Tales With My Lama: Why Rinpoche Has to Suffer
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.
Why Rinpoche Has To Suffer
One of the questions that might come to mind while reading His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche’s biography is why does a high lama like Rinpoche have to endure so much abuse, problems and obstacles? Interestingly, it was Rinpoche himself who admitted thinking along this line before I even thought about it.
At times, Rinpoche wondered aloud why an incarnate lama like himself has to experience so much suffering. He said unlike other high lamas, he was not the golden child, brought to the monastery to be recognised, enthroned, raised, educated and live a cloistered life. I was dumbfounded as I pondered what might be the reason to this million-dollar question. At that time, I thought that it was just Rinpoche’s karma to experience all these but somehow I knew there was more to it than that.
Later, I was reading up on Tibetan tulkus and one of the things it says is that tulkus are part of a Tibetan institution of recognising incarnate lamas. Many of these lamas are recognised to be emanations of great Bodhisattvas or have attained realisation from lifetimes of intense spiritual practice. Such tulkus are believed to have made the sublime wish to be reborn again and again in the most difficult of situations in order to proliferate the Dharma to sentient beings.
When I read that, it dawned on me that Rinpoche must have deliberately prayed and wished to be reborn in such circumstances to be of benefit to others. That would also mean that it arose not from the uncontrollable force of karma but on the deliberate wish of an attained being. That is why even when faced with such adverse conditions and difficulties, he has never diverted from his spiritual goals.
His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche (right) with Kyabje Gangchen Rinpoche. Click to enlarge.
In addition, Rinpoche once asked his highly clairvoyant teacher Kyabje Gangchen Rinpoche, whether he would be able to make it as a Dharma teacher. Gangchen Rinpoche replied that he, Tsem Rinpoche, would do twice the amount of Dharma work of his teacher. Furthermore, Kyabje Gangchen Rinpoche was extremely interested in Rinpoche’s background and has once instructed that Rinpoche should write his life story down because it would prove to be very beneficial to many.
That means that the abuse, problems and sufferings Rinpoche experienced arose from the prayers of his previous life in order to ‘prepare’ him for the scope of work that he would do. These days, Rinpoche has to fundraise, nurture friends and students, manage and develop the Kechara organisation, work on his blog and various online initiatives to preserve the Dorje Shugden lineage and so forth.
Hence, Rinpoche has had to experience much suffering in order to purify the obstacles arising from future practitioners and people he can benefit. Furthermore, the difficulties prepared him for his mission in this life, which is to preserve the lineage; benefit many beings; reveal his special quality of devotion to his teacher; perseverance; and so forth.
All these go to show that Rinpoche is unique because the sufferings he encountered did not deter him nor did it leave him bitter and unhappy as it would with anyone else. This shows his special perseverance and devotion to his teacher, which serves as his main drive and inspiration. These are the reasons that Rinpoche has had to experience so much suffering.
Pastor David Lai
For more interesting information:
- The Promise – Tsem Rinpoche’s Inspiring Biography Now in eBook Format
- How to Purify Your Karma in Kechara Forest Retreat
- The Jolenpa (Bodhisattva) Gen Nyima
- New! Simplified Daily Prayer to Dorje Shugden
- Complete Commentary on 50 Verses of Guru Devotion
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Thank you Pastor David for sharing this incredible insight with us. Yes, Rinpoche is a highly attained reincarnated Tibetan lama and he is able to choose his parents to rebirth into. Hence, it is indeed Rinpoche’s choice to be born into such a difficult childhood and upbringing.
Rinpoche is very compassionate to show us by example that even with no university degree or perfect family, he is still able to do Dharma and dedicated his whole life for Dharma. On average, we are in much better condition but still, we find it very hard for us to do Dharma work. Thank you, Rinpoche for showing by example.
I can’t help but feel that Rinpoche’s choice of “type of rebirth” ie into a suffering path is very relevant and relatable , especially in this degenerate times.
The sufferings in this realm have escalated tremendously as prophesised by the Buddhas aeons ago. Whether one is rich or poor, beautiful or ugly, priviledged or under priviledged in whatever environment or form, there’s is so much of sadness, anger, sickness, greed,evil etc. Rinpoche’s rebirth into suffering and how he came out of it unscathed will be a great inspiration to many. Rinpoche’s tenacity and strength to persevere through the tough times is something all of us must learn. Rinpoche went further and transformed all his sufferings into love and compassion, generosity and patience, discipline and wisdom and benefitted so many beings !
It would be great if each of us can learn and achieve a fraction of all the virtues Rinpoche has and use it to benefit others.
Thank you Pastor David for your sharing. With folded hands.
This is such an enlightening sharing which many of us knows nothing about why Rinpoche has to suffer. Rinpoche is a reincarnated lama but chose to go through the difficult life. He shows us that no matter how challenging life would be, we should never give up and must keep our determination strong in order to achieve success. Rinpoche’s guru devotion has inspired him to keep moving. We have Rinpoche to be grateful for bringing Dharma to Malaysia. We are very fortunate to learn, practice Dharma in this life time . Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor David for this great write up and share it with my FB friends.???
People have asked me this “Rinpoche can control his rebirth. So why doesn’t Rinpoche take rebirth into a life that has less suffering?” It stumped me initially because my Samsaric mind that is used to my comfort zone would think that it is a logical choice.
However, as I began to study more Dharma, I learnt about what a true Bodhisattva nature is all about. Just like Chenrezig who vowed to return as a Bodhisattva until all sentient beings have attained enlightenment, Rinpoche prayed to return in the most difficult circumstances to lead us out of our current cyclic existence of sufferings.
Unlike places like Thailand, Tibet, Bhutan or Nepal where the Buddhist culture is strong and Buddhism is a lifestyle, Rinpoche’s work is multifold harder given that there isn’t any Buddhist culture in Malaysia. Sure, there are many Buddhists in Malaysia but how many will do Dharma work and do it well? Rinpoche spreading Buddhism in Malaysia is like swimming upstream along a gushing steep mountain river. To choose to come here for Buddhism is a hallmark of a Bodhisattva.
As a child Rinpoche showed sign of speciality in a way. Rinpoche has had suffered abuses, problems and sufferings since young. Rinpoche has had experienced much more than anyone else. All the sufferings Rinpoche had gone through merely for the sake of preserving the Dorje Shugden lineage and to purify the obstacles arising from future practitioners and people he can benefit. Whatever Rinpoche encountered did not discourage Rinpoche from spreading Dharma to everyone of us and across the globe. Rinpoche’s guru devotion has inspired him to keep moving. We have Rinpoche to thanks for bringing Dharma to Malaysia. We are fortunate to learn, practice Dharma in this life time . With folded hands thank you Rinpoche.
Thank you Pastor David Lai for this beautiful write up.
Thank you Pastor David for your thought on this matter.
Yes, I did come across reading that these masters especially those Bodhisattvas prayed that they will be born in a situation that will benefit others the most.
Please allow me to share these two phrases from the Wheel of Sharp Weapons here:
“In jungles of poisonous plants strut the peacocks,
Though medicine gardens of beauty lie near.
The masses of peacocks do not find gardens pleasant,
But thrive on the essence of poisonous plants.
In similar fashion, the brave Bodhisattvas
Remain in the jungle of worldly concern.
No matter how joyful this world’s pleasure gardens,
These brave ones are never attracted to pleasures,
But thrive in the jungle of suffering and pain.”
Hence, despite karma, they must have prayed to be born as such. As a matter of fact, due to the difficult situations that Rinpoche has been through, many found a connection in between and I believe that is how it attracted others to follow Rinpoche and eventually learning and practicing Dharma.
Actually, if we were to put Dharma aside (let’s not talk about Dharma as not everyone will believe in BuddhaDharma) actually we can see many examples out there. Of course, some can make it and others cannot. But generally those who made it are those who didn’t give up, those who persevere, those who do more, have courage and choose to win. We should learn from mistake and make amends, empower others and directly deal with difficult situations. So much more. One step at a time and don’t stay still.
To be honest, it is through difficulties, I learn to appreciate life more, appreciative of what others have done and thankful for what I have. Without those difficult times, I wouldn’t even know that I’m capable of doing things I’ve never thought about such as driving, doing online sales, contribute to the family, be bold and even meeting strangers! It’s nothing for others but to me, it’s a humongous progress ?
By the way, I would like to share what Rinpoche has shared previously. https://youtu.be/na8SZlgff9M
Rinpoche has shared His thought about His life and it’s kind of tally with what Pastor has shared. Something that Rinpoche must have prayed for and it’s through difficulties that have shaped Rinpoche into what He is today. I’m thankful that somehow I came to know about Rinpoche, His blog, and am learning Dharma from Rinpoche. Thank you .
Thank you Pastor David for sharing the reason why Rinpoche has to suffer. Rinpoche is a reincarnate lama but chose to go through the difficult life. He shows us that no matter how challenging life would be, we should never give up and must keep our determination strong in order to achieve success.
Many of us would have gave up after years of trying but Rinpoche did not complaint and just keep pushing himself because his motivation is always to spread the dharma and uphold his promise his Guru. Rinpoche bio is an inspiration for us to not give up in dharma.
Tsem Rinpoche is a real Bodhisattva, he uses his human life to experience all the sufferings both physical and mental, to demonstrate to us despite the pain we have gone through, we can still be able to develop kindness and compassion and have a meaningful life. Most of us will not choose to be born in a situation like that, only a Bodhisatvva will do that. Even though Tsem Rinpoche had experienced so much pain but he did not become bitter. Instead, he vows to be kind to people and not to put people through the same experience he had.
Tsem Rinpoche was abused physically and mentally by his adopted mother, Dana when Rinpoche was young. However, Rinpoche did not hold any grudge towards her. He always remembers the positive side of Dana and is very appreciative of what Dana had given to him. He always remembers Dana as a kind and generous lady. Tsem Rinpoche never inflicts pain on others just because Rinpoche was hurt badly when Rinpoche was young.
If Tsem Rinpoche is able to let go of whatever anger he has and continue to develop kindness and compassion towards others, we can also do the same. He has proven this is possible. When we hold anger in us, we start to build a thick wall between ourselves and others. Slowly, we become bitter and lonely and it leads us to more sufferings. If we follow Tsem Rinpoche’s footsteps, we will also find real happiness and bring happiness to others.