Rinpoche Through My Eyes – Food and Dharma
Rinpoche would frequently cook for people in the Ladrang who were up working late. To Rinpoche, cooking and providing nutrition was a form of expressing one’s love and yes, Rinpoche loved many of us dearly.
Joy has been a student of His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche for over 15 years. Through the years, Joy has witnessed Rinpoche’s compassion and the unconventional methods he uses to benefit others. Some of the short stories she shares will tell interesting miraculous events that Rinpoche will not mention due to his humility. She hopes these stories will serve as an inspiration in your own spiritual journey.
Rinpoche Through My Eyes – Food and Dharma
One of the many ways that His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche cared for those around him was to make sure that they had enough good food to eat. It didn’t matter who you were – if you were in Rinpoche’s presence, you would not go hungry and this included animals like dogs, cats, birds, fishes and even insects.
And Rinpoche would not do this with just any kind of food, but plates of scrumptious, well-thought-out dishes that would make you go “wow!” If you were on a diet, you could throw that out of the window for that day because Rinpoche would insist that you ate something. That was Rinpoche’s way of making sure that you felt loved and welcomed. If you were having a tough day, Rinpoche’s kindness would surely make things look better.
The Ladrang kitchen crew was always on standby to quickly whip up something delicious and yet easy to eat. Often food would be served when guests were assembled in Rinpoche’s room either receiving teachings, working on blog posts or just hanging out with Rinpoche.
So why was serving food and making sure that stomachs are full so important to Rinpoche? I realised over the years that this was one of Rinpoche’s many skilful methods to make people feel appreciated and cared for, and to give them a sense of belonging. When people’s hearts are touched, they are more likely to open up. Sometimes it is for them to heal; sometimes it is for them to grow or just feel loved and appreciated as Rinpoche truly appreciated people. Ultimately, everything Rinpoche did was to take away as much pain as possible and instil in them as much happiness as he could.
My years with Rinpoche have left no doubts in my mind of Rinpoche’s intentions towards all sentient beings. Still, it never ceased to surprise me the lengths to which Rinpoche would go in order to bring happiness and self-esteem to people he met.
One example was when I was requested on a particular morning some time ago to prepare breakfast for two people who had come to the Ladrang for some work. Rinpoche called me into his room and gave me very specific instructions as to what to cook, details like where to seat the guests, where they were to have their freshly made breakfast and even how to welcome them. After the breakfast was made, Rinpoche personally inspected the food prepared to make sure the presentation was perfect.
Some people might ask, why is it so important that everything has to be “perfect”? The answer is simple. It is because Rinpoche believed that the extra effort invested would lend to the creation of a positive imprint in the person’s mind towards the Dharma. It is vital that the Dharma is associated with uplifting experiences especially to those new to Buddhism. Therefore, what appeared like a simple act of providing food was in fact a skilful and compassionate act connecting the person with his or her own Dharma imprints, and open up to something positive.
Our Kechara Forest Retreat’s security guards are regularly treated to food and beverages based on Rinpoche’s standing instructions to always take care of them and to make sure they are appreciated.
Opening up imprints is important and may well be the trigger for that person to start the healing process from a painful past. It could be the catalyst that encourages them to get over their crippling mental issues, depression, anxieties and open the way to a new beginning.
More importantly, it could open up Dharma seeds or imprints in their mind so they can begin to grow spiritually. We will never know what exactly a simple meal from Rinpoche could do for someone; only Rinpoche with his perfect clairvoyance would know. However, for certain, the seemingly mundane act of providing food is filled with blessings. On our part, we need to place our trust in Rinpoche.
The ways of the Mahasiddha may appear random and we see this in much of Rinpoche’s actions. On the one hand, many things that Rinpoche did were spontaneous and seemed to be unplanned. And yet Rinpoche’s instructions and methods were always very specific and detailed, as if to fall into accord with a system and rule that is invisible to ordinary beings. The results are always positive.
From the many years of working closely with Rinpoche, I know for a fact that whatever Rinpoche did, it was never aimless, never “just for the fun of it”, and it was always to benefit someone.
As expected, the two people served with the breakfast Rinpoche ordered for them were delighted. You could see from their faces how happy they were, knowing that Rinpoche had thought of them and wanted to treat them to some home-cooked breakfast, which was an expression of Rinpoche’s care for them.
Perhaps feeding people with lots of food came from Rinpoche’s own upbringing. Often, Rinpoche spoke very fondly about how his adoptive mother, Dana Bugayeff, would cook up a feast and invite hungry strangers to their home to eat. Despite the physical and emotional abuses that Dana inflicted on Rinpoche when he was a boy, Rinpoche remembered her good qualities mostly. Dana Bugayeff was later diagnosed as having suffered from schizophrenia. Still, despite tremendous pain and trauma, it would be Dana’s good qualities that Rinpoche would pick up and follow.
It was not only Rinpoche’s students and guests who would benefit from Rinpoche’s generosity and care. In fact, Rinpoche paid special attention to those who are usually unnoticed – those who wash our toilets, collect our trash, those who work hard to maintain our grounds and gardens, the security guards and more. For example, due to Rinpoche’s standing instructions, all our security guards are treated to a special meal weekly. Food is yet another medium that Rinpoche uses to teach and practise kindness. After all, it was Rinpoche who gave rise to the creed “Hunger Knows No Barriers” that is the motto of the now-famous Kechara Soup Kitchen that feeds thousands of clients regardless of race, background or beliefs.
For more interesting information:
- Rinpoche Through My Eyes – Invoking the Buddhas to Come Forth
- Tales with My Lama: Dorje Shugden on The Head
- Tales with My Lama: What is the New News?
- Tales With My Lama: Rinpoche Felt He Was More Indian
- Tales with My Lama: What Does Rinpoche Like About Liz Taylor?
- Tales With My Lama: Daily Practice
- Tales With My Lama: Laugh Away Your Ego
- Tales With My Lama: Why Rinpoche Has To Suffer
- Tales With My Lama: Larger Than Life
- Tales With My Lama: Manjushri
- Tales With My Lama: Audience With Tsem Rinpoche
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Interesting read of knowing our Lama more through the eyes of Joy Kam. Even though I have not spend more times with Rinpoche yet reading all the encounters of all the senior students tells me more. Thanks for sharing as to understand better of Rinpoche. Yes I agree with Joy, that Rinpoche will always made sure we had something to eat and takes good care of us nor matter who we are so as animals like dogs, cats and so forth. Well said….It is vital that the Dharma is associated with uplifting experiences especially to those new to Buddhism.
Thank you Joy Kam for this wonderful sharing.
It is very kind of Rinpoche who is so thoughtful, courteous and gracious. I remember my first visit on Rinpoche was reporting over an unintended incident where I only started 3 weeks in KFR. Feeling nervous, confused I thought I might received punishment. To my surprised, my self-conscious mind went wrong and everything went well instead. This was my first experience work in an organisation, which offered good hospitality and comfort. I believe for those who have been benefited will understand Rinpoche’s character. Thank you to Rinpoche teachings, unconditional love, compassion, kindness over His students that had benefited us until today. 🙏