(By Tsem Rinpoche) Kazi Dawa Samdup (1868 – 1922) was one of the earliest translators of Tibetan Buddhist texts into the English language, and a pioneer who introduced Tibetan Buddhism to the west. During his lifetime, he had served as the interpreter to kings, lamas, politicians, and explorers such as His Holiness the 13th...
Posted in Asia, Celebrities & People, Explorers | 7 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche) Korea’s first and only Special Autonomous Province, Jeju Island, or Jejudo in Korean, is known as the “Island of the Gods”, formerly called Cheju Island. Located on the southern coast of South Korea in the Korean Strait, it is the largest volcanic island off the peninsula with a population of over...
Posted in Asia, Travel | 10 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche) The Kansai region is often considered as the historical and cultural heart of Japan. It was the centre of politics, culture, and economy before the capital city was transferred to Tokyo in the 17th century. As a result of its unique history, many historical sites in Kansai are considered as UNESCO...
Posted in Asia, Travel | 8 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche) Lochen Chönyi Zangmo, better known as Jetsun Lochen Rinpoche (1865 – 1951), was an attained female practitioner of the Nyingma and Kagyu traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. She was believed to be the incarnation of Machig Labdrön, an 11th century Tibetan Buddhist tantric practitioner. Lochen Rinpoche was born amidst auspicious signs, and...
Posted in Buddhas, Dharma & Practice, Great Lamas & Masters, Inspiration & Worthy Words | 24 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche and Karen Chong) 五台山位于中国山西省,因五峰耸立,上平坦如台而闻名。人们普遍相信这是智慧佛文殊菩萨在人间的道场,相传每一座山峰皆住着文殊菩萨的其中一个化身。
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture, Buddhas, Dharma & Practice, China, China 中国, Travel, 中文 | 5 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche) 当前往受到加持的圣地朝圣,游客们会因环境的正能量而感到平静、快乐、治愈和安宁。这还可以在游客或朝圣者的心中留下印记或开启心中某个正面的印记,成为修行路上激励他们的动力。
Posted in Buddhas, Dharma & Practice, China, China 中国, Travel, 中文 | 6 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche and Beatrix Ooi) Bhutan, officially known as the Kingdom of Bhutan, is the smallest state located within the Himalaya mountain range. It is located in the Eastern Himalayas, bordered by China and India. Within the South Asia region, after the Maldives, Bhutan is the second least populous nation, with no more...
Posted in Asia, Travel | 15 Comments »
Interviewing H.E. Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Phende of Shar Gaden Monastery about H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche Kechara was extremely honoured and privileged to host the visit of His Eminence Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Phende, accompanied by his devoted attendant Gen Wangyal. Kensur Rinpoche, now an abbot emeritus, was the first abbot...
Posted in Great Lamas & Masters | 16 Comments »
The magnificent Jetavanaramaya Stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka is considered as one of the most sacred pilgrimage places in Sri Lanka. The stupa was built on the ground where the legendary Mahinda Maha Thero gave a seven-day discourse on Buddhism. Mahinda Maha Thero was the son of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka and a great...
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture, Asia, Travel | 48 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche) A curious, yet ethereal photograph of Lord Buddha has been in circulation for quite some time. Supposedly a photograph taken of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Buddha Shakyamuni, it raises a lot more questions than answers. According to rumours, the photograph was taken by a devotee visiting the holy site of...
Posted in Buddhas, Dharma & Practice, Ghosts and Hauntings, Paranormal | 9 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche) Significance to Buddhist Sarnath is considered a sacred place to the Buddhists for being the place where Gautama Buddha first taught seven weeks after achieving enlightenment in the 6th century BC. This first teaching is known in Sanskrit as Dharmacakrapravartana Sutra, Turning the Wheel of Dharma Sutra. The main topic is...
Posted in Asia, Buddhas, Dharma & Practice, Travel | 10 Comments »
In the heart of Indochina lies Laos, a tropical country that was once known as the realm of a million elephants. Today Laos or Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao P.D.R.) boasts a wealth of natural wonders and unchartered rivers, surrounded by mountains and lush green landscapes, making it one of the leading countries for...
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture, Asia, Travel | 8 Comments »
Kiri Vehera Stupa (Kiri Vehera) in Kataragama is one of the sixteen sacred places in Sri Lanka that have been visited by Buddha Shakyamuni (Solosmasthana). Kiri Vehera is unique because it facilitates a close and beautiful relationship between Buddhism and Hinduism. In the 6th century BC, King Mahasena, the previous incarnation of the celebrated...
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture, Asia, Inspiration & Worthy Words, Travel | 9 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche and Pastor David) Introduction Since the time of the Buddha, the Dharma that he taught has spread to many countries beyond India. This has resulted in Buddhism adapting and becoming entrenched in many parts of Asia. Each country that Buddhism has spread to have developed their own unique flavour while retaining...
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture, Asia, Travel | 12 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche and Beatrix Ooi) The Kelaniya Temple is considered one of the most sacred sites in Buddhism. It was constructed on the banks of the Kelani River, near the city of Kelaniya, about 12km to the northeast of Colombo. It is said that the temple was consecrated by the historical Buddha during...
Posted in Asia, Travel | 10 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche) Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey (1921 – 1995) was a great Buddhist master who founded Dhargyey Buddhist Centre in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1984. During his lifetime, Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey had invited his close students and high incarnate lamas, Venerable Jampa Thupten Rinpoche (Thupten Rinpoche) (1941 – 2011) and Venerable Lhagon Rinpoche (Lhagon...
Posted in Audio Teachings, Buddhas, Dharma & Practice, Downloads, Great Lamas & Masters, Videos | 3 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche) Dear friends around the world, I had a friend that lived down the street from where I lived in Howell, New Jersey, USA, and she had a pretty big library of spiritual books, especially books on Buddhism. Back in the 70’s many of the local libraries did not carry many books...
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture, Books & Poetry, Buddhas, Dharma & Practice, Downloads, Explorers, Travel | 32 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche and Joy Kam) Gal Vihara, also known as Gal Viharaya, means stone or rock temple in Sinhalese. It is a Buddhist temple situated in the second largest ancient city of Sri Lanka, in the Northern Central Province of Polonnaruwa. The Buddha images at Gal Vihara are known to be very sacred...
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture, Guest Contributors, Inspiration & Worthy Words | 13 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche) Sri Lanka is a beautiful country where the majority (70%) of the population are Buddhists of Theravadan tradition. However, Sri Lankan Buddhism is unique because, in addition to focusing on the practice of attaining self-liberation through one’s own effort, they adopt the practice of Bodhisattva of Compassion, Avalokiteshvara. Within the Sri...
Posted in Asia, Downloads, Travel | 10 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche) SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2011 MES AYNAK, Afghanistan — It was another day on the rocky hillside, as archaeologists and laborers dug out statues of Buddha and excavated a sprawling 2,600-year-old Buddhist monastery. A Chinese woman in slacks, carrying an umbrella against the Afghan sun, politely inquired about their progress. She had...
Posted in Asia, Buddhas, Dharma & Practice, Travel | 15 Comments »