Creating supportive environments
Many of Tsem Rinpoche’s students live together in what are known as Dharma Houses. Very often, when students are moving in, Rinpoche comes to personally ensure that everything is set up properly so his students have a conducive, comfortable environment to live in. Rinpoche will go shopping with his students, arrange the furniture, organise food for the volunteers who come to help move, make sure everything matches and the student gets exactly what they need. Rinpoche will even sponsor the works to be done…and after all that, end the night with a Dharma sharing.
Students in IKEA, assisting Rinpoche with setting up a new Dharma house
Rinpoche often encourages his students to live in Dharma houses because when we are surrounded by like-minded people who share the same goals as us, our minds are open to less distractions. It helps us to focus on our spiritual practice and the reasons why we entered the Dharma to begin with – to benefit others and through that, alleviate the suffering of our own minds.
In Tibet and India, this type of supportive environment is known as the monastery. However, it is not possible to build monasteries everywhere. Even so, it does not mean we cannot reap similar benefits by creating an alternative. Therefore through example, Rinpoche shows that just because a certain practice is not possible in a particular environment, does not mean we give up and stop finding a way to accomplish the result.
You can read more about why Rinpoche established this tradition of Dharma houses HERE.
– Pastor Jean Ai
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Staying and living with others who have the same dharma goals is very helpful. Sometimes when we are new to spiritual path our moods or emotions can be up or down, so it is always good if we have support and backup from like minded people.
It seems Rinpoche is like a parent to each of his student too although he has mentioned before he doesn’t and he shouldn’t have to mother his students. By that I mean not have to spoon feed them for little things like grooming and having good manners. Still it’s his generosity and compassion that doesn’t stop him from expressing and demonstrating this great bodhicitta for his students’ welfare. You guys are very lucky to have him as your guru. Fulfill your guru devotion practices guys.
Thank you Pastor Jean Ai for this wonderful sharing.
Rinpoche always care for everyone that comes in Rinpoche’s path. Rinpoche would make sure that we are well so that we are able to focus on work spiritual work. Rinpoche would also buy food or even get people to deliver food for students so that they would not go hungry while they are working.
It is just great to have Dharma houses, people with same interest, same goals all staying together. They would be able to look out for each other as well. I just love the idea of it. It is just so powerful when people of the same minds hang out together and even work together. It bonds them stronger as dharma brothers and sisters. Rejoice.
Its a very nice modern concept to nurture like-minded students/practitioners in a supportive environment. H.E Tsem Rinpoche certainly have far sighted vision to adapt “monastery” style. It encourages everyone to stay focus to maintain the path of the Dharma together. As always, the end results that matters. This is how more and more become Pastors and Sanghas in Kechara as a direct result of nurturing by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche. How fortunate. Looks comfy..Can I stay there too in future too? ^___^
The benefits of Dharma houses have many folds. Obviously one of it is the attraction of like minded people. Then, the positive energy created will supress the manifestation of negative karma arising, which in turn create a conducive environment to practice Dharma as mentioned. At the same time, it will reduce attachments to family members and friends ( especially those that will hinder our progress). We will be more independent as well, that’s where we learn to take up our responsibility, towards oneself and others. It seems like a skillful mean to achieve higher purposes in Dharma, and we should owe our gratitude none other than Rinpoche Himself. Millions thanks to Rinpoche for this brilliant idea.
Thank You Pastor Jean Ai for the sharing, though we are not there to witness, but your sharing allows us to feel the experience of Rinpoche care for His student. Supportive environment really able to help us on levels we might not be able to do alone, and staying with like-minded people able to encourage each other as we share they same goal, especially in Dharma.
Thank you Pastor Jean Ai for the article.
It is true that if like minded people stays together, lesser distractions will bring about better and conducive environment to learn the Dharma more.
Thank you Pastor Jean Ai for the sharing. Rinpoche is always so caring about everyone 🙂 It is so good to be are surrounded by like-minded people who share the same goals and learning dharma together. If I do not remember wrongly, Pastor Yek Yee has once told me that all her housemates have become the pastors. It is so powerful to stay together in a community to learn dharma.