My Birthday Celebration at Kechara House 1
Although I have a policy of not celebrating my birthday, it is actually a good day for students of any lama to get together and do prayers on their lama’s birthday – for peace, spiritual attainments and to feel gratitude for the opportunity to have met a spiritual friend who would guide them on the path of Dharma.
Like previous years, students and friends from near and far join in the celebration and had a great day catching up on the progress of the organisation. I must congratulate the Kechara House committee and everyone involved who made this gathering a success.
Below are some pictures taken at the event:
At the main entrance of Kechara House 1, guests are greeted by volunteers and committee members.
Left: Candles and pearls available for visitors and members to make offerings.
Right: Kechara Care admin, May Ong and volunteers registering new guests/ visitors.
Many friends and students have offered a lot of gifts. I thank them very much for their generosity and kindness.
Left: These includes books offered by Kechara Media & Publications, together with many kind sponsors, dedicated for the growth of Dharma.
Middle: Buddhas, flowers, and a portrait of me by Mr. Melvin Lam, who is a great supporter of Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK)
Right: A photo mosaic made up of hundreds of photo greetings submitted via Facebook campaign, presented by e-division
The MCs of the evening, Ms. Margaret Lee presents in English, while Mr. Dino Goh presents in Chinese. Margaret holds in her hand a year 2011 calendar newly produced by Kechara InMotion.
KH1 altar with Lord Tsongkhapa, surrounding by numerous offerings. Tsongkhapa will ‘grow’ bigger in our next gompa. (Read about the 10ft Tsongkhapa in the new gompa)
Kechara House’s dedicated President, Liaison Datuk May Phng, offering khata, mandala and body/ speech/ mind on behalf of all Kecharians.
Datuk May gave a very engaging speech, inviting all Kecharians and friends to come together and make Kechara World Peace Centre manifest.
Liaison David Lai of Kechara Media & Publications gave a brief presentation about my biography and background.
Today, the Tsem Rinpoche Bio Group of 11 members is still in USA doing research and interview of my childhood and younger days in Howell New Jersey, and Los Angeles California.
Susan walked down the memory lane with the audience, presenting photos of how Kechara gompa started with Kechara House 1 (the current premise) in the year 2004, and progressed to the new gompa that will seat 700.
The Lama Chopa prayer was lead by Patsy Gooi, my long time friend and student, also the manager of Kechara Paradise Penang.
The MCs came out with an impromptu idea after ending the prayer , let’s see…
WHAT
ARE
THEY UP TO???
……..
The MCs got everyone to take a group picture at KH1, as this will be the last time we will use this gompa (prayer hall) for a huge gathering like this. The next big event will be at the new gompa across the road, next to Kechara Care offices.
GO KECHARA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone shouted in unison, ending the night with cheer and laughter.
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Looking at the pictures it shows how fast and big Kechara has grown. From KH 1 (a level of a shop lot) to having Gompa and now 35 acres KFR in Bentong. It is great achievement of Rinpoche and fellow Kecharians. It also means there are a lot of effort and team works put in , in order to have this great success. Of course the most important thing, it means students are practising strong Guru Devotion towards Rinpoche. And I am glad to be a Kecharian, learning and practising dharma to transform and be able to help others 🙂
Within 6 years we have grown so big and we will grow even bigger with the manifestation of Menara Kechara and Kechara World Peace Center!!!
We have certainly come a long way under the guidance of our Spiritual Teacher, Tsem Tulku Rinpoche!!
Look at the tremendous growth – we are literally bursting at the seams at KH1. I remember the very first Dharma teaching I attended 5 years ago – there were maybe only 40 people at most, all huddled together towards the front of the hall, with masses of room to spare. We’ve certainly come a long way and what better way to celebrate the growth of Dharma than at Rinpoche’s birthday. Super duper absolutely fabulously happy Birthday to Rinpoche 🙂
Rinpoche’s Birthday on 24th October 2010 which also happens to be a Sunday saw a lot of people streaming into KH1 Gompa. Nowadays our KH Committee and volunteers are very experienced in organising and setting up events and Rinpoche’s Birthday without any problem. In previous years there were lots of hiccups. KH1 Gompa was very well decorated and arranged with lots of gifts for Rinpoche. This year a very big Special birthday card was created with students and members pictures and greetings attach to greet Rinpoche with birthday wishes. A last full group picture was taken as this was the last event to be held in KH1 Gompa. The whole event was very successful with a packed Gompa of people even though Rinpoche was not present on that day.
Happy Belated Birthday Tsem Rinpoche, although you are not my GURU per se, but you have taught me alot too about love and compassion and equanamity for beings through your Blog… and i have “borrowed” alot of materials from your site for others to read too… haha…
What you said is really true. Can we really ever understand and appreciate and feel grateful enough for the kindness of our lamas and teachers and of Buddha Shakyamuni… it is impossible to fathom the kindness of these bodhisattvas… the only way to repay is to practice the dharma, develop the bodhichitta within ourselves, attain Buddhahood and benefit beings…
May your teachings prosper, may your life be long and health always be excellent…
Go Kechara! Thank you for your powerful and beneficial presence and work!