A Personal Account of Events with My Teacher – Honouring the Potential in All Sentient Beings
Martin has been a student of His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche since 2010 and in that time he has had the privilege of closely witnessing how Rinpoche works, the unfathomable things Rinpoche does for people quietly, how lives have miraculously changed because of Rinpoche’s Dharma and what drives Rinpoche. As someone who came to the Dharma at a mature age, Martin shares interesting insights, stories and his experiences with Rinpoche both from a secular as well as a spiritual perspective.
Honouring the Potential in All Sentient Beings
A famous Greek legend tells the story of King Midas, whose very touch turned objects to gold. My personal experience, and that of everyone who meets Tsem Rinpoche, is that he has the spiritual Midas touch. Anything that passes through Tsem Rinpoche’s hands – be it an object, place, animal or, especially, a person – emerges better for the experience.
The transformation of the land where the Kechara Forest Retreat (KFR) sits today is the perfect example. The area was originally just forest, overgrown and unkempt. Today, it is a hallowed abode, pristine and beautiful, made so by Rinpoche himself. No part or element of Kechara is there by chance or by accident. Each is designed for a single purpose: to benefit everyone who steps onto the sacred grounds.
Rinpoche’s bond with animals is even more palpable. Abandoned dogs find not only shelter but a loving home wherever Rinpoche is. Injured and unwanted birds find healing and a safe haven created to resemble their natural habitat. Fish are given clean, pure water and plenty of food. Even insects are not forgotten. Most important of all, their surroundings are designed to leave positive Dharma imprints in their mind streams and help them gain good rebirths.
A warm picture of Rinpoche and his beloved Mumu
In fact, Kechara itself began with a promise that Rinpoche made to a dog named Mumu. He vowed to look after Mumu for life at a time when things were very difficult for Rinpoche himself but he kept his promise. The KFR aviary, too, is the fruit of a promise Rinpoche made. This time, it was to Drolkar, a traumatised cockatoo that Rinpoche had rescued.
Rinpoche expressed great relief when the Dream Manjushri Garden pond inside the KFR was finally completed and all the fish from the old Tsem Ladrang had been settled there. For many years, Rinpoche had looked after a big koi that he had named ‘Dorje’. As Dorje grew, the old pond became too small and Rinpoche had promised the fish that he would build it a bigger pond. The Dream Manjushri Garden pond was the fulfilment of that promise.
It is joyous to watch Rinpoche interact with animals. Rinpoche does not look at anyone or anything from the perspective of what it can do for Rinpoche or Kechara, but rather what Rinpoche can do for them in the immediate and longer-term.
Most of the world sees animals as lower beings that may be killed for food, clothing or medicine. Others view them as tools to be exploited for hard labour. Others yet see them as a source of entertainment or perhaps as companions.
Regardless of how fond we may be of animals, even the most ardent animal lovers see paws, hoofs, claws, feathers, fur, scales, beaks, tails, wings and whiskers. We cannot help it because our mind focuses on what sets people and things apart. It is another expression of our ego.
Rinpoche views things very differently from ordinary people. The Buddha taught that all sentient beings have the potential to be Buddha. It takes an equally enlightened mind to look beyond the infirmities and limitations from which all beings in samsara suffer, and to instead honour that potential.
All sentient beings are important to Rinpoche. He does not see animals for what they are now, but as beings who are trapped in the cycle of life, death and rebirth, just as you and I.
And it is here that we have to pause and think. If Rinpoche can go to such extents for sentient beings that cannot practise the Dharma because of their animal form, what would such a kind Lama not do for those born in the perfect human form blessed with the eight freedoms and ten endowments? What would such a Teacher not do for his students to steer them as swiftly as possible onto the path to liberation?
Martin Chow
For more interesting information:
- The Promise – Tsem Rinpoche’s Biography Now in eBook Format
- A Personal Account of Events with My Teacher – Perfect Clairvoyance
- A Personal Account of Events With My Teacher – Nantuo’s Lamp
- How to Bless Buddha Images Youself
- Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche’s Clairvoyance
- I Witnessed the Compassion of Tsem Rinpoche
- Dr. Edward Conze: In Pursuit of Wisdom
- Protection From Supernatural Entities When Sleeping
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Thank you Martin for sharing with us the great compassion and kindness of Rinpoche. Rinpoche did not build Kechara Forest Retreat for himself, it is for the public and all other sentient beings. Rinpoche wants to make this a place for people to purify their karma and also for them to collect merits.
Rinpoche is taking up a big responsibility by building Kechara Forest Retreat. The building fund is a one-off fund raising effort, but the maintenance of the place is a long term and a huge financial commitment. But with great compassion for all sentient beings, Rinpoche just goes ahead and continues to develop Kechara Forest Retreat into a haven for people and all other sentient beings to relieve them from their pain and suffering.
When ones set foot in the Kechara Forest Retreat, everything they do, every place they go is to benefit them, they may or may not know. Many people who have visited the Kechara Forest Retreat have commented the energy here is very positive. We are lucky to have a Buddhist holy place here in Malaysia.
Thank you Mr. Martin for sharing interesting insights, stories and experiences with Rinpoche. Do agree with you that of everyone who meets Tsem Rinpoche, is that he has the ability to turn everything into Spiritual gold. Kechara Forest Retreat a unique holistic retreat centre is one example from a piece of land more like jungles into a place where people of all walks of life could have a peace of mind to be away from a hectic city life. Rinpoche has the ability to be successful at anything and everything Rinpoche planned and worked on , working with a group of dedicated teams. Rinpoche strive for pristine clarity in everything Rinpoche do for benefits of all sentient beings. Rinpoche has comes along way and still more projects going on for the benefits of all sentient beings and for generations to come.
I sincerely agree that Rinpoche has the Midas touch that turns everything into gold. Rinpoche is multi-talented , very dynamic, creative, compassionate, and a genius. You name it he has it. Thank you very much Rinpoche for founding such a wonderful place like Kechara Forest Retreat, and Martin for such a beautiful highlight on Rinpoche’s compassionate golden touch?????????
Dear Martin,
I do not claim that I know Rinpoche a lot, but judging from Rinpoche’ s action and the manifestations of Kechara House, KFR , all the past, present and futute events, the places that He has built together with His student, I couldn’t agree more that it’s for the benefits of all beings, including animals.
Hence, one would have thought ‘ What would such a Teacher not do for his students to steer them as swiftly as possible onto the path to liberation?’ Everything Rinpoche does, there’s meaning behind it. It’s the same as yours. Through writing, you are able to lead us through Rinpoche’s world and let us explore His mind from the perspective of yours. Every time when you pen down your thoughts, it is as if you’re one with Rinpoche’s mind. The choice of words that you used is deep and penetrative at the same time. I thank you for that.
Hi, Jacinta
I agree with you. Whatever Rinpoche does/did is always for the benefit of all sentient beings and sometimes, it may not even be apparent if we do not take the time to think about it. All teachings, advice, projects and activities are geared towards the betterment of Rinpoche’s students, all those who walk into Kechara Forest Retreat and beyond.
I enjoy Martin’s writing as well and through the years as one of Rinpoche’s close students, many of Rinpoche’s teachings have been translated into Martin’s brilliant writing.
Thanks for penning your thoughts. And thank you, Martin, for yet another piece of insightful read.