(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) Gyeongsang, or Gyeongsang-do in Korean, is where many travellers will head towards if they wished to explore beyond Seoul. It is one of the eight provinces in Korea located on the south-eastern side of the country, and boasts huge mountain ranges, beautiful parks, and amazing islands. This is the land where...
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture, 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) 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 »
The Chinese Buddhist scholar Professor Garma C. C. Chang (1920-1988) was one of the few pioneering scholars who introduced Buddhism to the West primarily through the publication of books and his illustrious teaching career as a professor. He was an authority on Buddhist philosophy and was best known as an editor and translator of...
Posted in Buddhas, Dharma & Practice, Celebrities & People, China, China 中国, Explorers, Travel | 32 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche) If there were only one place in this world where all Buddhists must go on pilgrimage, it has got to be Bodhgaya. Every year thousands of Buddhist pilgrims make their way to Bodhgaya to circumambulate, recite mantras and prayers, engaging in retreats, meditation and rituals. This is the most important sacred...
Posted in Asia, Travel | 14 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 »
(By Tsem Rinpoche) Nepal, officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked central Himalayan country in South Asia. It is a country with a diverse tapestry of culture and religion, and Nepal has always been a popular destination known for its best value for money. Eight of the world’s ten...
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture, 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 »
(By Tsem Rinpoche and Pastor David) Japan, called Nihon-koku in its native Japanese, literally means the ‘State of Japan’. It is an East Asian island nation in the fringes of the Pacific Ocean, right on the eastern coast of the Asian mainland and the Korean Peninsular. To the north is the Sea of Okhotsk,...
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture, Asia, Travel | 8 Comments »
It is said that on Mount Kailash, Buddha Shakyamuni miraculously manifested as Buddha Heruka Cakrasamvara in sacred union with Vajrayogini along with the accompanying 62 deities in his entourage. He did this in order to expound the Heruka tantras. The purpose of Heruka’s meditative practice is to use desire along with its accompanying attachments,...
Posted in Buddhas, Dharma & Practice, Downloads, Great Lamas & Masters, H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, Prayers and Sadhanas | 10 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche and Pastor Han Nee) “To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part“ ~ Traditional Marriage Vow In life, our actions and pursuits have always been aimed at...
Posted in Books & Poetry, Buddhas, Dharma & Practice, Guest Contributors | 7 Comments »
Peter Szasz was born on the 27th March 1941 in Budapest, Hungary. Unfortunately, he was born into the turmoil of World War II and had to endure tremendous hardship as a young child. When his mother was pregnant with him, everybody felt sorry for the baby who would be born into the war, and...
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture, Inspiration & Worthy Words | 10 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 »
Indonesia is the largest country in Southeast Asia. It has the biggest and most diverse archipelago in the world covering 2 million square kilometres from Asia to Australia. This tropical country is made up of over 18,000 islands, but only 6,000 are inhabited. It boasts dramatic landscapes, like Sulawesi’s magnificent coastlines with white sandy...
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture, Asia, Travel | 9 Comments »
Interviewing Most Venerable Geshe Namgyal Wangchen of Drepung Loseling Monastery about H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche Interview Transcript Drepung Loseling Monastery (November 2007) So to start off with maybe, if possible, you can recollect about how it all first began, how did Rinpoche first come to know about you. If...
Posted in Great Lamas & Masters, བོད་ཡིག | 37 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 »
Introduction The Buddhist scriptures from China are great treasures of knowledge, and came about due to the kindness of the Buddhist masters who risked their lives to travel to China in order to spread the Dharma. The hardships that they endured throughout their journeys didn’t stop them from sharing the Buddha’s precious teachings...
Posted in China, China 中国, Great Lamas & Masters, Travel | 11 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 »