Very touching…
Dear friends,
I came across some thoughts that were honest, touching and at the same time realistic. I like it when people overcome their inner selves to do more in life. To not make excuses but just have integrity and go all the way.
I thought I’d share this from my recent post I did called: Perfect practice equals perfect rebirths.
Some touching coments I thought I would like to share with you from this post. : https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/great-lamas-masters/perfect-practice-equals-perfect-rebirths.html
Tsem Rinpoche
Dear Rinpoche,
It is beautiful seeing this TRUTH about incarnations, high Lamas, Mahasiddhas who comes back again and again on this earth to benefit the world, giving us more conviction in our faith, my faith in my Guru and my spiritual path that I have definitely not chosen wrong and am so fortunate to have this karmic opportunity to be close to Rinpoche. I thank Rinpoche for always caring for me like a big brother, father and most of all teacher. I will never ever abandoned Rinpoche and from the bottom of my heart never “quit” believing in Rinpoche and will do my best to keep my samaya with my Guru clean always for this and all future lives. I must have done something right in my past to have this relationship with Rinpoche and I hope to do the same for my next life. Yes Rinpoche you are right, I am most happy “working” and “serving” Rinpoche. I do not see anything else to be more important than that.
Family and friends come and go, and I have my life experiences to attest to that. Sometimes friends and family back stab, cheat and even treat you like “strangers”, use or abuse you… it happens as we hear this all the time in media. Just look a Princess Diana, the lady who had everything… I just saw a movie of her, so sad how she was so attached to having someone loved her back made her so depressed and lonely. I thought if she only had a Guru and Dharma, she would probably not be so sad and could achieve more. In the end, one of the world’s most powerful, loved lady, died in a car crash with a feeling of unloved. Poor thing! So it is a false delusion to think and focus just on the current life/family/friends/relationship/situations etc… and when we focus so much on it, we actually lose life and discover more pain and suffering, most of the time from our own ignorant attachments or permanence.
But a relationship with a Guru that can bring one to great goal of Enlightenment, so seize suffering for oneself and others… I have always wanted to seek that and when I met Rinpoche, I think I found my answer. So thank you dear Lama. I know it is something bigger and higher… it is from past, present and future… I know it does not end here, I know all the many times Rinpoche made us “CHANGE” Rinpoche’s room, re-decorating at 3am was for a GOOD reason of realisation… nothing is permanent… everything can change… and Rinpoche sure knows how to make us experience this haha. I loved it, as crazy as it may sound… yes it was all worth it and I am no sucker cause I know I can be a very difficult cookie to crack but somehow with Rinpoche there resonates truth, so even the wrong is right.
So I pray I will always have this luxury of being a close disciple of Rinpoche. Thank you for finding me and bringing me home.
With a lot to learn still, gratitude, and love,
Joy
P.S. I miss Rinpoche very much and hope to see Rinpoche soon!
Dear Joy,
I am very moved by your answer and devotion to Rinpoche. I really appreciate what you have realized about your spiritual relationship with Rinpoche. The truth and care in your words really reverberates through and I am particularly inspired that you have been through so much with Rinpoche. On the other hand, I particularly agree that you are a tough cookie to crack and don’t fret… I am not any easier cookie to crack either.
We are all tough nuts due to our own egos and warped sense of priorities and attachments. It ain’t easy for Rinpoche and I always think this is because of Rinpoche’s particularly powerful prayer for the most difficult and problem-filled students to come to him. I believe such prayers have brought us, the most difficult of spiritual-seekers to Rinpoche.
On the subject of quitting, I have thought about it countless times just like a flighty bird. But I just couldn’t do it because of the thought of how it would affect others would come to mind and stop me. It is odd but I do care and its sometimes contradictory to what brought me to the dilemma in the first place. Intellectually, I know that there is a future life (and previous lives) but my conviction does not lie in that fact. My conviction in doing Dharma lies in people I care and cherish. This may not work for some people but it has certainly worked for me and it has kept me on track.
In fact, what Rinpoche shared here is very much part of the Lamrim teachings. It is a proof of future lives and to develop conviction on it based on the results of these great lamas. Coincidentally, Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche is the one who wrote the Namdrol Lamrim (Liberation in the Palm of One’s hand) based on Kyabje Pabongka’s teachings. And Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, a great scholar and peerless debater and logician. These are masters who had made the lamrim a feature of their existence and not just a verbal teaching. Incredible.
From David Lai
David Lai,
You are indeed a great writer. You are also someone who also has gratitude and cherish those that have loved and cared for you. You look like someone who does not forget about kindness shown to you. That is precious. That is great! Keep that quality because it make you human and real.
Leaving dharma is leaving all causes of happiness for oneself and others. Imagine every single monk leaving Gaden, Sera and Drepung because of difficulties financially, or scolding from teacher or being assigned difficult jobs? Tibetan Buddhism would collapse. Many monks get huge and difficult assignments from their teachers that go on for years such as building a new prayer hall. Or being in charge of the kitchen and cooking for 1,500 monks daily or working in the field for two years, etc.
There were monks who quit and when I talked to them later, they deepy regretted and are ‘stuck’ with their decisions. I have witnessed monks who did not quit and they become the great elite Geshes, teachers, scholars, masters, tutors and siddhas. They are the Lati Rinpoches, Kensur Jampa Yeshes, Gen Nyimas, Gen Jamyangs, Kensur Konchok Tserings, Trijang Rinpoches, Pabongka Rinpoches, Geshe Rabtens, Geshe Ngawang Dhargyes, Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsens, Domo Geshe Rinpoches, Zong Rinpoches, Gen Gelongs, and hundreds more too numerous to name. They are the backbones, the flesh and meat of Tibetan Buddhism that has spread into the world. They are the people who we look to with tears in our eyes of inspiration and prod us onto enlightenment. We read their writings, study under their feet and pray to them for inspiration and blessings. We enshrine them in thangkas and statues we enjoy collecting for our altars. The funny thing is they were just like you and me in the beginning. They never gave up.
Imagine if Buddha Shakyamuni gave up because his parents/wife protested and he stayed back in the palace and continued to indulge the senses? Imagine if Buddha gave into Mara at the last moment of his enlightenment. How about all the difficulties Milarepa endured with his very wrathful teacher Marpa? How about Naropa’s trials and tribulations? Compared to them we are just mama’s boys if we quit because we endured very little although we make it big in our spoiled ego centric minds. LOL. How about the great King himself, Lord Tsongkapa and how much he endured to learn and practice and retreat. We should think of them. We should be committed to the path since we came this far ad we should have great guru devotion. Daily we must visualize our guru as Tsongkapa without fail for a few moments clearly, recite Migtseyma and request him for blessings during the visualization. This would be powerful. Go all the way!!! Stop looking for the light, be the light now!
Thank you for your thoughts David and Joy. I was happy to read them.
You can quit everything but not dharma because nothing will bring you truly to a supreme goal. Tell all the Maras in your mind internally and externally to please take a long vacation and don’t come back!!
Tsem Rinpoche
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Very touching and inspiring…….reading the thoughts of Pastor David and Joy Kam will be an example for all of us . It will somehow inspired us and have trust, faith in Dharma. I was once hiding in a nut shell, learning, practicing dharma has led me to a better state of mind. Got to know Kechara was my turning point learning from scratch . I can said that I have a positive mind set and positive motivation since coming to practicing dharma. It’s only after i have stepped outside my comfort zone that i begin to change, grow, and transform. Still learning and I have come to term with less worrying and more smiling nowadays. I am fortunate to have met my Guru . May Rinpoche stays healthy and live long to continue turning the dharma wheel for the benefits of all sentient beings.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspiring write up.
I am flabbergasted by the “Take Me Anywhere” function, it seems like every blog that it is bringing me today has some inkling to what is going on in my mind.
The first words that strike a chord are “…Family and friends come and go, and I have my life experiences to attest to that. Sometimes friends and family back stab, cheat and even treat you like “strangers”, use or abuse you…” And I must confess that even until today I am deluded to think that happiness comes from family and friends even though theoretically I understand the relationships are temporary. For it will come to an end one way or another.
I can absolutely relate to what Pastor David said “…On the subject of quitting, I have thought about it countless times just like a flighty bird. But I just couldn’t do it because of the thought of how it would affect others would come to mind and stop me. It is odd but I do care and its sometimes contradictory to what brought me to the dilemma in the first place…” It is after much contemplation that I realize why this thought crossed my mind; the very same people who are the cause of frustration actually are the object of my practice (of patience, of mindfulness, etc). And since difficulties is difficulties, if I cannot deal with them here & now, it will be the same everywhere else.
Thank you Rinpoche, Joy and Pastor David for the truthful sharing. It helps me sort out my thought process.
Humbly, bowing down,
Stella Cheang
感谢仁波切的佛法分享。我绝对認同，擁有清晰的思维和積極的動機行持佛法，不僅利益他人，也成就自身。偶尔逆缘现前，扰乱心智，只要升起對仁波切绝对的信任及依止心，那将迎刃而解。
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing Joy’s and David’s comments.
Rinpoche is right, if we stop now, or cannot endure, how to continue? The scenario where every monk just stopped, or if Buddha himself stopped before enlightenment, where is Buddhism then.
Everything Rinpoche asked us to do or think has reasons and specific causes. We just have to follow our guru’s advice.
Thank you Rinpoche.
Miss you, come back soon.
All of us at Kechara would have led very very different lifestyles, if we had not met the precious Dharma. The motions or outer actions that we do may not have differed, as Rinpoche said many times before people who love making money, will still make money, people who love art will still love painting and the arts etc. There is a huge difference though, MOTIVATION, we all have to thank Rinpoche for giving us jobs and roles which requires us to have a bigger and more virtuous motivation. With a bigger motivation we can achieve bigger goals and reach a greater potential with our precious human bodies.
David Lai and Joy Kam are long time students of H E Tsem Rinpoche, they are dedicated to their works and very devoted to their Guru, i rejoice. David is a very good writer he is the author of one of the books ‘There is no way but up’, very good book must read. Joy is very artistic, she does most of the paintings of the holy images and statues for Rinpoche. I always keep Rinpoche in my mind and in my heart, may i never be separated from Rinpoche in this life and all lives until i achieve enlightenment!
Dear Rinpoche, Joy & David,
Thanks for the sharing. This post did reflect a lot on my life, what I had been through and still struggling. I appreciate the initiative and the willingness to share. It sparked the interest in me to find out more about the Dharma and practising it. You guys had enlightened my life. Thanks once again. =)
Thank you for such an inspirational message! Being alone here where there is no dharma center, and no other Buddhists but myself, it becomes difficult sometimes. But I am determined to achieve my goals despite the isolation I am so grateful for my friends at Kechara. And I am so very lucky to have a husband who supports me all the way. And I have Rinpoche as well as my root guru; both with their loving encouragement and guidance, will see me out of Samsara. I love you all <3
Rejoice Joy and David, thanks Rinpoche for sharing this warm and touch article with us…
Clean Guru Samaya is the most important in Tibetan Buddhism, is easy to talk but not easy to act so…
But if we willing to follow and step out the first move from our comfort zone then Protector will help us to do so…
Dear Joy & David, I do not know why when i read through the above messages, it brought me to tears. Your words are so real, sincere and most of all, your devotion to your Guru is amazing. You guys have been through a lot in your life that makes you have such realization and with this sincere message, it actually strengthens people’s faith in Dharma. In fact, after I met Dharma, I reshuffled my priorities in life and that actually had led me to a better state of mind where i feel lighter and happier. Thanks for your sharing, they are indeed inspiring.
Thank you for sharing this with us Rinpoche, i hope that many people are inspired by this post do to more in their lives and have less attachments that are holding them back. And thank you David and Joy, this was all indeed very touching.
Thank you Rinpoche, Joy and David for sharing the inspiring words that make us realize nothing can supersede Dharma. We must continue to pursue in our Dharma path as Dharma is the only way to gain Enlightenment and free ourselves from sufferings. .
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.We would normally get very excited and diligent when we get to know something that could benefit us.But when it get tough or difficult we normally would get lazy and shy from it.We would find 100 and 1 reason on why we could not commit to what we got started.
I would like to give Joy and David a big Thank you.For reminding us the true path and not sway away from it for reasons due to mere obstacles or laziness .
Due to some good karma in the past we get to meet our dear Guru in this life but due to attachments to samsaric pleasure we would just give it up.What a waste of our precious human life!
With hands folded,Thank you Rinpoche,for your generous guidance.
Thank you very much Rinpoche! i consider David an inspiration – ever since i read his first book! There are all sorts of hard cookies – i think the worst ones are the stubborn unyielding ones, which are made from very unhealthy ‘ingredients’, saturated with, like what David mentioned, ego and attachment etc. They are so hard to crack! However, and fortunately, we have a great ‘nutcracker’, full of wisdom and compassion, in Tsem Rinpoche! “Kam-sia che-che”, Rinpoche! (That’s Penang Hokkien 🙂 ) Joy, you may be a hard cookie; but a thinking and wise one. You are very fortunate to be a close disciple of Rinpoche!
This blog, managed by you beautiful Bodhisattvas at Kechara, is truly wonderful – one gets to connect with Rinpoche’s great wisdom and skillful methods to ripen sentient being’ mind.
Reading this particular spot has made me aware of the great importance of devotion, a fact which i often forget, due to my heavy obscurations. i am immediately reminded of a prayer which is extremely crucial to the lineage i now follow. Part of the prayer says:
“DEVOTION is the HEAD of MEDITATION, as it is said; It is the
GURU who opens the gate to the mind, of the profound oral teachings”
Once again, thank you very much Rinpoche, for this extremely important reminder! _/\_
A heartfelt thanks to both of them and all the others. Without the preserverance and the sacrifices (a lot I must say) there will not be today. Actually it was these comments that have moved me to connect to Kechara. There are ups and down and these feelings are real(minus the teaching on emptiness). These comments that make the blog ‘Alive’…… Rather than constantly promoting kindness, compassion and etc (although this is what we aim for). Reincarnation is definite and may both of you always be closed to Dharma and your Guru!
Thank you Rinpoche for a wonderful reply and I must say that those scenearios Rinpoche mentioned are rather frightening and if they had happened, we wouldn’t have the Buddhist lineage and practice that we know today. I understand the message is to think on a bigger perspective when encountering small problems.
Anyway, the truth of the matter is that the little petty problems I have are grossly exaggerated compared to the much bigger problems these great beings have or that Rinpoche faces or even what some of the BODS like Paul goes through. What we go through is not only self-created but very small. The comparison helps me to realize that what I go through can be solved easily with a bigger perspective of things.
Thank you for sharing dear Rinpoche. Its touching that Our Guru made us feel home and love. I totally agree that when we having a good mind set and positive motivation n Dharma is not only benefit others but mainly to ourselves. We need Dharma more than anything, of course once in a while obstacles will appear that mess up our mind but if we have the faith for our Guru. nothing will make us stop. We just need a lot of trust on ppl that is working for Dharma and our Guru.
Hope Rinpoche is well always.
Much love and care,
Helena
Dear rinpoche, Joy and David,
Thanks for the precious sharing. I really wish for a speedy learning path on dharma, but bringing up a family could be challenging at the same time. Not a reason to quit , instead dharma being practice in family? In networking? It could be slower and taking longer time for sure, I will persist because I have the faith in you (Tsongkhapa). You are always in my little prayers, may your dharma works and every wish fulfilled immediately; please bless and guide me the way to achieve inner peace with selfless compassion and forgiveness. “…In brief , directly and indirectly, I offer aid and joy to all my mothers! May I secretly take upon myself All harm and suffering of my mothers! …..”. _/\_
Thank you for sharing this, Rinpoche and thank you for sharing your thoughts, Joy and David. This is extremely touching. If you do not give up on Dharma, so much possibilities could happen and they are all beneficial, not only to you but to the people around you.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspiring write up with us. Every time when I think doing Dharma work is difficult I think of what Rinpoche said if you give up Dharma mean you give up happiness for yourself and others. I really feel very thankful to Rinpoche who give us the Dharma and set up all the department for the volunteer to contribute to Dharma it really make our live more fullfilling.
With folded hands
Shelly tai
Dear Rinpoche, thank you for sharing. Thanks to Joy and David. It’s very touching. The Guru is the one who can bring you home, not your material stuffs, fame or any other things around us that we assume will get us somewhere but in the end they could not and will not.
It’s a good idea to buy an air ticket to send the Maras to holiday. Just telling I can do it. We all can do it. Will always remind myself to get blessing from my Guru daily, to get the strength to move forward.
Thank you again. Wish Rinpoche have a nice day.