It’s in me..
Dharma is not something I do or engage in as something separate from me. Dharma has been me since very young as far as I can remember. I love dharma, trusted & practiced before I was ten years old. It came to me naturally. I instinctively sought dharma, books, practices, mantras, lamas & sadhanas to do. I woke up daily doing prayers & nightly did mantras just before I slept for over four decades now…Dharma is in me & I am Dharma, it can never be separated from me is how I feel.
Tsem Rinpoche
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You’ve known this is important, but it takes time for all of us to understand the nature essential of dharma. If one is following their dharma, they are pursuing their truest calling, serving all other beings in the universe by playing their true role.
I’m very much grateful to meet a precious Guru like you. Though i haven’t seen you in person, I believe you have been a great guidance to many out there. Thank you for article sharing.
Since young I love Buddha statues even by just seeing it makes my day. But Dharma has never been a part of me though till when I retired from my workaholic days. I am lucky to have come across Tsem Rinpoche blog to learn dharma from stretch. Truly appreciate Rinpoche for staying in Malaysia and founded Kechara Forest Retreat. Dharma has brought a new me and it is in me now. Still have plenty to catch up, learning Dharma have since be a part of me.
Thank you Rinpoche with folded hands.
I think I took a wrong turn during my last Bardo, hence I ended up being brought up as a Catholic. 🤣 However, I will not forget those experiences I have with God. In fact, after learning more about Buddhism, I have a clearer understanding between these two. Just like Rinpoche, I think spirituality is very much in me too but not as intense as Rinpoche.
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
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for bringing the Holy Lineage of Lama Tsongkhapa to us in this part of the world. It is extremely fortunate for us to meet with dharma, let along Lama Tsongkhapa’s lineage. To have such a strong dharma imprint at such a young age, very powerful and strong dharmic seed must had been planted in previous lives. When we die, we are at the mercy of karma which will decide what our next rebirth and life will be. Only dharma seeds and merit can make sure that we find the right path back into dharma without wasting any time wondering in the ocean of samsara. May i be able to plant as much dharmic seeds as possible and be reborn next Lama Tsongkhapa’s lineage when i pass away.
Humbly,
Chris CHong
Thank you for being here, Rinpoche.. Thank you for being you and Thank you for staying in Malaysia and doing so many wonderful works. We are so difficult yet Rinpoche stayed on to continue turning the wheel of Dharma. Rinpoche does so much for us yet the only thing Rinpoche wants from us is only our mind transformation.. How selfish can us monsters be?
WIthout Rinpoche, there will not be Kechara Organization.
Thank you, Rinpoche.
Dear Rinpoche, thank you so much for your sharing and this shows me the evidence of the importants of creating imprints. It must be from Rinpoche’s past lives that your strong aspiration and imprints that planted the seeds of Dharma deep inside you.
I will start making aspirations for doing and learning Dharma not just this life but also start young in my next life. May i also able to serve Rinpoche and always have Dharma in me and share with others life after life….
During Rinpoche’s sharings not too long ago on making aspirations, I just remembered that many years back, i prayed that i can retire early and do Dharma work… now, I really have the chance to do Dharma work full time (although not in retirement). This is really amazing!!!
Thank you Rinpoche and I would like to be like you to do Dharma and learn Dharma forever so that I can bring more Dharma to others …
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing.
I have never felt that strongly for Dharma when I was younger… However, I do remember wanting spiritual practice since I was young though it was not strong enough to make me pursue or even persuade my parents to send me for Dharma classes. But I did remember begging my parents to send me to church, it is after all the most accessible religion that’s in English at that time… haha
It is very strange that at certain point of life, some people would want to seek spirituality… some later in life, and some young. I remember when I was studying in Ipoh, I used to drive around every weekend seeking temples and hoping they would have Dharma classes there so that I can learn. haha… I was 19 at that time.
I wish I had seek Dharma since I was young just like Rinpoche, but I’m also glad that I’ve met Rinpoche now and can pursue a spiritual path under Rinpoche’s guidance.
Dharma was not part of me when i was growing up, but in younger days i was very interested in Buddha Statue and all, but Dharma doesnt come into mind, and after going to college and university, and eventually starting to work im even more far away from Dharma. We are so thankful that Rinpoche is here in Malaysia, and founded Kechara, which has given opportunity to lay people like myself to learn about Dharma, to practice Dharma, to understand Dharma. Thank You Rinpoche, with folded hands.
This thing ‘its in me’ also affected me. Certainly this imprint comes from past lives and is in me. Henceforth this life I need to live it in me and fortunately I found the person who has more than ‘its in me’ who is my Lama, Tsem Rinpoche to guide me on. How fortunate I am to be able to continue this ‘its in me’ so I will not be stuck in samsara in future lives because I will not be separable from my Lama ever.
Yes, I too have similar feelings about Dharma for the past 15 years. I do feel I have to live it, do it -just as Rinpoche had felt. It did not come from someone’s urging or parental or peer influence.However, I am far far from the ‘ be it’ stage. It is my biggest good fortune to have met an enlightened being in H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche who is also my Guru. Without his teachings, guidance , example and pointing the way to real practice and transformation, I don’t have a chance to practice and taste the Dharma.
The real joy comes when we are at the ‘ be it ‘ stage. Right now, I am happy putting all my effort to close this gap and riding on my Guru’s blessings. If what I am practicing and experiencing now is already so fulfilling and had improved so much of my life and others , I am going to go all the way on this journey – to be it, to be the embodiment of dharma like Rinpoche.
May Rinpoche live long to benefit all.
I like the tag, “it’s in me”…
The feeling of back belonging when you realized you are merged, it is you, and you are it.. wonder if this is your feeling too? I’m sorry to say I’m not into Buddha or any other religious, but there is a day I suddenly realized I’m in it.. and it is in me…
Respected Rinpoche…
It is always a blessing to recieve dharma in the human form like u… U can do more than what we are able to do to this world. I always wish if more human like you would come to this world to help ignorant people like us…
I’m very much grateful to meet such a precious person like u…Though i cant see u physically..m glad to know that some u exists in this world for us…Thank u…
Dearest Rinpoche,
Dharma has never been a part of me nor was it easy for me to pick up dharma. But I would like to thank Rinpoche for staying in Malaysia and founded Kechara House, Rinpoche and Kechara House has brought dharma into my life. Dharma has brought me much happiness and fulfillment. Now I have the chance to say that dharma, it’s in me. 😀
With folded hands and much gratitude,
Dear Rinpoche ,
Its really amazing how you can be so drawn to Buddha Dharma from such a young age. You even seek Dharma out and overcame all obstacles to get it. But do you think it would be easier for you if were in asia ? where Dharma is much easily accessible. Of all places you can be , your grow up in US where Dharma is harder to come by. I do think because of your childhood it makes you so different than any other lama or monks out there. So sharp , so witty & so experienced !
I have so much respect and love for who you are , cos i can truly felt and see how the Dharma you expounded has help so many individuals whether directly or indirectly. So many people can have a chance to transform themselves to be a better person , to be help and to learn the Dharma your way. Not many monks that i came across are able to convey Dharma in a interesting way making alot of layman have this thinking that its boring and for old ppl only.
My only wish in this rocky Dharma road is to finally received VY from you and only you. Cos i believe you will know what is best for anyone that cross their paths with you. To update humbly i have keeping up with my practices all this while without fail , without every single day make time for part of the practices your prescribe but i hope to keep adding it bits by bits. By having practices it really does challenge your mind , keep you alert and on your toe while we goes through our normal daily life. It can really be part and partial of ones life.
Now that i have started i will not stop , not give up until the very last day. That’s my wish. May i have this wish of being reborn again and again wherever you are.
Happy Wesak Day 2011 Rinpoche ! May you have a successful , enjoyable , relaxing and joyful Wesak Day , same goes to all Kecharians , your hardworking bunch of staffs.
Dear Rinpoche,
from young i do have a strong interest in the Dharma. I would always seek out sutras or Dharma related material to read. However i was severely lacking in the practical side. I enjoyed the pujas in both the Theravardan and Mahayana traditions when i was young as well. It made me felt very calm. The more Dharma materials i read the more i realize this is what i want. I had a very strong and natural inclination towards Vajrayana and it persisted even after my parents dissuaded me from it and even made fun of me for believing in Yidams and i still do have.
I can really relate to this….altho somehow i guess i got distracted and have gone off course a little. Working towards going back on that as i realize secular life is not exactly what i want.
Do you feel when something is very strong in you. It is just there. No one put it in you, but it just has been there? You have to live it, do it and be it? That is how I felt about dharma since very young and as far as I can remember. In the US I was considered strange by almost everyone for having such an urgency for dharma. But what other people felt never deterred me in any way. I knew and know dharma is right and right for me….and I went all the way with it…I am not the best practitioner by far, but I am sincere. Tsem Rinpoche