The Liaisons Council was introduced in 2006.

The structure was put in place to help the organisation function more efficiently and effectively on an operational level.  It was designed to have departmental heads that work together with me to run Kechara. With 14 depts we needed the heads very much as I could not do it alone anymore obviously. Each Dept Head would ensure smooth operations of each dept. Then we would meet monthly, update each other and also give reports.  The concept of this structure comes from the great Gaden Monastery, which was adopted hundreds of years ago and is still applicable and much needed till today. Gaden has many depts and has elected heads to run the various depts and work together with the Abbot. The smoother the operations, the more it can reach people.

There are currently 16 Liaisons in Kechara, and today 6 more Kecharians have “sworn in” as a liaison. Swearing in as a liaison is also what is done at Gaden Monastery.

The 6 new liaisons stood in front of Setrap in Kechara’s gompa to take their oaths to work in their depts well, make dharma a priority, and to bring the teachings of Enlightened Ones to many.

Becoming a liaison is a great honour, and the procedures are:

1. Elected as an apprentice to the Liaison Council.

2. Observation period of 6 months.

3. At the end of the 6 months, their Head of Department submits a performance review in front of the entire Liaisons Council.

4. They will also recommend for them to either become a full-fledged Liaison or a probation extension.

5. The Liaison Council votes. If the council votes you in, then you will become a full fledged liaison.

I congratulate the six new people who have taken their oaths yesterday and have become full fledged Kechara House Liaisons. They will be actively involved in decision making, updates, growth and be part of a vital fast growing spiritual group who’s aim is to add benefits to society. It is indeed a great honour to serve the dharma and use your life to benefit many.

Tsem Rinpoche

The 6 people below have been voted in by the Liaison Council as the 6 new liaisons of Kechara! They are:

1. Irene Lim (Director of Kechara Oasis)

“She is an avid traveller and well-versed in Buddhist philosophy, health, nutrition, meditative equipoise and tantra. Irene has raised funds for numerous charitable organisations and has led several pilgrimages to some of the world’s most sacred Buddhist sites.

The core of her life for the past 17 years has been and still is, the spiritual connection with her most precious teacher, His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche. Her odyssey of spiritual self-discovery through His Eminence’s teachings has enriched her life experience, resonating deeply throughout her entire being. Her spirituality has given great meaning to her life, transforming her mind, and leading her to find inner peace and happiness.

When prompted by His Eminence to start a vegetarian restaurant, Irene immediately embraced the idea with joy and has not looked back in her efforts to make His Eminence’s vision a reality.  She believes people deserve to experience taste, fun, joy, beauty, sustainable happiness, wealth, health and harmony.”

2. Nicholas Yu (Operation Manager of Kechara Care)

“In May 2010, Nicholas Yu quit as project manager with one of Malaysia’s top mobile operators to become a full-time Kechara member of staff. He credits the ease of his entrance into full-time Dharma to his supportive wife Josephine and two loving daughters. Whilst Josephine is an active Kechara volunteer who is always keen to lend a hand wherever she can, their older daughter is active in the Manjushri Kids’ Class – this is truly a family of Dharma.

Nicholas has been a member of Kechara since 2008, beginning as a Kechara Soup Kitchen volunteer before becoming one of their Team Leaders. Since then, Nicholas has been elected into the Kechara House 2010-2012 Committee, and now the operation manager of Kechara Care.”

3. David Lai (Writer and Marketer of Kechara Media and Publications)

“David graduated with a Bachelor of Computing from Monash University, Australia. Upon returning to Malaysia, he worked in sales and marketing with various companies like Canon and Volvo before joining Kechara Media and Publications’ marketing team to bring Rinpoche’s books and DVDs to world.

David has since authored two books with KMP – There’s No Way But Up and Vajrayogini and Other Sacred Power Places in Nepal.”

4. Wan Wong (Manager of Kechara Paradise SS2)

“Hello, this is Wan here, a Thai who married a Malaysian…and I’ve lived here since then! I was previously just an ordinary woman with lots of free time, who heard a lot about His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche. It aroused my curiosity until, in 2003, I met Rinpoche through my husband. I was so excited! As a manager of Kechara Paradise SS2 – I feel that my life is more meaningful, and I’m happy with what I’m doing now.”

5. Chua Siong Woan (Treasurer and Project Director of Kechara Soup Kitchen)

“As a mother of 2, I used to spend my free-time gardening, reading, listening to music and traveling. On 4th January 2009, I joined Kechara Soup Kitchen. This became one of the most important turning points in my life. From then on, dharma and helping people became a big part of my life.

Professionally, I obtained a Fellowship from The Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (FCCA) and am currently working full time as a Project Director of Kechara Soup Kitchen. Prior to this, I was the Assistant Vice President of Finance for Travel Guard Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. This was after my role as the Senior Business Controller of Nokia, responsible for financial and management accounting, credit control and logistic functions of Nokia mobile phones’ operations in Malaysia and Brunei.

It is also my honor to serve KSK as the Treasurer and Project Director, by where I can add value with my professional knowledge and experience.

6. Dr Lanse Chiah (Editor, Writer and Translator of Kechara Media & Publications)

“After graduating with MBBS in 1999 from Jinan University, Guangzhou, China, Lanse was a part-time lecturer at a local college of traditional Chinese medicine.

She joined KMP in February 2009 on a part-time basis to do Chinese translations, transcriptions, and work on the Chinese-language version of the Kechara newsletter, No More Caves. Lanse has since committed as a full-time editor and writer in the Chinese-language division of KMP.”

During the swearing in ceremony, the Liaisons then do a puja together. Today they did the following:

• Guru Yoga
• Prayer and serkym offering to Dharma Protector Setrap
• King of Prayers
• The Prayer of the Virtuous Beginning, Middle and End
• Collective recitation of 20,000 Setrap mantras
• Dedication prayers
• Yonten Shigyurma

Making 3 prostrations to Lama Tsongkhapa.

The 6 new liaisons doing black tea (serkym) to Setrap.

In front of Setrap, Liaison JP is reading out the pledge of all the Liaisons.

Nicholas (middle) holding onto the khata.

Wan (second from the right) holding onto the khata.

The 6 new liaisons offering a khata to Dharmapala Setrap.

The 6 new liaisons. From left to right: Irene Lim, David Lai, Wan Wong, Chua Siong Woan, Nicholas Yu and Lanse Chiah.

All the liaisons doing a collective recitation of 20,000 Setrap mantras.

The Liaisons Council!

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