Dear Karma Dolma,

Thank you for your question. While it is not necessary to have a teacher to be a Buddhist practitioner, according to our lineage of practice, you should have a qualified teacher to be able to teach you the Dharma in a manner that you can understand and it relatable for your spiritual journey. In the case of advanced practices such as tantra, having a qualified teacher is a required to learn and engage in the practices.

You can read a short article by one of Tsem Rinpoche’s students on the importance of having a teacher here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/guru-serum-not-guru-syndrome.html. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Stanley Robinson,

When starting off, the two practices that were recommended by His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche was the daily practice of Lama Tsongkhapa’s Guru Yoga combined with the practice of Dorje Shugden. This text is known as the Diamond Path, which you can find here: https://www.vajrasecrets.com/diamond-path

You can learn more about Lama Tsongkhapa’s Guru Yoga practice here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/me/tsongkapas-daily-practice-video-commentary.html and you can learn more about Dorje Shugden’s practice here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/dorje-shugden-teaching-videos.html. Both of these practices do not require empowerment, and you can begin your practice immediately.

There are some other deity practices, which do not require initiation available on this site. However, we recommend everyone to start off with the Diamond Path, as it is very all-encompassing for your spiritual path and will also help your secular life too. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Parth3,

Thank you for your question. There are two schools of thought regard Pehar Gyalpo. The first is that Pehar Gyalpo is on the way to becoming enlightened but has not reached enlightenment yet. The second is that Pehar Gyalpo is already enlightened, as Trijang Rinpoche has mentioned.

In either case, as H.E. Tsem Rinpoche relayed personally to me. At the moment, the prayers associated with Pehar Gyalpo are not written in a manner of an enlightened Dharma protector, hence we don’t take refuge in him. When Pehar Gyalpo becomes enlightened (or the prayers of his enlightened nature are composed by the high lamas), then following these prayers it will be okay to take refuge in him. I hope this makes sense. Thank you.

Dear Eric Fang,

Thank you for your question. Of course, you can engage in the practice without having the empowerment. That is why H.E. Tsem Rinpoche and the Kechara organisation has taught this practice openly. You can find all the information you need about Dorje Shugden’s practice here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/dorje-shugden-teaching-videos.html

Yes, you can keep a Dorje Shugden statue in your house. In fact, if you have a statue, it would be good to set up a little altar in your house. You can find out more about this when you click on the link above. If you need to travel, etc, you do not need to bring the statue with you everywhere. If however, you mean that you no longer want the statue for whatever reason, it is better to return it to the temple from where you got the statue, rather than discard it. Since Dorje Shugden is a Buddha, his image is sacred, as are all Buddha images. Hence if not treated respectful, Buddhists believe this creates negative karma. I hope these answers help. Do watch the teaching videos, as you will learn a lot from them.

Dear Aloysius Asaaga Semaka,

Thank you for your question. If you believe that you are being attacked by spirits, you can engage in the practice of Trakze. You can find out more about this practice and how to do it here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/trakze-to-dispel-black-magic-spirits.html. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Tenzin Dolkar,

Thank you for your question. Firstly, let me inform you that H.E. Tsem Rinpoche passed into Parnirvana in 2019. You can read more about this here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/me/the-parinirvana-of-kyabje-tsem-rinpoche.html.

Secondly, unfortunately, our Mewa calculator does not accommodate relationship compatibility at the moment. You can check the Chinese Zodiac relationship calculator here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/horoscopes/the-chinese-zodiac.html. As you may be aware, Tibetan Astrology also uses the Chinese Zodiac for various calculations, and it know as the Ngatsi system. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Tshering Yangchen,

Thank you for your question. Depending on where you live, this may be quite a common sight, and not a bad or even good omen. If you have such experiences again, and for some reason you think it is an omen rather than just an animal, you can Take Refuge in the Three Jewels and remember your Guru, or recite the mantra of your personal meditational deity (yidam) or Dharma Protector. This will help protect you from negativity. More often than not, however, it is usually that you saw a wild animal. You can also engage in the daily practice of any Buddha or Dharma Protector (such as Dorje Shugden) to help keep negativity away in life generally. You can find out more about Dorje Shugden’s practice here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/beginners-introduction-to-dorje-shugden.html

Dear Jnanajapa,

I think you may be referring to one of the 21 Taras, known as Pramardhani Tara or Vadi Pramardhani Tara. The name is a contraction in Sanskrit, meaning “She who crushes or destroys adversaries”. Rather than out adversaries or enemies, this actually refers to her conquering our internal enemies, which are our destructive negative emotions and negative karma. I hope this helps. Thank you.

You can find out more about the 21 Taras, according to the Suryagupta lineage, here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/suryaguptas-21-taras.html

Dear Srijan,

Thank you for your question. Below are the answers you are looking for:

1. The consort of Vajradhara is named Vajradhatu Ishwari
2. The consort of Vajrasattva is also named Vajradhatu Ishwari, or sometimes known as Bhagawati or Vajragarvi
3. The consort of Amitabha is named Pandara

I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Arvindraj Semlani,

Thank you for your question. According to the Dharma, everything that happens to us in life is due to our karma. This can be karma that we have accumulated in previous lives or earlier on in this life. When our negative karma opens up, we face obstacles and unpleasant situations. You can learn more about karma here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/discovering-yourself-a-teaching-on-karma-mindstream.html

There are many methods which can help you to purify this negative karma, or stop it from affecting you. One of the methods that we rely on within the Kechara organization is the practice of Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden, you can read more about Dorje Shugden, who he is and how to engage in his practice here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/beginners-introduction-to-dorje-shugden.html. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Phurbu Dolma,

Thank you for the question. Unfortunately our Mewa calculator does not include compatibility between partners. However, our Chinese Zodiac page has a relationship compatibility calculator, which you can find here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/horoscopes/the-chinese-zodiac.html

As you may be aware, Tibetan Astrology includes the Chinese Zodiac, and is known as the Ngatsi system within Tibetan Astrology. I hope this helps. Thank you

Dear Ja,

Thank you for your interesting question. You are correct about making a strong connection to meet the reincarnation of the holy being. This is very important, especially if the relics are that of your own teacher.

You also make a strong connection to the lineage that the holy being practiced. The benefits of this is that you meet with that particular lineage again and again, and in future lifetimes so you can continue with the specific practices that you are engaging in now.

Also, since relics are the physical remains of a holy being, you make a strong connection with that being, more than just in terms of meeting the reincarnation, but having a connection that lasts through lifetimes. Relics are holy and sacred because of the karmic connection to the divine. The holy being would have been very spiritual attained and perhaps even an enlightened being in human form. Since their form was human, there is karmic affinity because we are also in human form and hence have a stronger connection to learn the Dharma and practice.

For example, say if Manjushri took the form of a holy being. Being in the presence of the holy being, making offerings, practicing the Dharma, etc, would be very beneficial for one’s spiritual path and would create a strong connection with Manjushri. If that holy being passed away, and you had relics of this holy being, which were inserted into a stupa or statue and then you venerate it, you are also making a very strong connection with Manjushri via the relics of the holy being. Anything done in relation to the Buddhas is beneficial, but karmicly speaking we are closer to another human being, and since the relics once belonged to a physical human form, the karmic connection between ourselves and that particular Buddha is stronger. So when we venerate that relic, we are venerating that particular Buddha, and the spiritual qualities of the particular holy being, in order to transform ourselves to reach that same state. I hope this explanation helps.

Dear Dee,

Thank you for your question. If you have an altar where you make offerings, and specifically dedicated to spiritual practice, you can put your statue of Dzambala there. However, yes of course you can place your statue on your office table for better business. When you place the statue on your desk, you should place it in a respectful manner, and not just simply an ornament on your table. It is also advised that you make offerings in front of the statue, for example water offerings, or light offerings, or even incense offerings. These are three easy types of regular offerings you can do. When you make offerings to a particular Buddha, you create a strong connection with them and also gain the benefits of that particular Buddha. You can also chant the mantra of Dzambala or engage in his practice to make your business prospects better.

In essence, we should view Buddha images as being the actual Buddha themselves. Hence, if Dzambala was really there on your table, you wouldn’t put him some that is not respectful. Instead you would make sure he is okay, and make offerings to him, hence that is what we also do with Buddha statues. I hope this little explanation helps. Thank you.

Dear Tashi Dhendup,

The Ask the Pastors section is public, anyone can ask a question and then it is made immediately available, so that other who may have the same or similar question, will be able to see the answer as well. There is no way that a user can delete the questions without writing into our staff to delete it.

If you would like one of the Pastors to answer a private question that you might have, you can write to this email: care@kechara.com
Please make sure to state that you would like a Pastor to answer your question. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Dear Laxman Gurung,

Thank you for your question. According to our tradition, we do not necessarily name people according to astrological needs. That is because astrology can only predict the most likely outcome, as everything depends on karma. By transforming our minds and engaging in Buddhist practices, we change this karma. Therefore, our good fortune in life does not depend on our name.

His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche had many converts to Buddhism as his students, but Rinpoche didn’t ask students to change name for this reason. Rinpoche taught that Buddhism is actually about the transformation of your mind to follow the Buddha’s teachings and changing your karma that way. Then it doesn’t matter what any one calls you, because you will be a very spiritual person and this itself will change your life for the better.

So, we would like to suggest that you either keep your current name, or if you would still like to change your name, you can change your name. Or if you have a Guru, you can ask your Guru to give you an auspicious name for your own spiritual practice. I hope this helps.

Dear Dendi Sherpa,

If you are looking for our horoscope/astrology pages, you can click on the links below.

For Chinese horoscope:
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/horoscopes/the-chinese-zodiac.html

For Tibetan astrology:
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/tibetan-astrology/tibetan-astrology.html

Thank you

Dear Jay Snyder,

Thank you for your question. There are actually two different types of Pastors.

Sangha-to-be: these are Pastors that wear white and are actually preparing for monastic ordination in the future.

Lay Pastors: these are Pastors who a purple and grey uniform. These are practitioners who do not intend to take monastic ordination in the future. Therefore, they can have relationships, get married, etc.

The training for Pastors varies from person to person, as each Pastor fulfills a certain role within the Kechara organisation. But all Pastors must have a firm grounding in our tradition, core practices, Guru devotion, etc. I hope this helps.

Dear Som,

We are very happy to read that you would like to set up an altar. To watch a video about setting up an altar, please click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOtSxNUhmOI.

An Buddhist altar comprises of three main items:

1. An image of an enlightened being (representing the Buddha’s body). This can be a statue, thangka, tsa tsa, framed picture, etc.

2. A Dharma text (representing the Buddha’s speech). This is usually in the form a book.

3. A stupa (representing the Buddha’s mind).

In addition, you can have as many other images or holy objects as you wish. And also, at least one row of water offerings. You can also offer other items like flowers, lights, incense, food, etc. The video above is a very good introduction to everything.

We do have an online store, where you can buy items if there is no where convenient that is near where you live. Here is the link: https://www.vajrasecrets.com/

Dear Gustov,

As far as I am aware there are no plans for such a documentary, but thank you very much for your suggestion. I will inform our team of your idea.

In the meanwhile, I’m sure you have seen this already, but Rinpoche’s biography, entitled The Promise, is available in eBook format here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=162252 I’m sure you will find Rinpoche’s life story as riveting as i did. Thank you.

Ah Fatt：
你好。台北宗喀巴佛学会跟我们之间关系友好。至于台北哪些地方有修持多杰雄登，很抱歉我们并没有这方面的详细资料，你也许要通过当地人获取这方面的详情了。