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 Padma D
Dear Pastors, may I consult you please, can I say the mantra: Om Yamantaka Hum Phet without an initiation and could there be some results from its chanting? I don't have loong for this mantra but it is written on the envelope of one Yamantaka chakra I have – so is it safe and helpful to say this mantra?
Thank you very much in advance!
P.S.Please correct me if the spelling of the mantra is incorrect.Thanks!
Question asked by Eli Levine
Most honored pastors:
I was wondering if it is possible to have the effects of initiations carry forward from past lives onto the present one? I have been coming across what are labeled as the mantras of Ekajati and maybe even Yamantaka, as well as a book on the "self-initiation" into Yamantaka practice. These things are available to the general public. I did not have to cheat or steal in order to receive them, and I'm curious as to what is causing me to come across these pieces of tantra practice. How is it that I'm not losing my mind over these things? Is it odd that I have arrived at a satisfying and safe understanding of the root essences of Ekajati (the Unlimited Expanse of the Universe), and Yamantaka (the Undefeated Essence of Wisdom)? I'm just wondering if there is anything else I should be doing other than maintaining a solid feeling of inner happiness and serenity?
Your wisdom would be most appreciated.
Thank you!
Question asked by Kei Toeda
Dear Pastors,
My old roommates have left things in the house such as furniture, salt, pots and pans. Is it bad to use them?
Question asked by Y. YM
Dear Your HE Tsem Rinpoche, I am a new follower of Master Jin Bodhi following a recommendation from a neighbor following about of vertigo. Following numerous visits to the centre for healing and was taught to do prostrations on a daily basis I have since recovered. Similarly my husband joined me in prostration and surprisingly he has found relief for many of his medical problems. He has since been religiously doing prostration for an hour a day and at the same time did the Om Manni Padme Hom meditation on a lotus position in front of Lord Budhha, The medicine Buddha and Kuan Yin. As we are both English educated we chance upon locating your website and Youtube and have been picking up many wonderful teachings from your HE. We have a son who has been suffering from insomnia and anxieties attacks for years. We have over the years seek various forms of spiritual, traditional and western medicine to find a cure for him but unfortunately the cure is always temporary and then relapses. We have been encouraging him to do prostration and chanting the Om Mani Padme Hom. However as being very impatient he gives up rather easily as he could not find immediate benefit, we have been advising him that this takes time as his problems are decade long. This has also put tremendous strain on the family as he will call us early hours in the morning when he can't sleep or stress over some small stuff. Would deeply appreciate your HE advice whether we are advising him the right way or is there more we can tell him to do to help himself. Sorry for the long mail .Looking forward to hear from you soon. Cheers and have a good day.
Question asked by Padma D
Dear Pastors, when we get lung is this forever or we can't interrupt the mantra chanting for a day if we want to maintain the lung intact? Can we lose a lung(loong)? or once it is given it is within us?
Thank you very much for your reply in advance !
Question asked by Eli Levine
Good evening Pastors.
One more question (for now). How does one get rid of memories of past relationships or people you genuinely loved and cared for? Almost 6 years ago, as of today, I met a woman whom I fell in love with, but who didn't love me in return. I've tried correcting all of my actions whenever she has reentered my head, and yet nothing has helped get rid of her memory or what I would consider sincere love for her. I have ceased communicating with her, out of respect for her needs and wishes and I'm afraid to even look at her now in real life or through photographs. Yet I cannot stop feeling and thinking about her, all the same, and I would love for this pain to stop.
Please, what is causing this pain to arise? I know the standard answer is some form of attachment or influence of some past karma. However, all the other women I have had feelings for have slipped away in time naturally. This one is lingering quite potently in my thoughts and feelings. How does one eliminate this kind of root attachment?
Again, I have broken off contacting her and have not communicated to her properly in almost 6 years, yet I'm still being attacked by feelings for her and wanting her. What can I do to stop this, considering how long it's been? Your help would be significantly appreciated.
Thank you for your time and effort.
Question asked by Aditya
Dear Dharma Masters,
What does buddhism state about suicide? I have been reading contradicting contents in many places. Some seem to be taking a Hindu or Islamic stand that life is sacred and one does not have the right to meddle with it. Isn’t suicide itself a result of evil past karma of various kinds? The fact that one had killed or tormented many beings makes one end his or her life is more convincing, although insensitive.
My humble thanks.
Question asked by Eli Levine
Pastors, Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately, I have had to work without an official lama all of my life. I have had many teachers, but no lama to work with. How does one find their lama, if there is one in this lifetime? How can I find a lama, especially if I am highly skeptical of them?
I want to help others. I want to bring Dharma into the secular world, especially in governments and societies. How can I go about this?
Question asked by Padma D
Dear Pastors/Dear Rinpoche, a few months ago strange problem appeared to me. While chanting mantras I started to bend my month and pronounce them in a ridiculous but almost totally uncontrollable way. Is there a solution to this problem as now I can’t say normally many many mantras. I can say normally without lisping only a few mantras. I have commitment to say 6 mantras and I’m lisping all of them very bad now. I don’t know what should I do. This lisping even started to transfer to my everyday speech and I can’t say big amounts of the above necessary for me mantras… I hope this is not a curse or something like that…
Thank you very much for your reply in advance !
Question asked by Tara Luka
Hallo,
I never understood really he 'unborn mind'.
I understand everything is empty: Form is emptiness.
And everything is a projection of my mind, exists of course of deisgnation from my mind.
What it is what is unborn?
Thank you for answering or say something.
Question asked by Pema Thinley
Dear Pastors,
If i am not wrong, i got in this way that the Dharma is the main thing that can integrate everyday work to wisdom. I took in that way that we can transform everything we do into dharma. But when i actually come along in reality i really cannot make those works of college dharma, or i feel like i am not able to find a good balance. I don't feel like to do the college works and that put me into confusion. How to maintain that Balance? and here i cannot set-up an altar, so what other practice of offering will equal the proper offering we do by setting proper altar?
Thank you
sincerely,
Pema
Question asked by Jingyi
Dear Pastors,
My burning question is, how to deal with the loneliness in practice. Im a introverted girl and since months ago something happened to me and then my mother forbid me to be a buddhist, I have lost my only and best friend. She used to believe in Buddha and we used to study together but now she has converted herself to another religion. Every time I think of her my heart will sink. For some reason I have to pretend to follow her belief and so long it has driven me almost crazy. No friend of mine knows what actually happened and even if they know no one will understand .
The feeling of being unbearablely lonely always attacks me and when such moment falls I feel Im so far away from my guru. I have no idea how to pray at that time. All I can feel is just loneliness and helplessness.
Im not sure if I have made myself clear as my English is not so good. Thank you in advance.
Question asked by Padma D
Dear Pastors,
my father forbids me to say mantras. what to do? he tells I'm crazy because I say mantras 4-5 hours a day. he thinks I'm a parasite because I don't work and I do nothing but to watch dharma talks and say mantras.
Thank you very much in advance!
Question asked by Eli Levine
Good afternoon Pastors! I hope you're all doing well, wherever you are. I have a question that I was hoping you could answer: how does one achieve their full potential or destiny within their lifetime? I want to teach the Dharma/science of governing and governance (after researching what that actually would mean, of course). I'm just not sure I'll do everything that I can do to help others in this lifetime. What do you think/feel about this? How does one conquer all and live up to their full potential?
Thank you for your time and effort. Hopefully this can help others as well.
Question asked by Nitya
Hello pastor
Is it possible that one can meet there biological father or mother or any Other in this life time if they died many years ago or even in this life time? What I mean to say is .. I feel strongly that my father who died in 1973 has come back and he is living now in The USA . I feel he has reincarnated twice since I've known him. I feel his last life was short lived and in this life time he is almost thirty years old.
I guess what I'm getting at is that I wish to say I am a believer in reincarnation but I need to know from a buddhist point of view is what i am experiencing is something real or has happened to another being and is there someone in the celestial realm I can pray to to get some
Clarity and peace of mind.
Thank you
Question asked by sandra
MMy dad passed away 5 years ago. What can I do now to benefit him?
Question asked by Tan
Dear Pastors,
If I went to a buddhist temple, and I lighted one of the candles there which need to be paid, but I forget to pay the money before I left. But the next day, I went back and paid the money. Is there any heavy karma for not paying the money? Is this considered stealing from the 3 jewels?
Question asked by Cameron
Hello, I am a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner for 5 years now. I am 27; in the last four years I have been suffering from sever spirit harm. It started with me not recovering from knee surgery, then I couldn't move my shoulder well. After class one day, my qigong teacher had something important to tell me: that I had many foreign spirits holding onto my body; explaining that this technique to read energy fields had been passed down. Though the situation improved for awhile doing Buddhist practice, it worsened for several years. At times, my body would go into spontaneous paralysis and I wouldn't be able to move. Or I would wake up fully conscious and not be able to move my body for several minutes despite all my best efforts.
I have received transmission of the full Sengdongma practice from a lama and I am doing Guru Rinpoche practice as well as Ngondra practice. I have experienced good results. I have transferred merits to the foreign spirits by reciting thousands of Great Compassion mantra, Heart Sutra, etc. I have had other Buddhist temples transfer merits to them on my behalf. Unfortunately, I still have many foreign spirits around. One Buddhist monk I've seen says eventually spirits will leave, that what comes in must go out….Thoughts?
Question asked by Christy
Hello dear Pastors! I have a problem which has been bothering me for a while: Since I did a lot of studying of the Buddhist practice I have changed throughout the process. I can honestly say that I am a better person than I was before, my heart is open for everyone and I feel for people and animals. My problem is that everysince I am so aware of what actions in life are positive and helpful to others, I of course also notice people around me who are mean, selfish, greedy and bad. I live in a small city and deal with people everyday, but so many of them are not nice and good to others and then it is very very hard for me to be good to them. How can I deal with people like this daily? Their behaviour upsets me since I know that they are on the wrong track. Should I not let it bother me?
Thank you very much for your help in order for me to understand this!
Question asked by Dharma lady
Dear pastor, I'm especially interested In vajra buddhism but I don't know where or how to begin my practice because there's so much being offered I don't know what to do first.
The only vajra temple only has late classes on Tuesday
In Chicago and I'm female and I have no car.
I'm so thirsty for knowledge. Hungry for peace of mind.
I'm Seeking a way to clean up my karma and bring more positive and uplifting
Things into my life. I want to free of past negative karma and stop feeling so overwhelmed in this world.
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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 Padma D,
Yamantaka is a higher yoga tantra and belongs to the highest class of Buddhist tantras. You need initiation or at least permission in order to chant the mantra.