Rinpoche and Bangladeshi workers
(By Pastor Loh Seng Piow)
高僧带孟加拉客工去买衣服。高僧，不是高在头衔，而是高在心里。
Last night His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche went to Kechara Forest Retreat and walk around, then Rinpoche brought a few students for dinner nearby. There were four Bangladeshi workers coming along as they were to follow the students back to the city.
Tsem Rinpoche heard that the Bangladeshi workers worked very hard in Kechara Forest Retreat, so Rinpoche treated them dinner, gave them extra pocket money. Then Rinpoche remembered passing by a clothes shop on the way to the restaurant, so Rinpoche brought them to the shop after dinner and let them choose their favorite shirts, pants, jeans etc.
Rinpoche said these young men are like any other young men in the world, they want to dress hip, go out and have fun and socialize, but due to poverty they have no choice but to leave their home country to work hard in a foreign country, and not able to enjoy what other young men in other parts of the world are enjoying.
Most of the time, these foreign workers are not cared for, and nobody would give them even a bit of extra attention. But Rinpoche is always very sensitive towards sentient beings’ needs, even though He has never met them before and their backgrounds are worlds apart, irregardless whether they come from the higher or lower part of the society.
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Rinpoche will help definately help those Bangladeshi workers knowing how is like living far away from home. How wonderful those lucky workers to have met Rinpoche .They will remembered the time spent with Rinpoche for the rest of their lives.To many they are just foreign workers but to Rinpoche they are good friends and one of us. Rinpoche will help anyone regardless of race and religion.
Thank you Pastor Loh Seng Piow for sharing this inspiring post for us ,to remind us to be caring, loving and helpful no matter who they are.
I know of a real buddha
Thank you Rinpoche for your kindness. In many workplace, Bangladeshi workers are considered as foreign workers. They do not enjoy the benefit as company staffs. Thank you for taking care of them and showing us the compassion is borderless irregardless to colour of the skin, religious or races.
大慈大悲的仁波切，时常都为身边人着想。仁波切对一切众生都是一视同仁，没有高低之分。仁波切总是会以佛法和慈悲心来感化我们所有的众生。有时我心里在想，我几时才能像仁波切一样慈悲呢？谢谢仁波切给我们的开示和教诲。
Rinpoche is always so caring and always looking out for others. he always treats people to things and he is always there for the people in need. please live long Rinpoche and please always bring smiles to peoples faces.
Rinpoche always taking care every single person, that is suppose we gotto do in our daily life, to Give, to share and be compassionate to others.
Best Regards : Eric kksiow
Rinpoche indeed is a giving person. I remembered in one of the teachings by Rinpoche Himself, He told us how to see whether a person is a Tulku, is by looking at how generous they are, how compassion they are, how renounced they are etc, the virtuous qualities they have. A Tulku is not just a ranking or name, a Tulku works harder, gives more, more compassion, more renounced than us. This is what a Tulku means.
The love and care for others that Rinpoche has is something I never seen before. He gives money, present, support and help to all His students, and in many cases just like this case, He even take care of all the people around Him or whoever needs help. Rinpoche even help one of His friend, the rickshaw man in India who used to fetch Rinpoche everywhere in Hubli many years back! Read the story here: http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/students-friends/james-and-me-in-hubli.html
There are too many stories to tell, about how generous Rinpoche is. Just look at this recent photo, Rinpoche bought DVDs for our Nepali workers: http://blog.tsemtulku.com/wp-content/gallery/photos-on-the-go/thumbs/thumbs_moby-to-0arpk0.jpg
In Rinpoche’s ladrang, there will be a room that set up as gift room. The gift we offer to Rinpoche, Rinpoche will give it to others who needs it. Rinpoche would not keep for Himself. Rinpoche always think of ways to send out all the gifts He got(for people not just receiving the gift but also the Dharma), therefore BLOG COMPETITION: Invite back a Manjushri statue!(http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/kechara-13-depts/blog-competition-invite-back-a-manjushri-statue.html) and A chance to bring home Medicine Buddha – for free!(http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/kechara-13-depts/a-chance-to-bring-home-medicine-buddha-%E2%80%93-for-free.html) are created!
This is who Tsem Rinpoche is! 🙂
As Buddha said before, all sentient are equal… To Rinpoche, no matter who you are, what you are or where you are, Rinpoche’s care for you will never less, even he has never know about you before.
Rinpoche is not only teach Dharma, he apply Dharma in his life, he has been acting as a walking Dharma, whatever he does daily, there is teachings, Rinpoche really lives his life to inspire others.
Rinpoche has never wanted anything in his life, but only bring benefits to others…
No matter human or animal Rinpoche has never failed to help those in need of help whether it is in terms of money, help, gifts, food or just daily grocery’s.
Whether Rinpoche knows that particular person a lot or barely even know what is the name of the person he is about to help, when Rinpoche feels the need to help no matter new or long time student Rinpoche is always ready to help.
Ranging from gifts like DVD’s, clothes, books, statues, electronic items and so much more there is always something in the Gift Room for that lucky someone to receive.
And it doesn’t just end at us humans… Rinpoche also loves to show his compassion to animals an even though it is not Rinpoche’s dogs or animals but stray dogs out on the street Rinpoche always has dog food in his car so that whenever Rinpoche sees stray dogs Rinpoche would always feed them.
All in all what I have experienced when going on outings with Rinpoche is that wherever Rinpoche goes there is generosity and compassion happening whether it is giving money to beggars on the street, buying lottery tickets and other kinds of stuff from street peddlers, not to use that item or to try luck at the lottery but to help support the street peddlers and their families.
Though it may just seem like nothing to a lot of people to me seeing the smile on those street peddlers when they are given extra money or told to keep the tips from Rinpoche it is really something to remember always!
Thank you Seng Piow for sharing with me these wonderful stories of Rinpoche and his great compassion and generosity in action wherever Rinpoche goes.
Love
Jutika
Rinpoche’s unconditional love for everyone is overwhelming. Rinpoche has always been consistent and generous in giving regardless of who you are.
These foreign workers left their families and homeland to make a living and most of the time they are not well cared for and are neglected. However, Rinpoche went that extra mile to shower them with care and spent time taking them shopping.
Rinpoche is a role model on true compassion and we should follow His teachings and practice this in our daily lives.
Rinpoche is always thinking about us. He makes sure we are well and even buys us clothes,food ,computers etc.
The Bangladeshi have been doing work for Kechara Forest Retreat and
Rinpoche knew that they were ordinary people and they do things partying , socializing and having fun,but since they are in Malaysia and they are far away from their home working in Bentong
they have no time to even have a little bit of fun. So Rinpoche decided to buy the Bangladeshi people clothes and take them for dinner.
Rinpoche always thinks of others no matter what race or religion.
Rinpoche is not attached to money and clothes.
This is not the first time or the last that he took people out for dinner and buying clothes.
Rinpoche never does any harm to us he only takes cares of us and teaches us Dharma.
“To develope this mind-state of compassion… is to learn to live, as Buddha put it, with sympathy for all living beings, without exception.” – Sharon Salzberg. The times, when we are suffering can be those when we are opened, and where we are extremely venerable can be where our greatest strength lies. So we want to use it in the best and the most possible way we can to be more compassionate and more helpful to others. It is usually through suffering that we will find the understanding and compassion to do so. Compassion allows us to bear witness to the sufferings, whether it is in ourselves or others, and to act strongly with all skill and strength at our disposal to help others to eradicate them! It is just natural for Rinpoche to do that.
This is just another example of how kind Rinpoche can be to ANYONE especially to the wonderful people who works for Dharma fulltime. There were too many examples of such kindness being shown by Rinpoche to his students and even strangers! This shows how much Rinpoche really care for others welfare and we should learn to take care of the people around us as kindly demonstrated by Rinpoche.
当天与仁波切一起吃晚饭， 我告诉仁波切这一群 Banladeshi 已经在 Kechara Forest Retreat 工作了一个月了， 他们在仁波切的 Ladrang 山上种了许多树木。 每天勤劳工作， 没有怨言。
仁波切听了， 非常感激他们那么努力的工作！所以就送了这一些小礼物给他们。
还记得，仁波切当天身体不舒服。晚饭后还打着他们到服饰店里买衣服！ 看着认波切的身影， 让我很感动。
Arif 与朋友非常感谢仁波切， 他们重来没有一个老板对他们那么得好！
无论我们是学生、全职， 只要我们努力学习佛法， 这就是给仁波切最好的礼物！
Rinpoche, thanks for your inspiration!
仁波切可以说法，也可以用为有需要的人添购他们有需要的物品作为布施的一种，不受形式约束，主要关注接受对象的需要和状况。这是真正的布施。
No matter who u r? Where u from? Rinpoche always take care of us and make sure we r in a safe and comfortable conditions…
Thanks Rinpoche and rejoice for the Bangladeshi workers, u all deserve it…
Rinpoche is always thinking of others! I think i am repeating what others say when I say that Rinpoche is compassionate and kind!! Like a broken recorder. hehe But if it’s the truth, no harm in repeating it!
Rinpoche is always thinking of others first. Rinpoche’s kindness truly knows no bounds. Compassion at its best! Rinpoche leads by example and inspires other people like myself always!
I have always respected foreign workers because they are so far away from home to make a living to support their family. I couldn’t imagine myself being away from my family to live as a second class citizen at another country. I might not be able to help them financially, all i could offer them is a friendly smile and comforting words..
But what Rinpoche does is more amazing.. Giving them a sense of being pampered and being taken care of. The foreign workers work tirelessly for their family, sure is nice to be treated once in a while..
Rinpoche never fails to brighten another person(s) day/life! hehe
Thank you, Rinpoche!
Rinpoche treated Bangladeshi workers dinner, gave them extra pocket money and bought new cloth for them. Rinpoche always giving gift to everyone including strangers and always inspire us that to be kind to all peoples and animals , they also need care and love . Learning Dharma and practice Dharma daily , thank you Rinpoche .
Rinpoche loves giving to others. Even when Rinpoche was very young, He loved giving food to the birds and even feed the poor people near the Monastery in India. This was a time when Rinpoche had very limited money and yet somehow or another, Rinpoche always manage to find a way to help people in need. I learnt of this from Rinpoche Biography and also the recent post on one of Rinpoche’s old friend named James from Hubli. http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/students-friends/james-and-me-in-hubli.html
This is not the first time Rinpoche give gifts to total strangers. I remember once when Rinpoche and a few of us walking down the streets in Singapore, there was a very old women sitting on the street, begging for money and giving tissue packets in return for people’s kindness. Rinpoche then took out some money (quite a lot) and gave to His youngest student to give this lady the money, and took some tissue packets. In just one act, Rinpoche benefited the old lady, taught His young student about kindness, and allowed the old lady to not feel ‘useless’ like a taker by us taking some tissue packets from her.
On another occasion, there was a lady struggling down the steps with her baby cart. Rinpoche noticed this and instructed us to help her. She was very grateful for the help she received. Rinpoche helps people in various ways.
I can safely say that everyone that has crossed path with Rinpoche returned with something. If it is not gifts, it is the most precious gift of all, the Dharma. For that, we should always be thankful, have great gratitude and always, always place our Lama as priority No. 1!
Rinpoche’s care not only on his student and friends but also to strangers. The KFR Bangladeshi worker is very blessed to work in KFR. May they always be blessed by the three jewels.
Rinpoche never ceases to stop giving to those in need or to those who would only need love. These Bangladeshi workers work really hard everyday trying to earn a living being away from home unable to go back to visit at their leisure because they want to save every cent for their families. Rinpoche doesnt judge but instead only wants to help these men, because Rinpoche understands their situation and cares for them. If it were me i would’ve probably only given them a smile or just bought them a drink on a really hot day, but Rinpoche has gone out of his way to the extent of buying them necessary goods no normal human being would do without any hidden agendas. Rinpoche is truly a perfect example of true compassion and we should follow this kind of behaviour.
Rinpoche has always been a giving person .to me he is mother,father guru everything.thank you kindness guru.
Everything about Rinpoche is just indescribable! To me, Rinpoche is the perfect person and example. Rinpoche inspires me to be just like Him. All I ever read about Rinpoche is how Rinpoche always give, give and give yet never ever asking for anything in return except the best for us so that He know that we will be ok always. Its very true what Rinpoche said… They are just like us but they are far away from home to work for their family and themselves and many of us seldom think of that as we are to absorb in ourselves. Rinpoche showed us how we should always care for people around us and never take them for granted. I have much to learn and transform. Thank you for such wonderful teachings Rinpoche.
Rinpoche is constantly giving to people. Rinpoche’s gifts range from clothing,health care products, pocket money to a heart warming meal. Regardless of form the gifts come in, I see Tsem Rinpoche giving a sense of dignity to the people by appreciating them as fellow sentient beings.
I have had the chance to work with two of these young men in the KFR Green Project. Their life is not easy as they are “thrown into various circumstances” and expected to cope and survive. Most of them are not even trained and informed on how to do a particular task. They just “jump into the deep end and learn to swim”.
Although their time with us is short, I believe that these men experienced care when working in KFR as we have all been taught by Rinpoche to always be respectful and kind. I hope that this experience they had will be their light of hope and relief as their go on with their journey.
I also hope that those of us who read this post are reminded to be kind to all around us because this simple gesture can be a chance of changing someone’s perspective of life and how they choose to live it.
Thank you Rinpoche for always finding ways to show us how to practice Dharma in our daily lives!
Rinpoche has always been very generous – if we look at Rinpoche’s biography, it is evident that Rinpoche has always been a giving person – even from school when his school friend remembers Rinpoche making her a doll and doll house, to when Rinpoche was in the monastery and even though Rinpoche was desperately poor, and barely had enough food to eat, he would share what he had with the birds. This quality is very much evident in Rinpoche now, in his care and generosity to students and even those who are not his students but people he has just met. That is how Kechara Soup Kitchen started – when Rinpoche would give food to the homeless, no matter who they are, what religion or race.
Rinpoche is a great role model for us to emulate – with generosity as the first of the six perfections, we definitely need to develop that!
This is not the first time that Rinpoche has acted spontaneously to take care of other people. He shows us by example that we should always care for the people around us — not only our family members and friends or colleagues but people who in some way or another come into our life and be part of it. I remember the time when I first came here to KL/PJ from my hometown many years ago, it was a difficult time, with no friends or family members, except for colleagues who were too busy and engrossed in their own activities. I did not know my way around, I don´t speak/understand the dialect — then came along a caring colleague and his then girlfriend – they went out of their to help me settle in, went shopping with me, found me a place to stay … and till this date, he is my friend, my god-brother.
Rinpoche has always been consistent in giving, no matter who you are, Rinpoche gives with no conditions, like a Boddhisattva does. It was a beautiful day we spent with Rinpoche last night walking around KFR (Kechara Forest Retreat) and looking at the organic farm and the progress of the building of our aviary. Then later Rinpoche decided to bring a few students from Kechara Discovery who was there in the Cabin area for dindin. Louise their team leader mentioned she has to bring her 4 Bangladeshi workers to eat and go home, so Rinpoche told them to all to come along and join for dinner. During dinner Rinpoche asked Louise about them and Louise updated Rinpoche how hardworking they have been and helpful. Suddenly Rinpoche saw one of the shops outside the restaurant we were eating was selling T-Shirts and clothes, so spontaneously Rinpoche decided to go there with them to do some “shopping” and the rest is the story above. And yes this is obviously not the first time Rinpoche have been doing this and surely will not be the last.
When we were up the KFR, Rinpoche gave us a teaching on trusting the Dharma and going all the way with it and if we do our part, our protector will do his and assist. Looking back over the years how we have grown from nothing to this…KFR… it dawned on me that everything Rinpoche says and does, started small, and will manifest bigger and bigger. So Rinpoche’s advice is never to be afraid to give, to be generous always. Never be afraid you will lose your family, your lovers, your attachments, because the very fear and insecurities we have is in being afraid we will not be “happy” and alone. But in trusting the 3 jewels and doing Dharma, we will see and experience a different kind of happiness, that is true and lasting one and all the insecurities we have will be gone. We just need to trust and go all the way. Rinpoche said just take Rinpoche as an example, how from nothing, Kechara House manifested, how from a small aviary in the old Ladrang terrace house, now we have a big one in the City Ladrang and now even bigger in Kechara Forest Retreat.
Always be generous and never hold on to our fleeting wealth and money for the more we hold on tightly, the more we will not progress no matter how much we hold on to… so give and you will receive… trust our Dharma protector on this because the results is clear… as we can see now through the manifestation of KFR. Last time Rinpoche had nothing, came to Malaysia with just his suitcase, now Rinpoche has so much and so much more to give and is still giving!