Labrang Monastery in Xiahe County, northwest China’s Gansu Province, is an annual destination for tourists, Buddhists and pilgrims from around the world. They gather to witness the unveiling of the world’s largest thangka (tapestry) of Buddha, as part of the Grand Monlam Prayer festivities. Also called the “Sunning of the Buddha” ritual, at this...
Posted in Buddhas, Dharma & Practice, China, Travel | 15 Comments »
Towering imposingly and majestically in the sky, mountains are believed to possess supernatural properties because they are closer to heaven than any other earthly feature. Interestingly, many mountains are linked to spirituality and enlightened beings, such as the Buddha and Jesus. From the earliest times, many peoples from the Greeks and Native Americans to...
Posted in Asia, China, Travel | 11 Comments »
On 13 September 2017, a group of 38 Kecharians from all over the world – Malaysia, Canada and Hong Kong – gathered at Beijing Airport, prepared to embark on a spiritual journey to the world famous Buddhist mountain Wu Tai Shan. It is a place close to our hearts because it is the earthly...
Posted in Buddhas, Dharma & Practice, China, China 中国, Travel | 12 Comments »
Emperor Kangxi (1654 – 1722), also known as Emperor Kang Hsi, is one of the most beloved of China’s historic leaders. In fact, he is renowned for his benevolent reign of the country, which was marked by stability, progress and development, both culturally and in terms of his people’s welfare. In stark contrast to...
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture, Celebrities & People, China 中国, Guest Contributors | 26 Comments »
Sporting braided locks and a clean-shaven face, boyish Tibetan Zhaxipingcuo has just made it into the final of Sing! China, a ratings runaway success in China with billions of online views. On the other side of the world, lanky 16-year-old, six-foot, 185-pound catcher Justin Qiangbarenzeng (Jampa Ringzin) becomes the first Tibetan to sign with...
Posted in Celebrities & People, Current Affairs & News, Inspiration & Worthy Words | 15 Comments »
Rabindranath Tagore (1861 – 1941) was an illustrious man of many talents. A prolific writer, poet, songwriter, playwright, actor, and painter, he revolutionised Indian art and literature, and was also a pioneer of the Bengal Renaissance Movement. Rabindranath’s works have influenced numerous writers, artists, painters, activists, humanitarian workers, social workers, the poor and the...
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture, Books & Poetry, Celebrities & People, Inspiration & Worthy Words | 26 Comments »
Dear friends around the world, I love nature. I’ve always had a huge attraction to mountains, trees, lakes, streams, forests, greens… and especially environments that have both mountains and crystal clear lakes. My love for the mountains has been embedded in my mind very strongly since I was a young boy. I’ve always wanted...
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture | 17 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 »
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 »
Every Chinese Lunar New Year, it is customary for the younger members of the family clan to visit and wish their elders “Gong Xi Fa Cai”. In my case, as my mother lived in Perth, the first thing to do on New Year’s morning was to call and wish her a Happy New Year, and...
Posted in Guest Contributors | 11 Comments »
Dear friends around the world, When people of different countries and cultures interact with each other with an open mind, more tolerance and acceptance will arise in the world. I live in Malaysia, a beautiful and diverse country where harmony is part of mainstream living. Therefore I am always happy to read news about...
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture | 8 Comments »
Dear friends around the world, As society keeps trending more and more towards consumerism and materialism, all of us need some sort of spiritual cleansing from these ‘toxins’. Therefore Buddhism is especially important during this era because only the Dharma can bring us long lasting happiness. Nothing else in samsara will. I’m extremely happy...
Posted in Buddhas, Dharma & Practice | 29 Comments »
Chinese Ghosts – Fact or Fiction? Ghosts are commonly featured in Chinese folklore. Ghost stories existed as part of the old oral tradition during the Shang Dynasty (1600 – 1046 BCE) and expanded further as Chinese literature began to flourish. Ghost stories continue to be popular today, not just in China but also in...
Posted in China 中国, Ghosts and Hauntings, Guest Contributors, Paranormal, Science & Mysteries | 28 Comments »
I’ve always been curious about how famous individuals, good or nasty or neither, are “made”. Hence when I encountered the biographies of Emperor Kangxi’s grandmother, Empress Xiaozhuang Wen, also honored as “Mother of the Qing Dynasty” by later generations, I thought to share it with readers of H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche’s blog. Empress...
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture, China 中国, Guest Contributors | 15 Comments »
Dear friends, Mr Jack Ma is definitely one of the powerful role models to look up to. He started off as a nobody, through much perseverance and hardships, he then now arose as someone extremely successful, highly respected and sought after for. He has again proved to the world that one does not need...
Posted in Celebrities & People, Inspiration & Worthy Words | 20 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche) Dear friends, If you enjoy travelling, these are some of the places I recommend you to visit. It is extremely important to take time out from our busy schedules to go on pilgrimage to visit holy places and see sacred images of the Buddhas. Everything we see leaves an imprint in...
Posted in Buddhas, Dharma & Practice | 30 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 »
One of my favourite things to do as a child was to spend evenings with my grandmother at the Cantonese opera. The hypnotising colours, customs and sounds at the shows held me spellbound and I would always end up having a score of questions to ask towards the end of the show. In this...
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture, Guest Contributors | 23 Comments »
(By Tsem Rinpoche) Dear friends around the world, It is wonderful to know that China recently completed the construction of Nanhai Buddhist College, their version of Nalanda University in India. I am very happy to see that the Chinese government are willing and able to invest billions into the growth of Buddhism, and to...
Posted in Art, Architecture & Culture, Buddhas, Dharma & Practice, China, China 中国, Travel | 19 Comments »