Finally, a section for you to clarify your Dharma questions with Kechara’s esteemed pastors. Just post your question below and one of our pastors will provide you with an answer.
Note: This section of H.E. Tsem Rinpoche’s blog is meant for Dharma questions or questions related to Kechara and our lineage. If the question is not relevant or out of our scope, we will respectfully request you to seek an answer on a more relevant platform. Before posting your question, we would also like to suggest that you look through some of the older posts (or do a search on this blog) before you post a question as your question may have been already answered in an older post.
Browse through previous question submissions and learn from the Pastors’ answers. Click on the different page numbers or arrow buttons to view older questions.
Question asked by Asi
Dear Pastors, I was listening to "Chant of Metta" by imee ooi and reciting after the metta verses in the song. I visualized hell realm deep below me and heaven realm far up above me, along with the entire universe (space-like background). And then I visualized myself radiating metta to all beings and creatures in all planes of existence, whether highest or lowest. I want to ask because it is making me a little worry. I am practicing Mahayana but I heard in Tibetan Buddhism, visualization is very very powerful. So is visualizing the hell realm somewhat dangerous and I shouldn't do that? I visualized the heaven realm and hell realm and galaxy-like environment dissolving into nothingness afterwards.
Question asked by Jenny
Hi. Can you list ALL the benefits of reciting guan yin long mantra and da bei zhou? (great compassion mantra)
Can you also speak about it more? such as how can it help me in all areas of my life?
Question asked by Jenny
I am afraid of asking guan shi yin pusa for help with the problems with my parents because she may somehow use her powers to bring me back to my manipulative parents in order to get "closer".
Question asked by Jake
Hi pastors
I live remotely outside of Malaysia and have considered tsem Rinpoche as my guru since watching and learning from his talks for many years.
I practice the dharma and love the Mahayana path particularly , however I am concerned that since I don't live in Malaysia I will never get any Tantric Empowerment and tsem Rinpoche promoted Vajroyaghini practice alot. I heard from a different Lama that without the highest yoga tantras I will never get enlightenment or I will but it will take more and more rebirths. Is it not possible to get full Enlightenment by Tsongkpha and dorje Shugden practice? What am I supposed to do as a student of tsem Rinpoche living outside Malaysia. Thankyou
Question asked by Luna
Hello! I have a lot of questions regarding Gaden Shartse Monastery since I am planning to become a monk there:
《1》How does on become a monk there? Do you just go up to them physically and ask? Or is there an online part you have to do like tests or whatever?《2》Is it necessary to learn Tibetan and Hindu in order to stay there? I only speak English and Mandarin.《3》My parent cannot speak English, and being in America, it would be hard to sustain themselves. Would Gaden be able to provide any shelter for people in similar situations?《4》What is the schedule like? Like what do monastics usually start there day off with, what do they do at this hour, etc?《5》If I can't become a monk, could there could I be able to stay there as a lay person to help cook, clean, etc?《6》As individual monastics, do we need to have a personal and individual donater/sponsor or do monastics generally depend on whatever donations they collectively recieve?《7》I'm planning on becoming a monk in my 20's, after college, is there anything else I should know?《8》If there seems to be an obstacle because of language, finance, etc, do you know of any Gelug Monasteries in the world which English-speaking monks can attend? Especially any monasteries in the USA.
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I thank you from the bottom of my heart since becoming a monk is a really crucial wish that I have in life. Because so far, getting jobs, going to college, and such is only my second priority, becoming ordained, is my first.
Question asked by Bhavisha
Dear Pastor,
NAMO BUDDHAYA,
H.H. rinpoche made me understand the science of mantra so well that I will not forget it in my entire life. But visualizations are also important part of buddhist practices and I don't understand it. Especially those practice which r not about yidam or dharma protector where we visualise deity in front for specific porpuse where in some practices they are blessings with white light and all. Help me to understand this about visualizations. Why it is important and how dose it help in reality? ( yidam and dharma protector visualization are quite understandable me like one want to be one with Tara and that why they visualize their selvs as Tara) but put light on this whole topic.
As always greatful 🙏 ✨️
Question asked by Anonymous
If a statue can't be filled with the Mantras as there isn't enough space on the inside and only a small hole what should I do ? And can I still use the statue on my shrine if it cannot be filled.
Thankyou pastors
Question asked by Josh
Hi pastors
If I was a Buddhist but later converted to Christianity and want to come back to the dharma do I need to take the refuge ceremony again
Thankyou
Question asked by Lee
Hello Pastor!
I have questions about:
What's the benifits of Dorje Dermo practice?
Can i apply Dorje Dermo practice for dealing with authority obstacles such as delay proccessing Visa, or wrong jugdements?
I have heard about Ganapati Ragavajra also dealing with goverment obstacles but I'm really yet to so deep connect with Him but I have feel with Dorje Dermo strongly after I pray to Dorje Shugden to show me signs what i should do to during the time that I'm waiting for my visa now and then, I have feel to Dorje Dermo practice with the though that i should recite this sutra according to my ages.
How i should make right motivation to recite this sutra for benifits to other and my problems?
Thank you so much.
Question asked by Bhavisha
Hello pastors,
NAMO BUDDHAYA,
1. Before almost four months When I made my mind to involve dharma practices my mind used procrastinate so I pick up old mala from home so I suddenly get involve myself in practices which my mother in law used in past so I kept it socked in water and then sunlight for hours , changed thread and made new one and still using. But now I am sure what I am doing I want to purchase new one. But I have found already good results with practice I have done with old mala. So there is energies in that too. What should I do? Beads of old one is too weak and about to break.
2. There are many deities I have heard who transform mind like I do Manjushri and good results. Who transforms heart in this hard time quickly and more effectively?
3. As I got mantra of four armed Mahakala h and article on his iconography by asking here and so I do one mala of his mantra almost everyday. But now I want to engage in his sadhna more like visualizations and all. If it is good and permitted to do without initiation then provide me all. But I don't have his initiation.
Thank you.
I really appreciate your work and efforts to be here every single day, I am greatful.✨️
Question asked by Jordan
Hi pastors, i want to ask you about blessings. So Tsem Rinpoche talks about blessings like a trigger. The blessing will go in to us and open up similar types of good karma we have done in the past. So it seems like blessings do not cost the lama much. But i also saw a video by Sadhguru on blessings and curses. Sadhguru says either blessings or curses requires one to give away something that one has earned that is positive for one's life. And blessings are not a one-off thing. If the person who is blessed works for it, the blessing costs less for the lama or the saint. If the person is a blundering idiot and works against spiritual wellbeing (perhaps due to 8 worldly concerns) then the blessing will continue to drain the saint on a daily basis. So Sadhguru brings in the perspective of how much it costs the lama or saint to give the blessing. But Tsem Rinpoche does not. So is it because Tsem Rinpoche and Sadhguru's blessings work differently? Or is Tsem Rinpoche choosing to avoid this aspect of the cost to the lama so as not to make people afraid of getting blessings? The actions i take for spiritual wellbeing is sometimes socially crazy (taking off from work for 3 days without any reason. Spending money on massage that arise due to discomfort and pain due meditation. [As opposed to giving up on meditation.]) Personally, if i know that blessings would cost the lama then i would be more motivated to carry on my path towards spiritual wellbeing even if my friends find it strange. So whats your take on this?
Question asked by Jason
Hi Kechara Pastors,
So for Vajrasattva mantra i see a lot of different versions around.
Some say benza satto samaya
Others say Vajrasattva samaya
There are also other differences in spelling and even some appear to use different words.
Is it possible that they are all effective? Or is there only one version that is correct?
Question asked by Rabten
Hello Pastors!
I have a question about Protector rice:
What's benefits with Protector rice?
I have problems with my visa application and can i adding this rice to my Sangsol offering with strong request to Dorje Shugden to help me about this problems?
Thank you so much.
Question asked by Shan
Dear Pastor,
I am from India and from past 2 years I have moved to Canada. I cam here with the intension of making my career and I thought I would live my life more peacefully and will enjoy my freedom. But everything got changed adversly since I came here. I am in a very bad mental condition. I don't feel anything except depression, negativity and sadness. I am just surviving here and I don't remember even a day when I was happy here in Canada. I have totally forgot what mental peace feels like, I don't remember how it feels to be fully happy and joyful. I am living alone here without my friends and family. All the time I feel so lonely and disconnected from everyone. I feel like I am alone in this whole world and no one is there for me. I just have formal relations with people here. I don't have anybody whom I can call mine. I am dealing with this loneliness all alone and now I am really frustrated and fade up.
I just want one permanent relation here so that I can live life fully. How can I attract a positive and permanent relation in my life?
I hope you can help me with this.
Thank You !
Question asked by Amy
Is it safe to engage in these new age Kuan Yin meditations? or is it considered tantric visualization because it involves visualizing a bodhisattva?
https://youtu.be/9ApAm_K__SY
https://youtu.be/P94u3Tr50ng
https://youtu.be/LGLHlrLemBQ
Question asked by Davidson
Hello, I do not think i am deserving of practicing Tibetan Buddhism. I deeply respect its value and emphasis on altruism and compassion. But that only has led me to being hurt. You see, from where I am from, there are a lot of people who are narcissists and manipulators. Often times when I try to think positively of those people, my hatred for them diminishes and I think that they could never possibly betray, harm or hurt me. And many times, I am left disappointed because I keep getting taken advantage of. I know Buddhism also emphasizes the use of skillful means and wisdom, but I lack proficiency in those areas. I am unable to find a balance. The only solution I can think of is to keep my hatred and resentment towards them. If I try to lessen hatred, It leads me back to thinking only positively of them and me thinking they would never hurt me again. I am uninitiated but i would like to practice Je Tsongkhapa to increase profiency in compassion, power/skill and especially wisdom. But I am quite afraid to do the practice with the "wrong motivation" which is keeping hatred towards those people. I want to regularly chant the Migtsema mantra as I heard it can help develop compassionate, wisdom and skillful qualities quicker. The supreme bodhicitta motivation is for every sentient being including enemies but I just can't seem to let go of my hatred as I feel like its the only thing keeping me aware of their schemes. I am afraid doing the practice with the wrong motivation may cause unintended reversed/negative results instead. This is why I think Tibetan Buddhist practice conflicts with what i am doing. How do I lessen hatred and at the same time watchful of tactics and manipulation? Hope you can help me with this, Thanks
Question asked by Suk Bir Tamang
Hello
Question asked by Bhavisha
Dear pastor,
I have read article on Sambhala here,
Few questions here,
Is astral travel a Psychic ability?
If yes, dose Shize's practice help in achieving that ability as he blesses with Psychic abilities?
If not,
What is the way of dharma to achieve that?
Question asked by Elena
Hi. I have a bad relationship with my parents. especially with my mom. she always criticize me or verbally abuse me all the time. because of this, whenever someone mentions motherly Buddhist deities such as green Tara or Guan yin, I begin to think that they will criticize me or look down on me if I do something wrong in Buddhist practice. And I don't know why but there is this resentment feeling towards any motherly figure. I want to get rid of it because I know these enlightened deities are free from hatred. how do I overcome this?
Question asked by Cnc
My life
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Meet the Pastors
Serving the community. Tirelessly
Combining the responsibilities of the ordained and the appearance of a layperson, pastors are the connection between the sangha and the everyday practitioner. They are ordinary people who have taken an extraordinary step in dedicating their lives towards sharing the Buddhist tradition. As laypeople holding vows, pastors will make the Dharma accessible to more people, giving them guidance and sharing knowledge. The pastors are usually present at Kechara House and available for consultation anytime. For more information, contact house@kechara.com.
Pastor Chia (sangha to be)
As a pastor, Chia will dedicate his life to befitting others through spreading the works of Tsem Rinpoche and Dharma to many people, through the use of pujas, rituals, counseling and sharing of his knowledge.
Ordained as a Pastor in 2011, Chia Song Peng has had a rich and varied Dharma career. He has held a core position with the Kechara Paradise retail outlets, served as a personal attendant to Tsem Rinpoche, embarked on various pilgrimages and received initiations into higher yoga tantric practices. He is accomplished in many pujas and has a deep understanding of the Dharma.
As a pastor, Chia has dedicated his life to befitting others through spreading the works of Tsem Rinpoche and Dharma to many people, through the use of pujas, rituals, counseling and sharing of his knowledge.
When Chia first met Tsem Rinpoche, he was asked if he wanted to become a monk, however even though this was his aspiration he informed Tsem Rinpoche that he would do so at a later date. For Chia, as he has is already in the Dharma full-time, it would be best if he became ordained. Tsem Rinpoche has reminded Chia from time to time to work towards becoming a monk and he promised that he would do so in the future.
Kechara began from nothing to become a growing Dharma organisation with major projects such as Kechara Forest Retreat, so Chia thinks that this is the perfect time to become ordained as a monk. Recently Tsem Rinpoche asked Chia again if he would like to be ordained, this time Chia said yes.
Pastor Khong Jean Ai (sangha to be)
Jean Ai wishes to become a vessel that holds the teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa to benefit future generations, inspiring others to live by the Buddha’s teachings.
Jean Ai met His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche as a young child and through her parents' involvement with Kechara over the years, she has never known a life without His Eminence. Jean Ai was a regular volunteer of Tsem Ladrang during her childhood and teenage years. After graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Warwick in the UK and working at the London Probation Service, she returned to Kuala Lumpur to join Tsem Ladrang's e-division. There she managed kechara.com, responsible for the weekly Kechara e-newsletter, including content generation and editing. Since then she has joined His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche’s writing team, responsible for executing Rinpoche’s personal instructions and managing his correspondence.
Having visited a nunnery in India in 2004, Jean Ai remembers noticing how happy and purposeful everyone was. She had a feeling of familiarity and the sight of the robes comforted her. Immediately, Jean Ai messaged her mother who told her to ask Rinpoche’s advice. Rinpoche told her to complete her secular education so that when she taught the Dharma her words would carry the credibility and weight of a university degree, something she completed with the motivation that some day she wanted to become a nun.
Through her ordination as a nun, Jean Ai wishes to become a vessel that holds the teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa to benefit future generations, inspiring others to live by the Buddha’s teachings. Through this she hopes to repay the kindness of her parents and her Guru. Above all she wants to abide in a state free of suffering, and she wants this for others as well.
Pastor Shin Tan (sangha to be)
For Shin, this is a great step forward to being fully committed to the cause of others and repaying others’ kindness through sharing the Dharma with others.
Before joining Kechara, Shin worked as a lecturer and provider of content and
e-learning content solutions for various start-ups. Whilst providing training to educators teaching students in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) at various colleges, she was invited to attend a Dharma talk given by His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche at Kechara House. This event rekindled her interest in Tibetan Buddhism, as she recalled the joy of accompanying her parents to teachings as a teenager.
Joining Kechara Media & Publications in 2006 as a volunteer, Shin assumed a full time position there as a Marketing Executive, with the aim of making His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche’s teachings available to more people around the world. Shin is now a member of the Tsem Ladrang Team, who takes care of His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche’s secular matters, enabling Rinpoche to focus on teaching the holy Dharma.
Shin states that when she decided to join Kechara full time, she had already decided to be of some benefit to others and spend the rest of her life doing only that. Working closely with His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche, seeing his tireless effort in helping others and spreading the Buddhadharma through the Gaden tradition despite tremendous challenges has made her realise that the next logical step is to become ordained as she has the opportune conditions to study with her Guru. For Shin this is also a great step forward to being fully committed to the cause of others and repaying others’ kindness through sharing the Dharma with others.
Pastor Adeline Woon (sangha to be)
Since finding her spiritual home here in Kechara, Adeline has made dharma work her life’s mission and wishes to dedicate herself fully towards the benefit of others.
Adeline stumbled across His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche's blog towards the end of 2010 and has been following his blog and Facebook page ever since. Since graduating from Dharma Drum Buddhist College Taiwan with a Masters of Arts in Religious Studies in July 2012, she returned to Malaysia and joined Kechara as a Senior Education Executive. Adeline was attracted by His Eminence’s straightforwardness and impressed at Kechara's growth under his guidance. To Adeline, His Eminence is someone who walks the talk, keeps his promises and sincerely cares for others displaying an excellent example of guru devotion, qualities that she seeks to develop herself.
Since finding her spiritual home here in Kechara, Adeline has made dharma work her life’s mission. It was in May 2013 that she officially requested His Eminence for ordination as a nun to dedicate her life fully for the dharma. According to Adeline, become ordained means that she is being true to her calling to live according to the dharma and be of benefit to others.
This however can only be achieved by meeting and studying under her root Guru. Adeline has been fortunate enough to have met with hers - His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche.
Pastor Niral Patel (sangha to be)
It is Niral’s motivation for full ordination to better himself, learn the teachings of our lineage in order to preserve them for future generations. He wishes to benefit others, just as he has benefited and is still benefiting from Tsem Rinpoche’s explanation of the Dharma.
Niral was born and raised in the UK, having graduated with a BA in Anthropology, he was working as a Financial Administrator for a Serviced Apartment & Hotel company as well as a Management Services company before stumbling across His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche’s Youtube channel, entirelyby accident. It was through His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche’s teachings that he began to understand the importance of practicing the Dharma, in order to benefit himself and others around him.
Having been in contact with one of Tsem Rinpoche’s long time students in the UK, he was encouraged to visit Kechara in late 2012 for a 10 day visit. At the end of the visit Tsem Rinpoche requested Niral to come to work at Kechara, to which he agreed.
Niral moved to Malaysia in February 2013 to work as an education coordinator at Kechara House, assisting the Education Division in the creation and implementation of the new education syllabus, teaching teenagers during the Kechara Sunday Dharma School. Ever since meeting Tsem Rinpoche, he has always been encouraged by Tsem Rinpoche to do more Dharma work and strive to better himself. It is with that in mind, that Niral has requested monastic ordination.
It is Niral’s motivation for full ordination to better himself, learn the teachings of our lineage in order to preserve them for future generations. He wishes to benefit others, just as he has benefited and is still benefiting from Tsem Rinpoche’s explanation of the Dharma.
Pastor Tan Gim Lee (sangha to be)
Gim Lee’s main focus is to guide and help anyone who steps through Kechara’s doors through Dharma sharing, counselling, performing pujas and other Buddhist services. She wishes to repay Rinpoche’s kindness by spreading Lama Tsongkhapa’s holy teachings and inspiring others on the spiritual path.
She discovered Kechara by chance in 2006 and started to participate Kechara's activities almost immediately especially the retreat to collect 10 million Migtsema recitations. In April 2006, when Gim Lee met H.E. Tsem Rinpoche and first listened to his teachings, she wept uncontrollably. Though she could not understand it at the time, she had finally found her perfect teacher. She is especially touched by Tsem Rinpoche's compassionate method of teaching by setting his own examples.
Having joined as a staff of Kechara House responsible for housekeeping in 2009, Gim Lee is now one of Kechara House's Front Desk Managers predominantly based in the retreat centre in Bentong, Pahang. She also teaches the Sunday Dharma Class and moderates Dharma discussions on Tsem Rinpoche's blog chat.
The many teachings she has received from Tsem Rinpoche have changed her priorities in life. She found answers to her questions about the purpose of life, and she has realised that the way to overcome the sufferings of pain and anger is by following the path of compassion and wisdom as taught by Lord Buddha. These realisations have led to her request to be ordained as a Sangha member.
As pastor now, and later as a Buddhist nun, Gim Lee's main focus is to guide and help anyone who steps through Kechara's doors through Dharma sharing, counselling, performing pujas and other Buddhist services. She wishes to repay Rinpoche's kindness by spreading Lama Tsongkhapa's holy teachings and inspiring others on the spiritual path.
Pastor Loh Seng Piow (sangha to be)
Loh Seng Piow developed a strong wish to help Rinpoche in spreading the Dharma to the world. With that determination, Loh Seng Piow chose not to pursue his PhD degree in Cambridge University (for which he had been offered a place), resigned from his research job, and joined Tsem Rinpoche as full-time Dharma worker, and has never looked back since.
Back in 2001, Loh Seng Piow had no inkling of just how involved in Dharma he would become. As a Masters degree-holder in Engineering, Loh Seng Piow was working as a research engineer in Singapore when he met His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche. Rinpoche’s talk left a strong impression on him and after a few encounters with Rinpoche, Loh Seng Piow started developing websites for Rinpoche and Kechara.
Loh Seng Piow was trained in science, but soon realised that there were many questions that science could not answer. At the same time, he also felt that science and technology are not the solution to human problems, as humans are much better off compared to thousands years ago, yet the problems in this world are still the same, if not more, and we do not seem to be happier than our ancestors.
Loh Seng Piow soon realised that the Dharma is the ultimate solution to human problems, and that the methods used by His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche are very suitable for this modern era. Loh Seng Piow developed a strong wish to help Rinpoche in spreading the Dharma to the world. With that determination, Loh Seng Piow chose not to pursue his PhD degree in Cambridge University (for which he had been offered a place), resigned from his research job, and joined Tsem Rinpoche as full-time Dharma worker, and has never looked back since.
Meeting Rinpoche was a very refreshing experience for Loh Seng Piow, as he never knew Dharma could be so unconventional yet maintain its essence. As Rinpoche’s personal attendant, Loh Seng Piow has had many incredible moments with Rinpoche and considers himself extremely fortunate because he sees real Dharma in action, both on and off the throne. It challenges him to practice Dharma 24/7. In this way, Rinpoche has blown away his old and persistent way of thinking, which was very much focused on the outer rituals of Dharma.
Having seen that Tsem Rinpoche truly embodies what he teaches, Loh Seng Piow is convinced beyond doubt that it is possible to develop our minds to a higher state, and ultimately achieving enlightenment. All these factors have propelled Loh Seng Piow to take a step further in his Dharma career to become ordained as a pastor in order to be even more effective in sharing and disseminating the Dharma to benefit others.
Pastor Yek Yee
Naturally an introvert, Yek Yee has transformed what was once her weakness into her strength; making what was once impossible now eminently possible.
Independence was forced upon Kok Yek Yee from the tender age of nine, when she had to juggle between work and school to make ends meet. Always the introvert, Yek Yee had few friends and had difficulty expressing herself. So it was unexpected when she chose a career in journalism.
Yek Yee excelled as an award-winning reporter with Guang Ming Daily and Nanyang Siang Pau. Her articles garnered her a fanbase, and in writing, she found an outlet for the thoughts and feelings that she could not verbalise. However, despite her success, Yek Yee was not satisfied. Temporary happiness was not what she was looking for – success, money, relationships, or fame was not the key.
In her search for happiness, Yek Yee met H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, who told her “don’t retaliate with your speech, but use your power of writing to express yourself”. This led her to join Kechara Media & Publications as a writer; subsequently she was appointed Senior Editor as well as a Liaison to His Eminence.
Yek Yee now holds a core role in Kechara Care, giving advice, tours, counseling and teachings to whoever walks through their doors. Through courage and determination, she has transformed what was once her weakness into her strength; making what was once impossible now eminently possible.
As a Pastor, her patience and open-mindedness developed through her journey with Kechara will bring comfort and solace, and her new-found ability to nurture and teach others will bring hope to many.
Pastor Lanse Chiah
Having been a Pastor for a year, Lanse wishes to continue with her integral duties by renewing her vows again.
Lanse graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from Jinan University in Guangzhou, China in 1999 and became a part-time lecturer for several years, teaching western medicine in a Traditional Chinese medical college in Kuala Lumpur.
For a long time, Lanse remained an atheist, subconsciously searching for a spiritual guru as she sought answers to questions she harboured in her mind, questions that had led her into a state of depression during her time at university. As such, she would often read philosophical books in her search for answers.
Lanse first came to know of Kechara in 2007, through her friend of over 10 years, Pastor Yek Yee. She was surprised to see a complete transformation in Pastor Yek Yee, whom she had always known as a non-spiritual person. The first book by Kechara that Lanse chanced upon was the Chinese version of Be Greedy. Naturally, Lanse was skeptical at first, thus she read the book in an attempt to find mistakes with the philosophy. However, she couldn’t find any and was left impressed by how logical the explanations in the book were.
In March 2009, Lanse joined Kechara Media & Publications (KMP) part-time to carry out Chinese translation and help with transcription. The following year, she contemplated upon whether to pursue a full-time medical or a Dharma career, finally deciding on the latter. Lanse came to realise that, although both careers share the same motivation of easing people’s sufferings, she felt that her work in Dharma could lead to a greater contribution for the sake of all sentient beings in a deeper, spiritual sense.
Having been a Pastor for a year, Lanse wishes to continue with her integral duties by renewing her vows again.
Pastor Han Nee
It was not until she witnessed how Rinpoche brought peace and comfort to her dying mother, that she realised she also wanted to touch others with the Dharma.
Lim Han Nee, a mother of two, is a retired secondary school principal. She retired in December 2000 after a 30-year career in education. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Education at Leicester University in the UK, at the end of 2001.
After gaining her master’s degree, Han Nee considered further options of embarking on a doctorate in education or spending her years in retirement, travelling and visiting family. At the same time, she was also in search of her spiritual path. She had begun exploring Theravadan and Chinese Mahayana Buddhism for answers to questions she had.
In December 2004, Han Nee attended a teaching retreat on the topic of the Lamrim and White Tara held by His Eminence Gelek Rinpoche. As the retreat proceeded, she found her questions were being answered. Then in June 2005, Han Nee was introduced to Kechara by her sister, where she met her spiritual guide, His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche, who has recently told her that she must go all the way in the Dharma for the benefit of others.
Han Nee had been a school guidance counsellor for nearly twenty years. However, it was not until she witnessed how Rinpoche brought peace and comfort to her dying mother, that she realised she also wanted to touch others with the Dharma.
A member of Kechara’s Puja Team, who conduct sponsored pujas in Shabten Khang, Han Nee is also a member of the Education Division with the portfolio of Content Development. Apart from this, Han Nee is also a member of the weekly Kechara Chat Time team.
Pastor David Lai
In 2014, with a sincere wish to benefit others, David decided to be ordained as a Buddhist pastor to continue serving the spiritual needs of the organisation.
David Lai has been a student of His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche for over a decade now and was one of the founding members of Kechara. He joined Kechara as a full time staff in 2005 and has been working in various departments beginning with the Kechara Paradise outlets.
Right from the beginning, David had been advised by His Eminence to go into writing. Overcoming various hurdles, David finally began his literary career with the publication of his first book and autobiography, There’s No Way But Up in 2009. The book charts his spiritual journey from his childhood and culminates in the meeting with His Eminence.
The positive feedback from this book led him to write various other publications like Vajrayogini and Other Power Places in Nepal – a pilgrim’s guide of Nepal, Tales My Lama Told Me – a book on short stories and Conversations in Love – a book on relationships. These books continue to inspire and bring people onto the Dharma.
Besides writing, David has found his passion in sharing the Dharma since his earlier days working in the Kechara Paradise outlets. Over the years, David has received innumerable teachings from His Eminence, ranging from public teachings to personal instructions and advice. He is known to passionately share these teachings whenever he can and to whomever he meets. In 2014, with a sincere wish to benefit others, David decided to be ordained as a Buddhist pastor to continue serving the spiritual needs of the organisation.
Pastor Henry Ooi
After following Rinpoche as a Dharma student for all these years, learning and practicing the Dharma, Henry knows the importance of the pastors’ role in Kechara founded by Rinpoche. He wants to become a pastor to serve Rinpoche, to serve Kechara, and to serve the public.
Born in 1952 in Penang, Henry moved to Kuala Lumpur in search of work after he finished his Form Five studies in 1969. He worked at different types of jobs and it was when he was jobless in 1997/8 that he met His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche at the house of his cousin, Ruby (now Dato’ Ruby Khong), when Rinpoche was giving a dharma teaching. At that teaching Henry was awed by how Rinpoche taught Dharma with simple yet profound explanations.
With the kind guidance, teachings and Dharma practices by Rinpoche including instruction to engage in their first spiritual retreat, Henry and his wife Angel started a small business that soon became profitable. A few years later after Kechara House Buddhist Association was founded, Rinpoche started to enrol students as liaisons and that was when Henry and Dato’ Ruby offered themselves. Later more students were elected as liaisons that saw the birth of Liaisons Council. The Liaisons Council is now known as the Board of Directors of which Henry is one of its members.
Currently Henry is the Project Director, overseeing the construction and completion of projects in the Kechara Forest Retreat. Prior to this appointment he was the Head of Department in Kechara Paradise retail outlets of which he served for about ten years. He still remains as its company director as well as director for most of the companies within Kechara. He served one term as vice president of Kechara House Buddhist Association from 2012 to 2103.
After following Rinpoche as a Dharma student for all these years, learning and practicing the Dharma, Henry knows the importance of the pastors’ role in Kechara founded by Rinpoche. He wants to become a pastor to serve Rinpoche, to serve Kechara, and to serve the public. As he aspires to be a monk as he grows older, being a pastor of Kechara will pave the way for his aspiration. Henry believes that as one gets older in life, one should have already prepared for the imminent, death. And what a beautiful death it will be, to die in Kechara Forest Retreat in a monk’s robes. This is the kind of death that Henry wants. But before the imminent death happens, Henry wants to continue working in Kechara Forest Retreat, serving the community and whoever comes into it in whatever way he can. And when he is not physically anymore to serve others, he will request instructions from Rinpoche to enter into retreats in Kechara Forest Retreat.
Pastor Patsy Gooi
All that Patsy wants now is to spend the rest of her life doing dharma work, dharma practices and being of benefit to others.
Formerly a full time housewife with plenty of free time, Patsy had the great fortune to visit Gaden Monastery and meet H.E. Tsem Rinpoche almost twenty years ago. That one week stay in the monastery changed her view of life. Prior to that, she had no spiritual inclinations but meeting Rinpoche stirred something inside her, and she realised that there was more to life than just eating, sleeping, shopping and having fun. Rinpoche’s approach to dharma was logical and practical but most importantly, he stressed that we should always focus out and work towards benefitting others. Rinpoche made dharma easy to understand and his advice was and still is, to “change inwardly, not outwardly.”
In 2009, after years of practicing and applying what she had learned from Rinpoche’s teachings, Patsy decided to set up a Kechara retail outlet in Penang to share the dharma with others. She knew that Rinpoche’s teachings were very applicable to the people of our time and that his activities would benefit others just as they had benefited her. She also wanted to repay the kindness of her Guru who had constantly helped and guided her. Today, Kechara Paradise Penang is not just a dharma shop but also organises puja sessions, animal liberation and dharma talks.
In 2010, again with Rinpoche’s blessings, Patsy set up the Kechara Soup Kitchen Activity Center in Penang. Saddened to see the plight of the homeless and urban poor on the streets, Patsy decided to practice “compassion through action” as taught by Rinpoche in the most active way she knows. Today, together with her team of volunteers, Patsy feeds the homeless and urban poor four times a week and provides basic food provisions to many hardcore poor families on a monthly basis.
All that Patsy wants now is to spend the rest of her life doing dharma work and dharma practices, and that she may be of benefit to others.
Pastor Albert Ratchaga
In 2008, Albert Ratchaga began working as a part timer in Kechara Paradise, but as he learned more about the works of Rinpoche and Kechara, Rinpoche’s kindness and compassion touched him deeply. He realised that his work gave his life more meaning and decided to join Kechara full time.
Through his work as a sales executive, Albert was able learn more Dharma from Rinpoche's teachings and use this wisdom to assist those who entered his store to overcome their problems, thus improving their lives.
Albert soon developed a deep wish to follow in Rinpoche’s footsteps and in 2016 was ordained as a Pastor to continue benefitting and serving others.
Dear Asi,
Visualisation of the heaven or hell realms, or any of the realms for that matter is not dangerous. In fact, you need to do it in order to develop Loving-kindness and Compassion properly. However, there is more to it than just reciting mantras and visualisation. First you should know the reasons why you need to do it, then study the traditional visualisations which were taught by the Buddha and then explained by the great masters since his time. When we follow the traditional visualisations, since they carry the blessings of the Buddha, then we will actually develop the two qualities.
All of this and more is taught in the Lamrim teachings, which form the basis of our tradition. The text we use in Kechara is called Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand. You can find it here: https://www.vajrasecrets.com/lamrim-liberation-in-the-palm-of-your-hand
Thank you.