A special post for you
Dear friends,
When I left home at 16, I hitchhiked from New Jersey to Los Angeles in search of a Dharma center. I hopped into any cars that would take me, and when I was back on my feet walking along highways, I had no choice but to sleep along roadsides, on sidewalks or under bridges.
I know what it’s like to go to sleep with an empty stomach. On some days, all I had was an apple… if any at all!
No one deserves to go hungry, hence the motto for Kechara Soup Kitchen, “Hunger Knows No Barriers”.
Kechara Soup Kitchen started on August 2008. I asked a very close friend and senior student of mine, Dato’ Ruby Khong, to start distributing food around KL. Together with a group of friends, she roamed the streets of KL with packets of hot food in their hands in search of anyone sleeping on the streets. Back then, they gave out 20 food packets a week.
It became a weekly activity, where a group of people met up every Saturday night and distributed food. Dato’ Ruby then realized that many of the homeless and urban poor were dependant on the weekly distribution. She starting taking it more seriously and decided to expand the weekly activity into a more reliable and established permanent soup kitchen.
Now, KSK Kuala Lumpur feeds 2,500 food packets (with water and various dried goods) to the homeless and urban poor. The services provided has also expanded to home placements, job placements, assistance to obtain I/Cs and many more!
No one deserves to go hungry… and KSK has a strong policy to serve all, regardless of race, religion or creed. If any of my blog readers would like to participate your time, donation or services, I have added KSK’s contact below.
KSK is now also in operation in Penang, Kuantan, Johor Bahru and Jakarta (Indonesia). Do join in!
Tsem Rinpoche
KSK
Kechara Soup Kitchen – Kuala Lumpur (HQ)
Contact: 03-21416046 (during office hours); ksk@kechara.com
Food distribution schedule:
(1) Week days (Mon-Fri)
Where : Kechara Soup Kitchen (KL)
When : 11am – 1pm
How : Vegetarian Lunches are served from KSK HQ.
(2) Weekends (Saturday)
Where : Kechara Soup Kitchen (KL)
When : 8.30pm – past midnight
How : Vegetarian food packs to be prepared in the kitchen (same address) and to be distributed in and around Klang Valley
SMS 0123669048 to register.
Registration closes on Friday 12noon each week.
(3) Weekends (Sunday)
Where : Petaling Jaya
When : 5pm – 7pm
How : Vegetarian food packs to be distributed at specific areas within Petaling Jaya
Address: 17, Jalan Barat (Off Jalan Imbi), 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kechara Soup Kitchen – Johor Bahru
Contact: Justin Cheah, 012-2093813; email justin.cheah@kechara.com
Food distribution schedule: Every Saturday, meet at 10.30PM
Address: Dataran MBJB
Kechara Soup Kitchen – Kuantan
Contact: Leonard Chia, 012-9892823 or Mr Yeo, 019-9393180
Food distribution schedule: Every Friday, meet at 10.30PM
Address: B-6, First Floor, Lorong Sri Kuantan 90, 25300 Kuantan, Pahang
Kechara Soup Kitchen – Penang
Contact: Patsy Gooi, 012-4022992
Food distribution schedule: Every Monday, 10.30PM – 12AM; Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 7PM-8.30PM
Address: 6, Halaman Ariffin (off Jalan Burma), 10400, Penang
Kechara Soup Kitchen – Jakarta, Indonesia (Yayasan Kechara Indonesia)
Contact: Valentina Suhendra, (+62)8128810250
Or: Wee Chen Liew: (+62)8811035678, Kuek Yoke Kin: (+62)816807267, Jeffry William: (+62)8159143764
Food distribution schedule: Every Saturday, meet at 8.30AM
Address: Starbucks Citiwalk, JI KH Mas Mansyur, Kuningan Jakarta
PRESS
VIDEOS
OTHER ACTIVITIES
IMPROMPTU ASSISTANCE – HAZE
In June, Malaysia was affected by very bad haze for a few days. A group of KSK volunteers got together to raise funds for 4,000 facial masks and 3,200 eye drops. Unlike those who have the option to seek protection from their homes, those sleeping on the streets of KL and Bentong (Pahang) do not have that luxury. KSK set out to distribute facial masks and eye drops to help protect them from the haze.
KUALA LUMPUR
BENTONG (PAHANG)
SHELTER PLACEMENT
KSK strives to place anyone who sleeps on the streets into proper shelters. No one wants to be exposed to the dangers of theft, murder, rape, drugs addicts etc.
Mr Fong is a long-term client of KSK. Here he is with Justin Cheah (in red), and employees of Ti-Ratana. Look at how happy Mr Fong is with his bags!
Justin Cheah helping Mr Fong sign up for shelter placement.
Mr Fong while sleeping on the streets.
Ganapati, together with his pregnant wife and 3 year old son have been living on the streets near Bangkok Bank, KL. Imagine being unable to provide basic shelter for your family, and exposing your pregnant wife and young child to the dangers from being on the streets…
They were successfully placed into a home in Shah Alam!
JOB PLACEMENT
The end goal of KSK is to rehabilitate those on the streets into jobs. To help them gain back their independence and control of their life. Below is are pictures of a man named Chris who was hired by a company as a general worker.
Chris is a young man who found himself on the streets due to family problems.
Chris with his new employer.
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
KSK seeks to provide basic as well as advanced medical care. Last June, a mobile clinic was launched to better serve the homeless and urban poor. Many other medical-related companies work together with KSK as part of their CSR program. This helps KSK provide better services to their clients.
Uncle Ong is a client of KSK. His eye sight was getting worse every time KSK volunteers saw him. The KSK committee suspected that it could have been cause by an accident he suffered quite some time ago after falling off his bicycle while cycling around to collect recyclables. It was raining and he suffered a knock on his eye in the process.
VISTA Eye Specialist (a strong supporter of KSK’s cause) had Uncle Ong’s eyes checked in their clinic located in The Curve shopping mall. The entire checkup was free of charge as part of VISTA’s CSR program.
After numerous tests, the doctor diagnosed that Uncle Ong’s left eye is “beyond repair” as the eye no longer reacts to light tests due to numerous complications.
As for Uncle Ong’s right eye, it is still functioning ‘ok’ despite his developing cataract problem. The doctor prescribed an eye drop to ease the high pressure of Uncle Ong’s corneas to relieve him from pain which doctor foresee will develop in future if not addressed. As for now, doctor recommended Uncle to wear spectacle to improve his vision for the time being until the next check up in three months time.
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If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
well…..i can understand how it is like when you are hungry and homeless.Feeling lost and down no direction ,no one to turn to.We are fortunate to have Rinpoche and Dato Ruby to started off with the KSK project.It a great feeling and wonderful for me to be part of it.Till today KSK is still growing in numbers the members too regardless of race joining Through Rinpoche’s great compassion and kindness many homeless and poor hungry people benefited from it as well as those in need.
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing
真高兴看到香積廚迅速成長…及能吸引這麼多的志願者参与，尤其是年輕的一群，也幫助露宿者開始了新的生活，新的工作。感谢仁波切的慈悲成立了此慈善之门，利益無㫑的流浪漢 令其重生
KSK has indeed grown in size and its reputation. Everyone knows about KSK. Wonderful and what it can help for all the homeless and hungry people.
Through Rinpoche’s great compassion and Dato Ruby’s kindness, many are fed and taken care of.
Some of the videos I watched brought tears to my eyes… I simply cannot imagine their pains and sufferings. What KSK did is really giving them hope and life…
Thank you Rinpoche. Thank you Dato Ruby. Really happy to be with Kechara Soup Kitchen. It’s really like a big family. I don’t how to describe my feeling, but really got very deep inspired by the committees, really got hooked up with Kechara Soup Kitchen and the homeless, until Kechara Soup Kitchen becomes part of my life now. Thank you. _/\_
More and more peoples know about Kechara Soup Kitchen(KSK) and a lot volunteers especially young generation to join KSK in every Saturday night for distribution foods to homeless peoples. Is good for young generation realize what the suffering of homeless peoples, be appreciate now and continue benefits other peoples who need help. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
My apologies, I meant “Hunger knows no barrier”!
Jenn
That feeling of going to the corners of the city late night, bringing simple food and medication to those whom we have no relation to, but very much in need of such offerings, so that for them to not have to endure another hungry night, was something very humbling and profound, I remembered doing just that.
At times, looking from outside (without much knowledge about them until you actually spend some time talking to them), we tend to have misconceptions towards the homeless. By going to KSK, it gives you that other perspective of looking at things, and make you realize, there is so much more than just your own mundane sufferings in life. It makes you realize your suffering is so minute compared to theirs! That dot-within-the-dot, within-another-dot… It gives you great compassion to be able to reinforce the notion of “hunger knows no bearer”. It truly is.
Jenn
KSK has helped to save many lives throughout these years, and I definitely agree that no one deserves to be hungry. I have participated in a fasting campaign a few years ago, it was tough although it was just 36 hours, I could imagine the feeling of people living on streets and have no food to eat, the feeling is terrible. I hope that KSK may continue to benefit sentient beings.
KSK is an avenue for us, the more fortunate ones, to practice giving to others and at the same time contemplate how lucky we are to have a roof over our head and warm meals daily.
KSK has grown tremendously over a short period of time. It is a fine example that with a noble cause and supported by passionate, capable and think out-of-the box team, anything is possible!!!
KSK shows that hunger is without barriers, everyone needs help regardless of their gender, race or religion. I am so happy to see KSK flourishing. I must compliment Dato’ Ruby as she has worked extremely hard for this to succeed and in turn many people are benefited.
The amount of work that Kechara Soup Kitchen has done to help the homeless, the amount of heart and effort put into building Kechara Soup Kitchen it is today by Dato’ Ruby and H.E. Tsem Rinpoche is incredible and absolutely beautiful. KSK has helped benefit so many people of different race, gender, age and religion. Its beautiful to see the work they have done with endless compassion to help the homeless, not only giving them food but also trying their best to get them off the streets by putting some of them into jobs, into old folks home. Its incredible what Dato’ Ruby and H.E. Tsem Rinpoche has done.
Rinpoche’s endless compassion even after experiencing homeless-ness himself, was able to turn that experience to action for others who are experiencing the same and help them. Certainly hunger knows no barriers and looking at a hungry person’s stomach would not show the race, gender, age or religion of that person but simply just a hungry person.
I pray for H.E. Tsem Rinpoche and Dato’ Ruby’s long life in order to continue their compassionate work in serving for others rather for themselves. Thank you for continuously inspiring others to want to help as well.
Thanks Cliff for expressing what i would have said. And kudos also to all the contributors, ie. staff, volunteers n sponsors who is part of KSK’s success.
Congratulation to Dato Ruby and the KSK team for doing such a great job, feeding the homeless, providing shelters for the needies and also help them to get off the street by helping them to find jobs. It is very touching to see the hungry homeless receiving foods from Kecharians and the volunteers, this is truly the act of caring and loving kindness. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing those wonderful pictures and videos, very inspiring. Hope more and more sponsors and volunteers will continue to support our Kechara Soup Kitchen!
Dear Rinpoche, I’m really surprised that our KSK would reached Jakarta. Some people would think that the homeless people deserves to be homeless and stay hungry because of their negative Karma. But they are still humans. I wish that the homeless people will find a stable job and may they have a good health and long life.
感恩仁波切的开示与教诲
一切都因仁波切的爱与加持下，让我们能够好好地学习一份殊胜的菩提心
每个人所需要的东西不同，然而我们常觉得我们在现在的生活环境下，还需要更多的东西来满足我们自己，如更多的美食，美丽的衣服等，然而对于莫些人，普通的日常必需品就已经能够帮助到他们
每个人所拥有的东西财产不同，然而我们常常却只想花更多的时间来累积更多的财富，来填满我们我们的生活，然而许多的人对于一份关怀与爱，一份真心的帮助，就能暖化他们的心
尊贵的仁波切成立了这个殊胜的部门，就是要让我们能够深深的体会，把我们的爱渲染出去，帮助到有需要的人们，这份爱，同样的也能填满我们的心，无私的帮助有需要的人，就等同于帮助我们自己。有舍才有得，倘若我们有能力帮助到别人，然而我们却常只想到自己而已，那么我们的菩提心又怎能成长呢？倘若没有菩提心帮助我们自己，我们在佛法的修行上又怎能增长呢？”You have so much…..we have so much…can we do more since we have so much?” H.E.Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. 学习把别人及有需要帮助的人放在我们的前面，满满地我们发现，我们变的不那么执着了，我们的心中变得富裕了，痛苦与烦恼也减少了，快乐也就在我们心中种下了美丽的佛法种子
感恩仁波切您的大爱，不分宗教，善恶，不分种族，国界，不分身份，性别，只要有需要帮助的一切有情众生，仁波切您总是无时无刻的给予您所有的关爱与帮助，并让我们在里面学习的更多，成长我们的心灵，提供我们把佛法实践在生活上的机缘
感恩仁波切您，祈愿您长驻在世，常转法轮
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing .I like one of the Rinpoche wisdom quote ” Kindness and giving makes the giver richer !” Ksk is beyond the religious and really benefit a lot of peoples ! Thank you Dato Ruby and Ksk team for helping to all the homeless ! May more and more people join Ksk to help more others!!
Dear Rinpoche,
Thanks for yous ideal, KSK are very beneficial to homeless people on the streets.
This activity also given a wakeup call for us to helps people whose are unfortunate in their life.
Through participan this event we can understand more and difficulties homeless people facing.
Finally, KSK event teaching me a lot of true life experiences. I treasure it very much.
Thanks
From
Leu Chong Hin
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing. KSK has bring mutual benefits for those who volunteer in KSK and those who receive the ‘help ‘ from KSK. 1. KSK provides chances for those who join as KSK volunteer to collect merits by helping those who are less fortunate. Meanwhile it cultivate the feeling of compassion among those KSK volunteer.
2. KSK indirectly assist to reduce the difficulty of life among those who are less fortunate.
I sincerely hope that KSK can able to obtain more fund and attract more people to join in as volunteer in future so that it can provide more help to those who are miserable.
KSK is a very kind act of kindness, it is sad how some people do not have a roof or a bed not mention food. so we must be thankful for what we have and always help people in need. thank you for sharing Rinpoche
感谢仁波切的理念”饥饿无疆界”造就今天克切拉香积厨的成就!这个活动还推广到几个州属,甚至远至印尼,让许多无家可归或穷苦的人得到温饱，关心与协助！希望越来越多人参与这个有意义的活动,让人间有温情,处处有关爱！
I am sure that all these selfless work on feeding the poor and homeless will inspire many poeple especially the young one a good moral value. Not to forget that KSK also helps them on getting back to society or job opportunity.
“Hungers No Barriers”, Kechara Soup Kitchen teams really done a awesome works towards society.
Thanks for Rinpoche ideas and blessing, hence through hard work of Dato Ruby and the teams KSK had a tremendous growth with no only serving clients with vegetarian foods hence provide medical care and works opportunity to help them get out from street…
Rejoice to KSK teams…
I love KSK, its fun, and its a good way for people to learn compassion. I remember going to ksk, i always liked helping the homeless by giving them food. It always made me fee great. This is also a good way in which people could earn good merits from. Helping the homeless is in my opinion, one of the most rewarding and compassionate things you can do.
KSK slogan “Hunger knows no barrier” fits so well with the phenomena happening in not just only Malaysia but every part of the world. Social welfare is needed to help the urban poors and I’m glad that KSK plays a big part in helping out and giving their utmost best services to the homeless. The best about this is KSK will try their best to help the homeless to find a job so that they are able to regain their confidence and as well support themselves.
By experiencing the most difficult path one will see those who are suffering with a compassionate eyes. Rinpoche conceptualised Kechara Soup Kitchen has been mentioned that it’s due to the experience he has gone through when he was young and being homeless, hungry, with no love and care from others, he suffered and knew it’s not a way of life for others. By volunteering in KSK one will start to appreciate and be grateful with what they have.
Be a part of KSK and volunteer to help the homeless. The feeling of warm rice filling the hungry stomach is an indescribable bliss.
Thank you Rinpoche for conceptualizing this and the team to make this work.
Dear Carmen, yes you are absolutely right. Kechara’s Soup Kitchen does more than just giving food. Our main objective is the get them off the streets by finding them jobs and shelter homes. But when they are so hungry, it is hard for them to even think of planning their future.
Afew people have asked us if what we are doing ie serving free food will make them complacent. They all want a more comfortable life than just hanging out in the steets all day, rain or shine and expose to much danger, than just to wait and receive this packet of food from us everyday. But due to unforseen circumstances, they end up in that situation. Many have also lost hope of a brighter future. So the packet of food not only reliefs their hunger but represents HOPE. Hope that there is someone out there who cares for them and will help them out of that harrowing situation.
Thanks Rinpoche for the sharing. Kechara Soup Kitchen is really a very inspiring department in Kechara Organisation.
Although feeding the hungry and homeless is just a temporary relief for their hunger, but through this action can create a public awareness on homeless problem.
Thanks.
感恩仁波切的慈悲心和开示，在Dato Ruby的热心支持和领导下克切拉佛教中心创办了香积厨部门。救济了社会一群被人遗弃的流浪汉。让他们感受到人间有温情，这也造福了社会人群，让他们也有心识的传化，让我们社会佛光普照，佛法无边。
Thank you Rinpoche who started the KSK who also inspiring us to be part of this meaningful activities. I think a lot of us just cannot imaging how it feel when we are in hunger whereas this homeless has not sure whether they will get to eat for that day I think is very wonderful through KSK there will be more awareness on us do not waste our resources especially among the youngster .
Rinpoche has had experienced the suffering of real hunger before and with that he started Kechara Soup Kitchen. From an initial distribution of only 20 food packages a week, today has increased to over 2,500 food packets(with water and various dried goods)to the homeless and urban poor, irregardless of race, religion or creed! KSK has spread its operations with a branch in Penang, Johore Bahru,and even off-shore to Indonesia in Jakarta as well. KSK gives food, hope and other positive purposes to so many others needies. May KSK continues to expand and extend bigger in future lives to bring lasting happiness to all other beings around the Globe. Om mani padme hung!
Everybody loves KSK. It’s a department of Kechara that every Kecharian is extremely proud of. Yes, we are not doing different causes yet but feeding the homeless and the destitute is a great start for Kechara. We have grown from strength to strength and we are truly giving back to society and putting the teachings into practice. It’s also nice that this arm of the organization is strictly humanitarian and is not about religion but about kindness. Great work Dato Ruby and her little assistants like Siong Woan, Kwok Wai and Justin Cheah. Kudos guys for such great work.
Is amazing to see how much KSK has growth…and so happy to see so many volunteers nowadays, especially young ones 😉 Im sure more and more of the homeless are getting out of the street and started with a new life and new job 🙂
I had the honour to participate a few years ago, the happiness/joy you get from the people whom you have passed a bag of food to, is indescribable. It’s not because of the word ‘thank you’, but simply because you see the smiles on their faces, they do not have to worry about their meals anymore. KSK has helped a lot of people, no matter what races, everyone deserves food to eat. Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche, Dato’ Ruby and Kechara Soup Kitchen wonderful & hardworking team to think of every way to help the less fortunate people on the streets or those who are homeless with many of their sad stories behind. While most of us are having rest, entertainment or relaxation at 10.30 pm, KSK team has just begun to get themselves ready to distribute all the foods and drinks to the homeless people. I truly salute for those who have sacrificed their rest time for the benefits of others. May all living sentient beings are getting sufficient food, clothes, protection, shelter and all the necessary living items as everyone deserves to be happy regardless of race, poor or wealthy or located at any geographical area on earth.
To dearest Rinpoche, Dato’ Ruby and every single one of you who have joined this growing tide of compassion in action, _/\_
The work that Kechara Soup Kitchen does is good work and the youth of Malaysia should get even more involved in KSK. I thank Dato Ruby, Tsem Rinpoche and everyone else involved to make such wonderful things happen for the homeless in malaysia.
HOMELESS KNOWS NO BARRIERS!
Thank You Rinpoche for setting up a soup kitchen as it has definitely benefited many many people and has helped many homeless to get shelter and some even found a work for themselves through the help of KSK. Dato’ Ruby definitely has done a great great job together with her lovely team in helping the homeless to get back up on their feet and also to lead a normal life again.
“Hunger knows no barriers” A motto we should always remember.
KSK is conceptualised and inspired by Tsem Rinpoche, a Bodhisattva who is truly selfless, shares the pain of others – be it hunger, emotional or physical. A rare personality to find on planet earth.
Whichever continent of the world you are residing right now, there might be somebody all left alone by himself in a small dark corner on the streets with no shelter, no family, no friends and is starving to death. Have a heart, reach out to them. Give them Hope and purpose in life….
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK) to the world through here. KSK has grown continuously under the leadership of Dato’ Ruby in a short few years time. On top of that Dato’ Ruby has been invited to many business and NGO conferences, media interviews locally and globally to talk and share about her experience of helping the homeless. Dato’ Ruby shared the culture of giving and the act of compassion to the world. Where by Patsy started KSK in Penang and Valentina in Jakarta. Thank you to these three beautiful ladies.
So many people benefited because Rinpoche started KSK many years ago. Rinpoche turned hardship in courage, turn sufferings into happiness. Rinpoche has showed the world, there’s hope and love if we willing to face the challenge and transform our mind.
Big thank you to our sponsors, our Comm: Justin, Siong Woan, Kwok Wai, staffs: Khor, Vivien, Uncle Ng and all team leaders and volunteers who worked extremely hard to do everything they can to make KSK grow.
_/\_
The work of Bodhisattvas who go to place others would not dare to venture. Bringing hope and relief.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.In deed the KSK has made a lot of progress since it got started in 2008.Thanks to Dato Ruby commitment and a great team of supporter and volenteers of KSK , they did help a lot of less fortunate to know that they are not forgotten.
Through the KSK sincerity and activity ,this create more opportunity for others to spend more meaningful time to cultivate compassion and generosity.
Keep up the good work ,for all those who support KSK.
Thank you Rinpoche for the soup kitchen to benefit so many homeless people, not only serving them hot, healthy food but also looking into their other needs.
Not many people would extend a helping hand to the homeless, let alone give them a job to earn their living – with Kechara Soup Kitchen, the management and staff have helped some of them get up on their own feet.
KSK has benefited many of all races. Thank you Rinpoche for conceptualising this for all these to benefit those less fortunate around us.
I would like to use this opportunity to thank Dato Ruby and her wonderful team for helping all these to help the homeless. Even to the extend of getting jobs and a roof to stay under.