Growing up with Rinpoche: Christmas with Rinpoche
Tsem Rinpoche happily gifting Christmas presents.
Having had the fortune of meeting Rinpoche when she was just 11 years old, the ‘Growing up with Rinpoche’ series captures Pastor Jean Ai’s growth under Rinpoche’s guidance. In this series, she recounts some of Rinpoche’s myriad Dharma activities to benefit sentient beings.
This past week, I had the honour of hosting a Christmas dinner for members of our Kechara community. 50 people came together to eat and be merry, and to remember the kindness of our lama, His Eminence Kyabje Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. After dinner, all of us adjourned to perform a puja for Rinpoche’s swift return.
One of the photos that inspired this year’s dinner
The dinner was actually inspired by some photos of Rinpoche celebrating Christmas in the 1970s. As many of you will know, Christmas was not Rinpoche’s favourite holiday. Rinpoche ADORED Halloween but Christmas, not so much. Except for one particular Christmas in the 1970s.
Once, I had expressed to Rinpoche that I loved those photos. In them, I saw a young, rambunctious child surrounded by presents and family; to me, Rinpoche looked as happy as he possibly could have during such a difficult childhood. Rinpoche said that actually, he had really good memories of that particular Christmas.
Then, more recently, as I was going through photos of Rinpoche (as I so often do), I came across a series of images taken in 2014 when we were in the United States. They were photographed on December 23, 2014 which was the day Rinpoche returned to Malaysia for good.
Unbeknownst to all of us, in the days leading up to December 23, Rinpoche had arranged for Christmas gifts for everyone. Not only had Rinpoche managed to buy everything without any of us realising, but Rinpoche had somehow managed to wrap it all AND keep everything hidden from us.
Back then, a few of us stayed in a separate location from the USA Ladrang so each morning, we had to drive to the Ladrang. When we arrived at the Ladrang that particular morning, we walked into a dining room table that had been completely outfitted with presents and decorations. Each present had been painstakingly labelled with a note and a one-line teaching for us to contemplate and apply.
We were, of course, in shock and started wondering out loud what was going on. That was the precise moment when Rinpoche came out and told us that we were not allowed to touch anything until Rinpoche’s plane had taken off from LAX. Until then, Rinpoche teased that we would only be allowed to drool at what was on the table.
After we were suitably excited for what was to come, Rinpoche called us into his room and spoke to us, giving each of us a hug before reciting dedication prayers for the time we had spent in America. A few of us then left for the airport, to escort Rinpoche onto his plane.
That our lama, whose mind led to the establishment Kechara, the construction of Kechara Forest Retreat, and the conceptualisation of an entire campaign against the ban on Dorje Shugden, would then pay attention to something as trivial as our Christmas gifts, is something that has left an indelible imprint on my mind.
When I reflect on all of this, I can come to only one conclusion and that is Rinpoche entered and left this world as a bodhisattva amongst us. From the young child in the photos, cheerfully hiding the pain of his abuse, to the lama who put his own welfare and preferences aside for the benefit of others, Rinpoche never changed from the moment he was born. Born from compassion, driven by compassion and passed in compassion.
And so everyone slept through the dead of the night, Rinpoche would be up and awake, thinking about how to help others, how to bring joy to them, how to make them feel loved and appreciated. That is exactly the type of person Rinpoche was, on every single level. Even down to Christmas presents.
I often wonder what I did to deserve such a lama as Rinpoche. I cannot think of anyone else who has cared for us – for everyone – as thoroughly and completely as Rinpoche did.
To my Lama, who is one with Heruka, we look forward to welcoming you home soon.
Originally posted: http://wp.me/p3DGTa-1sh
Reciting dedication prayers with Rinpoche before leaving for the airport
That night before opening our gifts, after dropping Rinpoche off at LAX
One of the photos that inspired this year’s dinner
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Wow….. wonderful idea have a group of 50 Kecharians coming together to celebrate Christmas and to remember the kindness of our Lama. I could imagined everyone having the festive mood and having sweet memories of our compassionate Lama Rinpoche. Our compassionate Lama Rinpoche is one who always cares about us or anyone he came across nor matter who they are. He would think of ways to benefit each and everyone of us . Working tirelessly throughout the night , I have heard stories that he would give teachings till dawn. Our Lama Rinpoche was truly indeed born as a bodhisattva. Lama Rinpoche will work extra hours to help in spreading Dharma to the world.
Thank you Pastor Jean Ai for your wonderful sharing. Loved to read more in times to come.
Thank you, Pastor Jean Ai for sharing with us this teaching from Rinpoche. Rinpoche has always put the benefit of others ahead of himself. This is also how Rinpoche had trained all his students. Rinpoche is constantly taking care of his students financially, physically or mentally. Rinpoche does not only thinking to benefit the students at this moment, but more of the total well being of the student even into their future lives.
Thank you Pastor Jean Ai for sharing the precious and memorable past Christmas occasion with Rinpoche. Although Rinpoche has passed into parinirvana, Rinpoche has always given us the Dharma teachings in different forms through His compassion, selflessness and kindness. I am happily inspired to learn and practice Dharma whenever I have come across with Rinpoche’s selfless works as Rinpoche always took extra miles, energy and passion to describe on every single item precisely and accurately to ensure that all of us can understand and knowingly how to carry out puja, rituals, Dharma practice and even down to the level of personal gifts. No one is neglected from Rinpoche’s eyes and heart. We are blessed and truly fortunate to have met with Rinpoche and able to learn the authentic Tibetan Buddhism Dharma teachings and wisdom from Rinpoche.
Happy Blessed New Year of 2020 to all in Kechara and everyone else from the globe!
With folded hands,
Kin Hoe