A visit to Kechara House by Venerable You Wei
Yesterday, Liaison Paul Yap updated that a group of Dharma practitioners from Singapore visited Kechara House. The group of practitioners came to Kechara as an offering towards their teacher, Venerable You Wei… he had requested for them to visit and to learn from Kechara.
Venerable You Wei has a Dharma Center in Singapore. Furthering his Buddhist studies in Fu Yan Institute in Taiwan, Venerable You Wei became the Abbot of Di Zang Lin (地藏林) in 2005. Venerable also heads the Buddhist Education Section at Singapore Buddhist Federation, and serves as the Religious Adviser for Nanyang Polytechnic Buddhist Society.
My students informed me that Venerable You Wei encourages for Di Zang Lin to move in the same direction as Kechara. Venerable enjoys delivering the Buddha Dharma in a lively, modern and efficient way to the youth. In 2007, Venerable came to visit Kechara… he has been following the progress of Kechara via this blog, and this time Venerable came back with his center’s executive committee members. Kechara welcomed their visit very much and was happy to help in whatever we can do.
I am very touched and humbled by Venerable You Wei’s dedication to spread the Dharma in Singapore. If there were more people like Venerable, the Dharma will flourish. I wish Venerable well and may his Dharma center in Singapore continue to be of benefit to others. All of Venerable’s students must follow their spiritual guide’s instructions well as part of their spiritual practice. It is with strong Guru devotion, sincerity and integrity that a Dharma center will grow… Without practicing the Dharma, a center is only but a building. I pray for Venerable You Wei’s good health, dharma work to grow and also very long life.
Paul, who is the head liaison of Kechara House led Venerable and his group for a tour of the Gompa, Gallery, Kechara Discovery, Kechara Blooms and Kechara Saraswati Arts. When they were in the Gompa, the group made offerings to the three jewels in Kechara’s prayer hall. During the tour, Paul explained in detail how Kechara operates and answered the group’s questions. Paul then brought them to Kechara Oasis in Viva Home for lunch, followed by Kechara Paradise which is located in the same mall.
I heard that they were impressed with how modern and efficient Kechara is… They flew back to Singapore the night of their visit… I hope that there was something in Kechara that Venerable’s students could benefit from. We welcome Venerable You Wei and his students back to Kechara any time.
Thank you Paul very much for all the time you spent representing Kechara for Venerable You Wei.
Tsem Rinpoche
Paul giving the group and Venerable You Wei (far left) a tour of the Gompa…
Venerable You Wei making pearl offerings to Vajrayogini…
Paul showing the group some of Kechara’s publications…
A group photo in front of Lama Tsongkhapa.
Paul giving a short introduction to my blog…
The group at Kechara Oasis Viva Home for lunch.
The group at Kechara Paradise Viva Home…
Offerings from Venerable You Wei and his Singaporean group. Thank you very very much… I have offered them all up to the Buddhas.
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If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Valuable information. Fortunate me I found your site unintentionally, and I
am surprised why this accident did not took place in advance!
I bookmarked it.
May the Dharma spread and spread and spread. _/\_
Venerable You Wei is young yet He is so devoted to the Dharma. It is great inspirational to youth today. What surprise me is even though Ven. You Wei is young, but His students are mostly older than him according to the photos above. And even Ven. You Wei likes modern way of delivering the Dharma, but still, He attracts older students. It also shows that people are more open minded now as they understand Dharma could be delivered in many ways.
People are quite impressed with Kechara as well, because Kechara attracts many young people and the youth actually work for Dharma and see Dharma work as a career. This is what I’ve been told all this while. This is the skillful way Rinpoche uses to reach to many levels of people in today’s world.
I rejoice for Ven. You Wei and may Ven. You Wei’s Dharma works grow and flourish!
I’m lucky enough to meet Rev You Wei and visited Rev’s Dharma Center — “Di Zang Lin” in Singapore few weeks back. Di Zang Lin was founded By Rev. You Wei’s teacher and Rev. You Wei take over after his teacher enter clear light.
Rev told us it have not been easy to spread Buddhism nowadays in Singapore, especially to attract younger generation, Rev You Wei told us he’s very surprise that most of Kechara members of full time staff are below 40 years old. Rev also shared with us that he personally like the idea of Kechara Care lounge a lot, because it provide a space for youngster to gather together for activities. Rev You Wei said to us, Tsem Rinpoche guidance for Kechara is very modern and suitable for people in this generation where Tsem Rinpoche will translate ancients Buddhist teaching into modern tones to suits us.
Few months back Tsem Rinpoche have humbly offered a Setrap Thangka to Rev and Di Zang Lin, it’s to clear any obstacle of Di Zang Lin members might face in order to spread Dharma. Attached is the link when MBF member like Joshua, JJ, Cody to presented Setrap thangka to Rev You Wei, and Rev You Wei invited Lord Setrap into Di Zang Lin.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150449688051516&set=a.10150449687231516.360955.28456831515&type=1&theater
I have always felt Buddhism is a religion that promotes learning and encourages it. And It is heartwarming to see openness to learning and sharing from two different Buddhist traditions. As what we can learn from one another is much much more than what differentiates us.
Isn’t this the ideal way of religious? no fighting among each other who’s better than another, people from different dharma centre visit one and another to learn more about Dharma, the purpose to engage into a dharma practice is to develop a better self and not to enhance our attachment to righteous.
I felt so warm hearted with the motivation of Venerable You Wei, he visits Kechara with his member, he is so open to other centres and only want the best for everyone.
I really loves this harmony learning environment. We get together not to gossip or do anything bad, we get together to promote peace, harmony and unity is the power…
Thank you for this article about Venerable You Wei’s visit. Many people admire what Kechara has achieved but as David says, they do not know how hard Rinpoche has worked, together with his close students, to make Kechara what it is today. Rinpoche came to Malaysia with two bags – one with dharma items and one with clothes and from literally nothing, he built Kechara up to have 13 divisions and over 100 full time staff.
What Rinpoche has always said is that he rejoices and is very happy when other centres grow and thrive because it means that Dharma is growing and thriving. He said that he cannot cope with all the buddhists in Malaysia and so there is no competition or rivalry between centres – or rather, there should not be.
He always reminds us that we should not build our centre at the cost of others. We should support each other’s centres but not steal students or resources from each other. All this Rinpoche elucidates in his book, Gurus for Hire, Enlightenment for Sale (http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/students-friends/khoos-book-review-on-gurus-for-hire.html)
I am glad that Ven. You Wei has come to see how Kechara has grown and is inspired by Rinpoche’s achievements. I hope he can bring back to his centre something positive from Kechara and that he will visit us again.
Just to add to my previous post, Rinpoche has also kindly put together the video teachings in this post http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/gurus-for-hire-enlightenment-for-sale.html. If anyone is interested in ordering the actual book, it is available here http://vajrasecrets.com/gurus-for-hire-enlightenment-for-sale-1.html
I have always stressed how important this book is because of how Rinpoche explains how we can have intercentre harmony and how Dharma students should behave. When there is angst in a Dharma centre, it is not the problem with the Dharma or the centre but with the people within it.
I agree very much that if the world has more people like Venerable You Wei, the world will be a much better place to live in. At times when people focus more on themselves than others, Venerable You Wei sets a very good example by doing work daily for the benefit of others.
Being the spiritual guide of a Dharma Center isn’t easy at all as the he has to put up with all the excuses of students not wanting to do more, fund raising, the negative attitude of students and so on. This is why I personally respect Ven You Wei very much because he leads by example, no matter how tough the going gets, he is here to stay simply for the wellness of others. The same goes to Tsem Rinpoche whom I respect and love very dearly.
看见各不同传承的佛教中心或道场互相交流，彼此学习，感觉很棒。我们彼此不同，不过却不必互相敌视、批评或竞争。因为不同，其实可以彼此观察，找出对方适合自己道场进步的优势，然后把它适当地应用在自己身上。但愿看见更多中心和修行人一起为弘法利生努力。感恩。
May Venerable You Wei and his Dharma grows big and benefit everyone in Singapore. 🙂
According to records, it seems that this is Venerable You Wei’s second visit, while back in 2007 was the first. It was said Venerable You Wei has been following the progress of KH via Rinpoche’s blog closely, after the first visit. Its indeed an honour for KH to welcome the Venerable and his entourage, consisting mainly of their centre’s executive committee members on this honourable visit. It was also great to learn that the Venerable’s entourage seemed impressed with the modernity and efficient set-up of Kechara – Syabus to Paul, who has successfully and impressively taken care of the group as Head and Liaison of KH. We rejoice deeply for his great effort in promoting Kechara as a modern progressive spiritual organisation, and through Rinpoche’s inspired teachings to gain knowledge and wisdom to practice real inner transformation of our negative qualities into selfless motivation to service and benefit others. Om mani Padme Hum.
Welcome to Kechara, Ven. You Wei! Hopefully you enjoyed your stay in KL. It is always nice that other centers are visiting each other to learn and help each other in any way they can. After all, we are all one big family and all share a common vision: To spread the Dharma..
Dear Ven.You Wei, may your Dharma work in Singapore flourishes and grow forever more. =)
Thank you for sharing, Rinpoche!
It’s very good to support other Dharma centres. It doesn’t matter what tradition they belong to. We can make financial and material donations to help them in their activities. This way, Dharma will flourish and benefit a lot of people.
Thanks for sharing Rinpoche.
I am glad for Venerable You Wei to visit Kechara and tight the relationship between two centers. I wish Venerable well and wish his center in Singapore can continuos to bring benefit to others.
I rejoice at this visit of Reverend Yu Wei, abbot of Singapore’s Di Zang Lin center, to Kechara House.Reverend Yu Wei came with members of his executive committee and was shown and taken around very capably by Paul.Visits like these help to promote peace and harmony between centers. Reverend Yu Wei appears to be very much like Rinpoche in teaching the Dharma with great zest and liveliness, a style appealing especially to the young people in these modern times.
Rinpoche reminds us here that, without practicing the Dharma, a center is only but a building. Rinpoche has carefully nurtured and guided Kechara’s growth into what it is today. We, his students, must have strong Guru Devotion and practice the Dharma and transform our minds so that Kechara Forest Retreat and KWPC will manifest swiftly for the benefit of all beings.
Buddhist centres and Dharma centres coming together, in harmony as one dharma brother and sister to another is probably what Buddha would smile about. It is Dharmic and the right and healthy attitude to have. We can all learn and support one another in many exchanges and sharing because our mission and goal is the same – enlightenment for the benefit of others 🙂
If anything, a Dharma Centre should never be political or act in such a manner between each other, between centres, when we do this, it degrade the Buddha, Dharma and sangha and it is how people destroy Dharma and Dharma becomes perverted. It shows people your centre’s motivation is not Dharmic. Never underestimate the public and people, they sense it.
This is a good read http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/inspiration-worthy-words/work-and-play-become-one.html
Hence inter-connectivity and inter-centre harmony is very important for Dharma to thrive anywhere, more so here in Malaysia. We need to always focus back on our whole motivation and just follow the Buddha’s teachings we cannot go wrong.
It is great that dharma centers interact with each other to learn, share and exchange ideas from each other. Venerable You Wei visit to Kechara showed that he sincerely wants to improve his center.There’s always room for improvement no matter how well a center is managed and Paul did a wonderful job to share what he knows to Venerable and his students. His students are very lucky to have Venerable You Wei as their Master who is so devoted to the dharma just like we Kecharians are so fortunate to have Venerable Tsem Rinpoche with us to guide and inspire us in our spiritual path.
I rejoice and all this comes not arbitrarily. It came through a lot of blood, sweat and tears… Literally speaking! Tsem Rinpoche worked very hard to raise funds, meet students, motivate them, build up the departments, envision the entire breadth of the organisation, counsel errant students and do a lot to make things grow from scratch.
People always see the buildings and the people but they just don’t realize how much Rinpoche have put it into this organisation in Malaysia. Many students have come and a few have left. Many don’t see the heartache that Rinpoche had to go through and at the same time continue because he wants to see that Kechara becomes an institution that will withstand the test of time.
In a nutshell, Tsem Rinpoche is no ordinary monk or High Lama, he is truly a visionary and a stickler to the Dharma and of his spiritual commitments. I think this post comes through at a crucial moment as Kechara is poised for a bigger expansion into a retreat center.
Thank you Venerable You Wei and his students who promote learning, sharing and discussion among buddhist groups and practitioners. Happy to hear that an exchange of ideas happened during their visit to Kechara and they were impressed by what Tsem Rinpoche had done for Buddhism in Malaysia.
Its great that Kechara is able to share some of our experiences to Ven You Wei and his executive committee members. We can learn from each other to help the Dharma flourish. May Ven You Wei have good health and long life to continue his Dharma work.
It is nice to see that esteemed leader of Di Zhang Li and his representatives came this far to see Kechara.
I like to see exchanges between different dharma centres because there will always be things that we can learn and improve on through looking at other people.
I trust too that with Paul’s familiarity towards the workings of KH, the close locations of various KH’s departments and a nice meal at KO, Venerable and his team had a fruitful day.
Look forward to seeing Venerable and his students again in the near future!
不同传承的交流是非常的棒的，交流不是要改变对方的信仰和修行方式，而是寻找出共同点，并且鼓励对方继续所有的工程计划，将善知识传开来。
至少大家知道在不同的地方，大家也在努力的克服不同的难题，将佛法带给更多人。
I think it’s really encouraging to see the Buddhist community learning from one another. In a world of competition and rivalry, I think that Venerable You Wei’s wish for his students to visit Kechara clearly shows how sincere and humble Venerable You Wei is.
Venerable You Wei sincerely wants to spread the Dharma to others. Those at Di Zang Lin are very fortunate to have Venerable as their abbot.
Even in Kechara, we look to others for inspiration. There’s always room to grow, and why be shy about it? It’s because of Findhorn, Kechara (through Tsem Rinpoche) is inspired to grow wonderful and lush greenery at Kechara Forest Retreat.
Check out Li Kheng and her compost tea!! http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/videos/how-to-make-compost-tea.html
It is of great peace and harmony to witness different schools of Buddhism understanding and relating to each other. Thank you, Venerable for the visit. _/\_
It is great to see Kechara welcoming visitors from other Buddhist centres and sharing information with them. To know that Venerable You Wei would bring his executive members to Kechara to get to know more about us is heartwarming. We wish Venerable all the best in his endeavors to serve the Dharma.
It is really great to see interactions between the Buddhist centers! Rejoice!
Thank you Paul Yap, head liaisons of Kechara House who always does great job in explaining to others what we do in Kechara (of course he is also very good in leading Kechara House).
I wish Ven. Wei You can come to Kechara House even more often to establish an even stronger relationship: cross-promoting, “student” exchange, joint Buddhist camp, etc. May be we can become “sister centers”? 🙂