team made up of different Kecharians, it’s good to see how different people with different expertise can get together to do something for dharma in a fun way!
I have added the cards below to share them with all of you. Please don’t take them… a lot of work went into this! If you want them, they are available for sale online. The beneficiary will be Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK), and the publisher is Kechara Media & Publications (KMP).
You can get them at Vajra Secrets:
- Cool Kecharians: SOLD OUT!
- Kecharian Life: SOLD OUT!
- BLOG GREETING CARDS (English): https://www.vajrasecrets.com/blog-greeting-cards-english-set-of-5
- BLOG GREETING CARDS (Chinese): https://www.vajrasecrets.com/blog-greeting-cards-chinese-set-of-5
Tsem Rinpoche
Click on the pictures below to see the captions on the cards….
“Kecharian Life” Series
“Cool Kecharians” Series
“Get A Life” Series
Previously I had done cards which came out very nice. Take a look:
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
[…] are casted by Tsem Rinpoche and they are all Kecharians For more cool Kechara postcards, see here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/kechara-soup-kitchen-ksk/kechara-greeting-cards.html… « Amitayus Sadhana […]
Thank you Rinpoche for conceptualising all these different cards that are so beautiful. At the same time, through the quotes and models, it shows us different concepts that we may never know or realize by ourselves. Thank you Rinpoche and Rinpoche’s team for giving us such cards that we can share with others as well for any situation.
I love the greeting cards! of course the one i love the most would be the one of my sister,Pammie! The one with the green Lambo. hehe She looks so snobbish and stuck up. She acts and models well. hehe
Who says that Dharma can’t be fun? Rinpoche is so skillful in bringing Dharma to people in different ways.
Thank you team for the beautiful postcards and your hardwork! 🙂
Thank you, Rinpoche a.k.a the creative director! hehe
The greeting cards are very nice. It conveys many moods and messages. Each one is very from different from each other. Very unique. I like ‘I love to connect’
[…] For more cool Kechara postcards, see here: http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/kechara-soup-kitchen-ksk/kechara-greeting-cards.html […]
[…] I like Dharma Contemporary… cards! […]
These cards are cool and chic and all with deeper meanings behind. I love all of them. The price are affordable too. Great for all occasions. 😉
I loooove these cads! I have never seen any Buddhist cards this hype and cool and funny. Very well done! Congrates to the team who executed this wonderful series. Rinpoche’s always thinking of creative and innovative ways to send a Dharma message to all of us. They are aweeeesome! I especially love the one of Datuk May as Empress Dowager… really looks real and emperial. The message is perfect. So nice, I don’t wanna use them, but I will 😉
I really like the cards a lot! They are so beautiful. Thank you to Rinpoche and the team for having the time to come up with these beautiful ideas and made them so meaningful! I had a good time while at the shooting. Love each and everyone of the designs and the quotes from Rinpoche.
[…] are casted by Tsem Rinpoche and they are all Kecharians For more cool Kechara postcards, see here: http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/kechara-soup-kitchen-ksk/kechara-greeting-cards.html Share and Enjoy: « Wendy Joins KMP Full Time!!! How to Know No-Trungpa Rinpoche […]
I walked into Viva Mall the other day and saw Datuk May’s Empress Dowager portrait and my mouth just gaped open and lost its screws!
Rinpoche’s idead coupled with the team can really make awesome stuff! I LOVE! hehe
Well done! Excellent work from concept to end of production. Everything fits in. Simply a brilliant mastermind. Cheers!
I have the pleasure and privilege of receiving 2 sets of the greeting cards as gifts from a wonderful person with a beautiful soul (and she’s beautiful too!) who introduced me to Rinpoche’s teachings and I’m impressed.
As a long-time marketer with my own company specialising in branding and marketing, I appreciate the quality of delivery – well done! As a brand new student (pun intended) of Rinpoche’s teachings, I’m in awe at how simply Rinpoche has conveyed profound messages and in a cool, witty, artistic and attractive way.
They say a picture paints a thousand words but this is truly something else.
The images and the settings evoke emotions. For me, they are a refreshing inspiration. They probably remind some of us of similar situations we’ve found ourselves in. Others may cringe if the images and what they represent stick a finger into quietly hidden prejudices that are conveniently ignored or dishonestly disguised.
And if all of these messages fly over the heads of yet some other people, well hey, they’re still cool and generic enough to be sent around. At least the money spent on getting them does some good somewhere else in the world.
I showed them to friends here in Munich and they sparked off a long conversation that ranged from the similarities of religions (I repeated what Rinpoche said in another video and nodding heads greeted me), women’s role in today’s society (how many women have been voted into powerful positions that can make a difference around the world in the last year alone?), the difference in working styles between men and women (confrontation vs conversation, solution vs resolution)… and of course we discussed at length the concept behind and techniques used in creating and producing the cards… occupational hazard!
This might be a German phenomenon (Germans love to discuss!) but I think it’s simply magic how the greeting cards created conversations. It’s great that something so “simple” can draw out opinions to be shared, discussed and somehow bring people together, no matter what the differences may be.
I’m looking forward to more great stuff and I hope that, one day, I will have the privilege and honour to contribute to such projects.
Congratulations and a heartfelt thank you to Rinpoche and the Kechara team!
Sean
Dear Sean,
I really like how you explained your feelings, thoughts and reactions to the cards. I personally liked the cards and wanted to convey thought provoking questions through the cards. Whether you are my student or not makes no difference because we are all learning and we can share with eachother. What I appreciate about your comment is you really thought things out very clearly, very orderly and yet I can feel some positive emotions behind what you wrote. I wish to help you on your personal spiritual journey whether you are with me/Kechara or not…as long as you continue on your journey is the important thing.
What religion we are or not, makes no difference when it comes down to we have to be on this planet together. Let’s recognize the real enemy inside of us and fight that enemy and the ‘enemies’ on the outside will just dissipate real fast.
I wish very much to add to your spiritual journey as you can help so many more people as you seem intelligent from your post. I will dhl or mail you some items that will help you as a gift from me.
I have so many more ideas, but I need more professional people to join me and assist. I have the ideas but not the technical know how. My ideas are unending and non-stop so much so sometimes I can’t sleep and have to write things down. Some of my ideas make it because I can get the qualified people to help and some ideas never see the light of day. LOL…But I know many of my ideas can work…
Please contact Beng Kooi for your information and where I can have it sent. (bengkooi@gmail.com)
Please remember, we can make a difference, so we should never be overwhelmed into indifference ever. Life is for achieving…achieving for others.
My prayers and warm regards, Tsem Rinpoche
Dear Rinpoche,
I’m not sure if you received my first reply. It’s indeed an honour to receive a personal reply from you.
I would just like to add that the wonderful person with the beautiful soul who introduced me to your teachings is Christine Wang from Shanghai.
Although I’m so far away, I’d very much like to support her efforts in founding the Kechara Tea House.
For 2 simple reasons: because it’s something she believes in and is important to her, and because I love her.
I received a DVD from Chris where you spoke about Love & Relationships. You said that we should support our partners in what they like doing.
Well, Chris and I had a difficult time behind us and we separated late last year. During this “break”, Chris started learning from your teachings while I went into deep reflection on my weaknesses, which I’ve been working on.
I now realised my mistake and recognised that I had too much fear of our relationship failing that it became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I may not be able to win back her trust nor do I expect her love for me to go back to what it was before, although I do know that she still loves me. But I’m willing to accept that fate, if it is meant to be. It doesn’t change the fact that I love her and will cherish her. And I will care for her and support her wherever I can.
I thank you for coming into our lives, Rinpoche. As I wrote in your blog on Failing (JK Rowling), I will pay the price for my mistake but I welcome the prize in finding myself and am grateful also that Chris is finding peace and happiness in what she’s doing now.
With the greatest respect and warmest regards,
Sean
Dear Sean, Thank you for your honesty and letting me know it’s Christine who gifted you with the cards. Christine really wants to learn more on spirituality as she is very bright. I like her. Please contact Beng Kooi regarding items I wish to send you…. Thank you so much. Tsem Rinpoche
Dear Rinpoche,
I guess one of your many ideas is keeping you awake now… 🙂
I have already sent Beng Kooi an email and she has connected with me on Facebook.
Many thanks in advance for the items, I’m looking forward to them!
Best regards,
Sean
Dear Rinpoche,
When you said that these cards were meant “to share spirituality with people the Kechara way”, these cards, in all their richness and variety, do illustrate to people the spirituality that Rinpoche has always been teaching us about. THey are Buddha Shakyamuni’s teachings on truth and reality in the context of the modern world.
When you said that “everything in samsara is deception and when we play along with the deception we cannot get out”, these pictures show how we can avoid being drawn into the web of samsara’s deception by first accepting ourselves for what we are.
Thank you Rinpoche, for the precious opportunity of participating in this project. Thank you, Rinpoche, for the gift of a large framed picture of me in the red cheongsam.As i looked at it, I see myself as just a persona of a lady in that outfit as much as i am just a persona in my current form.
A picture paints a thousand words. What’s there to say except congratulations on the production of these impressive, creative, unique, personalized and well thought out cards!!!Well done.
Like what Ethan said, it’s really fun and a very interesting project!! Thanks Rinpoche for the idea and it’s a pleasure to participate in the execution of the project.
When I first saw the cards on Wesak Day, i was very excited, all the efforts made good result. I think everybody who involves in the projects have a big smile looking at the cards.
I hope the cards benefit people in one way or another. And really looking forward for more excited projects!!
Dear Rinpoche,
When i look at these cards, the first impression that came to me was…WOW, i have never thought that buddhism can be so cool. I am sure this cards will touch and capture many people in the society. It is certainly a very good way to spread buddhism. I am very very impressed. Very well done!
all i can say about all these cards is wonderful and beautiful, it idea and concept is simple, yet its very profound in meaning in each of the messages it try to deliver. simply a fantastic idea, as it reflects on our daily life, and impact us through the message it brings to us. i like the empress theme and the teacher-student them alot, as well as the drag queen.
wow very nice, these pictures reflect different depths, inspiring and will touch all sentient 🙂
thank you
These cards are beautifully done!!! So creative and fun, and very modern and meaningful. It makes people contemplate on the little quote upon reading the cards. The team had so much fun, and good memories I sure in producing the cards. Many models had fun, some of them were “shocked” upon seeing their outfits and “roles”. However, they enjoyed it and had a chance of “experiencing” what they don’t normally experience.
Thankyou Rinpoche for this interesting projects, we had much fun. and many people liked it a lot! Can’t wait for the next one .. hehe 🙂
I like them all. Every card seem to evoke some memories, feelings, thoughts in me- a funny bone tickled,laughing out loud,regretful,embarassed etc . I guess they are interesting because the themes and messages are reflections and glimpses of ourselves past, present and future. What a fun way to learn about ourselves and realize that amidst the external differences, we all go through life’s situations and ups and downs in much the same way.
The real difference would be those who decide to make a change to not have to go through it all again in such a meaningless manner but to use this life to realize our fullest potential.
What’s more to say…..
Brilliant ideas, brilliant concepts….
Excellant coordination, excellant execution….
Wonderful crew, wonderful teamwork…..
This is Kecharian spirit!
Those cards will be appealing to people of every different type… Of course I like the gangster ones because I play ‘violent video games’… Also I am an Armchair War-Historian… I like the girl fixing the car too… WOWIE! I like a woman who can do things herself. The second ‘part’ of that scene is funny too.
Dear Rinpoche,
I am honoured to be featured in the “accept differences” cards. Thank you for this opportunity. Rinpoche is fun! Kecharians are fun! Kechara events are not only fun but they are also full of Dharma!
There is simply so much fun playing this part. It brought back memories when i used to go camping and stayed outdoors in the nature.
How often do we find ourselves waking up in our pyjamas on top of a hill allowing the morning breeze to caress us, breathing in the fresh air, listening to the sound of nature, soaking in the sun rays and savouring the beautiful morning scenery? Many of us in the modern society are so caught up in our hectic lives that we never take the time to experience life like this anymore.
Accept Differences – this caption is so meaningful. We are so fast and conditioned to judge almost everything that we encounter in our daily lives. What we perceive in an object may not be the same as what others perceive in the same object because we all have different karma.
I remember years ago Rinpoche had taught us about subject and object. If we are “object”ive, then Enlightenment is impossible. We will be at the mercy of our environment and manifestation of our karma. This is because we get caught up and be entangled with the objects around us! We create further causes of sufferings.
If we are “subject”ive, we control how we perceive the phenomena around us. If we constantly apply awareness and mindfulness, we can prevent ourselves from being affected by these phenomena around us. We can accept differences! Hence we don’t create new karma but purify whatever karma that ripens upon us. This will eventually lead us to accomplish enlightenment.
If we realise this, life will be much better for most of us who find life and reality so competitive nowadays. The World becomes a better place to live in. Humans can live in harmony with animals. People of different cultural background, race, and religion can then live in harmony.
If everything around us is the same like us, it will be so boring. Life becomes more interesting when we start to accept differences.
Very well said!!!
Very very nice. Very very beautiful. Kechara has my deepest respect for being able to give their best in everything they do. I love the greeting cards. They are unique and a fine piece of art to me. I am going to buy them and give to my friends. 😀
Dear Hee Peng,
Thank you for your support on VajraSecrets! You really put your words into action. 🙂
You will definitely enjoy the greeting cards. They are really creative, chic and cool.
Carmen.
i think they are great..good work!! 🙂
Congrats,great work!!
I really love your concept, your eminence. Very beautifully stylized, modern and old, timeless, and unique. Beautiful for it’s self expression. Alot of hard work it took in making them but seems very rewarding for the experience of self expression. Captions are simple yet profound reminders.
Congratulations everyone, great work, very cathartic for the project itself which can make it cathartic for the viewer.
beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D:D:D:D, love the concept very much!!
Congratulations Tsem Rinpoche and all the sangha at Kechara 🙂
Thank you for posting all the cards and the video, I like them a lot. The last empress image DOES look the same (http://violetcrush.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/425px-the_portrait_of_the_qing_dynasty_cixi_imperial_dowager_empress_of_china_in_the_1900s.png). It’s amazing how easily Rinpoche can think of a whole new medium to move to, then think of and apply these completely original designs to spread dharma, and how effective they end up being.
It’s also great learning about the Kecharians, I truly appreciate their personalities and different backgrounds, very interesting and kind group. I have high respect for each of them. I will thank with actions though.
They are so beautiful! Congratulations Rinpoche!
Rinpoche, I will have to wait until after 11pm to watch the video 🙂 But these cards are fantastic. Wildly inspirational, beautifully shot and produced. I LOVE what Kechara does. Thank you for being a conduit, a bridge to bring the Dharma vibrantly alive in so many ways. And your students rock!
Hi,
How can i purchase a poster?
Oya
vajrasecrets.com
Thank you for sharing this with us! I like what you guys have done & what you continue to do. I look forward to seeing your other projects come to fruition! Bless you guys!!!