Tales With My Lama: A Snapshot of Rinpoche’s Room
Pastor David has been a student of His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche for over 15 years and within the ‘Tales With My Lama’ series of articles, he explores his spiritual relationship with Rinpoche, sharing anecdotes, stories, observations and little Dharma nuggets. It is all told to inspire others for their own spiritual relationship with their teachers.
A Snapshot of Rinpoche’s Room
Tsem Rinpoche had always been a private person and his bedroom was basically his personal domain. However, as a lama or a spiritual guide, Rinpoche would allow a number of his students and friends to intrude upon his personal space for gatherings, meetings and sometimes just to talk or watch a movie on his computer. Many people are probably curious about what Rinpoche’s room looks like and would perhaps like a snapshot that reveals a little bit more of Rinpoche’s world.
Rinpoche, like most Tibetan lamas, was particularly fond of his personal shrines and altars. There’s literally a shrine to the Buddha in almost every room in his household. However, Rinpoche did not have any Buddha images within the vicinity of his bed. Rinpoche had explained that it is disrespectful to be sleeping facing the Buddhas. So, Rinpoche had used shelves and screens to separate the room so he did not disrespect the Buddhas in this manner. Furthermore, the shrines must have offerings laid out daily.
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The majority of the offerings are fresh bowls of water offered daily along with incense, electric candles, a platter of food, flowers and so forth. Rinpoche did not like it when the offerings were left for too long that it became stale and rotten. Therefore, the offerings are to be cleared as soon as possible and even the little bit of water in the flower vases are to be changed daily so the flowers stay fresh. There’s always a platter of food offered to Dorje Shugden every day because Rinpoche said that we should offer food to him as thanksgiving for all that he has provided and to create the causes to receive more for our Dharma projects. Likewise, Rinpoche ensured that there are numerous water offerings offered on a daily basis to Vajra Yogini in order to collect the necessary merits for Kechara to benefit many beings and to create the causes to have greater affinity with her tantra and practice.
Since moving to Kechara Forest Retreat, Rinpoche requested that his room should always have a large window that overlooked green trees. It’s not really for aesthetics but to fulfil a spiritual yearning to be in a natural environment as he had been in during his past lifetimes as great meditators. Hence, he felt most familiar with rolling hills, green trees and even with a lake nearby. Rinpoche said such a natural and panoramic landscape brings relief to a meditator who spends much of the day in a little hut or meditational cell. During breaks, it is important for a meditator to take walks outside for a breath of fresh air and have such natural views during breaks in between long meditational sessions. During his years of living in concrete urban areas, Rinpoche had wall-sized pictures of a forest printed and even arranged for fake trees to be placed in his room. However, Kechara Forest Retreat offers the unique opportunity to actually have a natural view of such a landscape.
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Aside from the view, Rinpoche kept a large number of books on his shelves, many of which are Dharma books, as expected, and it is one of the largest collections of English Dharma books I have ever seen. Rinpoche kept them for easy reference along with multiple copies of important books to give away as gifts to students and friends. Aside from the Dharma titles, Rinpoche also had a selection of paranormal, Bigfoot and other non-fictional titles on his shelf meant for leisurely reading. However, Rinpoche hardly found time for much leisurely reading. Some of these books were gifted by generous students and friends but many were purchased by Rinpoche in the hope that he would retire and read them one day. However, that never came to pass.
Furthermore, Rinpoche had various toys, dog snacks, watches, t-shirts, handbags, pendants, chakra talismans and all manner of gifts on his shelves. Rinpoche used to have his gifts in another room but moved them into his own room so he could pick out the gifts easily and quickly. Rinpoche took gift-giving very seriously as he felt that it can potentially open people’s hearts to the Dharma. Therefore, Rinpoche often asked his attendants and closer students about certain people, about a certain individual, and we told him everything we knew about that person. Sometimes, Rinpoche got an intuition about what to give them and on other occasions, Rinpoche based it upon what was told to him. At times, Rinpoche would notice certain individuals who came to visit Kechara Forest Retreat on CCTV and he would receive a premonition about that person. When appropriate, Rinpoche would then pass messages to forewarn a person or to give instructions on what to do to avert a personal crisis, spirit affliction and so forth. That is why Rinpoche’s gift shelves are very important for his work in benefiting others.
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Rinpoche’s two Schnauzers are a white female by the name of Oser and a male salt and pepper by the name of Dharma. Rinpoche had a desk drawer and a couple of shelves full of snacks and toys for them, and even had a playpen that consisted of tunnels and little tents filled with coloured plastic balls for them. Rinpoche often played with them by hiding treats around the room and getting them to find these treats. Sometimes, Rinpoche threw the treats into the playpen and immediately, Oser and Dharma would dive into the balls. Rinpoche even had a custom-made little enclosed ‘apartment’ next to his desk, where they could go in and sleep. The apartment is basically a box made of fabric and layered with towels so the dogs are comfortable. Rinpoche also had special blankets made because they were often found shivering at night due to the air-conditioning. The apartment had special lights installed so that Rinpoche could turn them on briefly to tuck Oser and Dharma in, after which they were switched off. There’s also a special little radio that softly plays mantras to bless them as they sleep. Finally, Rinpoche had a special day bed built so they could curl up nearby as Rinpoche worked away on the computer.
In general, the furnishings in Rinpoche’s room are rather basic but everything in it facilitated his works. The main part of Rinpoche’s room is his desk, where he had his computer, the main platform from which he disseminated instructions, worked on his blog and other various works. Aside from work, Rinpoche also watched movies and documentaries on YouTube, many of which he shared with students and friends in order to educate them. When Rinpoche came across a particularly good documentary, he would have a screening of it arranged for many of those who work in Kechara Forest Retreat. During these sessions, Rinpoche would personally elaborate and explain key points in the documentary. Even when it came to entertainment, Rinpoche would find some way to share it in order to benefit others. This is a particular theme that one finds in almost every aspect of Rinpoche’s life and that same selfless pattern can be seen in the role and function of every aspect of Rinpoche’s room.
For more interesting information:
- Tales with My Lama: Bigfoot Dreams
- 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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Very inspiring story. Always love to read your tales.
It is always very interesting and blessed to know and see pictures regarding Rinpoche. I think it brings blessings to my facebook network when they see pictures of Rinpoche when i noticed the great response they gave. Thank you Rinpoche, Pastor David and blog team for keeping the great work to lift up the response! ????
Yes, from all angles, Rinpoche’s room reflected his love of others and compassion for them. From the computer on his work table he engaged on his blog, through which he disseminated the Dharma to all across the globe. Watching movies and documentaries on You tube, he would later share them with his students in KFR to educate them.His gift team would help him to distribute books in his collection(which he had in multiple copies)to students and friends.
The most compassionate angle was his love for his 2 pets . He had arranged for an ‘apartment’ to be built next to his desk, a custom-made little enclosed ‘apartment’ where they could go in and sleep!There were special blankets to keep them warm whenever the aircon was on and he felt it was too cold for them. There was even a special little radio that softly plays mantras to bless them as they sleep. As for toys, “Rinpoche had a desk drawer and a couple of shelves full of snacks and toys for them, and even had a playpen that consisted of tunnels and little tents filled with coloured plastic balls for them”!How wonderfully loving and affectionate Rinpoche was to them!
Rinpoche was most thoughtful when he selected gifts for people. He felt that it could potentially open people’s hearts up to the Dharma.
My precious Lama of infinite compassion and generosity, forever making abundant offerings to the Buddhas and forever giving to others!
Thank you Pastor David for sharing the simplicity of Rinpoche’s room which I am sure many of us would like to know more. Rinpoche had choose to live an abundant life through self- simplicity. Rinpoche cares for others more than himself and always lightens the burdens of another. Rinpoche ‘s kindness and compassion will transform someone’s dark moment with a blaze of light. Rinpoche will not waste a minute in his life, bringing benefits to those around him and others. Whatever Rinpoche did was never for himself.
Recently when I was at the DA I saw those large collections of English Dharma books of Rinpoche. Amazing collections…..from books shelves, gifts shelves, to Rinpoche’s two Schnauzers shelves which is full of snacks and toys.
From what I read in this post tells all how facilitate Rinpoche’s room is.
Thank you Pastor David for this very well-written article. It describes Rinpoche’s room and life just as what I have the honoured to have observed with my own eyes. Everything Rinpoche did was for the long term benefit of others, and the equanimity he applied onto everyone including the animals impressed me tremendously. If you think Rinpoche treated his mumus like prince and princess, that’s the way he treated all of us. If you think Rinpoche was very strict to His students, this is how he trained his mumus too. If you think he is very “OCD” in planting Dharma imprints on us, he did exactly the same to his mumus and all the animals. Not only that, he would tirelessly use many different methods and approaches according to every single individual’s levels of comprehension to make sure they will get the maximum benefits out of his skilfull teachings, either now or in the future.
Thank you for sharing with us more about Rinpoche. Rinpoche never wasted a minute in his life to help others. Everything Rinpoche did was to bring benefits to others, it was never for himself. Even though he had been hurt before, but he never inflicted pain on another person because he knew how hard it was. Rinpoche’s kindness was not limited to people who are closed to him or who knew him personally, his kindness was for every sentient beings, regardless. Even though Rinpoche is not with us anymore but he had left behind many precious teachings to benefit us.
Thank you Pastor David for the hindsight of Rinpoche’s personal space.
Looks like Pastor have described it well and it’s similar to what I have ‘imagined’ about Rinpoche for the years that I’ve known Rinpoche through His blog and social media. Rinpoche have posted many different picture of natural places and with lakes too. I have attached one of the examples below. How I wish if Rinpoche has time to read all His fav Bigfoot and paranormal books. ?
In this blogpost, I have learnt that Rinpoche also always on the lookout for others too, including His lovely and cute dogs. It seems that Rinpoche also provided the space according to what they needed and not only what Rinpoche wanted only. Hence I can see that the space is designed to include their things as well. I saw some toys around in DA.
The last part of it, Pastor David mentioned that Rinpoche will always share what He has found in YouTube too. Yes… I’ll vouch for that! Although I do not live in KFR but Rinpoche has kindly shared with us with His findings through social media. Amongst the documentaries/persons that Rinpoche has shared, there’s a few that actually made a difference in me personally ; the teachings by Ishwar Puri Ji, the devotionals songs by Mary Fewel Tulin and Dr. Rauni Kilde (The Grand Dame of Consciousness). I used to wait and scroll Rinpoche messages in His blog and check out the FB/Twitter and Instagram regularly. Since Rinpoche’s has entered clear light.
I’ve been longing for that. It’s like something missing. ?…
Thank you Pastor David for keeping this blog alive… And thanks to other Kecharians who regularly social media Rinpoche’s memes, advices and etc as a reminder.
Rinpoche mentioned before that this particular Dorje Shugden style would be perfect to print out and put in the room of your young children for protection.
In the emerald forest there lies magical beings and powerful entities of old. There are beautiful gentle creatures of the forest such as deers, rabbits, owls and so on. Faeries, little people, elves, dwarves, trolls and other magnificent worldly and other-worldly beings of mystical origins who nurture and look over the natural world call this place their home. These supernatural beings, who remain hidden to ordinary view and are rarely seen together, have gathered to herald the arrival of the World Peace Guardian Dorje Shugden within the ethereal realm. Paying homage to the divine king they welcome him, the supreme being whose body shines with the light of magnificence and abides in benevolent wisdom. He who has come from the pinnacle of the celestial dimensions, he has the dominion over men and gods. All beings in this and other worlds have gathered to pay homage and to receive blessings, abundance and counsel.
Shugden the divine king, at last has drawn near,
He offers a new life so clear,
With a silent prayer he offers the golden stair,
Sing praises, does the emerald forest all cheer.
Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha
To see other beautiful portrayals of Dorje Shugden, click here: https://bit.ly/2Nt3FHz
Thank you. I loved reading this article.about Tsem Rinpoche’s room. I am one of the people who received a gift from him during a challenging time in my life. I have been devoted to him ever since.