Every year, before the Chinese New Year celebrations begin, I like to treat my students out on a little shopping trip.

Just like all the other festive celebrations, there are many traditions associated with Chinese New Year (CNY). The concept of “out with the old, in with the new” applies to everything during CNY… especially when it comes to clothes. It is important to wear a new set of clothes on the first day of Chinese New Year. It symbolises a fresh start, a new beginning. 

In the olden days, those working hard in the city will save up all of their money to go back to their villages miles away, just to see their family. They return once a year wearing a new set of clothes, and with gifts and good news of their life in the city. This still happens in many parts of China, but in Malaysia many people go back to their hometowns where their relatives still live, as a sign of respect.

In Kechara, there are many young and hardworking people who have decided to devote their lives to the Dharma. Instead of choosing a life driven by money and power, they “gave up” their careers to help others. All of them work uncomplainingly, tirelessly and I’m sure that many reading this blog have been touched or helped by one Kecharian or another.

5 days ago, I had the Ladrang staff organize a shopping trip for 27 people at One Utama. One Utama is great. They have almost everything that you need in that mall! Not everyone could make it as Kecharians have different work schedules, so I had the Ladrang organize another shopping trip for the other 13 people who couldn’t make it for the first one.

Below is a write-up by Sean Wang, one of the shoppers in the first shopping trip hehe… I had the Ladrang invite a few young Kecharians too. Their parents are Dharma full-timers, and they themselves a very hardworking volunteers!

Have you gotten your new clothes for Chinese New Year?

Tsem Rinpoche

Sean Wang

On Wednesday, His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche and the Ladrang staff organised for a group of 25 people to go shopping at One Utama Shopping Center. The Ladrang staff who organised this included Su Ming, Li Kim, Ethan and Karen.

Before the shopping trip began, Ethan briefed everyone about why Rinpoche wanted to do this. It was because Rinpoche cares about his students and knowing that Chinese New Year is an important festival for the Chinese, Rinpoche would like to treat us to new clothes especially as it is a Chinese New Year tradition to wear new clothes during the New Year. Rinpoche wants us to look good and have a wonderful celebration with gifts. It was a massive act of giving. Ethan also shared how Rinpoche consistently does this every year, even though the number of students increases every year.

After the briefing, all 27 shoppers were divided into 6 teams. Each team had a team leader. The team leader’s duty was to help and assist their members when it came to choosing outfits, matching and styling. This was to ensure everyone made the best out of their shopping treat and also give the Kecharian shoppers a complete makeover. My team leader was Ethan who was extremely helpful when it came to guiding me to other shops and recommending clothes. I really did not know what kinds of clothes to get as this was the first time I went shopping for clothes without Mama. My team members were: Ethan, Pastor Chia, Eric Siow and Swee Keong.

Everyone had so much fun running around One Utama. The many shops we went to were:

• FOS
• Vans
• Brands Outlet
• Uniqlo
• Hush Puppies
• Lee
• Timberland
• Nike
• Adidas
• Tangs
• Padini concept store
• Xixili
• Topshop
• La Senza
• Ms.Selfridges
• Warehouse
• Dorothy Perkins
• Forever 21
• Pull & Bear
• Zara
• Charles & Keith
• Gap
• Gap Kids
• Victoria’s secret
• Kitchen
• Geox
• Parkson

It felt like it was the Kecharian version of the Amazing Race Asia (without the puzzles and challenges of course!).

After the shopping was done, Rinpoche arranged for us to have a delicious dinner at Yishensu. It is a vegetarian restaurant which was featured on this blog and reviewed by the Vegetarian Restaurant Review team. The food there was amazing. My favourite dish was the Sweet, Sour & Spicy Fish.

When everyone thought the shopping was done, Rinpoche messaged the Ladrang staff and said that he wanted to buy some more bags and shoes for the ladies. After that was done, we went to a larger open space to take a big group photo.

After taking the group photo, Li Kim gave a speech on behalf of Rinpoche. The speech was about “The Act of Giving” and generosity in general. The art of giving is extremely important as when we give, we create the causes to receive. By giving, we also lessen our attachments and generate a selfless mind. The things she shared included the need to focus on a person’s positive points as it will grow. However, if we allow ourselves to dwell on their negative aspects, their negative qualities will also grow. Then, she explained the art of giving that is demonstrated by Rinpoche organizing this shopping spree. She also shared a few blog posts that are very interesting.

On behalf of all the shoppers, I would like to thank Rinpoche for his kindness and generosity for organising this shopping treat for us. I am extremely grateful to be able to have a lovely, caring guru like Rinpoche as my spiritual guide. There is not a single person that I have met that is as wonderful and as realistic as Rinpoche who has no agendas and has compassion that pervades all. I am so thankful. The best way to repay Rinpoche’s kindness is to follow Rinpoche’s teachings is to be a person who has integrity, consistency and honesty. The ultimate offering one can give a Guru is a mind transformed for the better.

Participants of the CNY shopping trip!

42 shoppers altogether!

More Images

A little briefing before the race begins!

Is Wendy doing a make-over??

Yvonne and Cynthia (right) are both hard workers at Kechara House. They said that they were looking for clothes to wear to look more presentable!

Pastor Chia looking for a comfortable pair of sneakers…

Swee Keong looking for work trousers… We all affectionately call him “Fu-Fu”. He’s a very skilled programmer at E-division (the online-arm of Kechara!). 

Jace (left) is a wonderful lady who’s the Producer and Editor of Kechara In-Motion. They produce all of our media work, including The Paranormal Zone! She works very hard, and is very sincere and devoted to the Dharma.

Here she is taking photos of her partner Khoo, who is part of the Kechara Forest Retreat team! Khoo spends all of his time in KFR to make sure that our gompa comes up!

Wah Ying is one of Kechara’s Chinese translators. She has translated many of my teachings into Chinese.

Everyone having a laugh before going into a shoe store!

Jace picking out a pair of wedges and a pair of flats. Very practical!

President of Kechara House, Datuk May Phng, was the senior stylist during this CNY shopping trip hehe

Helena is our Kechara House front desk girl, as well as the contact point for Kechara Blooms! 

Everyone having a nice vegetarian dinner at Yishensu!

(left to right) Cynthia Ng, Yvonne Yap, Louise Lee, Sock Wan, Pastor Chia, Wah Ying, Miss Han.

(left to right) Datuk May, Jace Chong, Lai, Eric Siow, Pamela Yap, Pastor Loh Seng Piow, James Long, Karen, Ethan and Chris.

Happy smiles… is this the end??

Everyone picking up their items… ready to leave the mall!

Group shot in the mall!

Ready for Chinese New Year!

The Paranormal Zone host Li Kim giving a speech to everyone…

She spoke about gratitude before they left the closing mall…

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