Hello,
I was hoping you could direct me to a dorje shugden practitioner in Montreal, Canada. My email address is marcalx@hotmail.ca
Thank you,
Marc
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.
There is a book titled "Oracles and Demons of Tibet" (1956) written by Rene De Nebesky-Wojkowitz.
He has done a full chapter on Dorje Shugden and on page 134 he states that the Gelugpa Tulkus that he contacted told he that Drakpa Gyelsen committed SUICIDE by stuffing a scarve down his throat. He killed himself as a result of his disgust of what was happening to him (murder attempts).
He told his students that he was going to kill himself and for them not to interfere.
It seem odd that there are two different stories about the death of Drakpa Gyelsen. One story is that he was MURDERED and one that he committed SUICIDE. This book was published in 1956 therefore the actual research was done in the early 1951's. There was no ban in those days and no hatred towards Dorje Shugden. This information came to him from 2 Gelugpa Tulkus.
Also this book was quoted by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche in his article abourt Namkar Barzin.
Pastor could you clear up this matter for me.
Hi Pastor,
In Christianity from what i know, long story short, God cast the Devil and his fallen angels from heaven down to earth.
Good=Jesus, Bad=the Devil
what is Buddhist view of Jesus and the Devil.
In Buddhism belief/teachings is there an equivalent of the Devil (other names known as Satan, Lucifer) and his fallen angels? Are the numerous demonic spirits/entities/ghosts mentioned in the Sutras are just the Devil and his fallen angels?
Dear Pastor,
I recently read an article Pastor David Lai wrote about a trip to China where H.E. Tsem Rinpoche raised a question as to 'why is Buddha Amitabha So Prevalent in China'? So, Rinpoche asked that this Buddha be researched and said that it would be interesting to know the reasons for Buddha Amitabha’s popularity in the China.
With no disrespect to his H.E. Tsem Rinpoche, I was surprise he knew little of Buddha Amitabha.
I was wondering why I couldn't find any articles about Buddha Amitabha Pureland on this website (prior to the one that was recently written by Pastor David).
I have been following Buddha Amitabha for a while now and in my personal option believe it is the most convenient, easiest, 'short cut' way to enlightenment/becoming a Buddha as appose to other methods. You essentially put your utmost faith and sincerity in believing Buddha Amitabha. The practice involves recitation of the name of Buddha Amitabha (to gain 'one-point mindfulness') where you can be reborn into his western pureland and escape the cycle of birth and death in ONE LIFE TIME. With the help/power of Buddha Amitabha (and the vow he has made in the past to rescue all sentient being who wish to be reborn in his western pureland), you can be reborn in the western pureland, no matter how heavy your karma is. You basically carry your karma with you to the western pureland where you are guaranteed to become a Buddha.
Other methods/practices rely on self power/self cultivation to escape from the cycle of birth and death and achieve enlightenment/Buddhahood, which is very very difficult to do in one life time. You are also not assured that through many lifetime of cultivation you can become a Buddha.
So i was curious to why Buddha Amitabha was not practiced by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche or in Tibetan Buddhism. Many great sages have preached this Buddha Amitabha's and it is mentioned many times in the sutras by Buddha Shakyamuni. In fact, Buddha Shakyamuni has specifically said of all methods he has taught (around 84,000 methods i believe), this is the 'Gem' of them ALL, especially for people of this day in age with low spiritual capacities.
I was thinking, why 'work' so hard by yourself, cultivation through many 'life times', to walk the 'path to enlightenment' by your own self and efforts before you can become a Buddha. Why not take the 'easy', 'lazy' way/road and be reborn into Buddha Amitabha where you are assured Buddhahood?
Now that this method is known, would more people follow it, including H.E. Tsem Rinpoche?
What are your thoughts on this?
Dear Pastors:
I have been reading Lamrim currently. But one thing I got stuck with is that I have been just reading and getting some understanding. I have not gone deeper. So how do I go about it if i have to properly read lah? can I go chapter wise or Topic wise? would you please help me with it?
thank you _()_
Lately I have been doing mandala retreat… I have noticed that a string of bad luck has appeared a few days in to the retreat… I got in to two car accidents, got sick, lost important documents and broke my phone. All this happened within a span of two days. What the heck is going on
Dear Pastors,
i have a question regarding the incarnation of H.E. Tsem Rinpoche. If I'm not mistaken ,Magadha Sangmo was the 1st incarnation of Tsem Rinpoche. And Magadha Sangmo would arise as Dorje Shugden. So is it H.E Tsem Rinpoche = Dorje Shugden? Please clear off my queries. TQ
Dear Paster,
From my limited understanding of the Dharma, the Buddha taught that EVERY sentient beings has within them an innate 'Buddha nature' or the original 'enlightenment state of mind'. Because of ignorants, delusions and attachments to 'dusts', we are unable to recover or see our 'true Buddha nature'. Only after practicing the Dharma and severing all anger, , greed, delusions and attachments, are we able to become enlighten and see our true 'Buddha nature'. I read that there is about 52 stages that a Bodhisattva has to pass through before they become a Buddha. Once you reach the 1st stage where you become an Arhat, you have escape the cycle of birth and death forever and can only progress upwards until you reach the stage of enlightenment/Buddha-hood.
There are many stages one must go through in reaching Buddha-hood. Once you become enlighten/ see your Buddha nature, that is it.
My question to you Pastor is, if originally all sentient beings process the 'Buddha nature', 'enlightened mind' and once you have that 'state', how is that NOW you have become 'unenlightened', born as a human, animal, spirit, celestial being etc. If every sentient being were originally Buddha’s, why is that we are no longer?
I guess what i am trying to understand is, how can you be born as a a human, animal, spirit, celestial being etc. if originally you were a Buddha or enlightened, but because of anger, , greed, delusions and attachments, you are ' no longer'.
I hope that makes sense, and I would much appreciate your thoughts about this.
Thank you kindly.
I think if we choose not to seek rebirth, it is very difficult and can only be achieved by monks. Lay people like us will always be reborn unless we know how to chant all the mantras and perform rituals as a way of life. Just doing dharma work won't help us much. What's your opinion?
on the blog you mentioned that there are many lines of tara practice. the two indian ones and many terma lines. My question is which line is more accurate or to be more exact which one is the one the buddha taught. Why are there so may lines? why are there so many mantras for the same bodhisattva, is one mantra better than the other. If the mantra is given by the buddha or the bodhisattva shouldn't the mantras be the same why so many variations. (Are the variations a corruption of the dharma).
Dear Pastor,
My name i Nicholas Ngo, for the last 19 years I have been having troubles with ghosts or entities. Most people would perceive their actions as negative, I do also, but the more I think about the events which have taken place, they all lead to me being a better person spiritually.
I dont know if my thinking is correct. Just about every night for the past few months, they stand at my window, these snake entities and some which look nothing like anything I have ever seen before, and tap on the glass. When the lights are completly out and I am ready for bed, they immediatly come in and stand on top of me, waving their hands about very quickly. From there hands comes a spiral of what looks like a brown smoke which quickly fills the room untill I can not see anything in front of me.
It doesnt affect me too much, it sometimes makes me extremly tired, and I can get grumpy, but it affects my girlfriend much more. She becomes someone else, really child like in her arguments and mean.
I dont know how to deal with this situation anymore, I have had to walk away from everybody because overnight my mother would suddenly hate me, my ex wife divorced me etc.. I only have 1 person in my life and I dont know whether that will be there for any time either.
Is there any advice you can offer me?
Thanks you in advance,
Nicholas Ngo
monkingomagic@gmail.com
Good evening Pastors,
I was wondering how I could go about getting a genuine Tibetan astrology reading? I see several people online who are willing to provide this service for money, yet I'm not sure how to tell which ones are effective, accurate, and authentic and which ones are not. I was born in the year of the Earth Snake (November, 1989 in the Western calendar), in the 17th Rabjung. I would like to have a reading of my past lives, present life, and partner(s) of significance, both in terms of business/career and romance. I am aware that the knowledge of the future is dependent upon my actions and perceptions in the present moment, and may be altered for worse if I do not follow the sage advice of the Lama. I hope you're able to help me.
Thank you!
How do you help someone who have lost the will to live? He is a Buddhist but failed to understand the Law of Karma although he tried to purify his bad karma with good deeds and chanting mantras. But in the end due to overwhelming pressures he just want to end his life.
What can I do as a friend although I don't have the financial means to pull him out of the black hole.
Good afternoon and Happy New Year Pastors!
I was reading "Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand" by Pabongka Rinpoche, and I'm still left with some questions about karma. I believe that it exists and have no trouble comprehending it. I'm just curious as to why it seems so harsh? An example of this is Nagarjuna getting his head cut off because he cut the head off an ant while cutting the grass. I don't understand how such a minor offense could warrant so much pain and suffering, especially if it was accidental and without malevolent intention. There's also the case of the poor monk who spilled oil on a cushion and received a stained black back in a future rebirth. Again, it seems that the universe literally makes mountains out of molehills when it comes to the natural laws of karma. How can we say that it's fair when so many minor or unintentional offenses lead to so much pain and suffering?
I hope you can clarify these points.
Have a wonderful New Year! Thank you.
I'm interested in Dorje Shugden and His mantra as an EXCLUSIVE practice. As this Tibetan Buddhism can be very complicated and extensive. Just having Dorje Shugden as one's only deity and just chanting His mantra as one's exclusive Buddhist practice, seems to me, especially for common people, that it would be effective? I really don't have the time or self-discipline for anything else. Thank you.
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Marc,
I do not know of a Dorje Shugden practitioner who is currently in Montreal. Perhaps you could search online to find out.