Something I wrote on blog chat
Lord Setrap
Setrap is a very old and ancient Dharma protector brought from India to Tibet by the glorious Lama Londen Sherab. Lama Londen Sherab tested Setrap many times before ‘allowing’ and inviting him to Tibet. Because Tibet was so wild, Dharma was difficult to grow and there were lots of opponents, a special/powerful and quick acting Protector was necessary. Out of all the protectors, Lama Londen Sherab who himself is highly attained chose Setrap. Setrap agreed to Lama to go to Tibet. When Setrap arrived in barren Tibet, Lama threw some hair into the vastness and manifested peacocks (sound of Tibetan clarinets), elephants (long horns), lush jungles and many offerings to make Setrap an offering. Setrap was very pleased. In pujas to him today, we still play the clarinets (peacoks) and long horns (elephants) to make an offering of his home which is the Indian jungles.
Setrap was practiced strongly by the Kadampas of Tibet and when Lord Tsongkapa arrived and built Gaden, his attained students invited Setrap to be the principal protector of Gaden Shartse Monastery 600 years ago. Also in Drepung Nyeari Khamtsen (hundreds of monks) also practice Setrap very strongly. Setrap appears in the peaceful form (white) Tsangpa and takes trance in one of the main Tibetan govt oracles (Gadong). Gadong (Setrap) advises the Tibetan Govt and HH Dalai Lama for hundreds of years now. Setrap appears in wordly form to be ‘closer’ to us with less merits. When he is in ordinary form he is easier to contact. Many high lamas of Gaden have very close connections to him and worship him strongly. Trijang Rinpoche, Zong Rinpoche, Lati Rinpoche, Kensur Jampa Yeshe, Gaden Tripa, Sharpa Choeje all worshipped Setrap.
Gaden Shartse has held Setrap as its main and principal protector for 600 years and the monks of Shartse are experts in Setrap practice. There is a large Setrap chapel in Gaden Shartse. Years ago I offered a large 15 foot thangka of Setrap to Gaden and it’s still hanging there. When I was in Los Angeles, Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen passed Setrap to us and we did pujas. Every single month in Gaden Shartse Monastery, two full days of puja is offered to Setrap with full offerings and ritual music of long horns (elephants) and clarinets (peacocks). In the past Setrap would take trance a few times a year in Gaden Shartse in our oracle monk (he passed away) and gave oracular pronouncements to the whole monastery for the year. The abbots and all high lamas would come to Gaden to meet Setrap and get blessings. I have met Setrap this way many times. My recognition paper (one of them) came from Setrap directly.
Myself with the Incomparable Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen. I lived with Geshe Gyeltsen in Thubten Dhargye Ling Dharma centre in Los Angeles for around 8 years until I went to India to join Gaden Shartse Monastery. I was 16 when Geshe Gyeltsen allowed me to stay in the centre with him. I was so grateful, lucky and very fortunate to study under him and serve him. I remember those years with so much devotion, fondness and gratitude.
Setrap recognized me with his red seal in front of the abbot of Gaden Shartse and I was recognized as the 72nd abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery because of Setrap. My previous incarnation was in Dromo-phari and a student of Trijang Rinpoche and classmates with Zong Rinpoche. My incarnation before that was the 72nd abbot of Gaden. At the end of my term as abbot, I was said to retire, enter into White Tara Retreat to absorb the obstacles for the life of His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama and died in White Tara retreat. So during my retreat on White Tara for the long life of Dalai Lama, I passed away which is said to have taken the obstacles. When I was very young I would always meet lamas in America connected to Trijang Rinpoche and Gaden. When I saw Trijang Rinpoche’s picture in New Jersey decades ago for the first time, I cried, not knowing why.
This is the first picture of Trijang Rinpoche I saw as a kid. I didn't really know who he was, but upon seeing this picture, I started to cry and feel emotional in a good way. I borrowed the picture and photocopied it and kept it on my shrine at home. I keep this picture on my shrine now wherever I am.
When I left New Jersey to Los Angeles, I tried to join Dharmadhatu centre in LA. When I got there, the door was open, but no one answered. I knocked and knocked then I left. It was strange, because it was open. So I went to search for another centre and I found Thubten Dhargye Ling centre by Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen. When I arrived, Geshe la was sitting below a statue of Tsongkapa and welcomed me. Amazing! That very night was Tsok so I joined Tsok, joined the centre and joined an institution where the protector was Setrap. I hitch-hiked from New Jersey to LA and ended up in a centre where Setrap is the protector and the guru is the disciple of Trijang Rinpoche and Zong Rinpoche. Finally when Zong Rinpoche arrived in Thubten Dhargye Ling, he told me I am a tulku or reincarnation and invited me to live in his personal house!! I immediately accepted Zong Rinpoche and his incredible invitation. I decided to go and do not regret it till this day.
His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. Even mentioning his name brings tears to my eyes. He made such a powerful and strong impact in my life. The most powerful.
His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche cuts a piece of my hair with prayers to signify I will become an ordained monk in the future. I promised His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche I will become a monk in this picture. This was in Thubten Dhargye Ling centre in Los Angeles, California 1983.
Left to right. The incomparable Geshe Tsultrim Gyelten, His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, his attendant and myself. This picture is very sad. This was the day Zong Rinpoche was flying off to Switzerland then India back to Gaden. I was devastated on this day. After this I never had a chance to physically meet Zong Rinpoche again. He passed into clear light a few years later before I arrived in Gaden. This was so hard for me.
I suffered a lot when I hitch-hiked. I was 15 going on 16. I was so young, naïve and innocent. I didn’t want to go to school. I felt the things school taught me was a waste of time and I would never use it (I was right..lol). I told my parents at a very young age I will be a monk and I belong in a monastery. I told my parents clearly I will not remain in USA but will go East. I remember that clearly. When I was very young and when when I ran away, I did Manjushri strongly daily along with Chenresig. I also did Pelden Hlamo (she is the protector of my personal monastery Tsem Monastery in Yara, Kham region, Tibet). I didn’t know she was a protector of Tsem Monastery as a child. I felt drawn to her, Manjushri and Chenresig. Do your Setrap practice continuously no matter what you feel. Setrap DOES NOT GRANT WHAT YOU WANT BUT WHAT YOU NEED.
Lord of Wisdom and deep penetrative understanding of phenomena, White Manjushri
Setrap does not grant things easily or quickly. He is like a grand old man. He watches your consistency and motivation, when he is pleased, he will stick with you very strongly and very loyally. Setrap is a very loyal and direct protector. He is one of the few enlightened protectors who can take trance of oracles. His trances in oracles are the most ferocious and wrathful and the oracles cannot stay in trance of Setrap for too long as the energy is too powerful. It’s like fitting a large erupting volcano into a small man!! LOL 🙂 . ….Setrap is not an ordinary nor worldly protector, hence Gaden Shartse Monastery adopts him as the main protector for the last 600 years. Just think, the institution by the King of Dharma Tsongkapa, has Setrap as the protector. That says a lot. Setrap is most pleased by the practice of 6 paramitas, Guru Devotion, Lam Rim and meditation on the Lam Rim. We should keep our practice consistent and this pleases Setrap.
– Tsem Rinpoche
Myself with His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche in Chinatown, Los Angeles. I was holding his hands and guiding him down the road as it was crowded. Zong Rinpoche was very affectionate towards me always. I was so fortunate my Guru cared so much about me. I don't deserve it, but he did care alot.
Myself with the reincarnation of His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche.
This is myself making my first offerings to the new incarnation of His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. It was the first time I met the new incarnation. I saved up for months and acquired this Manjushri statue and offered to Rinpoche on our 'first' meeting again. I was told Zong Rinpoche really liked the statue and insisted to keep it my his bedside.
Left to right: The then abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery Jetsun Lungrik Namgyal Rinpoche, His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche and myself. This is during a grand puja in our main prayer hall.
The reincarnated Rinpoches( tulkus ) and Abbot Emeritus of Pukhang Khangtsen branch of Gaden Shartse Monastery. From left to right: Genpa Rinpoche, myself, Gyalkhangtse Rinpoche, His Eminence Kensur Rinpoche, His Eminence Kyabje Lati Rinpoche, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, Kentrul Rinpoche and Tenzin Trinley Rinpoche. In the background is the main prayer hall of Gaden Monastery.
Puja (prayers) in Pukhang Khangtsen branch of Gaden Shartse Monastery. Left to right: Tenzin Trinley Rinpoche, Kentrul Rinpoche, His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, myself, Gyalkhangtse Rinpoche, Kating Rinpoche and Genpa Rinpoche. The reincarnated tulkus usually sit in the front of all pujas by Tibetan tradition.
Red Pelden Hlamo
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Powerful and wonderful teachings on Lord Setrap practice. Rinpoche had brought this powerful teachings all the way from India to Malaysia. Many Kecharians have benefited relying on Lord Setrap practice, that’s what I heard from those miracles stories. Beautiful thangka shared in this post and rare precious pictures of High Lamas.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing. Looking at just the pictures is a blessing.
1984 Los Angeles-Left to right: Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, monk assistant to Zong Rinpoche and the 18-year-old Tsem Rinpoche prior to ordination. Read more- https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/me
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A poem inspired by seeing a picture of my teacher, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche…
In the sport of correct views,
all that is correct is just a view,
without permanence or substance.
As long as we hold onto views,
our sufferings are gathered
to be experienced without end.
Without the strong methods of emptiness
and compassion, bereft of merit,
we sink deeper without respite.
To arise from this samsara is but
a dreamscape on the deluded mind.
Therefore seek the guru, who confers the yidam,
hold your vows and fixate on liberation
free of new creations. Free of new experiences as
there are none.
~ Tsem Rinpoche
Composed in Tsem Ladrang, Kuala Lumpur on July 7, 2014
I was walking past a second hand shop on Western Ave selling old things. They had a Japanese-style clay Buddha which was beige in colour on the floor, holding the door open. I thought the shopkeeper would collect a lot of negative karma without knowing if he kept such a holy item on the floor as a doorstop. So I went in to talk to him, but he didn’t look like he wanted to talk or that he even cared. So I asked him the price and he said US$5. I purchased it so he did not collect more negative karma. I was 17 years old and that was in 1982.
I escorted my new Buddha home and washed it lightly and wiped it. I placed it on my altar and was happy with the Buddha. I would do my meditations, prayers, sadhanas, mantras and prostrations in front of this shrine daily. When I left for India in 1987, I could not bring this Buddha along and gave it to a friend. It was a nice size and I made offerings to this Buddha for many years in Los Angeles. In front of the Buddha I placed His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s photo. I remember I was so relieved that the price was affordable. But US$5 that time was still expensive for me but worth it I thought. But I was happy to have brought the Buddha home. Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
Tsem Rinpoche at Kechara Forest Retreat, Bentong, Malaysia
Dear Rinpoche
since young i used to ask myself where to go after passed away. I was very fortunate to know Rinpoche somewhere at my age of 39 and come to know Rinpoche is a Tulku. Rinpoche is a living Buddha whereby choose to come back to tell us samsara is full of sufferings and the ultimate meaning of life. The meaing of life is not just go for school, look for a good job, earn monies, get married and have kids, aging and died. We should think more than that like where to go after we died, how to plan it and what to do now.
Thank you Rinpoche work tirely for all the poor sentient beings like us. May all the sentient being in samsara have enought merits to receive teachings from Rinpoche.
With folded hands
Suet Moi
H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche is very devoted to his root guru, H.H. Zong Rinpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche for bringing the Dharma Protector of the Holy Ganden Shartse Monastery to Malaysia.
I join the weekly Setrap Puja but after attended today’s dharma class, topic on “What is a Dharmapala?” I just realized that I haven’t put enough effort to understand and do not do this puja well.
May I improve and do this Puja consistently so that Setrap can grant what I need and what is best for me.
Thoughts of the Fifth Dalai Lama on the subject of Dorje Setrab:
“Tendzin Gyatso, the Lingme Choje, Trayag Trulku and Dripa Khapa from Minyag said that one needed an authentic source in the form of an old manuscript for a propitiatory text of Setrabpa, the religious guardian of Sangphu. Nothing could be found except a text said to have been discovered in Yerpa, which was completely untrustworthy and had no beginning pages. So I just wrote one by guessing at what roughly conformed to the iconography depicted in well-known thangkas. It is not certain that this guardian deity is not one of the seven brothers called Tsengo Barwa Pundun. If that is the case, we can claim that the propitiation of the deity has its source related to the sadhana of the religious guardians found in the Dgongs ‘dus. In my opinion, if this is true, there would be no contradiction. In another respect, the deity has the same form as that of Trashi Wobar, whose cult was brought from India by the great lotsawa and later became the guardian of the Bodong tradition, which followed Panglo. There were therefor no kinds of treasure texts. I think this is similar (to the following idea): the master of Sangphu regarded himself as having ‘the same mind stream’ as that of Namse Dungmar in the same way that Dagchen Ngagchang said that he had the ‘same mind stream’ as that of Yeshe Gonpo Gur and Gyalpo Pehar.” (The passage was written in 1664. The Illusive Play, the Autobiography of the Fifth Dalai Lama. Chapter 39, page 507. Translated by Samten G. Karmay. Serindia Publications, 2014).
Setrap the ancient protector, just feel he is always watching over High Lamas and those practitioners lay or otherwise who work hard for the sake of all sentient beings. Setrap horse’s tail is knotted indicating that if we hold our vows well Setrap will help us.
Dear Rinpoche, I greatly appreciate this comprehensive
account of Venerable Zong Rinpoche,
Metta,
Oya
We are fortunate to have Rinpoche to teach us Setrap practice. We can rely on Lord Setrap as Setrap will provide our needs and always guide the suitable ways for us. With folded hand, thank you Rinpoche.
When Guru Rinpoche was invited to spread Dharma by Tibetan King Trisong Detsen to then spiritually barbaric Tibet, he foreseen that many obstacles will arise to block the Tibetan from receiving the Dharma. Similarly, when Tsem Rinpoche was asked by His Guru H.E Lati Rinpoche and H.E Kensur Jampa Yeshe to teach in Malaysia, he brought in Dharmapala Setrap Chen practice for us to clear our obstacles pertaining to our’s Dharma practice. How kind of Rinpoche to even had the thought and prepared a Dharmapala for us even before we start!
Thank you Rinpoche for introduce us this powerful protector practice . I remember first time I come to Kechara house I saw the Setrap statute I was not afraid of his wrathfulness instead I think he is a Buddha , so I start doing his practice since then it really help me whenever I need help especially if I need to do something virtue like dharma work.
My Precious Guru,
Am in such awe of your selflessness! Your previous incarnation died in retreat and is said to have taken the then Dalai Lama’s obstacles with your death. Such an awesome inspiration! My humble daily recitations of White Tara for your long life and stable health pales very much in comparison. Will step up in my practice and dedicate more to your long life, stable health and pray that all that you envision come into fruition swiftly.
From your humble student with folded hands.
Thank you Rinpoche for this powerful and wonderful teaching on Lord Setrap practice and also all the holy pictures of the highly attained Lamas and the images of the holy dharma protectors. I have heard many Kecharians have benefited by relying on Lord Setrap practice. I am attending the weekly Setrap puja in Kechara House to clear all obstacles for a smooth spiritual path all the way.
Thank You Rinpoche for bringing the Dharma Protector of the Holy Ganden Shartse Monastery to Malaysia and via this blog to the world at large. I remember the first instruction you gave me was to go for Setrap puja; in 2006, not knowing the blessings of this instruction and the practice itself.Fortunately, I have been following this instruction diligently since and over the years I have witnessed many who have benefitted greatly from the Protector practice.
With humility and sincerity I bow and thank Rinpoche for this great blessings to all beings by bringing Lord Setrap practice to All.
Thank you Rinpoche on this teaching. I learn different things in each time i read the story from time to time. Especially for a slow learner like me. So benefiting.
Thank You Rinpoche for introducing the powerful Lord Setrap to us to help us in the Dharma path. I strongly believe we can not survive in Dharma path without help from Lord Setrap as there are a lot of obstacles during degenerating time.
Personally, I feel the energy of Lord Setrap during puja and saw auspicious sign which Lord Setrap let us know His present.
Thank You Rinpoche. I will follow your instruction closely without any doubt.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful article regarding Setrap. 🙂 Very nice thangka of the great protector. Setrap is truly an amazing protector that can help all beings.
Thank you Rinpoche for the great article! I love every bit of it. Setrap is indeed not a worldly protector. He keeps the enlightenment of the practitioner in mind, always. My interest has however been, how is Setrap a manifestation of Amitabha Buddha? Is there any scriptural evidence? Anyway, I fold my hands in respect of the Great Cosmic Warrior.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for bringing the practice of Lord Setrap to Malaysia. Personally, I know of many people who have benefited from Setrap’s practice. Over the years, Rinpoche has given many teachings on Setrap. In one of the teachings, Rinpoche mentioned six secrets to guarantee Lord Setrap’s help: hold our vows, keep our samaya clean with the Guru, have pure motivations (at least be free of the 8 worldly concerns), have total conviction and faith in Setrap, consistently make offerings and do his puja (show sincerity), and practise the Dharma sincerely and live by the Dharma principles.
Thank you so much for this. I have copied the original chat from yesterday word for word and keep it close. I will continue to practice diligently and may the Grand Old Man be happy with me <3
Love this part the best – “Setrap does not grant things easily or quickly. He is like a grand old man. He watches your consistency and motivation, when he is pleased, he will stick with you very strongly and very loyally.” and this – “At the end of my term as abbot, I was said to retire, enter into White Tara Retreat to absorb the obstacles for the life of His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama and died in White Tara retreat. So during my retreat on White Tara for the long life of Dalai Lama, I passed away which is said to have taken the obstacles.” Thank you. I am very gladdened to hear and now know that this is not just theoretically possible, but has already been done. OM VAJRA SATO HUNG