Are You Available to Help Me?
People sometimes wonder how I choose or select individuals to go for these expeditions or spontaneous good works with me from time to time….well it depends on you…If you are available and your schedules are free to help then I will remember you or your name will be suggested to me… If you are called for this event, that activity, th…is meeting or what not and you are always or most of the times not available, then I tend to not disturb you or call you in the future because I figure you are not ready…..of course that is not permanent..I am not saying what you planned ahead is not important either and that is why you can’t make it…. It is not anything except how much you wish to be involved and I guage in that manner…If I guage you really are enthusiastic and you make yourself available for most activities you are invited to, then I make a mental note.
Whether you show up on time and your enthusiasm as we are doing the work helps me so much to know if you are happy to be here or just came because I called you…I don’t want to force……
As time goes on, the ppl who are always available and do these things and join me in these works, I get to observe you as a person and perhaps will request you to be in a dept or division…that is how it’s all started. Many people in divisions or depts I place in come about in that manner…I do not mean to judge ppl, but it is my only way to guage. Some ppl I would like to definitely do more things with as I see they have potential, but they are not always available most of the time, so let it be…but I do thank everyone for everything…
Tsem Rinpoche
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1984 Los Angeles-Left to right: Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, monk assistant to Zong Rinpoche and the 18-year-old Tsem Rinpoche prior to ordination. Read more- https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/me
I was walking past a second hand shop on Western Ave selling old things. They had a Japanese-style clay Buddha which was beige in colour on the floor, holding the door open. I thought the shopkeeper would collect a lot of negative karma without knowing if he kept such a holy item on the floor as a doorstop. So I went in to talk to him, but he didn’t look like he wanted to talk or that he even cared. So I asked him the price and he said US$5. I purchased it so he did not collect more negative karma. I was 17 years old and that was in 1982.
I escorted my new Buddha home and washed it lightly and wiped it. I placed it on my altar and was happy with the Buddha. I would do my meditations, prayers, sadhanas, mantras and prostrations in front of this shrine daily. When I left for India in 1987, I could not bring this Buddha along and gave it to a friend. It was a nice size and I made offerings to this Buddha for many years in Los Angeles. In front of the Buddha I placed His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s photo. I remember I was so relieved that the price was affordable. But US$5 that time was still expensive for me but worth it I thought. But I was happy to have brought the Buddha home. Tsem Rinpoche
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Tsem Rinpoche at Kechara Forest Retreat, Bentong, Malaysia
It’s the hard work, giving up personal enjoyment, timing and attachment that counts. Thank you Rinpoche and Kecharians for sacrificing your golden time for us.
I believe that we should always make ourselves available for our teachers. By making ourselves available it would be a great chance for us to learn more and understand the issues that we face through the teachings that we would receive.
I love being near to Rinpoche and I would give up everything to have that. It is just so precious to have that opportunity to do so. I would exchange the world for the chance. Not only do you get to learn more, you would see that transformation in yourself. Because of that, I would love to thank Rinpoche for that, helping all of us here without any hopes for any returns.
Thank you so much Rinpoche.
Dear Rinpoche,
I met Kechara for the first time this March and I have been having strong interest about Kechara organization since then. I really like the way you teaching and presenting Dharma and I like the people in Kechara. I always feel that I want to do something to help people, but I don’t know how. Over the past few years, I have read lots of Dharma books by myself but I never really have serious practice or following any religious group (though I think overall I am a kind person and are willing to help the small group of people around me, I feel that’s not enough..) I involved in the charity activities from time to time whenever someone invited me but never do it on a regular basis….
Now I am asking myself a question all the time, what should I do if I want to benefit more people? I am living in Shanghai but I would be very happy to help you with your work. (I don’t know what to do as I am so far away from you, neither do I know if I am qualified as I haven’t even finished all the books I brought back from Kechara last time … a bit lazy …)
Again, thank you for all the wonderful work you have done to bring happiness and meaning into so many people’s life.
With folded hands,
Maggie
Dear Rinpoche,
it would be an honor to be called by Rinpoche. And like in the past, i will always make time for it.
I like the answer given by Anila.As I am a new member of Kechara less than 3 months, i think it got to do with the Cause & Effect,that means we create a Good Cause to get a Good Effect or Results. Giving back to society through good positive projects eg KSK
It makes me feel sad that Rinpoche need to ask for help. I do realize how difficult it is to commit ourselves, due to our worldly pursuit or fear of failure/rejection. However, after taking part in the past few events, I would strongly encourage all to offer their help as they really did help me overcome SOME of my shortcomings (which I have a lot of).
In the recent GDSP event, when Janice invited me to be part of the sales team, I’ve only offered to take part unofficially as I knew that during the sale period I would be extremely busy with my own work. Somehow I was trussed into becoming a full time sale team member (even taking part in committee meetings, which I’ve never would have thought of) and in the process, I’ve learnt to overcome my laziness, fear of rejection (especially approaching people for offerings and encouraging them to take up the higher offering packages) and to be more creative (in ways to approach people for offerings, especially complete strangers and to keep in contact with other depts. for their updated sales figures).
All these activities had really made me stepped out of my comfort zone/shell and made me realize the limitations that I’ve place on myself. Also, I’ve learnt to apply the dharma whenever I’m faced with obstacles, to promote Kechara (especially having a very compassionate/selfless Guru who is with us day & night) and most importantly to help others be more aware of the buddhadharma & making offerings. For my gain from this event, I would really like to thank Janice for the invitation and others for their offerings/co-operations.
Most of all, I would like to say ‘THANK YOU’ to Rinpoche. It is only due to his eminence that all these could happen. So all of you out there, pls do give some of your time to Kechara and you would definitely surprise yourselves.
BE A WINNER WITH KECHARA!
Rinpoche will not call you for no reason to do things or activities. He is being so humble by quoting the word ‘help me’. He is skillfully helping you to help yourself to collect merits. He knows what is best for any individual needs. There is a reason for that. And it is for the individual to collect merits. Its just like a King leading the soldiers to fight a war to be able to win. Its the same with Rinpoche. He needs help and volunteers and students to help him. So that in turn he is able to help more people in the long term.
I’ve been thinking about Guru Devotion since yesterday until today… and the more i think about it, the more i realize how little Guru Devotion I have.
Obviously the problem is with me. I’ve read some books to try to improve myself, and I ‘realize’ (maybe i’m overestimating myself here) the importance of a Spiritual Guide and having guru devotion. Yet it doesn’t come naturally… could it be coz i’m hoping or asking for too much in a short period of time?
Perhaps it’s my lack of merit to see the greater picture?
I’m not saying that i wouldn’t jump at the chance to help Rinpoche or help out in Kechara… i’d be more than happy to do so even if it means riding on a bus to get there. Just that sometimes, it feels artificial in whatever i do…
I truly look forward to the day i can help out without any ‘concerns’…
Love the picture… it gives me the feeling that if we miss this one chance, we most probably wont be getting that chance again… at least not in this lifetime…
Very well stated Martin.
Every minute with the Guru is important and precious. Every action of the Guru is a Teaching.
A call from the Guru cannot be ranked equal to call from the secular boss. Neither can Boddhicitta be compared with the regular sense of pity that humans “feel”. Neither is the spiritual definition of “ethics” and “morals” the same as the regular meanings.
It is not a question of whether we are available…its a question of what our priorities are. The response to the call shows our state of mind and our readiness to progress.
Guru devotion is not a part time hobby, but a full time soul saving exercise that rarely comes along.
Dear Rinpoche,
At the risk of sounding sickly-sweet, I would say from my own point of view that doing any kind of Dharma-related work for Kechara brings an enormous amount of benefit to the individual as well as the organisation. Of course it is wonderful to provide assistance and benefit Kechara even in the smallest of ways, but when giving any time to Dharma work, it can benefit so much whoever offers up their services.
I find that being involved helps to focus the mind on the Dharma. Doing Dharma work places one in a situation where one contemplates the Dharma more so than if any other activity was being carried out.
Doing Dharma work can also be therapeutic. If the mind is focused on a task involving the Dharma, it becomes calm and clear and feelings of well-being can manifest and last long after the task is complete. Even on a social or pratical level, doing Dharma work has many benefits for the individual. In getting involved in various tasks, people can develop their existing skills and develop new skills also. And of course, Kechara has a number of wonderful and talented people who all contribute to the success of the organisation and these people can become very good friends to those who get involved with Kechara, and that network of friends can widen as people get to know friends of Kechara and their friends and so on.
So, offering one’s services to Kechara definitely benefits everyone involved. It allows for so many good things to happen for the individual and the recipients of that individual’s contribution. It creates, develops and strengthens bonds between people and and provides a great sense of unity for those who wish to come together with the common desire and purpose of developing themselves and also working as part of a collective effort to benefit every being that comes into contact with Kechara.
I would definitely recommend anyone who has even the slightest interest in getting involved with Kechara to do so. Personally, I feel my own involvement has provided me with a much greater focus than I would have, had I never pursued my own interest to engage in Dharma activity.
Kind regards,
Sandy
Rinpoche, my prayer is that when the Teacher calls, the student will always respond with courage, certainty, devotion and joy, knowing that however it ‘looks’ doesn’t matter. It is the willingness to respond that is essential. But this is a hard thing for us blockhead students to understand!, habituated as we are in ordinary view of life and things we think we have to do, not recognising that the Teacher’s call is like nothing else we could ever know. It is the vibration of our own heart telling us to awaken.
We are blessed to have pure, caring and patient Teachers such as yourself and my precious Teacher Jetsunma to open our hearts to listen. Thank you.