Tales With My Lama: A True Visionaire
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Pastor David has been a student of His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche for over 15 years and within the ‘Tales With My Lama’ series of articles, he explores his spiritual relationship with Rinpoche, sharing anecdotes, stories, observations and little Dharma nuggets. It is all told to inspire others for their own spiritual relationship with their teachers.
A True Visionaire
My father, Uncle Lai
My father, who was affectionately known as Uncle Lai, once remarked that Tsem Rinpoche was a great leader. In fact, he said it a few times because he was amazed by Rinpoche’s foresight and his planning of the Kechara organisation. Even before my father passed away, he always liked to hear the latest news about what was happening in Kechara, and would smile from ear to ear whenever he heard the good news as he felt proud to be involved with the organisation.
Since the early days of Kechara, I saw Rinpoche gave personal advice to many people regarding their careers and direction in life on many occasions. He often gave very sensible advice and somehow enrolled people to do Dharma work although they might not have even thought about the prospect before. The term ‘Dharma work’ was coined by Rinpoche to denote a full-time job in any of the Kechara organisation’s departments. Rinpoche explained that Dharma work is meant to develop the organisation so that it can benefit others, while an ordinary job or ordinary work is meant to enrich a company and its shareholders. Therefore, it is more meaningful to engage in Dharma work as the benefits are far-reaching and more compassionate to others.
With any job in our day and age, however, there are certain things that you cannot get away from. These include people’s pay, since they still need to support themselves while doing Dharma work, and days off. Since Dharma work is meant to be beneficial and leads to selflessness, Rinpoche disliked the use of the word ‘paycheck’ and preferred the use of the word ‘stipend’ instead. Since there should be no break from benefitting others, Rinpoche preferred that we use the word ‘laundry day’ instead ‘off day’. These were linguistic adjustments we could make to train us in infusing Dharma into all aspects of our lives and not just when we clock in for work.
It was from Dharma work that Rinpoche also developed the idea of a Dharma career, in which young people can come to Kechara to get a job, advance in their Dharma work, learn the Dharma, transform, become great Dharma practitioners and benefit others. A Dharma career is for the spiritually-inclined, the intellectual, the dreamer, the artistic, the talented, those seeking to do something different from the mainstream, and those who wish to make a real difference in their lives and the lives of others.
For some of his closest students, Rinpoche mapped out what they should accomplish in their Dharma jobs to make it their careers. Rinpoche based this on what appealed to the person’s character, interests and abilities. Sometimes, Rinpoche was even able to uncover hidden talents like an artistic ability. Over the years, Rinpoche nurtured artists, writers (such as myself), a graphic artist, video editors, an actor and so forth. Rinpoche felt that people can use whatever talent they have towards the development of the organisation and the betterment of the Dharma.
At times, Rinpoche was inspired and conceptualised an entire department from scratch. At times, this department would be based on the disposition of a particular student and he had this person manage, hire and develop this department. Rinpoche elaborated what this department would do and what it would produce or the services that it would provide. Many of the departments in Kechara were developed in this manner. Rinpoche usually went all out to support the person, especially if this person was sincere and willing to work hard to make the department work out.
Some Dharma practitioners decided to take their practice to the next step and worked towards becoming ordained as a pastor. Most of the current pastors were handpicked by Rinpoche to take on this role and they took on the lay vows. Some pastors are lay pastors and they wear the maroon uniform while those aspiring to be monks and nuns shave their heads and wear an all-white uniform. Pastors give Dharma sharings, conduct pujas, blessings and most are already doing Dharma work to benefit others in the organisation. The vows they hold are the basis of the blessings they give others and also their devotion to their guru in performing these works to benefit others.
Not only was Rinpoche able to conceptualise entire departments and the services they provide, but he also came up with a dozen or more ideas on how to market various products and services. In fact, Rinpoche had many more ideas in his head but only some of his brilliant ideas were implemented because of the limitations of time and manpower. When it came to the Dharma, Rinpoche was always excited and has endless ideas to promote, teach and benefit others and he was never fazed by unconventional methods, technology and cultural norms. That is why Rinpoche, a true visionary leader, developed Kechara into such a diverse organisation that it is today.
For more interesting information:
- Tales With My Lama: Rinpoche Felt He Was More Indian
- Tales with My Lama: What Does Rinpoche Like About Liz Taylor?
- Tales With My Lama: Daily Practice
- Tales With My Lama: Laugh Away Your Ego
- Tales With My Lama: Why Rinpoche Has To Suffer
- Tales With My Lama: Larger Than Life
- Tales With My Lama: Manjushri
- Tales With My Lama: Audience With Tsem Rinpoche
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We are indeed very fortunate to have Kechara where Rinpoche conceptualised and created this organization with the motivation to benefit all beings. Without Rinpoche and Kechara many people would not have a chance to meet dharma of a pure lineage and enable us to have a platform to learn dharma. Rinpoche created so many departments in Kechara to suit the students , so students can contribute their talent and learn dharma at the same time. Everything is done with much thoughts and to make sure everyone benefitted. Rinpoche is a great visionarie.
Thank you Pastor David for your sharing.
Yes, Rinpoche created the spiritual organisation of Kechara with a clear and powerful vision of how it was to take shape and the direction it was to go. From the creation of Kechara House , the Dharma centre, to the growth of each department right up to the birth of Kechara Forest Retreat, it was all conceptualised to the last detail in Rinpoche’s head. On the ground, he created Dharma careers for his students in Dharma work to benefit others and ordained pastors to give blessings, to conduct pujas and to give Dharma sharing.
From the Kechara House Dharma centre in the city to the beautiful peaceful sanctuary of Kechara Forest Retreat , with Wisdom Hall holding the largest statue of Dorje Shugden in the world, and the lovely shrines for pilgrimage, Rinpoche’s vision included all the finest most exquisite details that make these places so enduring.
Thank you Pastor David for this sharing on Rinpoche as a true visionaire.