Rinpoche Through My Eyes – Tsem Rinpoche, My Protector
Joy has been a student of His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche for over 15 years. Through the years, Joy has witnessed Rinpoche’s compassion and the unconventional methods he uses to benefit others. Some of the short stories she shares will tell interesting miraculous events that Rinpoche will not mention due to his humility. She hopes these stories will serve as an inspiration in your own spiritual journey.
Rinpoche Through My Eyes – Tsem Rinpoche, My Protector
Sometime back, probably between 1999 and 2000, Rinpoche gave me a chakra. A chakra is a blessed Tibetan Buddhist amulet known for its protective qualities and this particular one from Rinpoche was given to me through my sister, who told me that it was for my own protection. I hardly knew Rinpoche then; I had only met him once in 1999 over a casual dinner with my sister and some of Rinpoche’s friends. So it was definitely kind of a surprise to find out that Rinpoche was concerned about me.
I guess it was my sister who told Rinpoche I was going to some ‘jungle party’ in Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB). But apparently, upon hearing about my plans, Rinpoche had a premonition that I may experience something bad. So Rinpoche asked my sister to give me a blessed chakra to bring along with me; my sister recounted that Rinpoche said the party in the forest was dangerous and to keep the chakra close to me.
I personally believe that there are various entities and elemental beings in places like forests and other parts of nature untouched by man. When we venture into these places, it is like we are gatecrashing their space (it is their home after all). Young, foolish, silly and ignorant partygoers, like I was, can easily and unknowingly offend these nature spirits and as a result, we might be harmed if they are angered. This is what Rinpoche was concerned about and sure enough, I think I saw something that could have been a source of harm.
The night of the party, I may have seen a weird-looking forest man covered in black mud, coming out of the woods. Honestly, it was hard to tell since it was very dark and I was not feeling too well but the next thing I knew, I suddenly had a high fever, which later went away as the evening progressed. Then I was fine. In this way, I am sure the chakra did in fact protect me.
The blessed chakra that Rinpoche gave to me for protection before I went to the jungle party.
About a month or so later, there was going to be another ‘jungle party’ back at the very same place in KKB. The organisers, who were our friends, told us it was also going to be the last one there because the government was going to build a dam, flooding the entire area where the parties were held. It was all soon going to be underwater. My late husband, Justin, and I contemplated if we should go since it was the last party before the whole area was submerged. Suddenly, I received a message from my sister who said that Rinpoche advised her to tell us we should not go to any more of these ‘jungle parties’, implying something bad would happen and we should avoid them at all costs.
At the time, we did not think much of the message and thought, “We’ll just see how it goes. If we can get a ride up to KKB, then we will go.”
That very night, we attempted to try our luck at the last minute, but all the taxis we asked would not take us up there. It was just so unbelievably strange, no one was willing to take us there. We thought it must be fate that we could not go, so we decided not to push it further and went home instead.
The next day we heard from friends that there was a huge police raid at the party and everyone there had to go to the police station! There was even a story about it in the newspapers. It then dawned on me how extremely lucky we were because if we actually went to the party, we would have been caught in the raid and Justin, being a foreigner, could have experienced a bad outcome. Rinpoche had saved us a second time! We could have ended up in jail if we had actually gone to that party.
When I look back now and think about it, the reason why there were no taxis and why no one was available or willing to take us to KKB that night was definitely the work of Rinpoche protecting us. Most likely it was through Dorje Shugden, whom I now call my Dharma Protector, who created the circumstances that prevented us from going to the party. It felt like something purposely made it impossible for us to get there, so we ended up home and safe.
Amazing, isn’t it? That Rinpoche could see beyond and into our future to help us. This is why I say Rinpoche is my protector. That is how compassionate Rinpoche was, he would help anyone who had the merits to be helped by him. Why I say ‘merits’ is that if we do not have the merits to receive help, then no matter how hard Rinpoche or the Dharma Protectors wish to help us, it will be difficult due to our own negative karma blocking them from reaching out to us. Our negative karma is likened to a veil covering the Dharma Protector’s eyes, making his vision ‘unclear’ and hard for him to come to our aid. There is a wonderful teaching on this which you can watch here:
Dharma Protectors, like Dorje Shugden, protect us from any harm or danger, even if we are of a different faith, atheist, or even if we do not know them. The reason for this is simple – they are compassionate enlightened beings and because our lama requested them to do so. We can even request them for assistance ourselves by engaging in their daily practices.
But how I know Dorje Shugden will always help is from personal experience. At the time of these ‘jungle party’ incidents, I was not a Buddhist, I had only met Rinpoche once, and I was not his student. I hardly knew Rinpoche. So why would Rinpoche be bothered about me and care about what happened to me? I guess this is the true nature of a living Bodhisattva. I strongly believe if it was not for Rinpoche, who was watching over me, we would not have been saved. Many of us would be in a far more horrible state right now due to our enormous negative karma that we have been accumulating over the years and many previous lifetimes.
I have not seen or met anyone who cared more for another person as selflessly, consistently and thoroughly as much as Rinpoche did. If you had the good karma to cross paths with Rinpoche, it is without a doubt Rinpoche found ways to help you, and to bring Dharma to you. It is with Rinpoche’s blessings and care that I am where I am today, doing Dharma work, learning and trying to practise the Dharma.
For more interesting information:
- Rinpoche Through My Eyes – Looking for That Switch!
- Rinpoche Through My Eyes – Taboo Words
- Rinpoche Through My Eyes – Cooking For Rinpoche
- Rinpoche Through My Eyes – Vajra Yogini or Anger?
- Rinpoche Through My Eyes – The Assignment
- Rinpoche Through My Eyes – Change Karma
- Rinpoche Through My Eyes – Creating The Causes
- Rinpoche Through My Eyes – Buddha Images and Imprints
- Rinpoche Through My Eyes – Food and Dharma
- Rinpoche Through My Eyes – Spreading Dharma in Jonker Street
- Rinpoche Through My Eyes – What’s the New News?
- Rinpoche Through My Eyes – Mission Impossible
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Thank you Joy for your generosity in sharing this story!
These wonderful little stories really do make a difference when it comes to getting to know more about Rinpoche through his student’s point of view. I hope you are well and please take care 🙂
Thank you so much Ee Ang for your nice comments. I’m so glad to know my little sharings do help people to know Rinpoche a little better. Rinpoche has helped so many of us and he continues to inspire us in our spiritual journey. Much prayers & good wishes to you too 🙏✨
Dear Joy,
Ahh thank you so much for your lovely reply too! You write so well and I really admire that 🙂 Hehe.
Rinpoche really has helped us in unimaginable ways – something that goes beyond even this life. Let’s continue on our spiritual journey together, and never give up!
I see that you paint beautiful statues too – you’re such a talented artist! Esp the golden eyes that you draw~ so enchanting and memorising! Keep it up, dear Joy! 😘✨
Sincerely,
Ching Ee
Interesting story of how the chakra given by Rinpoche to Joy that had protected her. Lush with primary and secondary virgin jungle, i always have long held a respect for the forests. Entering the jungle I do believe almost anything with the spiritual world including nature. Malaysia is rich with legends of ghosts living in the forest. Evidence on the existence of spirits residing in a jungle has proven by some spirits hunters. And it is not surprised that Joy have seen a weird-looking forest man covered in black mud, coming out of the woods.
Rinpoche had advised Joy not go to any more of these ‘jungle parties. Rinpoche’s extrasensory perception have saved Joy a second time. Interesting read.
Thank you Joy for sharing with us.
Wonderful sharing. The dharma guru is truly and supremely wise and compassionate and skillfull.
How fortunate Kecharians are to have a guru like Kyabje Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. May your spiritual bond be ever stronger. 🙏✨💫🌟
Thank you so much for your kind words & well wishes! Yes I do hope my spiritual bond with Rinpoche continues ever so strongly. 🙏