Dear Daniel,
This is a difficult question alright !
The source of all our illnesses can eventually be traced to our mind , whether mental or spiritual. In that sense it is difficult to differentiate.
However, we could generally differentiate mental illness as those with psychopathic or neurotic basis ( sorry, please check medical terms for this ) and spiritual affliction as disturbances by incorporeal beings or entities.The former can be treated through psychiatry or psychological help while the latter would require help from adepts or religious masters who have special skills to deal with such beings.In Buddhism, there are many pujas and prayers which can offer protection from spirit disturbances such as Dukkar etc. If you are interested please log in to Kecharahouse.com and look under the tab pujas. This is a special dept where our trained members conduct various kinds of pujas especially effective to overcome specific obstacles.
Hope above helps.

Hi Poppy,
Each month there are two days, the 10th and 25th, on which it is especially important for practitioners of Highest Yoga Tantra in general to engage in a tsog offering puja with ritual and prayers.
The tsog offering is very important for renewing commitments and averting obstacles. It is a special method through which we come under the care and guidance of the Dakas and Dakinis who bestow completion stage realizations. Our wealth, merit, and great bliss will increase through this practice.
A `tsog’ is an assembly of Heroes and Heroines or Dakas and Dakinis . These are accomplished beings who have destroyed their self-cherishing mind, has conquered their delusions, and has developed the courage to help many living beings.
When we make a tsog offering we should regard both those to whom the offering is made and those who are making the offering as Heroes and Heroines. We offer the tsog offering to the Field for Accumulating Merit, which includes the entire assembly of Heroes and Heroines.
When we gather together in a group to do a tsog offering puja it is very important that we regard everyone as an assembly of Heroes and Heroines. If we do this puja alone we should visualize ourself surrounded by all beings in the aspect of Heroes and Heroines.

Hi again,
I am not sure but it should be referring to his abode/dwelling place.There are many tree dwelling deities. There are also protectors who can emerge from under a lama’s throne or anywhere else. If I can find a definitive answer, will let you know.

Hi Snow,
From my understanding the 4 rivers refer to the 4 factors which hold us in the state of suffering or samsara.
They are ignorance, wrong views, desire and craving for existence. The root cause is the ignorance of self grasping which give rise to the other 3 factors.

Dear Jason

With determination, I’m sure you will be able to find a place and time where your parents are not watching.. example early hours or late at night when they are sleeping. When Rinpoche was young, Rinpoche faced tremendous problems and was restricted in doing his practices. Rinpoche would do it while walking to school or late nights in his room. May the challenges Rinpoche faced and overcame be an inspiration for you.

best wishes

Dear Li Ling
Here in Kechara, we practice Lama Tsongkhapa’s Guru Yoga. It is extremely beneficial.

It’s always good to read the prayers in english so you understand the meaning then eventually to learn it in Tibetan if you wish. Here’s the prayer text : http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/tsongkhapa-prayers.html

Within the Guru Yoga prayers, Migtsema is the mantra which you can recite as many times as you wish. It has the benefits of receiving the blessings of Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri and Vajrapani. I would recommend this Mantra. This can be recited anytime, anywhere, as many times as possible.

MIG-MEY TZE-WEY TER-CHEN CHENREZIG
DRI-MEY KHYEN-PI WANG-PO JAMPAL YANG
DU-PUNG MA-LU JOM-DZEY SANG-WEY DAG
GANG-CHEN KE-PEY TSUG-GYEN TSONGKAPA
LO-SANG TRAG-PEY SHAB-LA SOL-WA DEB

Do not worry too much about the pronunciation… don’t worry you will not offend the buddhas. Your good motivation and sincerity is what counts most.

I highly recommend you watch this teaching for this practice http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/me/tsongkapas-daily-practice-video-commentary.html

Dear Jason
Due to our karmic condition, how we perceive situations during our waking hours makes up our reality. What we experience as reality may not truly be the truth due to our delusions. Same goes, when we are asleep and when we dream… thus, it’s call a dream. For us who are not attained, a dream is just a dream.

It is a very beautiful dream though as what better dream (be it awake or asleep) one can have other than using our lives dedicated to practicing the path.

Use each day to focus on studying the dharma, contemplate, use your life for virtuous deeds.

Tsongkhapa’s Final Exposition of Wisdom‏–Please read this one…it will help greatly..Much regards. TR

Dear A

Everyone will be happy when we are all free of sufferings and its causes. It starts in our own minds where we need to cultivate good qualities by practicing what Buddha has taught.

Dear Mina

It’s very good to have an image of an enlightened being in our homes. It reminds us that there are beings who have walked the path and found liberation and by us following the path to cultivate good qualities, we will attain the same state of freedom, happiness.

Thus, we usually put such holy images (statue, tsa tsa, thangkhas) on a clean surface where it’s visible to serve as a reminder. (except in the toilet areas)

If you wish, you can learn how to make offerings of light, incense, water etc… Do not worry that you will offend the Buddhas if you don’t make offerings. Please provide your email if you wish to learn more on offerings.

Hi Dar,
It is more important to understand why we make offerings and to generate the correct motivation when we are doing it. We make offerings to accumulate merit to support our spiritual path. Hence we should always make vast offerings according to what we can reasonably afford.

Dear Tenzin Chime

I am not able to advice you on what torma offerings to make as I have no knowledge of what practices you are doing. It is best to go back to the source of where you got your practices from and to consult further on offerings.

Dear Jason

You need to find a Guru, study the Lamrim, develop understanding of the Dharma and cultivate strong samaya (Guru-Student relationship). The Guru is the source of teachings, blessings, and comes all higher teachings and initiations. I would highly recommend you read Gurus for Hire. You can get a copy of this book at http://vajrasecrets.com/books/english-books/gurus-for-hire-enlightenment-for-sale.html

If you already have a Guru, then please follow and practice well what your Guru has already taught you. Your Guru will know when you are ready for higher teachings and initiation.

Dear Natasha

Comparative religious studies are available if you wish to find out more about the differences and similarities of various religion.

Buddhism takes the stance that there are 84000 different teachings. There are many different teachings due to the different mindsets. There are many ways to get to the mountain top.

I pray that you will find your spiritual path, one that you have affinity with. I am happy if it turns out to be Tibetan Buddhism.. which ever it may be, I wish you happiness. I encourage you to continue reading this blog site and watch teachings by Rinpoche.. keep an open mind. The path will be clear to you.

Dear Natasha,
It is obvious that we have received benefits by following this tradition and serving people via kechara otherwise we wouldn’t be pastors.The only disadvantage is some short term ‘ suffering’. The huge advantage is long term happiness lifetime after lifetimes.

Why not you join kechara and experience the benefits we have received? That would be more meaningful.

Dear jack,
I don’t know any alternative other than the traditional items you had already mentioned.We shouldn’t change rituals and tradition which had been established thousands of years ago just because of the stain of miserliness.

Dear jason,
I think its unlikely for the time being . Rinpoche is right now focussing on various projects such as the Kechara Forest Retreat which is part of his mission to establish the magnificient Kechara World Peace Centre in Malaysia.
Of course this does not mean you cannot create the causes for him to go to edmonton to give teachings in future.

Hi Amy, a mahasiddha is an accomplished master which have abilities to engage in skilful means including unconventional methods to teach and transform people from whatever background and diverse dispositions.
An Arya or arhat is one who has achieved freedom from all kinds of samsaric sufferings.
A deity is a holy being who can be enlightened or unenlightened. This term is also used to refer to earth bound gods or heavenly beings.

Dear RJ,
I don’t believe so. It is more important to understand why you want to carry it. If you are carrying a Lama tsongkhapa tsa tsa and you behave in a way opposite to the virtuous qualities such as compassion and wisdom that he represents , that would be disrespectful !