He would push their buttons
Dear Everyone,
You absolutely MUST READ this short article. It says so much about Lama Yeshe. I loved him since I was young. I would read about him and just cry. I connected with him and his style so much. I wanted to be him when I grew up. I still do. I know I can never be as great as him, but I still want to be him. He is a rare attained being who is ahead of his time for sure. He did what other monks/Tibetans said he couldn’t or shouldn’t do. He did it and was successful in changing lives for the better. Thank you Lama Yeshe.
This short article is so touching. He pushes people’s buttons as he is legendary for doing. I’ve heard some people would leave when he did that and some would come back later. Some wouldn’t.
Lama Yeshe will even sell his mala to make enough to support his people. He would plant lots of green and also be ‘demanding’ in his skillful ways to train people….He would be a master mimic and mimic his students and their mannerisms to get them to laugh at themselves and each other. To help them let go. To not be tight.
Lama Yeshe has all the qualities I admire. I reproduced this article here because I want the whole wide world to know HOW WONDERFUL Lama Yeshe was. I miss him although I didn’t have much interaction with him at all. I just met him once. But it left a powerful impact on me. I have been reading up on him for decades. Will continue to. I have left the link from where this is extracted from below. Please go to the link for much more articles. Please read from the link. It is a treasure trove of love, enlightenment, laughs, lessons and inspirations.
Thank you Adele Hulse for writing all this up. In your writing Lama Yeshe continues to bless us with his inspiration!
Tsem Rinpoche
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by biglovelamayeshe on April 6, 2013
From 1973: First Steps First Students by Adele Hulse, Big Love author:
Before going to Kopan as suggested, Steven Levy had called in to see Lama Yeshe at Tushita in August to make sure that Lama still wanted a gardener.
“He reached under his little meditation table and pulled out a gardening trowel,” Steven recalled. “‘You know how to use this? We’ll talk more when you come to Nepal,’ he said. I was amazed that he even remembered me. When I got to the monastery, Yeshe Khadro was in the office. I told her that Lama had told me to come but I didn’t have any money. She told me I had to work for my keep and could sleep in the storeroom. It was pretty awful.
“Then Lama showed up. Every day Max would return from Kathmandu with her Jeep full of plants. When Lama came downstairs after breakfast, he was all business. It was always, ‘What are you doing? Why did you do that? Where are Mummy’s plants? Where do you think this one should go? What about this tree? Lama is busy now…see you later!’ I’d be left wandering around trying to work out where to put things. I’d dig a hole and then he would suddenly show up again, demanding, ‘You think this is good place? Are you sure?’ The minute he said that, I’d say, ‘Weeellll…’ and he’d immediately jump on me. ‘You’re not sure? When you are sure, Lama will come back!’
“Every time I planted something he’d ask if I was sure. When I said I was, he’d say, ‘But are you sure that you are sure?’ And we’d both crack up laughing. That laugh of Lama’s was so infectious…it was like sonar, laser. I’d like to have a tape of Lama’s laugh to listen to forever. But he was heavy, too. I would dig a dozen holes for some plants. ‘Why are you putting that plant there?’ I’d remind him that hours earlier we had both agreed on that spot. ‘Do you think that Lama doesn’t know what he said? Put the plant over here!’ I’d move it back and forth, back and forth, and then he’d want it back in the original position. It seemed like he was testing me, seeing how far he could push me. He’d say, ‘Let’s dig here!’ I’d say, ‘No, I’ll dig that,’ and he’d give me a firm, loving shove with his shoulder, grab the shovel and say, ‘No, Lama will dig!’ I was thirty-two years old and he was only six years older, but he was like a father or even a grandfather. I felt like a child. He was ageless. His male mothering fed so many neglected, untouched, unloved places within me.”
Anila Ann watched how Lama interacted with everyone. “He climbed into our skins to find out what made us tick and mimicked our body language and mannerisms. He was just hilarious. If I was unhappy and feeling low, he’d find some way to make me feel valued. When he’d fixed me up, he’d turn to the next needy person and maybe do exactly the same thing with them, while I was still there. He’d flick an eye over at me to make sure I was getting it. Lama was just as skillful in showing us our negative traits as our positive qualities.
“He seemed to know intuitively when people were arriving and what had happened to them. I read his mail for him and he often knew what it contained before being told. Or he’d say to me, ‘Marcel is here—I can always tell when Marcel is here.’ I’d look out the window and there would be Marcel, coming out of his retreat hut. ‘Magic’ is the only word I have for it.
“Another example: We were always late getting to the airport with no time to spare at all, the other cars having already gone and Lama not quite ready every time. Finally, Lama would climb into the rotten little Nepali taxi and the driver would pump the ignition but it wouldn’t start! Lama couldn’t drive at all, but he’d lean over and turn the key and it would start right up, every time. ‘Okay, let’s go!’ he’d say, precluding any kind of conversation about what he’d just done.”
Lama also kept his eye on the money and gave Yeshe Khadro the job of accountant. “He was very astute,” she remembered. “He checked every transaction. When the tiny building I used as an office was pulled down and Pete Northend began building a big new kitchen/dining room complex in 1974, it was assumed that the larger of the two spare rooms would be the office. But no, Lama said it had to become a coffee shop. Shops make money, he told us, not offices.” And Lama Yeshe needed money. How else was he going to feed and support the growing number of young monks?
Money was always a big subject. Once when Anila Ann and Lama Lhundrup were greeting Lama Yeshe at Kathmandu airport, some American tourists came over and took their photos. Then they admired the lamas’ malas. “They aren’t for sale, are they?” They most certainly were and an excellent price was obtained. While they were haggling, however, Anila Ann drifted out of sight. She was sentimentally attached to her mala and had no intention of selling it.
Source: http://biglovelamayeshe.wordpress.com/2013/04/06/work-at-kopan/
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So touching reading article again. Lama Yeshe a rare attained being indeed giving inspiration to many , leaving a legacy . He was one of the most beloved Tibetan Buddhist masters of the late twentieth century. He was co-founded Kopan Monastery (1969) and the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (1975). He followed the Gelug tradition, and was considered unconventional in his teaching style. He is legendary pushes people’s buttons in his teaching similar to Tsem Rinpoche’s teachings . All the pushing is for the students to be better in life. We are indeed fortunate to have Rinpoche at Kechara Forest Retreat , Malaysia . Many of us have benefited from Rinpoche’s teachings .
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Lama Yeshe, was a Tibetan lama, who made a huge significant contribution to the history of Tibetan Buddhism in the West. He had brought genuine transformation to arise deeply in their hearts and minds. He was considered unconventional in his teaching style and similar to Tsem Rinpoche’s . He had changed many lives for the better.
What ever Lama Yeshe do there is always a reason behind it, same goes to our guru….Rinpoche . Rinpoche wanted us to move forward and improve to be a better person. We should be glad Rinpoche had pushed our buttons to where we are today. We are so fortunate to have Rinpoche, learned and practice under Rinpoche here in Malaysia.
Thank you Rinpoche for this touching article on Lama Yeshe.
There is definitely a lot of similarity between Lama Yeshe and Tsem Rinpoche. Both pushes people’s buttons. Some stayed and progressed, others left, some left and later came back. Both are like father figure feeding the many neglected, untouched, unloved places within me. Always testing, always pushing but always caring. Not easy to understand why but equally hard to find fault.
The guru makes me see my reflection and that reflection is not always nice. People who let us be doesn’t mean they accept us for who we are. It is more likely it takes too much effort and time to care and to do something about it. The Guru takes the time and makes the effort even though I may find it annoying. Deep down inside I know my Guru is right though I’m too stubborn to admit it.
Money is always a big issue but not in the worldly way. There is never enough money because the Guru never keeps or retains money. There is the never ending stream of sentient beings to help. There is no limit to the scope either. It could be feeding a stray dog on the street, to buying a whole months food and household supply for someone, to paying someone’s debt, to taking care of medical bills, to making offerings to monasteries, and the list goes on and on. There is nothing a real Guru would not give away for Dharma, for taking away the suffering of others.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing. I heard from senior students that Tsem Rinpoche is also similar to Lama Yeshe, using the skillful ways to train students.
A real guru like Lama Yeshe and Tsem Rinpoche is not our worldly friend, they are our real friend, a dangerous friend to our ego. A real friend wants us to become better, so at times they may say things that we dont like to hear, but are good advice that if we apply in our lives, we will become better, in all aspects. While friends who are not real, they will only say things that we like to hear, so that they can always get some favor from us because their words make us happy thus we welcome their company, but at the end of the day, they are of no use to us, they are only friends when they need something from us, when we are in trouble, they are gone. Therefore we have to be wise to choose who we want to be together in our lives, a friend/guru that would push our buttons, are true friend/guru that we should keep close to us like precious jewels.
In a crux,Beng Kooi has summed up what our dear Rinpoche is.Like Lama Yeshe, he is in essence the Buddha,father,mother all.Rinpoche’s pushing his buttons is to skillfully help us effectively n quickly transform
ourselves to be better people n to ultimately reach buddhahood,to realize the Buddha nature in us. To Rinpoche,time is short n precious for all of us. His button pushing helps us to get rid of our big ego,fear,laziness n other faults which not only bring us suffering n unhappiness but also hinder us from gaining enlightenment. Our Rinpoche is ‘all mine to give’ to benefit us despite being riddled with pain always. This shows his great love n care for us. Thus those who are close to him to have their buttons pushed most must have accumulated immense merit in their past lives.Rinpoche is the embodiment of Manjushri.His sole purpose in creating the !4 departments culminating in KFR is nothing but to benefit all sentient beings.If only we could realize…
Lama Yeshe like many other authentic lama as they are just superb motivators and able to get under your skin to dig out that entrenched EGO lol. He is just so much larger than life and just an energy of joy and his laughter from the videos I have so infectious. Can’t wait for his current incarnation to manifest MAGIC again!
Reading this article of Lama Yeshe reminds me so much of my guru, Tsem Rinpoche. They would do anything to challenge our ego. The methods are very creative and innovative. We would never anticipate what our guru has in store for us to help us let go of our attachments.
I believe the key here is to trust our guru. If our guru is to guide us towards realising Enlightenment, why do we not trust him with everything else both secular and spiritual?
This article reminds me of how Tsem Rinpoche treats us. Loving us, yet training us at the same time.
It shows how ones Guru would really push you to your limits just to make you improve yourself.
A good example would be doing a simple job like moving some furniture for your Lama. He would make you move it again after you have done it, it is not to pick on you, but just to help you purify some issues that you may face in the future, or even just to improve a quality in you.
Tsem Rinpoche is never afraid that he would lose a student by somethings that the student does not like. But instead he would do things that may make us feel upset. This is not to put us down, instead is being truthful to us in order to help us improve. Some people may not understand when they see it, but to me, I understand that what rinpoche is doing is just to help us to improve.
If a student can’t take how rinpoche treats us, it only breaks rinpoche’s heart. This is not because he lost a student, instead, he lost a good friend that he cares for.
No one looks forward to their buttons being pushed. But we know it is for our own good and the intention behind is love.
这篇文章写的太好了。它的主题与詹仁波切的作风太像了。当我初“入行”的时侯，与一般人一样，完全不能明白为什么这里的教导与工作方式这么“极端“？ 但当前辈解释一番后，然后观察与分析，再加上亲眼见证仁波切非一般的教导学生的方式，然后见证前辈们的转变与在灵修或个人进展方面的突飞猛进， 不尽让我对上师严格训练五体投地。
任波切给予学生的一些指示，无论大小，都必须尽心尽力去完成与报告， 原因无他，如果我们相信我们的上师， 无论他给予我们的功课小至清洗碗碟，大至兴建庙宇，都有其意义， 或许是训练我们的能力，仰或消除业障。 往往当我们不能接受新的训练方式，代表着我们还存有自私心， 因为我们都爱待在舒适区。上师就是会针对我们的弱点，放大它然后用巧妙的方式让我们去面对自己最不能接受的一些事或人。这是要我们能放开胸襟，别让自己躲在自己设下的局限，阻碍了发展的可能性。这一点，是我在克切拉2年里能深深体会的。我非常感谢上师给予我这个机会去认识自己更多的弱点。
仁波切对学生，工作人员或任何一个需要帮助的人，透过实际的帮助来表达其关怀，是无人能及的。 通过在礼品部门工作，我深深体会上师对于学生，甚至素未谋面的陌生人，仅仅透过网络的交流，上师就能透过赠送礼品（佛法书籍，佛像，唐卡等等）将他的关怀传送到那个人的门前。仁波切强调的关爱，并不止于赠送礼品这么简单。它还包括我们是否有诚信。
There is an endless list that I could add onto the qualities and experiences that Adele Hulse shared above, and something tells me that a student of Lama Yeshe might say, “Oh, Lama Yeshe did that too!”
Those within the Dharma would know that we are to visualize our Guru and Yidam as one. In this case, I truly do believe that both Lama Yeshe and H.E. Tsem Rinpoche are living Buddhas – the real McCoy!
It therefore shouldn’t be a surprise that their tactics are so similar, but it’s somehow extremely touching and I truly rejoice knowing that a group of students (apart from Tsem Rinpoche’s students) got to experience real experiential, practical, hands-on Dharma.
My mother once shared with me that Tsem Rinpoche told her, “I will irk you to enlightenment”. I found that sentence really entertaining and yet intriguing, because I highly doubted that any lama would:
1. Be open enough to say that.
2. Be confident enough to say that.
3. Would even say that at all!
It sure sounds like it sums up how Lama Yeshe pushes his students buttons!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this touching article on Lama Yeshe.
There is a similarities in Lama Yeshe and Rinpoche’s method of training the students. A real Guru will challenge us, test us, and push our buttons; with the intention for us to achieve spiritual enlightenment
We are so grateful and fortunate to Rinpoche for bringing dharma and constantly pushing us to go further, deeper and become more genuine.
Incredible how much Lama Yeshe and all the other high lamas like Tsem Rinpoche can sacrifice for us little beings. If I read this article 3 years back I don’t think I believe much of it simply because I have not personally experienced any of the above 3 years ago.
But reading this article now really reminds me of the many incidents that are similar to those of my Guru, Tsem Rinpoche. For the 3 years I have been in Kechara, every day would be a different experience reminding me always of impermanence. All thanks to the kindness of my Guru.
For those who do not have a Guru or have not come across such a compassionate being, the above article is not some bullshit. It is real happenings everywhere there is a High Lama! Thank you to Lama Yeshe, Tsem Rinpoche and the many Gurus out there who compassionately nurture us to greater heights!
Reading this article remind me of H.E Tsem Rinpoche who has so much similar quality and skilfully train the students. The kindness of the Lama shown very obviously on how much effort the Lama put in to help the students to step on another level and overcome their limitation which eventually able to help others.
All the training pushing the student’s button might result in student leaving the Lama but in any training there is always a hurdle that we need to pass through. Its not the Lama training that is tough but is our laziness to overcome our attachment. Consistently follow through the Lama teaching and training will make us somebody better and the care and love from our Lama we should in return payback by doing more in dharma and benefit more people.
I actually have learn to love this term “pushing one’s buttons”. Being in Dharma, this term actually has a whole new facet to it and it is for me, not a negative connotation… well, to be honest, not anymore. It used to have precisely the desired effect when my buttons were pushed. I would go into a reactionary mode which is exactly why it was done in the first place.
We are often so “secure” in our comfort zones that we rarely challenge ourselves let alone have others challenge us. Hence when your Guru or your Lama does precisely this, it is to make us realize who we truly are inside, minus the “walls” and “facades”.
Sometimes we see or hear of students frustrations because their so called buttons are pushed, but what they do not realize is that, if they did not have those buttons to push, they cannot be pushed, hence, the way I look at it is, if my “buttons” are pushed, its time to get rid of that button and what it turns on! 🙂
This article truly strikes a cord with me deep inside. It is like an account of my experience with Tsem Rinpoche in Kechara. I have buttons the size of an elephant which I was deluded enough to think I hid well. Maybe to many others I may have hid them well, but to my Guru they were glaring like diamonds in the sun. When Rinpoche started with my buttons it was like electric shocks to me. But when it was over I felt relieved and “enlightened”. I felt that I understood myself better than ever before. Rinpoche spends a lot of time with many others and sometimes I have the honor of being present. At those moments, when Rinpoche is teaching them and pressing their buttons I take it as an opportunity as a “refresher” course for me. Most of all have similar issues although we would like to think our issues are exclusive. They are not. We can learn from ourselves and also from others. This is choice we make.
Dear Rinpoche,
I do not know much about Lama Yeshe.
But, from the article above, i sees that Rinpoche seem like Lama Yeshe.
Rinpoche loves all his students,
thus skillfully using every possible methods, Rinpoche bring Dharma to the students.
Sometimes, Rinpoche will push the student button,
sometimes the students are touch with Rinpoche loves.
We are so fortunate to have known and learned under Rinpoche.
Thanks for sharing this article.
Wow Lama Yeshe sounds like an extremely extra ordinary being. As explained by Adele Hulse his ability to be able to push a person to the limit to test them is incredible, yet being able to immediately make someone feel better is beautiful. Tsem Rinpoche really has a lot of similarities with Lama Yeshe, always pushing people to their limit for their benefit to be out of their comfort zone yet still make other people laugh and be happy. I really wonder what Lama Yeshe was like when he was a boy, and the laugh of Lama Yeshe as Adele had describe really got me curious as to what it sounds like haha. Lama Yeshe sounds like a really compassionate and funny Lama.
What a great resemblance to my very own lovely Lama, H.E Tsem Rinpoche. The skillful ways used to train or to motivate by Rinpoche resembles what Lama Yeshe uses too.
Dear Rinpoche, both You and Lama Yeshe are my heroes, my heart, my biggest inspiration, my Refuge. This is such a lovely post! Thank You!!
I read before that a guru who “crushes your pride and makes this worldly life completely miserable is something that you ask for. He is the assassin, he is the man or woman whom you have hired to completely dismantle you.”
There are many methods that a Guru will use to “dismantle” us, with only one focus, to help one to the path of emptiness of self/ ego, the process of surrendering of the ego to a deeper aspect of our nature that is transforming us. We often read of Guru who crushes his/her students’ pride by giving them difficult assignments, or pushing their buttons repeatedly, as the means to purify them of ego motivations and attachment.
A Guru has to be very skilful in combating our habits of dualistic conceptualisations, and the tricks of our ego-clinging or self-cherishing. It is a very difficult job as the Guru has to assess each of us, our hang ups, our fear, our likes/dislikes and customise a ‘program’ to train us up. Mimicking us is like a mirror that shows us who we are, and knowing that who we perceive as permanent or our characteristics are not permanent/unchangeable, even we ourselves are not as permanent as we think we are.
It is inspiring to read about this student of Lama Yeshe, who shares with us her Lama’s training ‘program’ for her, and also insights into what modern Lamas have to do – taking care of secular affairs of the organisation/students (fundraise/ think of ways to self-sustain etc) on top training the students up spiritually. It is great also to rejoice that fortunate students like Adele and my fellow Dharma brothers/ sister (and myself) are under the wings of great compassionate Lamas who has allowed us into their mandalas to be trained and care for on our spiritual path.
Reading this article, it sounds very familiar to me. Whatever Lama Yeshe did on his students indeed is very similar to Guru Rinpoche does on us. I admitted that I was confused and misunderstood Guru Rinpoche’s intention in very beginning but I think I understand Guru Rinpoche better now and follow Rinpoche’s instruction closely with open heart and without any doubt. Thank You Rinpoche.
After reading Lama Yeshe article, i like his approach dharma to his student just like similar of Tsem Rinpoche using the modern way approach dharma to us.
Beside that,Lama Yeshe also skillful way push his student buttons over come to their weaknesses. How kind and compassion of him helping his student. Although i never meet Lama Yeshe, but i can see so many point of H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche using the same way teaching dharma to us.Thank you rinpoche sharing this wonderful article to all of us.
When I read about how Rinpoche described Lama Yeshe, I immediately thought of Rinpoche! Hehe it is like as though Rinpoche is describing himself. Hehe. I believe all attained Lamas shares similar qualities.. Caring and loving us in ways we sometimes do not comprehend.. But it is all for the benefit of ourselves.
Rinpoche is like Lama Yeshe is so many ways! Love us, care for us, sometimes challenges us so that we can better ourselves, and help us, etc etc. A Guru never stops caring!
How I wish I have the good fortune to meet Lama Yeshe and be blessed. No matter, planted the seed now so that in future I can meet Him! Hehe
Thank you for sharing, Rinpoche!
Yes, Tsem Rinpoche’s method is very similar to Lama Yeshe. I agree with what Adeline Woo has said “they are NORMAL and we are absolutely ABNORMAL! All these great being will do all the way to push our button, to train us and help us no matter what happened. The only issue is we must always have faith and trust with our Guru. If not we will we create the obstacle for ourselves and it will also very hard for us follow his teaching. Although the intention from our lama is good but we will look at negative way.
There are no difference between Lama Yeshe and our Tsem Rinpoche, both Lamas would push others’ buttons. People who can take it, they will stay; people who can’t, they will leave. Even though it may upset some people, but the Lama always does it for a reason and the reason was never to hurt us but to make us a better person.
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
Tsem Rinpoche is a perfect example of a great teacher who knows both the gross level methods as well as subtle level methods to train his students and liaisons, just like Lama Yeshe. Why do I say this?
We are currently undergoing dharmic management training and methods used by Lama and is reflective on the training methods that our HOD is using ie. Paul Yap, a Liaison to Rinpoche. We were given tasks to carry out, observed, feedback from others, suggestive improvements for the person via observation of response and actions taken. I call these gross level training methods.
In subtle methods, we were probed questions after questions asking us “what do you think about this?”, or “what can we do about this?” or “how do you plan to resolve this?” etc.This questioning process makes us think about finding ways to solve the issue ourself or with the team together. Whoever who volunteered to take charge of the project is trained to be responsible for the results of it. The end result may not matter too much but it’s the effort and thoughts that count at the end.
These gross and subtle methods may appear as samsaric worldly methods but what underlies the dharmic training is to enable us to watch our mind and how it works on us and this is reflected in how we react to others to,achieve the results we want. How much effort we put into the project is reflected upon the results achieved. That is my understanding.
I am really appreciative of dharma training methods in both gross and subtle level to get into our minds to help us see who we actually are, what we are lack of, what improvements we need and move forward to be better people, be effective for others and achieve much, much more for ourself and others. I am fortunate to be able to receive such precious training from our HOD and Tsem Rinpoche, who is definitely a living Buddha.
May Tsem Rinpoche live long to teach and guide many more leaders who can be like him, so we may benefit many more beings.
Dear Rinpoche, I am not trying to be rude I just want to ask Rinpoche this question ‘How many great Lamas have Rinpoche met in this life? Lama Yeshe is very funny skilled to me. Is a very good decision that Anila Ann made about selling her mala. I remember once my father told me that mala is very precious, you shouldn’t sell it or give it to someone.
This article was so nice, that we can know more about Lama Yeshe.
It is like same as Tsem Rinpoche, that always keep pushing button on us, that want us transform to be a better person.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful post to us.
This article was so nice, that we can know more about Lama Yeshe.
It is like same as Tsem Rinpoche, that always keep pushing button on us, that want us transform to be a better person.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful post to us.
Sorry, use wrong name as Albert…
Both of the Lamas, Lama Yeshe and H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche are not different. Their motivations are completely PURE for their students and other beings.
The word ‘Pushing Buttons’ sounds hard for our deluded minds at the beginning BUT the reasons for the Lamas to put it into action it’s because of Their unconditional love, care and concern for Their students, so The Lamas have no choice but to bear with it! Thank You Rinpoche. 🙂
It’s very fortunate for me to have met Tsem Rinpoche! And after so many years of being loved, cared and ‘trained’ by Him, it has helped me to
overcome my ego and selfishness and became a better human being.
My wish to my lovely Lama, ‘Please Live Long Rinpoche and May All Your Wishes Come True!’
Lama Yeshe was a very well-loved great Teacher, especially to most western Dharma student and friends, whom he has taught/or given lectures to in many western audiences. For most people, though it was their first-ever encounter with a Tibetan Lama,it was nevertheless said to have enjoyed the very frank give and take attitude of these lively and exciting exchanges! Apparently, Lama Yeshe was repoted to have handled every thing with a good sense of humour, aplomb and compassion. Like Lama Yeshe always reminded, he wished to use these talks or lectures as mirrors for our minds to look beyond words, find our true selves and become our own “PSYCHOLOGISTS”. Our Rinpoche has a great and deep respect for him, and always speak well of him with the highest admiration!
In an older blog post Rinpoche wrote he wanted to be a combination of the great Mahasiddha Lama Yeshe and HH the Dalai Lama when Rinpoche was a child. I remembered that clearly because I thought to myself, everything that describes Lama Yeshe’s qualities describes my guru Tsem Rinpoche now. If Rinpoche was not as how Rinpoche was in the younger days, Rinpoche successfully become what Rinpoche wished for. This example is alike how we pray to the Buddhas so that we can possess the qualities of the Buddhas.
“His male mothering fed so many neglected, untouched, unloved places within me.” It’s been said children can take on their parent’s characteristics. Imagine being brought up under Lama or Rinpoche’s care from young. What amazing kids they will turn out to be. There are students of Rinpoche who do possess some qualities of Rinpoche and that is really inspiring. It must be all the buttons Rinpoche has pushed throughout the years and shall continue pushing. You can see their minds transform for those who are close to the lama.
What I see clearly is both teachers will do anything no matter how trivial and mundane to benefits their students and to make the dharma grow. Pushing their buttons is just one of them 🙂
Yes reading this article makes me smile. Makes me think of my Lama. Remember a senior student told me her guru will always makes things difficult for others… I wonder why did a Guru makes things difficult for others? A guru suppose to be compassionate, why he wants to make people’s life difficult? The senior student answered:”Yes, Rinpoche will always things ‘difficult’ for you.” …I don’t get the meaning. Later when I learn a bit more and understand that a guru is not making things difficult for the students actually, he or she just doing his/her job as a guru.
The make things difficult saying links somewhere to this push the button story…A guru is teaching or showing a student his/her own mind thru skilful means, instead of telling the deep and difficult to digest theory how our mind works…
From this article and all others people’s sharing, we know that there’s no one more compassionate and patience than our guru, there’s no one cares more than a guru to his/her students/others.
The last sentence of the author on how Anila Ann “drifted out of sight…”is funny. I like that, hahaha.
…Open up ourself so our guru could uses his/her ways to train us, so we could receive the most benefits from it.
Thank you Rinpoche share this story about Lama Yeshe. After read this article , Lama Yeshe and Rinpoche are similar , very compassion , care and always thinking how to benefit others. By pushing button , we can learn more things and found our talent . I always keep remind myself what Rinpoche said that ” don’t stay at comfort zone ” and must “unlearn and relearn ” . Thank you again Rinpoche gave a lot of Dharma Teachings to us .
This is the best way to push one to the limit with the intention to break one’s mental barrier. It is all boil down to the matter of whether one can take it or not, if not, than it is too bad. It shows that one has surrendered himself to the dark side.
Lama Yeshe and Tsem Rinpoche have so many similarities. Tsem Rinpoche always pushed the button of his students and made them realised how their mind worked. From there they’ll learn to control it. At the same time, His love for students is much greater than a father can give. Thank you, Rinpoche
When I read this article, I feel it is so familiar!!!Where is my feeling from…???Lolll, the reason is very simple because our Guru Tsem Rinpoche also same, Rinpoche have same good qualities with Lama Yeshe, like to push student button and do not fear to press their button.
Lama Yeshe out of his compassion push his student button for their own benefits. The way Lama used to train his student seem like unreasonable…but if the student passed the “exam” that will be another level for the student!
Like all other high lama, Lama Yeshe will try his best to help his student, the only reason is make sure it is can benefit the student in present or in future.
Our Tsem Rinpoche also used this skillful method to help his student, Rinpoche didn’t care about his own reputation, sometime may be misunderstanding by his own students, however Rinpoche still continue do as a Guru should do. It is same like Lama Yeshe, just want to help the student and make sure he or she OK.
The Buddha always full of compassion help all the sentient being without any agenda. That why we called them real Guru!
After reading this article i find that the similarities between Lama Yeshe and Tsem Rinpoche is their great compassion. They both have their skillful means to push people’s buttons and they did this is because they cared for their students well beings very much. They pushed our buttons continuously to wake us up from the sleep of delusion and lead us to the right path… eventually to enlightenment.
All the actions of Lama Yeshe, fondly reminds me of my own memories of Rinpoche and stories heard relating to Rinpoche. It is all too familiar. I guess when the motivation of an attained lama such as Lama Yeshe and Tsem Rinpoche is to purely benefit the student, their actions would be the same, so evidently recorded here in this beautiful piece of writing.
It seems like the age of degeneration has “downgraded” lamas into upholding secular roles. I see it with my guru who sits in meetings, deals with contractors, looks into accounts, finds sponsorship and funds to maintain students (like Lama Yeshe selling his mala to support the young monks), be at the site, build, oversee etc. in addition to teaching the Dharma and gently guiding students in their spiritual transformation.
Reading this article exemplifies that the methods used by Rinpoche to teach us is not uncommon in the Tibetan tradition and what it is like to be in the presence of a teacher. What we find funny or weird, is just perfectly normal to a lama or in another culture, because your lama is here to teach you to let go of perceptions and fixed expectations. I see the similarities in the methods used between Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe and it only serves to highlight to me that both are highly attained lamas tirelessly working to benefit others. Otherwise, why would they even bother with trying to “find out what ticks us”, and use our very own weakness to teach and guide us? Very simple. It is just for us, nothing else..
There are so many similarities between how Lama Yeshe used skilful means towards his students, and how Tsem Rinpoche teaches and guides his students. Reading this article makes me think about all the different ways Rinpoche is also training us during the building of Kechara Forest Retreat (http://retreat.kechara.com)
For instance, Rinpoche:
– Buys loads of greens and tells us where to plant them
– Assigns tasks to people whom you didnt know would be able to perform said tasks
– Rearranges furniture over and over again
– Tells us what to build and where to build it
– Oversees the design of every single square foot of KFR
– Cooks breakfast/lunch/dinner/supper for the students and makes sure we eat
– Walks around the 35 acre daily, making sure everything is as it should be
– Watches over finances
– Forewarns us of what dangers are approaching, and how to avoid it
– Uses every aspect of building KFR as an opportunity to make us face our negative qualities, and overcome them
– And that’s just part of what Rinpoche does for us at KFR.
Every day is a surprise, a learning experience, for those of us who are fortunate enough to be trained by Rinpoche. Every action, every word, every SMS, every instruction, carries with it a higher motivation and greater purpose. And only by following the instructions of the Guru, will we be transported to a higher state of being and happiness. So no matter how awkward or uncomfortable the button-pushing may be, I for one, accept gratefully and happily.
Lama Yeshe built Kopan, Tsem Rinpoche will build Kechara Forest Retreat. As as how Kopan has benefitted so many, so will Kechara Forest Retreat.
I really enjoyed this article because of the honesty and similarities between the two lamas . I especially love this description : ” but he was like a father or even a grandfather. I felt like a child. He was ageless. His male mothering fed so many neglected, untouched, unloved places within me.” For me , i have never met a person in all my life that can be both , my Mother and Father all in one ! How fortunate i am to have met such a Guru .
读完这篇文章后,我可以说喇嘛耶喜和詹杜固仁波切都是在做着相同的事情,两位上师的共同点都是用不同的方式在不同的地点训练学生以及弟子们把佛法融入生活里,好让我们可以真正的实践佛法,从而达到了解与反复思考我们的所作所为。
被按”死穴”并不是一件坏事,没有慧根的人会觉得是一件丢人现眼的事情,但是我觉得这才是上师真正显现他们慈悲的一面去渡化我们。这是上师从不放弃弟子们的一个仁慈的举动,上师从不觉得累,总是想尽方法让我们可以更精进的实践佛法。
喇嘛耶喜和詹杜固仁波切都拥有相同的特质,那就是对待身边的弟子拥有强大的包容心与慈悲心。谢谢仁波切的分享,让我在一次的提醒自己要有强烈的上师依止心,还有上师对我们从来没有要求任何的回报,我们更加不能对上师有任何的要求。
被点”死穴”其实是在斩处我们的我执,没有了我执,我们的人生必定能够过的好。
There are many many similarities between H.E. Tsem Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe, both of this teacher pushes the students’ buttons a lot, extremely clairvoyance and will sell anything for the dharma and his students.
Lama Yeshe has created Kopan Monastery in Nepal, whereas H.E. Tsem Rinpoche has created Kechara in Malaysia, and at the moment is building Kechara Forest Retreat to spread the dharma wider and further so that many more people in this region will benefited.
May all the high lamas have long life and turn the wheel of dharma, and many more renown teacher will be born from the institutions created by these lama!
Every time when I read Lama Yeshe stories about the methods he used with his students it remind me about H.E.Tsem Rinpoche as Rinpoche also uses different skillful ways with students in order to help students to improve and transform their minds for the progressing of spiritual path.
Rinpoche teased some students with what they should improve to the point they could take it easy and didn’t hold on it like before. Rinpoche changed furniture in house within few months and it involved with lot of moving and opinions and many times he just told us the funny stories which made us laugh like mad and I just wondered how Rinpoche can figured out all those funny stories etc. All of his actions are from his great compassion no matter how it has been shown out, for the benefit of students and others including people whom Rinpoche never met or seen before like the beggars at the road side.
Reading this story totally relates me to Rinpoche because since the time that I first met Rinpoche till now I have gotten so many gifts from Rinpoche as well as I have been taken care by Rinpoche, taken out to places with Rinpoche and reading this story it is somewhat exactly how Rinpoche likes to tease me, joke with me as well as play around with me.
It’s amazing how Lama Yeshe would really push Max and his students to their MAX by making them move plants from one spot to another spot and then again to another place as well as always asking Max whether he was sure that that particular spot was the right spot to plant that certain plant.
I absolutely laughed so hard at a few parts of the story….
1: “dig a hole and then he would suddenly show up again, demanding, ‘You think this is good place? Are you sure?’ The minute he said that, I’d say, ‘Weeellll…’ and he’d immediately jump on me. ‘You’re not sure? When you are sure, Lama will come back!”
2: “Every time I planted something he’d ask if I was sure. When I said I was, he’d say, ‘But are you sure that you are sure?”
I felt so touched to know that even Lama Yeshe would sell his own Mala just to make enough money to support his people.
This story has so many relations of Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe that I have observed.
1: Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe have totally no attachments to their very own stuff such as their Holy Items and both Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe are always ready to sell their own Private Items just to keep their Respective Dharma Centers have all it’s bills, debts and etc all paid.
2: Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe are always on the look out to see if their students are wary, tired or just feeling a bit down and both Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe will always find a way to cheer a student up.
3: Both Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe always have that special power to know what would happen/ who will be coming/ etc even before it has really happened.
(Take the example of one of the latest stories posted on this blog about the waterfall feature that was being constructed in Rinpoche’s Forest Ladrang in Kechara Forest Retreat, the constructors assigned to this project were taking a bit to long to finish up the project and Rinpoche noticed the shoddy work and sensed something bad about to happen and immediately told Henry and Beng Kooi to tell the contractors to stop anymore work to be done and all the contractors and workers to clear of as fast as possible and true enough the very next day at around 6:40 PM the whole waterfall feature collapsed luckily nobody was near the feature and nobody was injured. Read it all here:http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/personal-attendant/the-collapse-of-waterfall-feature.html)
So many other ways that both Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe use are related but I guess my comment is already tooooooo long.
Thank You Rinpoche for sharing this short yet very touching story of Lama Yeshe.
Love
Jutika
感谢上師与我们分享这遍文章，让我们明白一位教授灵性修行的上師与世俗一般老师所敎授的分别。
世俗老师教导我们如何在这一世生活得好的生活技能，及做个好公民。可是尊贵的上師敎授衆生珍惜今世，也准备来世。上師绞尽脑汁让弟子明白彿法，无非是要我们离苦得乐，解脱輪迥之苦。
既然皈依了上师， 就应该听从。 因为上师有一双慧眼， 可以很清楚看到我们的潜能, 可以有百发百中的方法推动我们从舒适的睡床上唤醒！
I find the story of Lama Yeshe similar to H.E Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, the way both guru teaches their students has striking similarities to push their students to the max to bring the best out of them so these students can realised thier potentials. Yes some students leave and come back some don’t buy it’s all for the better for students in the end of the day.
Just reading the first paragraph.. already H.E.Tsem Rinpoche is in my thought….so familiar…. so similar… using the skillful ways to push the students buttons…..Both Gurus are so compassion and patient to train and help the students to become a better person.The students should be thankful if a Guru pushes their buttons and should do their best to transform or change in all ways.It shows how much the Guru love and care for them.How Fortunate!!!!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article about how Lama Yeshe guiding his students, taking on responsibility to build and raising fund of his growing Dharma centre back then. I am not familiar with Lama Yeshe stories but from the above article which i’ve read, if i may say there’re a lot of similarity between Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe in terms of the unconventional way Rinpoche approaching the Dharma as well as how Rinpoche always guiding all of us with Rinpoche’s method. Using samsaric activity as an example so it will be much easy for me to understand. And at times Rinpoche would tease us and making all of us laughed so hard, it is fasinating to be able to learn Dharma from Rinpoche because Rinpoche is making Dharma very interesting to learn.
Thank You Rinpoche
my brother used to push my buttons, and he did it a lot and he still does but i used to mad and frustrated at him but my mother, grandmother and my uncle helped me get through my horrible anger. now i have trained my self to ignore him or not mind him, i barely loose my cool now and it is all thanks to my family and my super annoying brother. 😀
Dear Rinpoche thanks for sharing this article. After few years in Kechara i feel that every Lama use many skillful ways to teach students and that is compulsory useful for us.
Lama Yeshe is just like Rinpoche, always find out many ways to reduce our ignorance hence give us teach by all the ways. So we should have a very strong Guru Devotion to follow Rinpoche teaching because it will not be wrong…
Rinpoche is so much like Lama Yeshe. Great Lamas push our buttons to get us going in the right direction. We have so much hang-ups and negative traits that need to be dropped off and corrected, and what better way than to be tweaked by our Guru for He is the one who really cares so much for our well being.
Rinpoche is not one who will just sit on His throne and give instructions; He is a hands-on person, he is not afraid to get his hands dirty.
Dear Rinpoche
Thank you for posting this article. I just read this article yesterday night since I did not have phone signal or internet connection for the past few days. I read it twice and tears streamed down my eyes each time. I did not know why but Lama Yeshe reminded me of you. During the formation of Kechara Indonesia or even now, I have been facing lots of challenges. Sometimes, I am really fed up with everything, and envy my friends who have enough sleep and not having to deal with some individuals who have difficult personalities or administrative matters. I often self reflect why am I doing this in the first place. But somehow, the refuge vow that I have taken with you is so strong and binding so quitting is not an option.
I think all the negative feelings that sometimes sparked in my head was due to the false expectations that you will babysit me and be there for me when things get difficult. Sometimes, this feeling is so strong and I was ready to quit and leave everything behind.
Somehow by not always able to meet you or communicate with you, I started to let go my expectations and take ownership of what must be done to get things going. I have been receiving supports from many that I will not be getting if you always babysit me – because if that happened, I would tend to rely on you to contact people and awe them. I would have been too reliant on the Lama, and the Lama will not be able to do his main intention, that is to teach. When I self reflect and analyze the situations, I met with more positive people than the challenging ones. I am also able to look back with a feeling of satisfaction that at least I have tried my best and do something rather than just eat and sleep. By not getting praise from you, I start to let go of the childish expectations that I am the one who help not otherwise. Thus, I was able to do things with expectations of getting praise and acknowledgement, which is one of eight worldly dharma.
Kechara Indonesia as it is has brought many like minded positive individuals together and we become good friends who strive together to put others before ourselves. We have fun; we have adventures together for good cause. Many of us, including myself, have done things that I thought I would never have done like climbing Mount Semeru because we were inspired by each other and become comfortable with ourselves.
Before Kechara Indonesia, I was a very individualistic person and did not like to interact with others much, but it is a very different case now. I enjoy interacting with others, asking them how they are doing, how we can help further, etc. And I notice that this change does not only impact myself but those who volunteers and those being helped. I think it is a positive thing that we established this NGO in the first place.
I wanted so much to help animals too. I love animals and think that they are no different their humans. I think sooner or later the time will come when I will have the opportunities, resources and help to do so. I dedicate this to my parents who have been so kind in raising me and giving me a good life.
Much love and care
Valentina
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with us the stories of Lama Yeshe.
While reading the articles and Lama Yeshe, it reminds me again how high lamas will be pushing our buttons and working on us tirelessly so that we can change to be a better person. How compassionate they are.
While reading these high lamas stories and also Rinpoche’s stories, it just showing us the living examples of what Rinpoche has been telling us in his book “Gurus For Hire, Enlightenment For Sale” (http://vajrasecrets.com/books/english-books/gurus-for-hire-enlightenment-for-sale.html)
This also reminds me how fortunate and blessed I am to have Tsem Rinpoche as my Guru and under his guidance now. I am with a living Buddha and not just reading a story of another high lama! I will work all the way to surrender myself to you, Rinpoche. May I always be closed to Rinpoche in all my lives and gain the wisdom and compassion that clear my delusion and able to be of benefits to others.
After reading this article i can feel that how much of Lama Yeshe’s student love their Guru. It seem like reading an article about our own Guru H.E Tsem Rinpoche. Lama Yeshe and Tsem Rinpoche have a lot of similarities in their teaching techniques. And the way of teaching always out of the box so creative and amazing.
I feel extremely lucky that have this great opportunity to meet a high qualities Guru H.E Tsem Tulku Rinpoche in my life.And i sincerely thanks Rinpoche for share this article with us.:)
仁波切用不同方式，善巧来敎导学生修行，他会把你内心的潜能喚醒，也会把我们每一人迷惑，恐惧。幫我们从内心里釋放出来，仁波切用心良苦是希望我们能将教法融入生活，感谢仁波切带领和教导我们。
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspiring article.
While I am reading this post, it’s really makes me smile. I feel that Lama Yeshe and Tsem Rinpoche have many similarities in their caring, compassion , teaching skill, Buddha mind and “Big Heart ”
They push button of students is cares and love them very much, they wake us up to become better person, is for our own good!! We are very fortunate to have Tsem Rinpoche here to guide and teach us!!! So, we should appreciate that have Rinpoche to press our button lol!!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful article on Lama Yeshe. The actions of Lama Yeshe written in this article constantly reminded me of Rinpoche as I was reading it. Just like what Adele wrote “Lama was just as skillful in showing us our negative traits as our positive qualities.”
A guru who cares and loves will push your buttons to make you see things differently, to learn, to grow and to change when you are ready.
Pushing everyone’s button, wanted to make the environment green like forest, often changes places to put things, laugh, tease, joke, scold, selling personal items to raise money to support the work, etc… everything mentioned here is exactly like what Tsem Rinpoche is doing.
Well, Rinpoche is here to guide his students to the path of enlightenment, and for the monkeys like us who have so many attachments, greed, desire, etc. what else do we expect them to to beside using skillful ways to guide us and push us?
People who got their button pushed, some will change, some will insist for awhile then change or some will leaves they can’t take it anymore, but before we focus on ourselves when deciding to leave, why don’t we think of our guru first? he has so many students to take care, he has to push everyone’s button and he has to think and plan on how to pushes their buttons and yet they will still remain. If we are suffering, our gurus are suffering 100 times more than us.
At some point while reading this article, I thought I was reading Tsem Rinpoche’s story, hehe, can’t really tell the difference between this 2 great lama’s doing.
Thank you Rinpoche for allowing Dharma to us. May I never be parted with Dharma and Rinpoche.
This account read like a well planned story but it is in fact has happened in real life. From the way it is written Lama Yeshe’s disciples definitely have benefited from his care and guidance and they have grown spiritually. Besides his students’ growth Lama Yeshe is very much concerned about the finance of the centre. He has no attachment to his belonging and would sold it off in order for the centre to continue operating.
Such an inspiring article.
As Sharon Saw had mentioned in her earlier posting: ” Lama Yeshe…managed to established the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) in 1975, which has grown globally…”, I see H.E. Tsem Rinpoche as continuing that tradition and inspiration through his establishment of Kechara Forest Retreat (KFR) through all his hard work and unwavering perseverance.
KFR like FPMT will grow globally because H.E. Tsem Rinpoche has the vision and spiritual ambition, coupled with compassion to benefit the world, to achieve just that. Together with his loyal and enduring students, that dream will certainly become a reality in due time.
在上师市詹仁波切的部落格里，可以让我感受到他的亲和力和做任何事不求回报，是一个非常宽容的一位上师，总是把伤害留给自己，让最好的留给身边的人。
喇嘛耶喜和詹杜固仁波切的教导方式很相似。这俩位大师都以非傳統的方式，用所有可能的方法，打破學生的迷惑與懶散。但他们的菩薩行徑實在不是一般人所能理解的，他们常常“按钮”是想让我們去看看自己心的本質，可是，很多时候我们却害怕去面对自己心的本質，但只有上师会不断逼我们去面对它，有些學生会在这种情况下选择逃避而后离开， 他们都忘了上师將他的一生致力於啟發人類善德而犧牲奉獻，上师都没有在我们身上得到任何利益，相反的，上师却常常流露出非凡的容忍、慈悲和愛心，但我们因害怕面对自己心而忘了上师给予我们的容忍、慈悲和愛心。。。。
When I was reading about all the wonderful qualities and how Lama Yeshe would interact with his students, I kept telling myself ‘Rinpoche does this too’. Read further on and again point out to myself that my dearest Lama also did most of the things that Lama Yeshe did. To me, I think Rinpoche is so much like Lama Yeshe and much more. I wish Rinpoche a healthy long life to remain here with us to continue to push our buttons.
Reading this article of Lama Yeshe ‘He would push their buttons’ reminds me of our guru H E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. Over the past eight years I have been in Kechara House I was astonished to see Rinpoche great compasion and care for his students without prejudice.
Rinpoche had told us that his only reason to come to Malaysia is to teach ‘Dharma’ to the people. Rinpoche has many skillful means of teaching Dharma to us. In order to know that we have learned our Dharma he keep on pushing our buttons and watch our reactions. Many had left because they dont want to be identify.
Sad to see them leave but hope that they will come back because no one will have the abality to push your buttons to wake you up.
One of the most influential point in this article is that Lama Yeshe is a true Guru. It takes a very skillful and ‘REAL’ Guru who does not care His own reputation in order to make His students to gain attainments by pushing their buttons skillfully. This is one of the many purpose for a Guru to exist around His students and the Guru have no other more precious things to give to His students other than Dharma. I feel the fastest effective way to make a person change for the better is to push the student’s buttons and sadly sometimes some students would not realise and understand that it is merely out of compassion that the Guru pushes the button of the student.
Thank you for the sharing Rinpoche. Form what I have read from the short story,Lama Yeshe must be a highly attained Lama who displayed true qualities of compassion,generosity and wisdom.He was very prudent in his ways of managing his monastery as he have to shoulder the responsibility and the welfare of the monks under his care.It must be very difficult to get sponsors then.
With his effective means to transform the minds of his students,this Lama did leave a strong impression on any one who knows him or heard stories about him up to now.
His commitment to spread the Dharma is timeless.
To have my button pushed is nobody else’s fault except myself. All the years wasted and spending it creating more negative karma and bad habits. I deserve it. But the best part is that its never too late and my most caring and compassionate Guru, Tsem Rinpoche is showing, teaching, training and helping me purify it.
Although it may seemed to some that a Lama shouldn’t do layman’s work but I know that Lama Yeshe and Rinpoche is doing it FOR us and the many people that will benefit in the future such as Kopan Gompa and Kechara Forest Retreat. Our Guru is showing us how much we need to be better by using so many skillful ways and He never complain even when some of us need the button pushed every single day. That shows how comfortable in our selfish ways. I am super thankful that I have Rinpoche here to guide and teach us.
Dearest Rinpoche, thank you very much for pushing my button!
读了这一遍开示，覚得並不陌生，喇嘛耶喜的教导方式也正是一直以来都是詹杜固仁波切对他学生的敎导修行方式一样。仁波切很善巧的利用不同方式，千变万化。。。用心良苦的方式去教导他的学生，他会把你心中長久以来未曾甦醒的某个部分喚醒，他会仔细的把我们每一个学生的迷惑，不確定性，恐惧。。。一一的在幫我们从身体里釋放出来，这正是平常我们自己見不到的自己，对学生要求嚴格，所以有些学生会覚得没有一点喘气的机会，就因此离开了。。。其实，他希望我们能够真正将教法融入生活，无论我们的生命有多困难，仁波切希望这都能让我们产生转变，就是这样，使我们内心更自在。。。。
Authentic and real spiritual guides exude the exact quality of compassion of all the Buddhas of the ten directions and of the three times. It is due to compassion that these spiritual guides will use skilful means to guide sentient beings out of samsara onto the path of liberation and enlightenment. These skilful means includes the use of peaceful and wrathful methods.
If the disciples could accept the methods adopted by their lamas, there will be real and quick transformation of their minds. However, many a times lamas had lost their reputation, effort, time and disciples because the disciples were not able to cope with the style of training given and had decided to leave the lamas. Some ignorant disciples had even accused their lamas of wrong doings! In the worst scenarios, many lamas would and had absorbed the heavy negative karma of their disciples’ broken samayas. It is not the faults of the lamas but the disciples! Many high lamas would fall sick from absorbing the negative karma of their disciples. How very kind and compassionate of these lamas to take on the sufferings of their ignorant disciples!
The broken samayas of these disciples will cause their lamas not to remain long and not to continue to turn the Wheel of Dharma. It is up to the disciples to maintain clean samayas with their lamas for them to remain and continue the turning of the Wheel of Dharma.
Lama Yeshe is one such lama who had compassionately and skilfully guided many of his disciples onto the path of liberation and enlightenment. When Lama Yeshe pushed the buttons of his disciples, he was actually using skilful means to awaken his students from the deep sleep of samsara. This is necessary as an antidote to the deeply rooted habituation accumulated from countless past lives.
It is said in Lamrim the rarity of precious human lives with the eight freedoms and ten endowments; but to have an affinity with a compassionate spiritual guide like Lama Yeshe is rarer! Anyone who had the good fortune to establish a connection with Lama Yeshe should feel very blessed and happy!
Reading this article, frist person I can relate to is Tsem Rinpoche hehehehe…. Now I know Rinpoche learn this skill from Lama Yeshe 🙂
Rinpoche is using this “button pushing” skill to his student and always work without fail hehehe! The trust with our lama is very important, it will make us either stay or leave. But most importantly we must know whatever our lama does is out of compassion and love, is for our own good! Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this beautiful article.
This article reminded me of how my guru, Tsem Rinpoche trained me.
” Lama was just as skillful in showing us our negative traits as our positive qualities.”
I Strongly agreed with Datuk May too.
“Having created an open mind, I realised that whatever my Guru did was for me to learn. ”
One of the example of my button being pushed by my guru Tsem Rinpoche was Rinpoche PUSHED me to involve full time in Kechara InMotion 3 years ago and he also skillfully ORDERED me to set up Kechara InMotion’s office within 2 months. To me was a real challenge that time, the fear to be failed was so strong and what he did was for me to break through my weakness, to overcome the FEAR. I am glad that I listened to my guru and KIM’s office was established with the helps of KIM team and kindness of many sponsors. Rinpoche’s skillfully trained me to open my mouth to talk to sponsors and I learned during the process.
Rinpoche helping many many people unconditionally in different ways. Some through PUSHING BUTTONS, some by soft approach, some by giving gifts, but the ultimate goal is to help everyone to transform, to let go attachments etc.
I sincerely thank you Rinpoche’s guidance by pushing my buttons !
Talking about planting trees, Tsem Rinpoche loves to plant trees too. Planting trees in Kechara Forest Retreat has become a very interesting part in my life. My friends think I am crazy, but what I learned along this short period of time is something deeply planted in my heart like the root of a rain forest tree.
Recalling when 3 girls were asked by Rinpoche to form a Green Team, it was just a few months back. We were asked by Rinpoche to plant the 15ft coconut trees by ourselves because we were late to meet Rinpoche. The 3 city girls who picked up the hoe (first time in our lives) literary dig a few big holes and wanted to plant the coconut trees the next morning. It was in the dark with a glim of light from our mobile phone. We were surrounded by lots of insects and got bitten every where. Unfortunately, the holes were gone as they were filled up with soil after a heavy rain at that night.
I still remember when I was walking up the hill to meet Rinpoche, I was hopping around to get rid of the mud, When Rinpoche saw and He shouted at me and said, “Julia, walk faster, you got karma to be purified!!” Thank you Rinpoche for kindness and love for putting me in Green Team, now I can work under the sun and in the rain without falling sick. Green Team will continue to learn and to green Kechara Forest Retreat so that many people can practice spirituality in a place that surrounded with green and nature.
Great to read your comment, Julia, And congratulations on your transformation and just following instructions to have KFR very green with trees and plants.
I also notised the similarities between Lama Yeshe and H.E. Tsem Rinpoche. “Pushing buttons” is one of the skillful means lamas employ to train their students. It makes the students check their own minds and transform accordingly. We are very lucky to be shown our negative and positive traits which we otherwise might miss due to our lack of awareness.
Just a reminder to myself, Guru’s motivation and why he need to push the button. No matter what, we should have faith in our Guru, never leave a Guru with some unnecessary attachment.
Pushing your Buttons means making you feel extremely uncomfortable and when there is no realisation there is anger.
Yes, I have personally experienced my buttons being pushed by my beloved Guru, Tsem Rinpoche, and mind you what a lot of buttons I have. Initially I would pretend it is not my buttons but as I stayed longer with my Guru, I got a little wiser. I asked myself, why pretend see what is there that I can learn and be happier about who and what I am.
Having created an open mind, I realised that whatever my Guru did was for me to learn. I have learnt that whenever my buttons are pushed it is not to judge my Guru’s actions but have a look as if I am looking in the mirror, my Guru is doing what I always do under similar circumstances and making me realise that there are a lot more options in life to learn new ways and not be stuck in my old habituations.
In the same context, it was very powerful after months of constant training, my beloved Guru said to me, “Learning something every day is Intelligence and letting go of something everyday is Wisdom”.
I am practising and it is helping me to stay calm and not reactive, but at the same time I am feeling a little detached from my normal reactive behavior and awfully passive.
Yes, reading this article about Lama Yeshe there is a lot of similarity between Lama Yeshe and Tsem Rinpoche. The only hope I have is that our Rinpoche will not leave us at a young age which Lama Yeshe did.
May HE Tsem Rinpoche live long to spread the Dharma in the wondrous way that HE does.
While reading this article, I couldn’t stop comparing Lama Yeshe and Tsem Rinpoche. Their methods are similar and always have the well-being/interest of the student in mind. This skillful ways with compassion always brings out the best of the student, if the student follows. I have seen with my own eyes how the Green Team carries out Rinpoche’s instructions on greening up Kechara Forest Retreat, in the process Li Kheng and Julia has grown so much. They are a source of inspiration to me.
This quote from Anila Ann is exactly what Tsem Rinpoche does to me. I vouch it as this happens to me personally.
“He climbed into our skins to find out what made us tick and mimicked our body language and mannerisms. He was just hilarious. If I was unhappy and feeling low, he’d find some way to make me feel valued. When he’d fixed me up, he’d turn to the next needy person and maybe do exactly the same thing with them, while I was still there. He’d flick an eye over at me to make sure I was getting it.
When i see this post it reminds me a lot about H.E. Tsem Rinpoche when he teases us and jokes with us. Rinpoche also tells us things to do and does things purposely to test us.H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche
always want us to change for the better.
H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche is like lama Yeshe who always pushes our buttons.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspirational post about Lama Yeshe.
When i see this post it reminds me a lot about H.E. Tsem Rinpoche when he teases us and jokes with us. Rinpoche also tells us things to do and does things purposely to test us.H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche
always want us to change for the better.
H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche is like lama Yeshe who always pushes our buttons.
This article of Lama Yeshe reminds me so much of Tsem Rinpoche. It is a mirror reflection of what Tsem Rinpoche does to his students. This is the way how the enlightened masters’ mind works and the different methods they use to find out what makes us tick, a real lama who will use skilful means; peaceful, wrathful, funny methods to bring real dharma to us. It is because of their great compassion that they will try different ways to help us.
How fortunate we are to have Tsem Rinpoche with us to press our buttons to subdue our self cherishing mind and ego and help us transform. It is not an easy or pleasant task as in many cases many people cannot except it and will run away because they cannot understand the Guru’s motivation yet Rinpoche will never give up and will put himself down to our level to help us because Rinpoche CARES.
This article on Lama Yeshe relates me to our guru, H.E.Tsem Rinpoche.
Both great gurus have similar method of pushing our buttons so that we could move forward swiftly and in the right direction. Their training method is unique and effective. They are the “on the job” persons who always lead the way, participate and motivate others. Every joke he made and action he does consists of his valuable dharma teaching which will benefit us tremendously, now and future.
It is really fortunate to be the students of both Lama Yeshe and H.E. Tsem Rinpoche who are compassionate, knowledgeable, loving and always ready to teach and guide us in our spiritual path.
Sometimes a realized Tibetan lama will manifest different identity or character to suit different people, they are neutral, just like a Buddha or Bodhisattva they are no form, no taste, no touch, no nothing, but at the same time, they are everything, they can be anything that will bring beneficial to others.
I have not met Lama Yeshe, but I met another living Buddha on earth. A living Buddha is not that, this person can fly or he/she is always floating, but a living person who actually have the qualities of a Buddha, Tsem Rinpoche.
I’m very lucky that I got to meet a lot of high lamas from our lineage, they are all very attained, realized and and some of them very powerful. But I still feel my guru, is the best of all. A lot of lamas, they grew up in the monastery, which is very different compare to us, some of the lamas will never understand our life outside the monastery. We consider ourselves as “normal human” but to them we are not normal at all, they will never spent a whole night catching on TV series or buying 2 thousand worth of flowers to please our partner. Hence the gap between the monks and us are very big.
Tsem Rinpoche was brought up in the USA, and Rinpoche only entered the monastic school much later, this gave Rinpoche a chance to experienced so called “normal life” that he never wanted if he have a choice. By that, the way that Tsem Rinpoche teach is always very near to us, and Rinpoche will ask us to do something that irritate us the most, to tame our mind.
Sometimes, Rinpoche will talked to us till morning, and we all are look like a dying fish during dawn, but the reason behind is Rinpoche want us to always stand by for people’s troubles, what if someone call for help middle of the night? Do we ask them to call back the next day morning?
Rinpoche personally practice compassion with his body speech and mind, hence we all will get inspired and wanna to do the same. It’s good to meet others lama, but from my experiences, none other lama can teach us (the normal people) the way Tsem Rinpoche did.
Bryan, I cannot agree with u more. We are in fact extremely lucky to have Rinpoche. Both of us are lucky that we are able to meet so many highly attained lama for the last 3 years, however, when I return home and in the presence on our Rinpoche, I feel even more lucky and very grateful.
Sometimes, I wonder what did I do in my previous life to deserve this opportunity. However, I do know, we have to keep transforming and collecting more merits to continue on like this.
BTW, u need to change ur pic on your handle…u look scary…hehehehe
From this short writing, it matches the title “He would push their buttons”. Lama yeshe do not only look for ways to ‘train’ their students in Dharma but was using every opportunity to practise the Dharma. He was also concerned about how people react and feels and reacted back harmoniously. The last paragraph ended with him parting his personal item for to raise funds for the Dharma, a sign of attachment.
As many have pointed out, reading Lama Yeshe’s stories is like reading our Tsem Rinpoche’s stories… They have the same qualities, similar method of getting into the skin of students, mimic us as a lesson for everyone, sometime he manifested wrath to wake up our stubborn minds; but most of all, Rinpoche never fail to show us kindness, so much care for all of us…
Thank you for putting our attention to this. Love it, I will go to the link above for more. The love shine through every word.
It sounds so familiar, Lama Yeshe and Tsem Rinpoche, the methods these great lamas used on their students. Whatever it is called: pushing button or pressing nerve, it was never intended to harm anyone but to subdue the ego and the selfish mind.
I know Tsem Rinpoche would never hurt a single being yet alone any student of his. Whenever Rinpoche pushes one’s button it felt like the ground was not there. But Rinpoche always brings that person down to earth for the mind to heal. With healing,the mind transforms bit by bit. Thus the person would have gone through not one but many moments of groundless mind training before seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. Some people just could not and would not want the light but prefer the dark instead and ran towards the dark for cover until the darkness consumes them, and their mind finds comfort and solace in the dark abyss, or so they think.
This is compassion in action.
I love this story and yes, like many of Rinpoche’s students, the stories reminds me of Rinpoche’ methods of guiding and training us. The striking similarity is amazing and yet, Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe is very different. The audience is different and the time and circumstances are very different. However, one cannot deny the similarities shared.
I must say that the similarities shared is probably due to the shared motivation and training of the mind or lojong methods shared. However, both Lama Yeshe and Rinpoche are very careful in which to engage the students in way that will benefit them long term. Some students who has merits and wisdom would be able to take the method and excel while others choose the easier path and cop out.
Whatever is perceived by the student to be bearable or not, it is all in the mind. Whatever difficulty we encounter in our practice is a result of our own doing. It is up to us to think it through and do what must be done. The importance is always to remember what our lama and other Dharma friends has done for us and realize what his true intentions lie. That’s what kept me on the path for so long and I am sure, that’s what would keep others on the path as well.
It is interesting that the Guru is always the right person to press one’s button! And the Guru knows exactly which button, and he/she needs no experiment to make this success! The ‘experiment’ should be the care and the very sharp observation by the Guru towards the students, so when it is necessary, the Guru will just press the button ‘effortlessly’.
But it only seems to be effortlessly to tease/teach/press button of a student, but if we think carefully, who in this world would spend all his/her time to press people’s button and get nothing back? Who would dare to be the person whom people will dislike or scare of because he/she tells the truth that challenge people’s big fat ego? Why is the Guru? When the Guru press the student’s button, he/she is doing something that need efforts too! He/she needs to think the dialogue, the ways, he/she has to act, to tease, all these are very time consuming and energy consuming! And all these actions have high risk that people will keep their distance with he/she. I’ve seen quite a few cases of people just run away from their Guru because they couldn’t really understand the Guru’s purpose.
Why I said that the Guru is always the right person to press button? Imagine your friends press your button, you will be extremely angry and feel disturbed. Why don’t you feel so when your Guru press your button? Because from deep down inside, you that what he/she teases about you is TRUE. And you know it is out from care because the Guru shows care and love to you constantly. And the Guru is using the RIGHT WAY… right way because the motivation is always for you not him/her.
Thank you Rinpoche for this posting. Every Guru is the same and it is quite fun to read other’s experience and their sharing! Very inspiring! 🙂
Rinpoche’s style is so similar to Lama Yeshe style, I certainly see the similarities.
Rinpoche always put the students’ before himself, having an outlet, “selling” his personal items are all because he cares for his students and because money is much needed for spreading Dharma.
Not only Rinpoche is a Dharma teacher, he is also a counselor, a friend, a father, a mother, a leader, etc. He will use different methods to help people. He knows where everyone’s button is and push it when the time is right because that person is ready to progress further. The most important thing for Rinpoche is that we have overcome our negative qualities and we are one step further to enlightenment.
Rinpoche puts himself down, to behave like us with only one motivation, to end our sufferings by showing us the truth.
Our Lama is the door to enlightenment, I am very lucky to have found Rinpoche and work in his mandala. May Rinpoche live long, be in good health to continue to turn the wheel of Dharma.
Reading this article about Lama Yeshe makes me smile. I find it so familiar, perhaps all great Gurus share certain type of similar characters, or may be these are not their characters but just their skillful ways of teaching their students.
If a Guru is not attached to most of the things in the world, he is not attached to his methods too. Only if he is not attached to his methods can he use them skilfully to train and benefit his students.
If a Guru constantly pushes his students’ buttons, makes them do things that they don’t like or whatever they are trying to avoid from, what is his real purpose? what is he trying to achieve from doing that? Making people do what they don’t like, most of the time, won’t earn him more “likes”. Which “normal” person in the world will constantly do things that won’t bring him “good” rewards? Unless he is not attached to the rewards.
However, from the students’ side, if they are always challenged by their gurus, initially they may try to avoid from that particular situation, but if they are loyal and having strong faith in their gurus, and by collecting enough merits to persist in their Dharma journey, they will come to a point where they start to think why.
Why a Guru even bother to push his student’s button? Why is there a button to be pushed? Why is the student having so many “likes” and “dislikes”, “can” or “cannot” that make up the ingredients of the button? How not to let a Guru pushing your button or how not to let being pushed the buttons affecting you?
I guess it’s either make your buttons disappear or make yourself not to “dislike” being pushed on the buttons anymore. To achieve this, we need to let go of duality and this is the essence of equanimity. So I guess by pushing our buttons, one of the teachings that our Guru trying to deliver is to make us realise equanimity.
Then it makes me think deeper. Why is equanimity so important? Without equanimity, we can’t treat anyone or anything without bias. We are more attached to one thing and less to another, hence our judgements are off and we can’t practice real compassion. When our judgements are off, we tend to develop more delusions and we are going further away from true wisdom which will lead us out of samsara; on the other hand, when we don’t have real compassion, there is no way we can achieve bodhicitta, hence no enlightenment.
As a conclusion, our Guru is pushing our buttons in order to help us to achieve enlightenment even though some may misunderstand him. He doesn’t attached to being liked or disliked, what he wants is to make our mind clearer one step at a time, so that one day we will gain our real freedom. Perhaps this why we find many great Gurus share the similar qualities.
Thank you, Pastor Lanse, it’s so clear and makes me understand more and think deeper. Looking forward for more of your sharing hehe. 🙂
A lot of people especially those who are new to Tibetan Buddhism, they have a stereotype on Sangha and Guru that they should be “goody goody”, smile to everything, be very gentle and soft. The fixed perception they have makes them have doubt when the Sangha or Guru not like this.
There’s only one reason these high lamas takes rebirth, to benefit sentient beings. I remember H.E. Tsem Rinpoche told us that all qualified Guru, they are absolutely compassion and kind with single motivation to help you, and who says compassion has to be always smile and gentle?
The Guru is using skillful method to let us see why we are here in samsara, which the Guru might be hated by the students, but they dare to take this risk. The Guru himself is not getting any benefit from pushing the students’ button, he only wishes the students can become a better person when they push themselves up.
This is the real compassion that I can’t find it in anybody in the world beside Gurus. May all Gurus live long and have great health, continue to push us nearer to our Buddha nature.
Lama Yeshe and Tsem Rinpoche certainly have many similarities in their teaching techniques . The teasing , the laughters, the “seemed impossible” tasks etc etc ! What I admire most and also most grateful for , is the consistency and continuous efforts made by these great masters to find ways and means to help every sentient being . It must be so tiring to think of new methods and ideas for each and every being . It must be painful to have to endure all the negativities and tantrums and nonsense which are thrown back at them . It must be so heart breaking to see people “leave” and walk away after they have “invested” so much effort to help them ! We are so set in our ways and such hard nuts to crack ! But because of the great compassion these Gurus have they will never give up ! They will continue to press old buttons, new buttons , whatever it takes to transform us ! How fortunate for those of us who have met the Guru and the 3 jewels ! Thank you dear Rinpoche !
After reading bout Lama Yeshe, the first thought that came to mind is that our own Rinpoche is just like that too. How Lama Yeshe requested for the trees to be moved reminds me of how Rinpoche would move his furnitures around (also reminds me of Milarepa with building n tearing down n rebuilding). Rinpoche would also push his students by making fun of their sensitivities….I remember once Rinpoche called my husband ‘Uncle”, which is exactly what my husband don’t like being called. Haha it was funny then and I was amazed at how Rinpoche knows.
I think that Lama Yeshe and Rinpoche are the same ….the Buddha mind, only just in different bodies. I fold my hands to them and may all the Gurus remain with us for very, very, very long time to help us all out of samsara. It is amazing how the Gurus have to continually use different methods to help us overcome our stubborn mind n habits, to realise our real potential…does not matter what method they use, gentle or wrathful, we should always realize that its due their love n compassion for us.
Lol… I love this article.. sure sounds like our dearest Tsem Rinpoche! Especially about the many questions asked “‘What are you doing? Why did you do that? Where are Mummy’s plants? Where do you think this one should go? What about this tree?” This is so strangely familiar and about planting… I’m very familiar with that one being part of the Green Team in KFR haha.
It so hilarious and enlightening to know that these highly attained Lama’s really go out of their way to show us the nature of our minds, good and bad and how they care so much that they would find all sorts of creative, fun, funny, serious ways to teach us, to subdue us, to tame our minds. They do it out of great care… the kind of care you would find in your father and mother and if you think about it, our Guru gives us more than our parents! Because they not only give us care, support physically, financially and mentally, they also give us the Dharma. What more could we ask for and how do we pay such kindness? Only way is to truly transform ourselves and apply that Dharma for that is all what the Lamas truly wished for each and everyone of us. Their love is big and equal. Hence we should never underestimate or begin to judge, doubt, question our Guru’s compassion for each individual.
If we do not want to be pushed, it is because we do not want to transform. And if that is so, then why bother getting a Guru for? A Guru teaches, students learn.
Dear Tsem Rinpoche,
It wouldn’t be possible at all for my lazy mind to ever come across this one of many wonderful teachings if it wasn’t for your un-ending hard works and spiritual aspirations in the spreading of Dharma through whatever means necessary. ( Kechara )
I’m embarrassed by my own buttons and their causes and have not even properly work on amending them. Having not the “know-how” and “what-to” do with my buttons usually ends up hurting myself and the people dearest to me. It creates so much distrust and disharmony, eventually leading to states of insomnia.
After reading this blogpost and being aware of the exemplary stories of Lama Yeshe, it gives me hope and something to look forward too. It is very comfy to think of it typing all these in front of my computer screen and not actually putting myself to experience this mind transformation. One could only imagine how much joy, hard work and amount of patience it must be to face one own’s inner defilement.
Once again from the depths of my heart, thank you so much Tsem Rinpoche for being who you are and the best you can be to aid all beings towards the states of ultimate happiness. *Prays*
Tashidelek Rinpoche,
It’s so kind of you Rinpoche, for always coming up with inspiring, heart touching and compassionate articles. In this article of Lama Yeshe, he resemble more of H.E rinpoche himself. It’s been not long ago that i have been listening to all the video teaching of H.E Rinpoche and helped me a lot for the recovery of my operation. I wish one day i would be able to meet Rinpoche and take blessing from him. Thank you so much Rinpoche for everything that you have been doing for the benefit of all the sentient beings!!
Refreshing article to read.
Lama Yeshe is famous for his roaring laughter. I have watched a few of his videos and he came across as cheerful and affectionate, “nothing can pull him down” lama, very interested in his students and inquisitive, his methods impactful and fluid.
Lama Yeshe were not exposed to the western culture but could effectively reach out to the people of the west who are entirely different from where he came from which goes to show his amazing skillful ways.
Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa have certainly done amazing works for the spread of dharma.
On the other hand, Tsem Rinpoche grew up in the west and is exposed to cultures outside of the monastic institution and can effectively connect and reach out to lay people.
What is just as wonderful is that though Tsem Rinpoche came from the western culture and life outside of the monastery in his early years, Tsem Rinpoche is uninfluenced by the pull of samsara but steadfast in the three jewels and displays similar tenacity and skillful ways of the great lamas of the past.
很多潜能可能潜在，我们的身体里！因没有人去把它，逼出来，可能我们永远都不知道，其实！我们是办的到的！
所以我们需要，领导，上师，老师来发掘！发掘者是需要很好的，观察了，了解每个人的性格，用适当的方法去栽培和培养。
This article reminds me so much of our very own guru.H.E.Tsem Tulku Rinpoche.Like Lama Yeshe,Rinpoche is very caring,loving,amusing,kind,
entertaining,flamboyance,generous,but most of all very compassionate.
Rinpoche cares for his students and used skillfull and effective ways
to bring Dharma to them and others.Our rinpoche is the mirror version of Lama Yeshe.
I enjoyed this piece much. I have always liked reading Lama Yeshe’s teachings and commentaries and there is no doubt that there are similarities between this great Lama and our great Guru. Right from the word go, Tsem Rinpoche challenges our perceptions and he will skillfully use various methods to make us confront things about ourselves that impede our spiritual growth. Tsem Rinpoche is a magnificent mimic and he has sent students into stitches with his mimicry, often picking up traits in people that are unique but often difficult to pinpoint. These exercises are not just for entertainment but a way to reflect our character. The objective is to make us “see” ourselves.
It takes a lot of effort and care to study and understand people so that a Lama knows exactly what buttons to press and although it makes people uncomfortable at first, it is very effective in making us let go of our perception of ourselves and others, our bad habits and our ego. In this way, just by being in close proximity with the Guru, you learn. Our own Tsem Rinpoche has an advantage over Lama Yeshe. Its called “WhatsApp” and so training under Rinpoche doesn’t mean just sitting cross legged in front of him.
这篇文章不断的让我想起詹仁波切的风趣，严格等等。有些时候，詹仁波切也会在夜晚时分，叫我们去他的房间，然后说有几幅唐卡想挂在房间里，要我们想点子，给意见，同样的，他也会不断地问每一个人的意见。很多时候，挂好了，詹仁波切就会说房间好像缺少了点什么，要我们想想。
一会儿又会问，有什么点心或食物可以吃，当下就得说出，绝大部分的时间，仁波切会说我们事先准备的食物不吸引人，要我们想多一些选择。最后准备好了食物，他又会问，有什么食物给所有在场的人？吃完了，又继续问，房里缺少了什么。通常都会在天明时结束。这些都是詹仁波切训练我们的方式，看看我们是否能够在不同的处境，随机应变，情绪不会因为想睡觉（一般都是凌晨时分）而变得不耐烦，是我们学习控制情绪，同时也训练我们在夜晚时分能做出决定，因为任何事都可能会在夜间，同时也是我们最容易松懈的时段发生。
After reading, it reminds me of when I first met H.E. Tsem Rinpoche, I was so excited, happy and yet very nervous to meet H.E., and thinking that Runpoche will not notice me, but Rinpoche he did and has asked me just one question, and is the only question that stunned me, and make me breaks into pieces. From this emotion moment, I knew that from that day I have met my GURU. I have nothing to give him at that moment, but has to surrender. and requested the most unthinkable request from Rinpoche, which i thought i can do at that moment, which I later I learn that is not so appropriate when we first meet our Lama. Nevertheless, he has accepted my request jokingly, and happily from this ignorance student, but it is the most unthinkable moment for me. Every single post, every single card, every single offerings, the word of ” THANK YOU ” is never enough, or infinity as compare to what Rinpoche has given to us.
The methods which Lama Yeshe utilised in testing his students and allowing them to see how their own minds worked is exactly the same as how Tsem Rinpoche pushes his students. Even though I haven’t yet experienced this personally, I am told by many who are here in Kechara that Rinpoche really gets into people’s minds to find out what makes “ us tick.” It seems to me to be a time proven method used by great masters to really allow their students to know their own minds, be able to deal with attitudes/behaviours/mannerisms that we might not even consciously realise we have and grow as a person.
It may seem trivial to some who think that a Lama just does this without really thinking, plunging students into various situations and seeing what happens, but I truly believe that there is actually much thought put into these methods on the part of the Lama. How else would he/she know how best to allow a student to know his/her own mind?
From the side of the student things may seem simple enough, though they can turn into situations that are reminiscent of the labours of Hercules or the tasks given to Milarepa by his Guru Marpa. We learn best from being pushed. Some people suggest that we are all perfect the way we are, we should just accept it but being pushed beyond our comfort zones and habituation, whether physical or emotional, is the only way we can expect to grow and progress on a spiritual level.
In my opinion what is so remarkable is the compassion Lama Yeshe and Tsem Rinpoche share. They could, as the Lama, leave the details to others, such as the accounts in Lama Yeshe’s case and the construction of Kechara Forest Retreat in Tsem Rinpoche’s case. But their personal involvement in such things is what sets them apart, they care for what they are creating and the people involved.
Haha… Niral you are absolutely so right about this statement!!! “is so remarkable is the compassion Lama Yeshe and Tsem Rinpoche share. They could, as the Lama, leave the details to others, such as the accounts in Lama Yeshe’s case and the construction of Kechara Forest Retreat in Tsem Rinpoche’s case. But their personal involvement in such things is what sets them apart, they care for what they are creating and the people involved.”
YES IT IS THE DEEP BIG CARE RINPOCHE HAS FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US AND THAT IS WHY HE PUSHES OUR BUTTONS. I’m glad you understand and see through this… how meritorious you are to be able to see this 🙂 Maybe one day you’d be lucky enough to get your buttons pushed hehe. A self-realisation and discovery you would appreciate I am sure :))
Tsem Rinpoche is also the lama with yeshe! I see so much similarities between Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe! Actually, after reading about Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche and meeting enlightened lama, my conclusion is that they are “normal” and we are absolutely ABNORMAL! All of them have the crazy wisdom and they are so selfless that you can’t really grasp their existent, even though they appeared to have a body like us.
There is no way to see how broad their mind is, but one thing for sure that their care and love is absolutely genuine! They have only 1 concern, turn our mind away from samsara so that we do not continue to suffer. They care nothing about their own self, they use their body to bear all our sufferings, they give everything unconditionally and willingly from the bottom of their heart. They do thing that we do not understand most times, as their wisdom eyes see through delusions.
Hearing, seeing or mentioning merely their names is enough to bring tears in our eyes. Thinking of them made you have goosebumps. Everything about them is so fascinating to our dull minds. We just can’t have enough of them and asking for more when our buttons are being pushed. This is very much like an addiction, you know it is “bad” for you, yet you can’t live without it, in a good way.
I very much wish that everyone has all the merits to meet with our very own Lama Yeshe! Imagine how close we get to be like them when we no longer have those buttons! What is left is to be totally connected with our lama, to become one with our lama, a sacred union of the mind.
Whilst reading this, I couldn’t help but think…”But Rinpoche does that too!” Rinpoche initiated the green team to start planting on KFR, but still directs where the trees should be planted, and which trees are dangerous and need to be chopped down. Rinpoche mimics us CONSTANTLY, saying that he will irk us to enlightenment, and that if there is still something to be irked, then we have not changed yet.
No matter how much we plan, we are NEVER on time for our flights and are always rushing to the airport (except for that one time when we were going to Singapore with Rinpoche to conduct funeral rites for a close friend). Rinpoche also knows all of the accounts inside out, and is always giving suggestions on how to make Kechara financially sustainable for the future.
I guess when it comes to lamas like Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe, there is a deep understanding that the role of the lamas today have been forced to change. No longer is a lama able to be totally non-secular because so much more work has to go in to reinforce the Dharma institutions from samsara’s ever growing presence.
But funnily enough, whilst the activities look ‘secular’ on the outside, if we examine them more deeply, even seemingly secular activities become Dharmic when our motivation for doing them is to benefit others. So to the people who have expectations for what monks SHOULD and SHOULD NOT do, I say bully to you – a real lama like Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe will do whatever it takes to make the Dharma grow for others!
I totally agree with Jean AI that while reading the post, I keep on saying to myself, “.. my Rinpoche did that too!!”.
I am so fortunate to have Rinpoche with such close proximity, and giving us advice directly. If you have read the other article on fish pond (http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/personal-attendant/the-collapse-of-waterfall-feature.html), it is just one of the many incidents where it shows we are so fortunate to have Rinpoche with us here in Malaysia.
This reminds me fondly of my Lama, Tsem Rinpoche. Rinpoche has his means and ways, like that of a power generator to bring out the best in us and in doing so, we gain so much confidence and progress so much faster in our spiritual path.
Yes we all have buttons and on most days we’re just too damn selfish or lazy to get it fixed because it is just too much hassle and pain. But Rinpoche comes in his ways like that of the great translator Marpa who made his student Milarepa build 13 houses and tore them down as soon as they were done! Yes, this still happens today because WE NEED IT. And Lama is so loving and compassionate to push our buttons so that we know where the pain comes from and how to fix it through our own reflections and realizations.
Yet, just when u think that its all poofy n up in the air with these airy fairy means of teaching, the Lama is so grounded n down to earth in handling every single person. From their finances to their emotions, Rinpoche is the first person in our lives as students to step in whenever we are down, unhappy or treading off the path.
Thank you Rinpoche for being You. We’re the luckiest monsters on earth 😛
Very nicely written article… one can tell how much this student appreciate and loves his Guru very much, there’s so much more in this article besides a story.
FMPT was not what it is today in the beginning… it was from Lama Yeshe’s hard work and also a few of his devoted students that made FPMT what it is now, and how thousands of people benefit from this foundation through the kindness of a few individuals. Rinpoche once told us about Lama Yeshe’s humble beginnings, who would have thought Kopan would have manifested =)
Everything about Lama Yeshe’s tremendous compassion for everyone and his skillful ways of pushing his student’s buttons, reminds me of our Rinpoche.
Just like Lama Yeshe, Rinpoche would “climb into our skins and find out what makes us tick and mimic our body language and mannerisms” so as to make us laugh at ourselves.
“His male mothering fed so many neglected, untouched, unloved places within me”…and thus does Rinpoche’s “male mothering” touch us to make us whole again.
Lama Yeshe sounds larger than life and it is very unfortunate for the world at large that his life was short. However, he managed to establish the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) in 1975, which has grown globally now under the helm of Lama Zopa. This article gives just a glimpse into the lively, magical personality of Lama Yeshe and the early days of FPMT which no ordinary person would have guessed would grow so big. It shows that if there is a genuine lama and committed and devoted students, everything is possible.
Reading this article is just like reading Rinpoche’s student writing about his guru… it is how Rinpoche push his student to the MAX!! 😀 Thanks Rinpoche.
Reading this article about Lama Yeshe, it reminds me very much of H.E. Tsem Rinpoche himself. The way he made us laugh by teasing us, mimicking us and skillful questioning always puts everyone at ease. Also, he will get into peoples skin, pushes everyone, move furnitures, plants, books etc to test people’s mind and teaches Dharma experientially.
Lama Yeshe and Tsem Rinpoche are very similar in this way. They both pushes people’s buttons.
Under the heading Building Kopan Gompa, Adele wrote: Construction began with Lama Yeshe taking the role of foreman. He supervised everything. His students had donated the funds to build this gompa, and he wasn’t going to waste one penny. Max spent every spare moment of her time purchasing building materials—and ferrying them up the hill as well. The Nepali contractors would leave everything at the bottom of the hill, refusing to even attempt the terrible Kopan road.
Here in Kechara Forest Retreat, Tsem Rinpoche moved into the temporary cabins (trust me, it was a very basic cabin)together with afew of his assistants soon after our ground breaking. Rinpoche was the foreman and the planner, walking around the vast 35 acres daily to make sure that work is done accordingly. At one point, Rinpoche fainted under the scorching midday heat while walking up a hill to show a sponsor what needed to be built on that hill. This is just one of the many examples Tsem Rinpoche had to endure.
Contractors??? Something that Nepal and Malaysia have in common: nightmarish contractors!