Dorje
I went to the fish store looking for some small parrot fishes/goldfishes. Then a 22 inch golden Koi caught my eye among many Kois. He is very friendly, he comes to the surface to ‘greet’ you while the others stay away. He somersaults in the water, plays and very gentle. I fell in love with him there and then…. and adopted him. Now he is in my large outdoor tank right next to my bedroom and swimming happily. He swims around the sacred Vajra Yogini statue I have on the pool… Amazingly he lets you pet him and stroke his beautiful shiny body. He does not swim away and lets you touch him. I love Dorje (the new name I just gave him).
I just did a prayer and dedicated him to the Three Jewels. I will take very good care of him with nice food, lots of oxygen, greens and clean water. I will also put holy items in the water to bless them all. I want them to be happy now and plant seeds of enlightenment in their minds for their future lives.
Tsem Rinpoche
Dorje comes up to the surface nearby you without any fear…
Update: 10/02/2011
This is a 3 minute video that was taken of my fish pond. You can see Dorje and his other friends swimming around the sacred Vajra Yogini statue. It’s very beautiful to see the fishes with lots of space to swim… we should always give our pets the very best that we can.
Tsem Rinpoche
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/ginrinchagoi.mp4
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The Koi fish by the name of Dorje is indeed very special from what I read in this article. There must be a connection of Dorje and our Lama Rinpoche. Rinpoche loves fishes, birds and all kinds of animals all along. Its love at first sight, as the moment Rinpoche saw it in the shop, he decided to have it. Dorje is very fortunate to be taken care and have the pleasure listening to mantras recitation and prayers done by Rinpoche. May Dorje have good rebirths as human. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this.
Mumu boy was Tsem Rinpoche’s little Schnauzer. Partly because of Mumu Kechara was started and you must find out why that is. Do read more and see very cute adorable pictures: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=122472
Tsem Rinpoche’s two adorable cute Schnauzer dogs Oser girl (white) and Dharma boy up to their various antics. Short videos that will warm up your day and give you a ‘cute attack!’ Enjoy!
“Tsem Rinpoche’s Schnausers Oser and Dharma trying their luck”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGD7CtNmnuI
“Tsem Rinpoche’s adorable Schnauzers Oser and Dharma have a challenge!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX1UdH7IjQ8
“Friendly Encounter”-Oser and Dharma meet Johnny & Casper
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVFk77PAOYk
“Friendly Encounter”-Soer & Dharma meet Johnny & Casper (2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkuXAcveV0E
“Tsem Rinpoche’s Pet Schnauzer Oser’s Treat Time!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ANtRnEFREA
“Tsem Rinpoche’s doggie Oser girl and Dharma boy getting treats”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMUWYvWk3no
“Dharma fights Chip! Showdown between Tsem Rinpoche’s pet Schnauzer and a dog on wheels!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmGg6g8waNg
“Dharma & Oser Getting Treats in Playhouse”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2dp8Fm87CQ
Tsem Rinpoche at Kechara Forest Retreat, Bentong, Malaysia
It is indeed rare to see fish giving so much reaction and connect to human. I have the opportunity to visit the pond in Kechara Forest Retreat late last year and there were many Koi fishes . I understand that some of the fishes were rescued from fish store. The fishes swam freely and rejoice that they are always able to circumabulate Dream Manjushri statue in the middle of the pond. Thank you Rinpoche for showing us that we must always be kind and care for animals not only in this life but also for their future life.
Dorje is so cute! He looks so gentle and relaxed. I love the huge fish pond! All of the fishes look so free and they have plenty of space to swim around. Thank You for sharing the video Rinpoche.
Love, beatrix.
Wow, this koi fish must be a truly special fish. I would have loved to have that in my pond. But i don’t really care, this is because i know that it is in a better place to be in now. It gets to swim around a Vajra Yogini statue. This is one lucky fish, along with all the other fish in the pond.
I couldn’t think of another more pleasant place for a fish to be in that in that very pond. Thank you for sharing. It was nice to know about this fish, i never knew that they could be gold in colour.
I think that every animals/fishes has the potential to be so close to human, just depends on whether we can acknowledge the closeness and whether we can observe and feel the closeness between we and them. Rinpoche saw Dorje and Rinpoche was care enough to stay closer to Dorje and felt/observed Dorje in the fish store.
I mean, if we open heart to embrace everything around us, then we can feel others feelings much easier. It is like we open up the receptor to feel and care.
Very rare that people would appreciate and love fishes. We tend to love and cuddle pets like dogs or cat but fish. But what Rinpoche shared here tells me that every animals are equally cute and they deserve to be loved too.
Dorje the Koi fish must have been connected with Rinpoche in past life. Just like Mumu and Oser. Although Rinpoche loves fishes, birds and all kinds of Animals. Why do some of these animals and birds attract him so much? And I am sure its the Karma that in one of the past lives of Rinpoche this fish may have been a human and very closely connected with Rinpoche. When I looked at the title of the subject I thought Rinpoche was writing on the Dorje and Bell Ritual items for puja. I got a surprise when it turn out to be a write up of a Koi fish which Rinpoche had named Dorje. I am sure Dorje is very special and hope he will take a good rebirth and be able to practice Dharma.
Dorje is a variety of Japanese Koi known as Chagoi. From the photos it seem that Dorje has shimmering scales. If that is the case, and the shimmers are not due to reflection, then Dorje falls under the ‘ginrin’ type of koi i.e. kois with shimmering scales. Therefore, Dorje is a Ginrin Chagoi.
Chagois are known to be particularly friendly, and are often used to tame other kois in the same pond to be unafraid of human presence.
I am guessing that Dorje knows who Rinpoche is. There must have been a past life connection between Dorje and Rinpoche and Kechara. Dorje is one of the luckiest fishes on Earth as Dorje has the merits of being in the Lama’s fish tank. While he is in the fish tank, he can listen to all the prayers that Rinpoche chants. The story of Dorje really lifted my heart. May Dorje have a smooth and happy life and have many good human rebirths so that he can be liberated from Samsara.
Dear Rinpoche,
I’m not much of a fish fan, I see them and don’t feel affected much (probably because, unlike a dog, you can’t see any emotions on their faces).
After reading this post, and reading how Dorje will swim to the surface..and that Rinpoche will touch him and that Dorje doesn’t move away – it almost “humanizes” the fish.
Thank you for posting this blog post up – hopefully it’ll make others think twice about eating fishes! It sure made me.
Thank you,
Jean Mei
what a lovely picture. . the last one is
Dorje is beautiful and so fortunate to have you caring for him.
I am sure Dorje will have a great rebirth!
Many blessings
How Wonderful! Dorje’s story lifted my heart, and yes, I can see how you fell in love with him. So beautiful! A La la Ho!
He comes close because he thinks you’re going to feed him.