My VW beetle
Dear Friends,
I have always been partial to Volkswagon beetles. When I lived in Los Angeles back in the 80’s before taking my ordination as a monk, I drove around in a blue 1972 beetle. It didn’t have a lot of power nor could it go up slopes as I use to backslide but I had a car to use and it got me around. I was appreciative of that. I use to get tickets on the freeway for going too slow because it just didn’t have any speed. LOL. Yeah, you can get tickets for that too I found out back then.
Recently here in the USA, Tsem Rinpoche Foundation, Inc took a loan and purchased a second hand used Volkswagon beetle for me. On behalf of the Foundation Jp Thong made the arrangements. The car arrived last night and Pastor Jean Ai blessed the car for me at my request. I was appreciative of that. I took the car for a ride and it can go up hills, slopes and has pick up. It is a 2012 Volkswagon so it’s two years old but in good condition. I like it and I fit in it too. It was a surprise to me that my head has a lot of room when I sit in the car. Most small cars would be a hopeless case for me to fit due to my height throughout my life. My knees would be crammed up to the dashboard but not in the beetle. Now I’ll be driving around California in my beetle!
I thought I’d share the pictures with everyone. A beetle is a very Californian lifestyle car and I am now Californian!
Tsem Rinpoche
I have people to drive me around most of the time but sometimes I drive myself too.
I like white cars.
Pastor Jean Ai blessing the car that arrived last night.
I had a Buddha placed on the dashboard. Everyone should have one to bless your journey.
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
A beautiful white car indeed . Looking at the pictures of Rinpoche in the car smiling tells us a thousand words. So so Rinpoche did own this beautiful car VW and Rinpoche did go around with it.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Dear Rinpoche,
The car looks nice, however, it seems small for Rinpoche still.
Better to have SP or JP drive you around in a bigger car 😛
Do come back soon, Rinpoche.
I miss you dearly. Hope Rinpoche is eating well there.
Its a nice car but I prefer the older, rounder beetles made before 2011. I bought a 2002 model a couple years ago and it is in very good condition. I plan to add wheels like yours and redo the paint so it looks brand new.
Really beautiful car . Really can felt that Rinpoche like this car and appreciate what the team have done for him .
好感谢JP 和Pastor Jean Ai 的帮忙,为仁波切找到一辆仁波切喜欢和满意的车子! 不懂为何, 看到仁波切高兴和快乐, 我也跟着高兴!
Thank you for the sharing Rinpoche.The new Beetle is a fantastic car to drive and a real head turner.The current engine is much more powerful compare those in the 70’s.Great choice!
I remember having owned an old beetle Volks car some 50years ago, with its engine at the back. It was a tough and reliable car which didn’t give trouble as long as you feed it with enough petrol and water! With today’s unique modern technology, I am sure Rinpoche will enjoy a pure driving sensation and pleasure with the Volk’s supreme agility, and flexisteer too. Today’s cars are made for the drivers’ pleasure and enjoyment before destinations! Happy motoring Rinpoche.
Cute car!! When at first glance , it looked like a toy car for Rinpoche but when i saw Rinpoche at the wheel it looks quite spacious. I am sure this car can serve the purpose of Rinpoche well. My first car was a second hand beige colour Volkswagen in the 70s, easy maintenance, no need water and no air-condition too but it had served me well.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing your background information about you and VW cars 🙂 i am happy that Rinpoche is happy and i am also happy that Rinpoche now has his own car to go around with. I hope that Rinpoche uses the car well. It looks like a good car 🙂
wow nice car
It looks like you are a knight on a white horse going out to rescue living beings. Drive carefully. 🙂
I was going through all the pictures again and again.
I thought to me ” how nice if i too be getting and cool ride like this!” and imagine an image of myself sitting in the car and the grin on my face similar to Rinpoche’s smile in those picture above! Then I remember an article that I read about the difference of contaminated aggregates and uncontaminated aggregates. My bubble burst! : (
Dear Rinpoche, I love Rinpoche’s new car very much. It matches Rinpoche very well. As I remember, Jean Mei also have a Volkswagen Bee but hers is red in colour. I feel happy for Rinpoche’s. May Rinpoche always stay safe wherever Rinpoche goes and I’m also glad that Rinpoche has finally found a car that Rinpoche can drive comfortable in.
Dear Rinpoche, I was so curious what made of car that JP picked up for you the other day and now I see it. Very nice car and it looks new! So happy to see that how delight you are driving it from these photos. I also see the Buddha you placed on the dash board. I would like to thank you again for your blessing and the Buddha you gave me for me to place on my dash board.
Enjoy driving in California and to help those who are so lucky to have met you in the US.
Yes May Lin, you lucky girl as Rinpoche gave you the car Buddha statue just like the one he has on his own VW. How blessed!
I’m happy Rinpoche has a car to drive around. I like the new models of the VW.
Wow, really like this white shinning twin door VW Beetle, it’s so classic and cool. Everytime I glance at the VW Beetle, it reminds me of the good old 70’s. Glad to see Rinpoche on wheels. Thank you JP and everyone who has made this happened. Have a safe drive Rinpoche and hope to hear more from you . With Folded Hands
Thanks RInpoche for sharing what’s happening in US & Tsem Rinpoche Foundation.
So happy that Rinpoche has found a car to move around and comfortable for Rinpoche to sit in. Thank you JP & the US team.
With this Beetle, Rinpoche are more convenient to move around and spreading the Dharma. Thank you so much Rinpoche!
I am happy Rinpoche is okay in America, that car looks cool! I am also glad that Rinpoche likes the car. Looks like Rinpoche is having fun :). Thank you for sharing Rinpoche. Have fun!
The car so beautiful and enjoy the driving moment.
Thanks.
Dear Rinpoche very cool white VW Beetle. Enjoy your drive.
I am so happy for Rinpoche to have a white beautiful car. May the car serves Rinpoche well during the journey in US.
Dear Rinpoche,
Beetle is always my dream car. Now Rinpoche is driving a Beetle!! Oh my Buddha! I used to owned a 70s Beetle, when I just got my driving license. It was a very old car, no power and yeah it went backward instead going forward when going up the slope, hahah… But it’s a good car to drive to school and I had lots of funny experience with this car. It’s really worth buying Beetle in US because it’s very super cheap compare to Malaysia. In KL I can never afford to have a Beetle. If I do have a chance to be in US i will definitely get one in GREEN BEETLE. Pastor Chia, Li Kheng and I will be driving around and imagine ourselves as California Green Girls.
I am very very happy that Rinpoche found a car that Rinpoche likes at the same time giving Rinpoche comfortable space inside the car. I never like driving around in KL. But I love driving my proton to Kechara Forest Retreat every morning. I enjoyed the scenery along the way. Not only that, i always feel very light and happy along this journey. I missed the time when Li Kheng, Joy, Seng Piow and myself going around Bentong buying plants and trees with Rinpoche for Kechara Forest Retreat and Rinpoche named us Green Girls. We have no idea how to plant even a sapling but with the trust in Rinpoche, we know we would make it.
Rinpoche, hope to see you soon in KFR.
Thanks for sharing the news Rinpoche.. Love the car and white is always my favorite. It’s nice to be able to move around sometimes without having to depend on others. Enjoy your ride!
It is so cool Rinpoche! Enjoy your drive.
This is a wonderful car. I think that this is wonderful as it allows for more transportation. I bet the roads are friendlier in America.
I love it! What a darling little car. Beetles are so cool 😀
great founding!
Only one word that came to my mind….Stylish! May the precious Dharma spreads far and wide.
The new generation of Volks has indeed come a long way without losing much of its body shape. My first car too was a green colored Volks in the 70s. Yes, back then the engine was in the back and it did not have a radiator for water cooling.
It is good that the car has ample leg and head room for Rinpoche to drive in comfortably.599
I remembered your green VW vividly. It was such a ‘wow’ thing back then and I even remember you taking your very young cousin then for a drive. I was so excited!
Wow, very cool white VW Beetle, looks small but actually is spacious and comfortable! Thank you JP for making the arrangement.
Thank you Rinpoche for always sharing with us precious teachings and new news through blog.
So glad that Rinpoche has found a beauty that fit! It really looks small and I’m surprised that is is so spacious. Thank you JP for arranging it and Pastor Jean Ai for blessings it! How cool is it to blessed our Lama’s car!
Thank you Rinpoche for always sharing and updating all of us on what’s happening in the USA and Tsem Rinpoche Foundation. I cannot imagine Rinpoche in a Beetle but it does look spacious. The Beetle is like a very big small car…lol. Thank you JP for making the arrangement and Pastor Jean Ai for doing the car blessing.
Nostalgic. Growing up in the 70’s, used to ride in vw 3rd class seat (inside luggage compartment) with my younger brother. Had a good time waving to everybody from there. How my late father would open the back ‘boot’ for the custom officer in Penang and see the shock on their faces! So, am very partial to the beetle.
Great ride, Rinpoche. May Rinpoche have a smooth ride wherever the journey is.
This white beetle looks brand new too. Happy for Rinpoche to be able to use his own car to drive around in California. It looks very sleek, stylish, roomy headroom and suitable for long legs.
Love the new wheels Rinpoche! Yes, I have always admired the Beetle myself, it’s a neat looking car. May the car take you to many places around California.
That is a beauty, Rinpoche! Love it! My dad used to own a VW Beetle back in the 70s. As a young kid, I was confused with why it had an engine at the back. 😛
Sharon, let me assure you, the engine is VERY much in the front when it comes to this car hehe
mario cassinoni 1058