Stories from a Chela – The Lama that Builds
Various attractions await you in Kechara Forest Retreat, where you are invited to experience Tibetan Buddhism and its distinctively rich culture, history and traditions.
A ‘chela’ is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘student’. In particular this word refers to the student of a spiritual teacher. Within this series of short posts, I will be sharing stories about His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche. Hopefully through these stories, you will get a glimpse of how Tsem Rinpoche and the Dharma that Rinpoche shares has not only benefited me but countless others.
The Lama that Builds
Many people have visited Kechara Forest Retreat (KFR), located in the quaint town of Bentong, about an hour away from Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. But what most people don’t realise is that the entire complex, from the temples, buildings, offices, chapels, outdoor grottos and even the landscaping was and continues to be designed by His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche himself. But Rinpoche has made KFR more than just an ordinary temple or even a simple retreat centre to get away from a hectic, and emotionally and spiritually draining city lifestyle.
Rinpoche has built KFR to be of maximum benefit for people’s welfare, both physical and spiritual. Numerous studies have shown that spending time in nature can and does heal physical ailments. Colloquially known as Forest Bathing, spending time in natural green environments is an extremely powerful way to heal both the mind and the body. That is one of the reasons why KFR continues to be lush, green and extremely peaceful. Rinpoche has understood this for a long time and it motivates his landscaping of KFR. But what most people don’t realise is that a green and natural environment is also the perfect place to engage in meditation and other spiritual practices. In fact, the great founder of the Gelug Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, Lama Tsongkhapa, in his Lam Rim Chenmo (The Great Stages on the Path to Enlightenment) states that only in such environments can meditation be successful. That’s because inbetween meditation sessions, it’s good to look out on either green or vast landscapes to help your mind settle before you begin meditating again.
I have been lucky enough to accompany Rinpoche a couple of times during his many tours of Kechara Forest Retreat grounds and sites
However, KFR is more than just physical location, it is a spiritual one. Various statues, stupas and sites dot the landscape with areas of immense energies, which we can all benefit from and were specifically conceptualised by Rinpoche for this purpose. Some of these sites include:
- World’s Largest Dorje Shugden Statue: Rinpoche conceptualised this statue so that we can create an affinity with Dorje Shugden, thereby removing our obstacles and creating conditions which are conducive to spiritual practice and reaching higher state of consciousness.
- Outdoor Dorje Shugden Grotto: was conceptualised as an area to make abundant light and incense offerings in order to generate spiritual merit and create an even closer connection with Dorje Shugden.
- Buddha Nageshvaraja: Rinpoche conceptualised this statue as Nageshvaraja is one of the 35 Confessional Buddhas, therefore embodies all their qualities of purification. When we purify our karma, we suffer less, physically, mentally and spiritually.
- Medicine Buddha Healing Fountain: conceptualised to provide healing water blessed with the energies of Medicine Buddha, to overcome our physical and mental illnesses.
- Gyenze Chapel: Rinpoche conceptualised this as a place where people can make a connection with the increase form of Dorje Shugden, known as Gyenze, so that our lives are filled with what we need, from material growth and success, to spiritual growth and success.
These are just some of the sites that Rinpoche designed, to read more about what KFR has to offer, click here.
What is more is that Rinpoche himself, periodically tours all of KFR seeing what can be improved, what can be fixed. All of this is to ensure that KFR is perfect for people who come through the gates seeking healing, hope, a feeling of peace and tranquillity, and a sanctuary away from the stresses and ills of contemporary living. Rinpoche was the inspiration for KFR, he was the one that conceptualised it, and continues to be the one who oversees it, to ensure that it is of the maximum benefit for everyone.
For more interesting information:
- World’s Largest Dorje Shugden Shrine
- A Wish-fulfilling Shrine
- Nageshvaraja and Loma Gyoma Arrive in KFR
- Medicine Buddha Healing Fountain at Kechara Forest Retreat!
- Gyenze Chapel
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Peaceful Kechara Forest Retreat created by our most compassionate Guru as a sanctuary and haven for those who seek to escape from the city’s “madding crowd”. Moreover, it is most spiritually beneficial to follow a trail of holy shrines on a day pilgrimage of Kechara Forest Retreat, for purification and healing, as well as to receive the blessings of the Buddhas. One can circumambulate the sacred shrines of holy beings, recite mantras and make candle offerings.
There is the largest Dorje Shugden statue in the world in Wisdom Hall, and a Dorje Shugden grotto to make abundant light offerings!
Yes, Kechara Forest Retreat, providing visitors with a green and peaceful natural environment , is a powerful spiritual legacy of our precious Guru, Tsem Rinpoche, .
Thank you Pastor Niral for this sharing.
Kechara Forest Retreat is built for the public and Buddhist practitioners. Every single thing here is designed for people to collect merits and purify karma.Rinpoche has built KFR to be of maximum benefit for people’s welfare, both physical and spiritual.
This is a perfect place to try and find out the mystery of life and of our own existence.Thank you very much for the wonderful article.
We are so fortunate to have Kechara Forest Retreat built in Bentong and just about 1.5 hours from KL. KFR is conceptualised by Rinpoche and specially built and designed to cater for everyone to engage in Buddhism practise. So much efforts and detailed have been put in so everyone can practise dharma, do retreat, meditation and many activities in a comfort and close to nature environment. Thank you Rinpoche and Kechara team for all the great work.
Kechara Forest Retreat is a very beautiful, peaceful and holy place. Have you ever wondered who conceptualised and designed this place? It was and is Tsem Rinpoche.
Everything in Kechara is designed taking into the consideration of the users’ needs, not to Tsem Rinpoche’s liking. He will think of who are the people using the facilities, what are the things they might need, how to make their experience the most comfortable one and then design accordingly. Not only does Tsem Rinpoche design the place, he was also involved in overseeing the construction of Kechara Forest Retreat in the very beginning.
Kechara Forest Retreat is built for the public and Buddhist practitioners. Every single thing here is designed for people to collect merits and purify karma. We may not notice, but whoever steps into Kechara Forest Retreat will bring something positive back with them, i.e. the Dharma imprint. People might not have the merits to practice in this lifetime but the imprint they get from visiting Kechara Forest Retreat will open up one day and lead them to practising Dharma.
I agree with Pastor Niral that Rinpoche did a perfect job for founding Kechara Forest Retreat. I beautiful and wonderful place for healing meditation, relieve stress, relaxation, pilgrimage, etc. Rinpoche is indeed a multi-talented Lama who can also draw, cook ,design beautiful Buddha pendants and so on. We are all very fortunate to have such a thoughtful and compassionate Lama like H.E. the 2th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. Thank you very much Pastor Niral for this short highlight about Rinpoche.?????☘️
Kechara Forest Retreat (KFR),a beautiful setting, friendly people, and a peaceful environment for one to get away from a busy hectic life . Words cannot describe how wonderful this place is. Impressive natural beauty where anyone could engage in meditation and other spiritual practices. An amazing space and place for all to come together from different backgrounds. The entire area having beautiful statues such as World’s Largest Dorje Shugden Statue, Buddha Nageshvaraja, outdoor grottos , chapels, temples and so forth are designed by H E Tsem Rinpoche. There are beautiful trails of immense energies for anyone to walk or circumambulate those beautiful statues for purification, healing, creating an affinity with them, and so forth. H E Tsem Rinpoche has designed this place for maximum benefit for everyone. This is a perfect place to try and find out the mystery of life and of our own existence.
Thank you Rinpoche for conceptualised such a place to help us and those seeking spiritual silence of joy and life’s simplicity.
With folded hands thanks for sharing this .
Seeing the picture of yours walking with Rinpoche, makes me feel that I’m extremely fortunate to be able to walk the on the same ground that Rinpoche has walked on. A tinge of *happiness
Although I may not able to fathom well the vast and deep meaning on how Rinpoche has built KFR to be of maximum benefit for people’s welfare, both physical and spiritual, but I could feel the love and effort in that. From the almost “bare” land to the KFR that we see today, it comes from the vision of one person and that’s Rinpoche?
Thank you Pastor