(1)

Parents give us life.
Buddha gives us hope.
Dharma shows the way.
Sangha exemplifies.

Without our guru we would not understand any of the above.

My guru is my parent, my Buddha, my Dharma, my Sangha and my real friend.

– The thoughts of a lonely Tsem Tulku, who finds no meaning in himself if he had not met his guru.
(Dec 12, 2005)

(2)

Engaging in sadhana daily, ceremoniously performing tsog, offering incense to Buddha images, light from candles frolicking and dancing upon the yidam’s visage on our altar, the blackest tea offerings to the fiercest of guardian deities, donations to temples, attending high tantric initiations, reading Lamrim, doing charity work, reciting mantras, speaking of the Dharma, taking refuge, debate, study and meditation all are wonderful ‘methods’ to practise Dharma.

But they would be useless, fruitless and very slow without the guru who introduced us to all of that. It is like the guru is the head of a body and all other practices are likened to the parts of that body. The head of the body is the most important. Therefore the holy 50 Verses of Guru Devotion, the heart practice of those gone to bliss, should be read and practised daily.

With supreme understanding of the kindness of my spiritual teacher(s), I show them the deepest respect with my body, speech and mind by holding my vows, confessing broken samayas at all times, studying Lamrim and collecting merit through Lama Tsongkapa’s Guru Yoga daily.

– These are the methods to nirvana by Tsem Tulku who was informed he CAN be enlightened if he follows the above.
(December 13, 2005)

(3)

It’s amazing how much time, understanding and love our Buddha guru gives us and continuously. It’s more amazing that we still want more.

– Tsem Tulku’s otherworldly reflections.
(December 13, 2005)

(4)

Not recognising the outer guru creates obstacles in recognising the inner guru, the essence of the Gurupancasika (50 Verses of Guru Devotion).

– Tsem Tulku who is able to bear ‘hardships’ because his guru made him!
(December 13, 2005)

(5)

Dear all,

Why teach Dharma to people who say they are students but when I give instructions to them, even though difficult to follow, they do not follow. Obviously they do not have enough faith and confidence and real guru devotion.

So they ask “WHY?” and get angry and voice a lot of unhappiness. If the guru asks them to do something, why? Think! And how to teach them more Dharma if they fight the guru always and resist? Then they do not need a guru since they know more.

(November 30, 2006)

(6)

Scenario:

Student: I am busy, no time, too old, too young, too many commitments, too rich, too poor, too stupid, too smart AND CANNOT PRACTISE DHARMA!

‘Bad’ guru: I will help you, love you, guide you, pray for you, teach you and support you so that you can rise above all this!

‘Good’ guru: You are right! Let’s burn our Dharma books and have some coffee and jump up and down!!!!

Which reply would we like to hear??? Hahaha

– Another outrageous SMS from Tsem Tulku
(January 12, 2006)

(7)

How can we truly love our Dharma friends without loving the Dharma centre from which we met them? How can we love the centre if we don’t contribute to its sustenance and growth? How can we love a centre without loving the guru?

If we love the guru, why would we be happy if he compliments us and be unhappy when he tells us the truth? Wouldn’t we just do the Dharma he advises? How can we love the Dharma and not our guru? Do statues speak?

And if we love the Dharma, then why do we not put our body, speech and mind into it without further delays, excuses, ‘commitments’, attachments? If we love the Dharma then it shows we love ourselves the RIGHT WAY, we love our parents and we are developing altruism to others.

Then real happiness, security and correct action arises.

Then we will taste real freedom from ‘ourselves’.

(Reflections from when I was at Thubten Dhargye Ling Dharma Centre (USA) living and serving my master, most Venerable Dharmaraja (Dharma king) Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen.)

– Tsem Tulku, who met this geshe due to great merits from previous lives resulting from clean guru samaya
(December 13, 2005).

(8)

Dear all,

I dedicate my recent virtues of sending Dharma SMSes that all my gurus have no obstacles to spread their Dharma work. That I can develop further altruism and your unhappiness/pains come to me.

– Tsem Tulku, who is trying to be brave.
(December 13, 2005)

(1)

Whatever we think, say and do must create causes to ascend to Kechara Paradise when we face death alone, otherwise why think, say and do it?

(June 25, 2005)

(2)

When we want to get something, acquire or accomplish anything with lasting results, there are many ways and levels to do/attract them.

If by our looks, then a person needs to be disciplined in diet/exercise etc.

If by knowledge, then effort into study.

If by wealth, then lots of personal sacrifice and hard work over a period of time to acquire wealth to attract things.

If by kind heart and maturity, then we have to mentally rein ourselves in through awareness, practice and consistency.

Whatever the method, regardless, effort put into the results is the key.

How can we get what we want AND keep it without initial ‘investment’ and work into ourselves?

To try to get what we want without true groundwork, effort into results and work, how can we get anything?

So if we do nothing with ourselves, then no lamenting if we don’t get [what we want] or experience one disappointment after another. Apply sense and logic to this.

Similarly, to have visions of, for example Vajra Yogini, one must practise pure view with beings and environment, starting and ending with Guru.

To understand Dharma and receive attainments, put effort into five preliminaries and their completion. Having a steady mind that can endure hardships results in removing one’s distractions be they outer or inner and a good death leading to excellent rebirth. Use the time now to prepare by creating merits.

How to reach Vajra Yogini’s real existent Kechara Paradise within 7 lifetimes or sooner? Abandon one’s self-cherishing mind (ego) which mistakenly makes the mind attached to what we have as permanent, lasting and thinking that it brings happiness.

May I remain ‘trampled’ and protected under Vajra Yogini’s lotus feet due to exerting sincere effort in implementing my spiritual guide’s advice, scoldings, words, Dharma, instructions, and samayas into action now, without succumbing to further damaging procrastinations. And reminding myself of it by reciting the 50 Verses [of Guru Devotion] and refuge/bodhisattva/tantric vows until memorised; reading the Wheel of Sharp Weapons and Lamrim; engaging in yidam retreats.

– Tsem Tulku
(July 3, 2005)

(3)

Dear all,

Contemplate this: How your attitude is at 15 is around the same at 25. At 25, it is likely to be around the same at 35, 45, 55, etc. We are talking about attitude – a continuation, one mind-stream, not different.

How we express that attitude with age and time may differ, but the essential attitude remains constant. That is why we cannot let our ego-mind off easily! If you were irresponsible 5 years ago, that is the cause for it now. And now is the cause for it 5 years from now and so on!

Taking our sweet time is the talk of fools who deceive themselves and damage those around them. THINK!! Think honestly and hard, point blank. And as usual, do not stop at just thinking! Whatever faults you may know or others have brought to your attention, TRANSFORM THEM NOW, or they will continue again and again and again. It’s frightening! In the end, we are left just to ourselves.

(January 22, 2007)

(4)

An SMS by Tsem Tulku Rinpoche

Great I am not,
but I accept the little that I am.

Knowledgeable I am not,
but I strive to learn more.

Dharma realisations, sadly none,
but what little I know I apply.

Beneficial I am not,
therefore humility is my friend.

Laziness, my loyal companion compels me
to admire my patient Lama.

Effort I know not, so
I salute my protector.

Anger is my lover, so I entreat the 8 Verses [of Mind Transformation],
lust instinctual, so I implore the Tantras.

But this beggar Tsem Tulku does fear death
by clutching dearly to his trusty friends, the Three Jewels.

I ask you to do the same.

– Tsem Tulku of Gaden

(5)

Dear all,

Never give up on yourself, on practice, commitments, and the constant improvement of oneself. This creates not just self-esteem, but a profound love for oneself and others. It brings harmony, direction, and MEANING to life.

The merits and imprints collected lead to meeting a teacher or always holding a pure view of the teacher, a clear mind emerging from our dark karmic clouds. Awareness becomes razor-sharp. Loneliness, fear of life, self, and the great unknown dissolve, giving way to true living.

Live for others, and you’ll gain extraordinary qualities, becoming a pillar of strength, hope, and meaning for countless souls. Break free from senseless attachments that feed inner and outer fears and samsara.

Arise! Make Dharma, practice, yidam, samaya your daily priority. Kechara House has risen and manifested from the depths of our karma and samsaras, like a pure lotus emerging from dark, deep mud. Prioritise Kechara House, and embrace it as your profound practice. Be a Kechara inner warrior, heeding the commands of our diamond queen Vajra Yogini, whose leadership is unmistakable.

Many prayers,
from Tsem Tulku who holds the lineage of the Drakpas.
(March 13, 2006)

(1)

I am right, I am wrong. Your way, my way. I don’t, I can’t, I wont, I shan’t, I AM that way. I am, I am, I am… With death so near, what does it matter?

– Tsem Tulku
(July 3, 2005)

(2)

When we have lived this long, with death always watching, blown by the strong winds of karma. It doesn’t matter if we are right or wrong, or who has hurt and disappointed us. It’s even more silly to hold on, cling to and act out from that holding of ‘hurt’ and create more personal setbacks.

What’s crucially important now is WHO WE HAVE HURT AND DISAPPOINTED. Because that karma follows us like a serial killer that eventually strikes.

– Thoughts of Tsem Tulku, who shames his masters daily with his lack of practice.
(July 7, 2005)

(3)

Dear all,

Because we share this small space together, time is short, we are overwhelmed with the results of our own past doings and we want to make Dharma goals a reality for many, we MUST LEARN to get along by changing OUR minds. It is not a dream, but it’s BECOME A NECESSITY!!

– Adapted from H.H. Dalai Lama’s talk and plagiarised by me, Tsem Tulku, who tries to mimic the great ones, but cannot.
(February 6, 2006)

(4)

Dear all,

The physical compositional body degenerates, then the five aggregates and four elements dissolve. Winds gather into the central channel. The mind perceives the clear light directly. Pleasant and unpleasant visions arising from karma manifest to propel us into our next state. Relatives, desires, dreams, wealth, form, home, pride, titles, and familiarities are all abandoned and forgotten. Fear, apprehension, and uncertainty are not merely descriptive words from Lamrim anymore but actual experiences. How to do something then when alone and at the mercy of the results of a life passed in excuses, justifications, avoidances, self-deceptive gratifications, and not facing oneself when we could have?

– Concerned prayers from Tsem Tulku, who left home early to search for Dharma, understanding that the above was the real and obvious truth.
(June 1, 2006)

(5)

We are born. We are asian, black, bored, got purpose, no purpose, short, fat, tall, caucasian, brown, neither, wealthy, struggling, eat, sleep, work, pay bills, fulfil commitments, have partners ,lose partners, gain friends, lie, cover, tell the truth, faithful, honest, religious, atheist, greedy, sneaky, disloyal, loving, selfish, cold, hot, happy, unhappy, working, unemployed, lazy, enthusiastic, avoid, hide, open, have kids, no kids, forthright, deceive, sing, eat, sleep, tired, fresh, exhausted, sick, healthy, explain, justify, complain, accept, help, give, miserly, pray, meditate, frivolous, gay, straight, male, female, neither, old, young, dying, near death, dead… All for what??? All for whom???

– Thoughts of Tsem Tulku who thinks too much.
(December 13, 2005)

(6)

Dear friends,

We observe how ants work tirelessly to drag crumbs, dig, and build ant holes, jostling to mate with females and then, perhaps, ‘securely’ die. In between, someone may step on the anthill, it rains, and myriad other incidents arise to take away their hard-earned security.

Our lives are similar, just longer, and the gods’, even longer. However, no matter where, there is NO security in samsara. As long as we continue to strive for it, we will become disillusioned, depressed, and tumble down, no matter how ‘high’ we may reach. No matter how much we build toward it, it will be constantly threatened, taken away, or lost in the end. Our bad karma and its results are the pursuit of that.

Our suffering arises from the strong habituated belief that THERE IS SECURITY. Therefore, how kind the lama is to always create circumstances to give and seemingly take away, showing us to let go of something that is painful but never existed in this process.

E MA HO! The wise ones let go and accept, creating the causes for suffering, fear, self-hatred, laziness, desires, and greed to dissolve into emptiness from where they originally arose. I take refuge in my lama’s mind, skilful methods, unending compassion, and his very existence for my sake. Life after life, may I not squander the lama in exchange for the pursuit of the empty and immediate painful results.

– Humbly, Tsem Tulku, holder of Dulzin Drakpa Gyaltsen’s legacy.
(March 2, 2006)

(1)

Dear all Kechara House people,

Please remember/contemplate that DAILY OVER 850 MILLION PEOPLE GO TO BED HUNGRY. That’s daily!! (from the BBC). Think how we feel/act when we are just a little late to get a meal or don’t get to eat what we like or how much we eat. Have gratitude for our abundance, let go of attachment for food and dedicate to those that don’t have, by regularly consciously and happily taking plain/bland food. Offer food to the Three Jewels on your altar and dedicate to the hungry, PLEASE.

– Tsem Tulku
(October 15, 2005)

(2)

Dear all,

Witnessing the sufferings of the Pakistani earthquake victims, the slaughter of thousands of birds, and the millions who go to bed hungry daily, one shouldn’t feel disenchanted.

Instead, it should be fuel to take vegetarian vows, recite mantras, and practice awareness further in order to increase our compassion. This, in turn, fuels us to expand our efforts to benefit others. Then, extraordinary minds and abilities arise, enabling us to do more.

THINK, if there were no sufferings, both subtle and gross, how could a being we love, admire and worship have come into existence, the Holy Arya Avalokiteshvara? This being, before enlightenment, was fuelled by others’ sufferings to practise and do something instead of leaving it to others, hiding behind excuses of self-defeat or ‘can’t do it,’ or simply ignoring.

Avalokiteshvara did something. We can too. Start with vegetarian vows, mantras, awareness, and overcome complacency and the ‘poor me’ mindset.

– Tsem Tulku, ‘earthquake survivor.’
(October 17, 2005)

(3)

Pray that when Maitreya Buddha appears, you may take rebirth as a ninja and assassinate him. Why? Because if you had done that when Shakyamuni appeared, you would not be suffering now with ‘impossible’ goals like compassion, wisdom and unselfishness!

– Another outrageous SMS from Tsem Tulku.
(January 12, 2006)

(1)

The continuous battle with oneself IS Dharma. Take refuge in the battles you have won within, in whatever degree. Take refuge only in that, not ultimately in a guru, statues, monks, sangha, Dharma, temples, buildings, thoughts, projections, lovers, money, name, quietness, loudness, views, ideas, sadhanas, rituals, chanting, gender, sex, and so on.

– Love from Tsem Tulku, who is always in a battle, loses at times, but is not defeated.
(October 28, 2005)

(2)

Arising from karma: due to our self-cherishing, we create negative karma that results in epidemics, malice, bad dreams, evil omens, inauspicious events, favoured years, months, days, and minutes, bad harvests, droughts, earthquakes, and frost, the malice of our enemies mobilised against us, power-hunters, misleading joys, causes of untimely death, obstacles to our source of livelihood, and all inauspicious conditions.

Enlightened beings cannot be affected, but for us, it can have a significant impact as our karma ripens. Entering refuge is only the first step. Our vows, practice, rituals, meditations, Dharma work, and pujas serve as a POWERFUL BASIS to purify current problems and future ones. Therefore, even having taken refuge, we should not follow superstition. Negativities can harm us during our practice. So, we shouldn’t sit idle and just say, ‘I have taken refuge.’

(February 12, 2007)

(3)

Dear refuge seekers,

Never knowingly or unknowingly use people or shift our responsibility onto them. Never take advantage of them. In the long run, never let them lose, although methods may differ. Never hurt or harm them or take their possessions, money, and heart. Never break their trust. Never waste their time. Never use them until you change and make them wait.

People are fragile, time is short, and people can hurt. Love your parents, friends and those loyal to you. Give of your time, resources, heart, and care, and never get tired or disappointed to do so because your motive is not self-based. Be harmonious because we have a great opportunity to do so. We have eight leisures and seven endowments. Forgive, love, let go, and live. Live for others.

– Tsem Tulku, a happy servant of Lord Buddha, Tsongkhapa and Gaden.
(November 3, 2005)

(1)

We want to be skinny, but we don’t control our eating.

We want affection, but we push away those who shower us with it.

We want to be free of debts, but we recklessly spend.

We want love, but we don’t want to accommodate and change.

We want face, but we don’t act in ways that invite it.

We want people to help, but do we really help them?

We want respect, but we run away when it gets tough.

We want blessings but without any commitments.

We want freedom from problems, but we run from remedies.

We are frustrated, we don’t know much but we don’t want to study.

We want a good body, but we don’t want to exercise and diet.

We want clairvoyance, but we don’t engage in retreats.

We want understanding, but we create confusion with our non-commitment.

We want clarity of our intentions, but without effort.

We want not to be misunderstood, but our words are elusive.

We want our Guru’s blessing and affection, but without devotion.

We want constant support, but we don’t make time for others.

We don’t want conflict, but we break our word of honour.

We want smiles, nice words and acceptance, but we are hard and unforgiving.

We pray to the Buddhas, but our prayers don’t bear fruit.

We trust in our Dharma Protectors from the depths, but we don’t trust in the practice of the Six Paramitas [Perfections].

We hate problems, but we ignore their real cause.

We are lonely and lost because renunciation is just a big word.

Tara, Vajra Yogini, and our Dharma Protector are as good as dead because we throw our vows to the wind.

We ‘practise’ mantras and sadhanas and elucidate Dharma with zero results, but wonder why, when we have emotionally murdered our Gurus.

We read and have knowledge but cannot put it into practice because effort is not in our vocabulary.

Finally, after a lifetime of eating, fun, entertainment and defecating, in fear, we see spirits with bloodshot eyes and bloody gaping mouths awaiting to escort us.

Why?

Because the self-cherishing mind was our friend, companion, lover, mentor, guru, and our real yidam.

– Thoughts by Tsem Tulku, who looked deeply into himself and realised that was the source of his problems that he skilfully avoided, lifetime after lifetime.
(July 7, 2005)

(2)

We blame everyone and everything for our dissatisfactions, sometimes even to the point where our gurus and the Three Jewels are faulty. That’s why we keep looking outside for the light when we should now become the light.

– Tsem Tulku
(July 16, 2005)

(3)

Facing outer and inner demons is easier together than running away alone to face and lose. Up till now, we have to check if we’ve been winning or losing this ‘battle.’ Dharma brothers, sisters, and our spiritual mentors are pivotal in this crucial battle.

– Tsem Tulku
(July 2005)

(4)

In life, if we always run from what ‘hunts’ us, then we must always flee and always be on the run. And eventually be its prey anyway. It’s better to stop running, turn around, and be the hunter, not the hunted anymore. Then we will not need to seek a hiding place and live open and free without fear.

So if it’s anger, laziness, fear of failure, loss of ‘face,’ responsibilities, insecurity, etc., that hunts us, let’s do an about-face and hunt it down!!! And not be the self-made victim anymore!!

– Tsem Tulku
(July 24, 2005)

(5)

I am what I am. That’s me. That’s my habit. I never took care of others. I am not used to it, etc., etc. They are just temporary labels we put on ourselves that have an empty basis when examined further. Therefore, they can be removed.

Labels are imputed, yet we hold on to them as if they independently exist and hence yield negative results.

How to avoid? New labels, better, empty also, but much more aligned with our true and natural nature of our mind. ‘I am caring, others are definitely important, I can and will take care of them, I am interdependent on them,’ etc., etc. They are better labels and a basis for tantra.

It’s very important to start with those around you now. Dharma must take root in our actions; then, so much more can be accomplished in our fragile and short life.

(December 15, 2006)

(6)

Dear all,

TV, entertainment, drinks, fun, fetish, money, eating, gluttony, sex, materialism, sports are not inherently negative. It is the before and after that counts and hence the mahasiddha concepts.

Our role model is not them, but they show us that inherent negativity is the self-cherishing mind. They show the difference between labeled negative and inherent negative.

For me and you, inherent is our concern coupled with awareness of labeled negativity also. As labeled negativity can further support and strengthen inherent negativity even though it is labeled because we act from it.

(December 15, 2006)

(7)

I, I, I, me, me, me, myself, myself, myself, cherish me regardless… with this ‘mantra’ at our core, why ask why, when things are unfulfilled?

– Tsem Tulku
(July 2, 2005)

(8)

Doubt in myself due to lack of effort,
how to engage in Hinayana paths?

Afraid to give up leisure for others,
how to enter Mahayana’s paths?

The Guru, of course, is faulty and wrong,
then how to even dream of the diamond swift Vajrayana paths?

But why no result still??

– Tsem Tulku
(July 2, 2005)

(9)

Dear all,

Anger in one’s personal life is reflected in one’s daily work. Personal wants unfulfilled because of one’s attitude going unchanged for years – that is our REAL enemy. Now when we are in Dharma and we do not face it, it will GET WORSE. If very sick, when in the hospital you refuse treatment, how?

When one is frustrated with one’s personal life and there is no outlet, then it’s taken out on people around us at every corner and chance. It will get BIGGER. We will face the same everywhere except other places WILL NEVER BE AS PATIENT. More and more ‘enemies’ will manifest towards us. We can fight and fight them or avoid and avoid and hide and have ‘great’ excuses either way.

But if the real cause is not removed, we may not run out of sympathetic people, but we WILL RUN OUT OF TIME, CHANCES AND OPPORTUNITIES. Then we become a real burden if there’s anyone around to burden left. Remember that.

The secret is to let go of one’s personal hatred of oneself and one’s lack of certain things unfulfilled and just ACCEPT. Accept we were wrong and stop the self-blame or blaming others. Just let go of those things that we did not get or want in the past. That past affects us now, and now creates our future. Scary. Do not lose this chance. IT WILL NOT ARISE AGAIN. I hope that by saying all this, EVEN I do not become your ‘enemy’ also.

– Tsem Tulku, who sees and tries to do.
(February 6, 2006)

(10)

Depression and wallowing in it, is it not wanting to take responsibility???

– Tsem Tulku, who has no parents, support, country, stability but has refuge.
(December 13, 2005)

(11)

Dear friends,

Why run away, avoid, deny, and not give in to concern and acting for others, great love, generosity, offering time/effort/care to others, acceptance, patience, and calm abiding because that is who we really are.

If that is not so, why does Buddha teach us to find that within ourselves? If enlightenment is not within, then where might it be?? Please ponder with refuge in Manjushri.

– Tsem Tulku, who is jaded with samsara but NOT nirvana.
(June 1, 2006)

(12)

Dear all,

My ‘favourites’: Manjushri Buddha, coke, gifts, Dharma books, my gurus, being thin, Gaden, mountains, mahasiddhas, tantra, great statues, DVDs, Yogi, Bodhicitta, Synflex, self-worth, giving gifts, health, Malaysia, Madonna, Star Trek, Wonderwoman, Bodhgaya, Japan, pizza, and being sponsored.

Things I ‘dislike’: club soda, cellulite, tourist thangkas, stinginess, the three lower realms, death, poverty, beaches, steamed vegetables, gym, exercise, travelling, Ford pick-up trucks, ego, flu, ageing, weirdos, cruelty, rain, sushi, narrow minds, animal abuse, small beds, Willie Nelson, dirt, and uncontrolled rebirth.

I do not know where my likes and dislikes actually lead me to, but one thing is for sure, in order to truly be surrounded by what I like and avoid what I do not like always, I need to not have likes and dislikes and just ACCEPT.

– Another long pretending–to–be–deep SMS from mahasilly Tsem Tulku.
(June 1, 2006)

(1)

If you have refuge in Kuan Yin, then choose pain daily.

– Tsem Tulku
(December 13, 2005)

(2)

Dear all,

When we experience compassion and care for others arising from our practice, we find a willingness to help without hesitation. Regardless of disappointments, ideas naturally emerge, offering methods to assist others, with self-motivation absent.

Our lives effortlessly steer away from actions that prioritise personal goals in samsara. The mind lightens, we let go, and we bring immediate and lasting happiness to others. Our goals, aspirations, endeavours expand, positively influencing those around us. We provide hope, shelter, and purpose to others.

This stems from contemplation on others’ kindness, leading to heightened awareness and a sense of urgency. Consequently, we cannot relax or ignore others’ discomfort and unhappiness. We engage our body, speech and mind for the well-being of others in this life and beyond.

As this unfolds, personal fear of samsara diminishes, benefiting others as well. Thus, we enter the door out of samsara for ourselves and others, embodying Mahayana ideals and tapping into the latent Avalokiteshvara within us. When this transformation occurs, our lives undergo a profound positive change, radiating positivity to others. We achieve unchanging happiness and aspire to bring the same to others. May we all experience this transformation.

– Gaden Tsem Tulku, who upon hearing these teachings, felt true happiness and is determined to achieve it. Join me! May His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Chenrezig, and Shantideva enter our crown chakras, settling in our heart chakras, expelling the self-centred ‘I.’ Thank you.
(October 21, 2005)

(3)

Perhaps pursuing goals and commitments serves as another delay tactic to fully embrace bodhicitta.

– Tsem Tulku who exists in name.
(December 13, 2005)

(4)

Dear aspirants,

Samsara and the monotony of life take a whole new direction when, instead of feeling suffocated and senseless, we transform these experiences into a path that enhances the joy and bliss of others through the diamond-like unchanging altruistic mind that develops and works towards bodhicitta. I prostrate deeply to Avalokiteshvara.

– Tsem Tulku, still wandering in samsara but not for too long, thanks to my lama’s patience.
(March 18, 2006)

(5)

To me, home, friends, relatives, residence and comfort are wherever conducive to further developing bodhicitta.

– Tsem Tulku who has been ‘homeless’ for the last 40 years.
(December 13, 2005)

(6)

Dear aspirants,

The Perfection Vehicle sets out four supreme types of offerings to our guru and Three Jewels:

1. Holding the holy Dharma: This is accomplished whenever you study the Dharma, meditate, or engage in practice. The Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and arhats are delighted and rejoice in your merits when you meditate or assist others.

2. Generating bodhicitta: That happens when you generate bodhicitta or take bodhicitta vows.

3. Practising what you have learned: Put into practice the extent to which you have understood the Dharma. Implementing even one verse of your guru’s teachings surpasses merely comprehending the entire Dharma without putting any of it into practice.

4. Transforming your root virtues into offering substances: Whenever you engage in virtuous actions, such as meditating on great love, visualise that virtue transforming into beautiful flowers, perfumes, auspicious symbols and more, to be offered to the field of merit. Transform all your virtues — past, present, and future — and visualise them as various offerings.

The explanations of the first two supreme offerings are given in the ‘Sutra Requested by Sagaramati,’ the third from the ‘White Lotus of Compassion Sutra,’ and the fourth from the Supplement of the Guru’s Instructions.

Please don’t procrastinate. Engage in offerings daily to accumulate merit, dispel miserliness, and cultivate greater generosity.

– Tsem Tulku, who has not abandoned the liberating speech/instructions of Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, the supreme Dharmaraja [Dharma king].
(March 19, 2006)

(1)

Dear all,

Contemplate and put into action the following benefits of attendance at Kechara House’s Migtsema recitation:

1. Improves mental ability to understand the subtleties of dharma.
2. Creates new habituation that lessens negative situations to fruition.
3. Great offering to the Dharma Protector for them to help us better.
4. Creates merits and dissolves obstacles for our aspirations for Kechara House.
5. Fulfils our puja quota for our centre, which we NEED TO FINISH.
6. Contributes to our Kechara House in many ways through service.
7. Sets an excellent example and provides a morale boost for others.
8. Pleases our master and our Dharma brothers and sisters. Alone we may waver, but together with others we get stronger.
9. Gets us closer to Tsongkhapa on many levels.
10. Creates merits to uphold our vows, commitments and words of honour. Very important for Dharma development.
11. Creates conditions for what we start in Kechara House to continue and finish. A good imprint to spill into our daily lives and activities, bringing success on different levels.
12. Follows, abides and loves the beneficial codes of conduct of Kechara House, our spiritual home, which is in our hands ONLY to make grow. When Kechara House grows, we grow. And isn’t that what we want? If so, we must create it and we start now with Migtsema.

(December 2, 2006)

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Before we eat or drink a beverage, we recite OM AH HUM 3x, then recite:

GAN-SHEE YEE-LA DREN-PA TSAM-GYI-YANG
PA-RU BUM-JUM DRAK-YEE TZA-CHO-PEY
DU-PEY DO-NAM YIG-SHEN DRUP-ZEY-PEY
TEN-SUNG SET-RAP CHEN-LA CHO-PA-BUL

That is Setrap’s special offering. A great way to collect merits prior to each meal and make affinity with Setrap. Memorise and do!

(December 14, 2006)

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Entreaty to Bless and Awaken Friends:

With flaming red prajna body that reflects
the defects of anger, stamping down on Bhairava
of pride that causes us so much unnecessary pain,
naked in form breaking concepts and projections,
crown diadem of vajras representing pure view of mentors,
bone ornaments that is eventual death and
realisation of it becomes armour against attachment towards the transient,
which deludes us into permanency and samsaric engagements,

I pray to Adamantine Yogini that many beings let go,
do what is correct, have no more mind delineations that devour precious time,
and work towards what really benefits themselves and others
and the unpredictable final moment (death) holds no apprehensions anymore.

– Tsem Tulku who fantasies and grasps at stability, loyalty and development.
(July 2, 2005)

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Dear all,

Tantras are the rarest of all teachings and practices. According to Kensur Rinpoche, when the assembly or initiated group is doing tsog, if we have initiations, we must join and it is improper to do it on our own if we are students.

Doing tsog together correctly keeps tantric bonds, blesses the individual/group/attendees, pleases the dakinis, is more powerful than individuals, creates surroundings more pleasant than our private places for offering, and keeps samaya between initiates — a good example to others and new people. Why did we work and pray so hard to have a centre if we do not utilise it?

If uninitiated and you have the privilege of permission and instructions to attend, do not treat it casually, like a date at the movies. You should always go to plant seeds and make prayers to receive Vajra Yogini in the future. It is essential to plant seeds now.

Continuous absence from tsog for initiates breaks samaya with other initiates and goes against the lama’s instructions for our benefit. For the uninitiated, putting desires, fun, and samsaric activities aside one time every two weeks to attend holy tsog and recite Migtsema is very beneficial if you genuinely want Dharma for now and are preparing for higher teachings later.

– Tsem Tulku
(February 7, 2006)

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Dear liaisons, tantrikas, students, and friends,

Tantra and tantric practices can purify our karma most effectively, quickly, and purify it at the highest level. It is not a choice; we NEED IT! We must aspire to practice. For those already initiated, guru samaya, vows, daily MEDITATIONAL sadhanas and tsog are the life force for tantric blessings to grow from within and without.

Therefore, our tantra group is very important and they must practise to encourage. Tsog at our centre is VERY IMPORTANT. It is the divine command of our protector. We may not see the future, but they do. From today on, those WITH initiation of Heruka, Vajra Yogini, Hevajra, Kalachakra, Cittamani Tara, and Yamantaka MUST ATTEND tsog. If SOMETIMES you cannot make it, you must have DIRECT permission from me by SMS (via liaisons) or written (via liaisons) to be excused. It is your individual responsibility to do that.

Initiates who miss tsog without my permission at the centre are directly not following our Kechara House rules, tantric vows, and Dharmapala’s instructions, so how are you practising Dharma? In Gaden, it is very, very serious to miss tsog. So, with Gaden as the example, I would like to set into motion today that those INITIATES WITHOUT DIRECT permission from me to miss or skip tsog and do so THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES MAY NOT JOIN TSOG WITH THE TSOG GROUP USING VAJRA/BELL/IMPLEMENTS WITH TSOG TABLE again.

When they do show up for tsog, they must sit with the non-initiates and recite quietly. If they wish to have the great privilege to use tantric instruments, they must have my written permission and do 1,000 prostrations to Vajrasattva at Kechara House itself. These measures may seem harsh, but what is more harsh is when we don’t follow tantric samaya out of laziness, desire, and lack of discipline and its negative results that make yourself suffer and set a bad example.

We must make Dharma grow within ourselves and without in this country and region. After all, we should utilise our precious human body, repay our guru’s kindness with practice, generate love for others, keep our promises, and utilise our hard-earned beautiful centre, which arose after so long and so much effort.

Thank you, and I pray we make our practice and Dharma grow from grassroots now. If I have been kind to you, given you Dharma, initiations, offered you vows, introduced you to heart practices, loved and given you patience and many chances, then I should be your Dharma teacher.

Therefore, as your Dharma teacher, I ask you to attend tsog, hold vows, keep samaya clean, and be a shining example of Tsongkhapa’s tradition to others and yourself. Make Dharma grow starting at Kechara House.

Thank you so much!

– Tsem Tulku, holder of the lineages of Duldzin, Sonam and Tulku Drakpa.
(February 15, 2006)

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Dear everyone,

Tsog is usually done twice a month and is only joined by people with tantric empowerment or special permission. Tomorrow (Friday–24th), I am making an exception and inviting everyone to tsog. I have special Sangha friends arriving from Gaden, South India, who will also join us.

Tsog is a powerful method to transform our space, reality, and projections into that of a deity’s abode, enlightened actions, and mode of existence. During tsog, it is very powerful to recite one’s yidam’s mantra, focus on one’s aims, and aspire to develop altruism. It is said dakinis from the 24 holy places of Heruka converge where tsog is and bless the congregation.

I’ll see you all at tsog…

– Tsem Tulku of Gaden
(March 24, 2006)

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Pujas are like medicine. If there is no ‘sickness,’ medication would not be necessary. The medicinal dosage and type are applied by a qualified doctor, in this case, a sincere mind. After the medicine is taken, we need to nurse the person back to health.

Similarly, after pujas, we do not go back to ‘normal’; there must be a transformation. Then the ‘medication’ will take effect. In many cases, the patient becomes stronger and even better.

– Tsem Tulku
(October 17, 2005)

(1)

Not liking something indicates something deeper.
Avoiding what we don’t like doesn’t help our mind overcome
and improve to have peace, nevermind attainments.
Solution, face it head on.
When you come to a crossroad, always pick the more difficult path
because when you apply yourself you’ll see
the difficulties WILL be easier and next time
what was difficult will not be anymore.

We can check if we’ve been doing that
by seeing how much we ‘achieved’ both in worldly and spiritual sense
and what age we are…if a lot, rejoice.
If not much, what’s holding us back?
Hold and follow Dharma principles and ‘attack’ what’s difficult…
what do you have to lose that you haven’t already lost
by avoiding it for so long? Thank you.

– From the one that many people can perceive many faults which I have, Gaden Tsem Tulku.
(July 10, 2005)

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How is it that we have the amazing good fortune
to meet Her Excellency Vajra Yogini?
How is that possible?
We must rejoice!

We shouldn’t waste our time
not to prepare for, practise,
and master Vajra Yogini’s esoteric attainments.
Seize the chance now!
Place your head at the lotus feet of Vajra Yogini
and seek her protection…

(July 29, 2005)

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Dear all,

Contemplate please. When we appear in other people’s minds, what is the first thing that pops into their mind about us, whether true or not? Kind, honest, sneaky, irresponsible, ill-motivated, improved, unchanged, firm, resolute, helpful, self-motivated, childish, mature, spiritual, Buddhist, all-talk-no-action, vengeful, successful, etc.?

You should think why and what you should or should not do about it if negative or rejoice if positive. Contemplate deeply WHY.

– Tsem Tulku
(October 17, 2005)

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Dear all,

When attained beings through skilful means use harsh language and shout at us, it demonstrates great compassion. When you and I do that, it shows clearly our lack of it. Speech control is essential to spread Dharma and benefit.

– Thoughts of the loud-mouthed fake siddha, Tsem Tulku.
(October 25, 2005)

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If you all love yourselves, then increase the Sangha.
If you love the Sangha, make Dharma grow.
Make offerings to Buddha to make Dharma grow.
When Dharma grows, we need a house to receive the Dharma.
Then make the centre grow.
The centre grows if we open and contribute consistently.
Then, like a lotus blooming from the mud,
a guru of love will manifest before you.
Although in reality, he has always lovingly been with you.

– Tsem Tulku reflects on how Dharma grows in a new land.
(December 12, 2005)

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If I have been good to you, then be good to those around you.
If you trust Buddha, then do not trust samsara.
If you believe in Dharma, then let go, forgive, and work for others.
If you have faith in Sangha, be close to friends and habits that encourage virtue.

– Tsem Tulku
(December 12, 2005)

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What we MUST do, we must do. Delays, commitments and excuses, whether ‘valid’ or invalid only compound it.

– Tsem Tulku, lover of profundities…Hahaha.
(December 13, 2005)

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If we truly love to repay the kindness of others and we really love ourselves, then we must love the Buddha. If we love the Buddha, it must be because of what he shares with us — the Dharma. If we love the Dharma, then we would love to practise, do Dharma work, cultivate altruism and be near the Sangha. If we love to practise, then transformation becomes a pleasure and an eagerly anticipated activity. If transformation occurs, then we abide in self-worth and are not dependent on outside stimulants for happiness. Then, we happily see our prison-like attachments and projections wither away! Imagine that! Living without fear and running away??

– Thoughts from me who has started to stop running, Tsem Tulku.
(December 13, 2005)

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You have tried it your way for so long without success, so commit to Buddha’s way. After all, are you happy with fear, self-hate, nowhere to go, inconclusive results, low self-esteem, guilt, and constant hiding as part of your life repertoire? There is a way out — Dharma.

– Tsem Tulku, who is not out but encourages you from beings who are.
(January 10, 2006)

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Dear all,

Come RAIN or SHINE, does not matter. You have the umbrella. Come pleasant or unpleasant situations, does not matter. Your mind can be trained and ready. That’s why we are in Dharma. For the mind. Our mind. When do we start?

– Tsem Tulku, soaked and wet but FINALLY got an umbrella.
(February 6, 2006)

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Dear Kechara House Dharma aspirants,

In the ‘Sutra for Classifying Karma,’ it says the 10 benefits arising from the practice of prostration are:

1. Handsome body and golden complexion
2. Rebirth in a family of high position
3. A large entourage
4. Offerings and respect from others
5. Abundant resources
6. The benefits of listening to the Dharma
7. Great faith in the Three Jewels
8. A sound and extensive memory
9. Great wisdom
10. Deep concentration.

We have a few people now in prostration retreat and engaged in prostrations daily. I am very, very happy with physical practice. I hope more students engage in this practice daily. It is beneficial for us now and prepares for real tantric practices later AND gaining real tantric results.

– My good wishes, Tsem Tulku, servant of Gaden.
(March 19, 2006)

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Dear all,

2 + 2 = 4,

Miserliness + ego = misery

Serving parents + effort = a good human being

Preaching + no practice = a loss of respect

Samaya + commitments = security

Awareness + compassion = bodhisattvahood

Calm abiding + focus = clairvoyance

Regret + realisation of past wrongs = freedom

Guru + Dharma = wisdom

And letting go + acceptance = great patience.

Nice equations, don’t you think?

– Thoughts from Tsem Tulku
(June 1, 2006)

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Dear friends,

I have a terrible working week almost every week. People working around me or students have so many self-created problems, a lot of personality conflicts and even unnecessary setbacks to themselves, Gaden, the Dharma and to me.

It is a lot to deal with, so the Eight Verses, especially reflecting on cause and effect and contemplating the uncertainty of my own death, calms me down and I keep driving on. I know these weeks will be next week again and again until and unless I stop teaching and stop meeting new people but that seems unlikely.

So I take refuge, let go and relax but push on. I know the methods to tame my mind, and so I better apply them to myself and then the terrible weeks become less in my mind although it still happens. Yet I change my view and then the ‘terrible’ weeks can be handled and overcome. And in the long run, we find our mind strong, focused and stable. That is a mind that everyone appreciates, wants and needs.

(February 10, 2007)

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Reasons for Making Offerings:

At the heart of the Enlightened Mind is the infinitely compassionate and utterly pure. All the Buddhas whether they be incarnate Buddhas such as Shakyamuni, or accomplished past masters of the lineage, or other manifestations of awakening such as yidams, manifest this compassion and purity of perception to our senses.

To make offerings to the Buddhas and yidams and to enact prayers to them is to arouse their awakened qualities in the stream of your thought. It is an expression of nearness to the seed of one’s own illumined nature.

The Buddhas and yidams are expressions of pure awareness, free from attachments, aversion and all misapprehension of the nature of actual reality. The awakened ones abide in a blissful, direct awareness of the ultimate nature of mind and this purity of perception, utterly suffused by compassion, manifests in many forms.

Some of the forms of the meditational deities are wrathful, representing a dynamic, fierce transformation of a dissonant mental state. And some of the forms are peaceful, representing a quiescent transformation of dissonant mental states. To contemplate the nature of the deity is to dissolve its appearance into light, and to absorb its mode of being into your heart. Thus, your mind becomes inseparable from the mind of the deity.

– Extracted from the Trilogy of Tibet by Tsem Tulku Rinpoche for our benefit and contemplation.
(February 12, 2007)

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My dear friends,

When we see beautiful things like nice cars, attractive people, jewels, money, landscapes, clothes etc., it creates further habituations and deeper attachments. There is no way to avoid this, so to counter habit and karma, we should mentally transform the beautiful things into the Eight Auspicious Signs and offer them to our yidams. Or if we are tantric practitioners, then we generate ourselves as the yidam and offer the beauty to ourselves as the deity, enjoying without negative increase in attachment.

If done again and again, it becomes natural and habitual positively. In this way, we do not create more attachment towards those ‘attractive’ things, but we use our attachments to cut our attachments. At the same time, we generate merits, and from the perspective of others, we still appear ordinary and humble.

Since we cannot escape from samsara, we cannot transform its perception to us and the karmic results so THAT is the essence of tantra. And that is why tantra is much more applicable and effective now when objects that increase attachment are much more abundant and available.

Sarva mangalam.

(December 2, 2006)

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Tantric practice is a sham without holding vows. We can forget about avoiding three lower realms, let alone gaining attainments. Vows are the real causes for everything from the first stages of refuge to completion stage meditation in the Highest Yoga Tantras.

We must familiarise, know, memorise, practice and hold whatever vows we have taken – refuge, bodhicitta, tantric – infused with the 50 Verses of Guru Devotion. Guru devotion is easy if you are not an escapist of your samsaric realities that stare you right in the face

– Tsem Tulku
(January 25, 2006)