YAK
Dear Parents and friends,
Years ago I conceptualized to have our young kids book a table and sell at the flea markets on a regular basis. I asked Ms. Sock Wan to be in charge and she has been doing this and the young folks have done a great job consistently. They rent a table and space at a shopping complex called Amcorp Mall. The young folks named their little flea market group: Young Adults-Kids (YAK).
In order to spruce up on various subjects, they are on this blog chat once a week. They pick a subject, read it thoroughly and ask eachother questions to see how indepth their understanding is. Anyone can participate.
This past flea market I decided to surprise the kids and show up to give my support. I happily donated some of my items for them to sell and raise funds for an orphanage. Please donate your items for them too! They did a good job selling. We had a good turnout as many Kecharians showed their support by turning up. I interviewed each of the members of YAK and interesting to hear their views. After the sales which ended at 5pm, we all went to have a nice dinner at Kechara’s own vegetarian restaurant. It turned out to be a beautiful day and it was very fulfilling to spend time with YAK. I will find time and spend more time with them in the future. I have their best interest in mind.
To allow our kids to be involved in selling for Kechara flea market has only benefits. Nothing to be overprotective about or worried about.
The kids learn to interact with other people. This is so important than just being on the computer and smart phones and computer games all day. Fresh air, seeing others, eye contact, talking, laughing and working with peers are healthy for them. You didn’t grow up with computers and smart phones and internet. Kids need to interact, learn, try, fail, win and succeed.
- They learn to be skillful to talk with co-team members and develop social skills.
- They learn team work and how to be part of a team and how to deal with issues.
- They learn to talk to the public and be convincing. Rejection is part of growing up and it’s good to expose them to it. And when others do accept what they say is part of learning too.
- They learn to deal with rejection. The rejection by most people they get in sales is good preparation for their future when they get rejection as adults, they don’t feel disheartened. They will not be over-sheltered so as adults they will know how to deal with real issues without the protection of parents. Now they get rejection, we can talk to the kids and teach them how to overcome someone saying no and make it a yes. Many skills are learned on many levels when kids are exposed to various learning situations. It’s the best way to prepare them for the future. We can’t be with them forever.
It’s good for them to push in sales. When some customer says yes and some say no, then they know what to do next time and the future to improve. Much better to see others eye to eye and talk and not from faceless facebook friends always. When they earn the profit by hard work, they realize what parents have to do to earn for them now and it will impact them later. It’s good for them to appreciate parents more. Letting them know hard work is good as it has positive results makes them not afraid of work in the future. They will not give up easy as adults.
Going weekly teaches them consistency. When they promise, they do it. This leads to integrity. Wouldn’t we want our kids to have integrity. When customers buy the items from their hard work and sales pitch and get the profits and then buy to give the orphans, well the orphans are happy and say thank you, it will make our kids feel good and feel good in doing good for others. When those lovely orphans look our kids in the eye, smile and say thank you. It will make our kids realize bringing kindness and happiness to others feels good. We want our kids to feel good from doing good things. The results are many when our kids get involved in doing the weekly Kechara flea markets. We must instill value of integrity, consistency and hard work in our kids. I care about them because they are people who have potential. The profits in this case will help orphans, but it can go to any charity. The point is to teach our kids to feel good by doing good.
I’ve conceptualized this Kechara Flea Market years ago and I am glad Ms. Sock Wan has led the kids to do this and the kids followed along consistently. I am glad the parents also supported this wonderful continued learning experience. We need to give the kids our support not by money, but by congratulating them, listening to them and rewarding them with non-material gifts such as verbal praises and hugs. Attention to kids is vital. Do it while we can. Acknowledgement from parents is very important to formulate how to feel /receive love and give love to others when they are adults. Sometimes as adults we don’t know how to give love even though we want to, because the way we needed it when growing up, we didn’t receive.
We want to implant the values of life, work, giving and cooperation in our kids so that when they grow up, they will be complete and ready adults for life. You know life is not easy in this world and we have to prepare our children. Think of all the things you had to learn before being able to survive in the world. You don’t want your kids growing up to be complaining, spoiled divas, wanting everything to be handed to them and ultra critical of everyone around them, afraid of rejection and blaming the world for their ills do we? Of course not… Well, now is the chance to form young people into something more.
Giving our kids the value of work, results and doing good for others, is the best gift we can instill in them. We can give them a billion dollars, but will they have the knowledge and karma to use it and keep it and not ruin themselves with it?? We can give them values, ethics, value of hard work and when they grow up they can earn their own money and be happy healthy adults. That is what we want. This is what I want for them. Hence I get them involved in various dharma and social activities online and in person. I care. Most important is the cooperation of the parents always. Thanks parents for caring enough to encourage YAk.
The weekly Kechara flea market for the kids is a small but significant drop into their developments. I am most happy for them in doing this and wish it to continue and grow and more kids get involved. But the important thing is as parents, be consistent with their participation just like anything in life, consistency is important.
Congratulations to YAK! I am very proud of you guys and I love having you in my life and you are all very important and precious. Continue with the flea market generating funds to benefit others and blog chat to learn more. You have prayers and much care,
Tsem Rinpoche
Video of myself giving a surprise visit to Young Adults-Kids (YAK)’s flea market and I interviewed them too. Fun!
The young folks woke up early on their weekends to sort out the items in Kechara’s store room that they wish to sell in the flea market.
The children was very proactive, asking their friends and family to donate items for the flea market.
Young but dedicated to Dharma. These children not only spend their precious weekend to do charity work, but they get to mix with equally Dharmic children of their age. Members of YAK. To donate to them, contact Ms. Sock Wan (sockwan@gmail.com)
Items neatly set up in the flea market. All profits from the sales of these items goes to the orphanage they wish to visit. It’s wonderful to see these children grow up being caring individuals.
Sock Wan (left in white shirt) did a wonderful job overseeing the children. Thank you Ms. Sock Wan!
Lew and Wei Theng bought some drinks for the kids who worked so hard!
Young but with a virtuous mission, I’m glad to see them taking their duties and responsibilities in YAK seriously… It is a wonderful way to build great character.
Working very hard to make sales, the more they earn, the more they have to give to the orphanage! Such a great motivation!
Please give your support to these young people or YAK. They are wonderful kids! I love them! Do leave your comments for these young people, they deserve it. Let them know how great they are.
Amcorp Mall in Petaling Jaya is where the YAK are having their flea market-do visit them there and give your support. You can donate your items for them also to be sold.
Amcorp Mall in Petaling Jaya is where the YAK are having their weekly flea market.
Having a meal with YAK at Kechara Oasis Vegetarian Restaurant after the flea market. Kechara has our own vegetarian restaurant and it’s delicious. It was a pleasure to spend time with our young folks.
Edward having a good time
P.S
Dear YAK,
I really am proud of you guys. You are doing a good job and I am so delighted to see your consistent efforts. You are good kids and remember always in life, kindness is the way to go. Helping people is the highest honor we can bestow on ourselves. Being a good citizen by following the law and avoid intoxicants can make our lives more problem free. Don’t waste your time in school or in your studies on activities that may take your time away, but study hard and achieve the best you can. It will help you in life I promise. Be kind to animals. Be kind to those who are different than you and never judge others but have a kind heart.
Please always respect your parents as they give everything they know how to give for you. Pick your parents over peers and friends. Assist your parents and don’t make them do everything for you. Always maintain a good relationship with your parents no matter what. Remember, Buddha blesses everyone, but it’s up to us to make the positive choices in life. You have my prayers. Btw, YAK is really a catchy name!
You have my love, care and sincere concerns always,
Tsem Rinpoche
Doing dedication prayers for the good works we did today and then it was time to say good night until the next time. Give love to kids and listen to what they need while we can. Leave your message to YAK below and let them know how you feel.
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If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
So happy to see the YAK – Millennials of Kechara – were learning to become an entrepreneur, be proactive and independent with good motivations. These practical experience will lay the foundation for leadership qualities, lateral thinking as well as a creative and innovative mindset. I wish to see more success for our Kechara YAK and looking forward to their upcoming activities! Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
This is a very good activity for the children. In this modern age most children spend their time on all electronic gadget but not dealing with human.
Thank you Rinpoche for always thinking ways to help children and us and creating opportunities for us to change.
I do think everyone gets a warm and fuzzy feeling when they see young people doing things that inspires their peers and other young people. Nice to know about the efforts by YAK to make a difference in theirs and other people’s lives.
The YAK has done a great job. I really like how they are spending their weekends doing things that are so meaningful. I do agree that it is not good for them to be stuck behind screens at all times. It is just not correct for anyone, even if they are older people nowadays do not know how to be communicating with people in real life. I do agree that this is a very good opportunity to train the children in this way.
Thank you Rinpoche for conceptualising this for the YAK.
Children nowadays are preoccupied with their studies and entertainment during their time of leisure. There is little opportunity for developing the social skills of interacting with others. The flea market is a very good chance for them to be able to learn and experience the important skill of interaction with others. Parents should also encouraged their kids to join this type of activities. It is a much better spending one’s time during the weekends than staying at home or going to shopping complex.
You guys are doing a great job and setting up an good example for the kids and teenager to follow!
I echo the sentiments that parents have the role the play in exposing their kids to real life situation. The YAK participating in the flea market is one such good place for the kids to learn.
Yes, I agree this is very good for the kids 🙂
感谢仁波切分享YAK的付出，我感到开心与随喜一班不同年龄层的小孩到少年们善用他们星期天的时间在跳蚤市场卖产品把得到的钱帮助孤儿院的日常所需。这个也对是在学校里不能体会到的一种人生经验，他们可以更直接的体验人与人之间的沟通方式，眼神接触，肢体语言等等。
重要的是他们了解与学习到的是所作的都是为有需要帮助的人而付出，那是真金难买的人生经验，感谢仁波切有此概念=跳蚤市场，这是一个很好的学习平台，让孩子们去学习宝贵的经验。
Thank you Rinpoche sharing on the members of YAK.This is definitely a group of discipline and dharma base motivated young adults.It is rare to find self motivated youngsters this days that still care for the less fortunate.Most of them are always in gross self pleasure that is not beneficial to develop a positive attitude in life.
Keep it up YAK’s .We certainly hope more youngsters will follow example to built up a more caring and meaningful society.
Dear Rinpoche,
I’m really happy meet you and gotten some of your advice the other day during the Flea Market. Thanks to Pastor JJ, Su Ming and Carmen who told me to drop by and helped out if I can. And thankfully i did!! I really had a great time and learn quite a number of things just by being there a few hours. All in all, I will try my best to make time to help out Kechara whenever I can. Hope to see you soon Rinpoche and take care!
Your student,
Billy
Firstly, I would like to thank Rinpoche for Your love and support, it really meant a lot to us. We are very happy that we were able to spend out time doing something good- which was to raise funds for the orphanage. Kids or even adults who live there do not have love and attention like how we have it every day, I am really happy and honoured to be able to contribute my time towards this. We were all very surprised and excited when Rinpoche came the other day, I think that it was the greatest “gift” because we don’t see Rinpoche every day, and Rinpoche’s presence really made our day! 🙂 Thank You Rinpoche for the unconditional love and care throughout the years, I appreciate it very much and I enjoyed my day “working” with a bunch of dharma friends, they are wonderful people! Last but not least, a BIG FAT thank you to everyone who came to support !! 🙂
Thank You Rinpoche for continue teaching us . Kids is our future generation for us as a parents we need to impart good value to them so that next time the grow up to be able to benefits others. We Kecharian are very lucky because we get to learn the Dharma and practices it so that we can educate our children the benefits of the teaching in order to prepare them in their future especially when we are not around.
Good Job Kecharian keep up the good work!
I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for coming.
It was a great day as a lot of people came to help and also sell things.
I know that i might miss my daily sports and the like. But i know that whatever we earn there goes to the orphanage which tells me that fun is not all there is in the world.
I realized that there are other people who need our help so i tried my best to sell as much as we could.
Our targeted sales for that day was RM2000, we had already hit the target when the new stock came.
RM2000 in sales may sound little to you but our usual sales is only around RM300 to 400 so to us it was 5 times more, when suddenly Rinpoche’s personal assistants came with a new load of stuff to sell.
The sales was incredible almost all the things were sold.
If i told you the total we made at the end of the day you wouldn’t believe it. We made a total of around RM 7700!
Plus a kind lady even wrote a check billing around RM2000!!
To us it seemed like a total miracle because we were still dazed with selling RM 2000 worth of things. It certainly was the best moment ever experienced by the flea market team.
After that we all and a majority of the volunteers went for a delicious meal at Kechara Oasis with Rinpoche.
I have to say that day was the best day of my life yet.
I would also like to thank Rinpoche for donating the items that helped us get so much sales together with taking as all for dinner.
Dear YAKS,
You have done a great job! You all not only donating material things to those needy but giving your time, effort and care as well. Giving can be easy when we just get money out of our/parents pockets, but you put in something more than that…
You can be so proud of yourself for not getting the money from parents/adults, but earn it with your effort to persuade people to buy, standing few hours in the mall and before many hours for getting and preparation of things to sell in flea market.
Thank you to Rinpoche’s great idea, care and love to have this flea market to carry out. And also Sock wan become the big kid and jie jie to push the sales, to achieve the goal together. What is more meaningful to have like-minded people together to achieve a meaningful goal to help others..
Gambateh and get more results and benefit more the next time! 🙂
Regards,
Wah Ying
恭喜所有YAK 的成员，还有当天所付出努力帮忙筹款的克切拉成员。
一个成功的团体，不是一天就可以那么容易达到目标。他们背后一定曾经尝试失败或跌倒过，但还仍然坚持的走下去。他们的付出是值得赞赏。
试问如果请一个普通的小朋友，在没有规划之下，没有下番苦功来进行这一切，是不可能达到同样的目标。又或者如果他们只是为得到奖赏的金钱来满足他们自己的需要，才去做这一切，成果当然不一样了。
感谢詹仁波切一路来的坚持与教诲。因为，当这些孩们的父母接受佛法的同时，也间接的让这些孩子受益。他们的父母相信三宝，也尝试让他们的孩子早点面对与接触社会。相比现在大多数的父母，他们为了孩子的安全和怕累坏他们，绝不会让他们像这群小孩付出努力，帮助有需要的人。
YAK的孩子们，加油！为你们的上师、父母、亲朋戚友，还有为你们自己争光。我相信，你们的父母会引你为荣。。。
还有Sock Wan 的努力，大家有目共睹，加油。:) …
What a noble way to spend the Sundays in the flea market for a good course to raise funds for the needy! Thank you to all the Yaks.
Dear Rinpoche,
YAK is a nice concept for children and young adults to get together to share Dharma ideas and opinions, interact and have fun. Like Rinpoche always says.. Dharma can be fun too. And this time, rewarding for YAK members too. They are using their time nicely for a very good cause.
I remember when I was younger, I use to hang out with Rinpoche…as what Rinpoche wrote above, my parents probably too busy with work and never did really know how to express their love for me… and through Rinpoche explaining and guiding me.. I know how to repay my parents’ love and gratitude. I know how much they suffered to help us and feed us and shelter us.
This is a good opportunity for YAK members to learn what hardships our parents went through to raise us. And how important it is to help others who are in need more than us. Definitely a great platform.
Great job Kechara’s YAK 🙂
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for coming up with such a skillful idea for us kids to learn how to interact with people, learn what feeling rejected is
like as well to make good use of our Sunday’s to help those underprivileged.
It is a pleasure to be part of this wonderful group together with my friends and I am very happy to be able to be able to do something good with my Sunday.
It was truly a surprise and totally unexpected for Rinpoche to pay a visit to our booth and even treating us to dinner after that.
Thank you also Rinpoche for kindly donating so many beautiful Buddha statues, Thangkhas, toys and many other intersting stuff!.
Rest Well,
Love
Jutika
Dear Rinpoche,
This is such a heartwarming post. Thank you. There are many good parenting advice weaved into this post as well that I would take to heart as sometimes it is easy to overlook the obvious. As a parent. am so glad and grateful that my kids have the opportunity to attend Dharma classes and other Dharma activities in Kechara as I truly believe in having well rounded, spiritual children is the way to go. With folded hands, many thanks for yet another seemingly simple post but filled with Dharma gems.
Dear YAK,
Aunty Sharon is SO proud of you guys! You are all so awesome and to me, YAK also stands for Young AWESOME Kecharians. Way to go and keep up the good work. Your diligence, consistency and hard work will go a long way. Congratulations on the amazing work! Keep it up!
Dear Rinpoche,
I’m proud of them too.It was a good experience to all kid and given a chance for them to build up their kindness and compassion.This event also can let them learn different skills from selling dharma product so that they can be more independent and tolerant to solve them own problems.At the same time they can more to know dharma and interact other.They are doing good things for themselves and others.Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you very much for conceptualizing the Kechara Flea Market, especially for the young kids from Young Adults Kid (YAK) under the supervision of Ms. Sock Wan. Special thanks to Ms. Sock Wan for leading the young kids in such a wonderful and meaningful Kechara Flea Market event.
The young kids from YAK are truly fortunate to have the opportunity to work something out in Dharma at their very young age with blessings receive from Rinpoche through their consistent hard work, effort, time and energies spent for the benefits of themselves and others. They can be the leaders in spiritual community and bring more happiness, care and compassion to many people who are yet to meet with spirituality in future.
I would like to give my humble motivations for the young kids from YAK.
Dear YAK,
You all have done a good job! Do treasure this precious opportunity to learn all the soft skills and technical skills when handling all the challenges arise during the flea market activities where we will meet with all walks of life from different background and culture. Once we have gone through all the experiences from young age, we can be more matured and more skillful in handling with problems or challenges ahead when we reach to adulthood. This is a very good opportunity to learn more since young kids like you all have most of the time and energies. Thank you once again for spending time in Kechara Flea Market and hopefully more and more young kids will participate in this activity.
Best wishes with folded hands,
Kin Hoe
Congratulations to all the youth and kids who turned up at the flea market. It is so good to see all of you having a great time talking and working together. And the fruits of all your effort and hardwork are now going benefit some others who needs them. Please keep up your good work and inspire many more to participate in your activities. The YAK is so fortunate to get the love, care and guidance of Rinpoche.
Thank you so much to Rinpoche for these wonderful lessons to us all that the best gift to our children is to help them learn to make positive choices.
Congratulation to YAK!! You guys are awesome. Auntie Aw from kuantan very proud of you all. Spending the Sunday time to make good thing happen. Thanks sock Wan jie jie. She is very kind. Hope my kids can join and support you all in kl.
Thanks Rinpoche always giving care and love to them.
With love
Wei ling
From the video, we see our kids’ expression, happiness, joyous, surprise by Rinpoche visit…the most important is the meaning of this event that planted in their mind. Rinpoche is as parent to our kids. A big thank you for Rinpoche advise and make this YAK team happened. I had retyped Rinpoche’s message to YAK team over FB and tag Zi En and Zi Shen. And I would like them to read at least once a week. Once again a BIG thank you to you Rinpoche. Yours sincerely, Wang&AiNin
THANK YOU RINPOCHE FOR POSTING ABOUT YAK ONTO YOUR BLOG. Words cannot express how happy i was to read the article above 🙂 🙂 🙂
Anyway, firstly i would like to say that me and my fellow YAK members will be going to flea market with consistency. We will put all our efforts to make flea market successful in order to raise money for the people in need. Like how we raised money for the orphanages. We will find different ways to help people and to get more people involved in YAK activities, especially other kids. Rinpoche had good points about how flea market has a good effect on us kids in the new generation. I agree with Rinpoche 100%! We should be raised in a flea market type of environment where we can learn new things, and not in front of screens wasting the precious time in our lives.
Also, i have read Rinpoche’s message to YAK. And i will always remember that being kind is the way to go. I will always help people and respect people. Especially my parents. Who have loved me and cared for me ever since i was young. Without them i would not be where i am today. And also Rinpoche, i will listen to what you said about not wasting time on things that will not benefit us in the future. Instead, i would use the time to help others and make people happy.
Lastly, i am happy that Rinpoche like the name YAK 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing this post with the world Rinpoche.
I am very proud to be in Flea Market because it teaches me many things and skills to learn how to talk to people and sell to them. I have been going consistently for about 3-4 years and it taught me how to persuade people, talk to them, bargain, explain, to handle rejection and to learn. Flea Market is very good for me and I am so happy that Rinpoche told me and my brother to go 3-4 years ago because it teaches me things. Rinpoche has taught me a lot of things and I can see that this is also a part of it because he sent us to learn and I am very thankful for my guru for always teaching and looking after us.
I am very thankful to be one of the founding members of the new group YAK and it really uses our Sundays for a good purpose and eventually we will go to bigger things and events. I am also looking forward to going to the orphanage to give the kids what they don’t have. This practices compassion and I really want to help those kids.
Rinpoche also mentioned always listening to your parents and I cannot agree more because I respect and love my parents very much because if it weren’t for them, i couldn’t grow up and meet my guru and learn from him and practice the Dharma. I am very thankful towards my parents. Also we should bring in more youths to practice Dharma because what is a better way of growing up than with the Dharma and teachings. Thank you Rinpoche for giving your time to write this post and thank you for that day when you came to see us, thank you for all the teachings and I will ensure with my teammates that YAK is successful!
Thank You Rinpoche and everybody for supporting us at Flea Market last Sunday. During the start of that day, we were trying to sell as much as we could because there is always more people in the morning compared to during the afternoon. Our minimum target was RM2000. And to us, RM2000 is very hard to earn especially at Flea Market. There are a lot of times where we only earn about RM80 to RM400 and the rent itself is RM40. I am so happy that we’ve earned so more, and we will be able to buy a lot more stuffs for the Orphanage. You see, it is easy for us kids to ask our parents for a lots of money, so when our parents tells us to stop spending so much money on useless stuffs, we will think that they are annoying and etc. Because we have never worked so hard like our parents do. Maybe you might think that growing up faster so that I can work or working is so much than studying. It is true that studying is very hard but it’s nothing compared to working. Talking, convincing, bargaining and etc, these are the hardest decisions to make when the buyers does it. But because of it, I have learned so many things in life thanks to Flea Market, Rinpoche and Sock Wan. So please, sometimes just take free time off and try to contribute by doing charity work. You will definitely get very touch when these things happen in your life.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thanks for sharing news about YAK. Rejoice to see the kids did well in flea market. And maintain it for years. Ms. Sock Wan guided them well.
From the You Tube, the kids are very polite and precise during answering Rinpoche’s questions. They are humble and full of happiness. They knew that they are benefitting people. I am sharing this articles to my friend whom have kids. And hopes they able to bring their kids to dharma.
The best gift that a parents can give is dharma and to prepare them for the future, not to spoilt them
Thank you Rinpoche
Your humble student
Freon
As a parent, I hear stories shared by my son about his friends at school They are in their teens now. Most teens these days are either sheltered or given too much freedom and no opportunity for them to explore about themselves or find out their shortcomings. Most take things for granted and doesn’t care about consequences they do in school, towards teachers, friends or family members.
Therefore I fully support the initiative taken by Tsem Rinpoche to have YAK to teach teens, values that are lost and gone, to preserve the future generation of teens. Thank you for caring for the teens, Rinpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche for he above sharing of YAK. We will not know that the YAK have been doing this for the past couple of years if not for this sharing.
It is amazing that at g age they are able to do something great and awesome by spending their time at the flea market every Sunday. And also it so wonderful to hear that they are happy to be able to help the less fortunate through the funds they collected.
And also kudos to their parents who instil the dharma in them too.
Dear Rinpoche,
It was a lovely experience working with the YAK members in this fundraising effort for the orphanage. I was rather surprised by the overall turnout and funds raised as on normal days, business would be mostly dead!
Working in the flea market is a great experience for all youths as you would learn to handle rejection, talk to people, persuade people, bargain, communicate with team members and many more things! I am very grateful to work with such awesome people. This sort of thing cannot be done without Rinpoche’s guidance of which I need to thank Rinpoche for.
Thank you, Rinpoche for arriving on the day to provide much needed stock and customers to help us reach and exceed our goal. Thank you for inviting us out for the meal at KO at the end of the day. It has been a long time since I went there and the food is still as good as it ever was.
Sean
I am so proud of your achievements and I am sure your parents are too. When children are given the dharma, it will give them a chance to live a life more meaningful. Most children will spend their weekends having fun but the YAKs spent their time organizing and setting up a booth to raise up money for a good cause and they have been doing it consistently throughout the last few years. Kudos to all of you….may you continue to grow and learn.
Thank you, Rinpoche for conceptualizing Kechara YAK to nurture the children towards the right direction in life.
Its great to see “The YAKs” are doing something beneficial and meaningful at the very young age. We can see from our secular lives out there looking at what other kids do on their free time which is nothing more than just play. Am proud of you all YAKs! Keep it up!
Dear Rinpoche, these kids truly make Rinpoche, Kechara and their parents proud. Thank you for your great compassion for conceiving the idea of the flea market to train the kids in social skills and in how to engage with people outside of their home and family.It is good they are being nurtured together and to learn from one another and be each others’ support and guide. It is evident in the way they answered Rinpoche’s questions so confidently that they have learnt a great deal about things, like how to take rejection. The four years in business at the flea market has taught them a lot, in the way, Rinpoche wanted them to be taught. They are the Kecharian young adults and kids that will show how everyone out there how it is to be infused with Buddhist principles and values as a kid and young adult.
This is what Kechara House, founded and guided by HE Tsem Rinpoche, is all about. Kechara house is an organisation though Buddhist in essence, caters to all who seeks a to lead a life doing virtuous acts in contribution to one’s passion for living and contributing to one’s spiritual growth and care for society at large.
Kechara house has 13 departments and now with the addition of this small group called YAK. In this post the reasons for YAK are explained clearly. It is no mere Sunday school but a real life learning experience.
Our many other departments also cater for those who love to write, design, art, meditation, cooking, house keeping, green maintenance & gardening, floral arrangements, and much much more. Learning Buddhist is fun with our spiritual growth enhanced through our hands on experience.
Personally, as President of Kechara house and Grandmother to 2 of the YAK members, I am proud to say that me and my family are privileged to be 3 generations in this great journey of learning and practising Buddhism actively participating in all Kechara programs and activities.
In Kechara we are always actively involved and on our way for personal growth in Kindness and Care for others, in so doing we benefit others by and large. This is one of the main teachings of HE Tsem Rinpoche that when we learn to live in peace and harmony with oneself, we can create a better world.
I thank HE Tsem Rinpoche for his care and love always and congratulations to Kechara House and YAK group of inspiring young adults.
Wow YAK team, you have done very incredible good job. I am really proud of you all. I agreed with Rinpoche, the skills you have learnt in selling stuffs in Flea Market are valuable, you will need these skills when you grown up such as dealing with people, accept the rejection/failure, bargain and understand your bottom price etc. To be honest, I am in middle age now and I am still learning these skills everyday. The most important thing is integrity and consistency. You guys spend your every weekend in Flea Market to selling stuff for good reason and you kids have been doing this for 4 years. It is big “WOW” for me. I am sure you guys will feel good when you see all of your hardwork bringing in joy to the orphans, it is best reward you will get in the end I think.
I am impressed to learn from this article that YAK team members are participating in weekly blog chat and learning Dharma. I am really impressed, you guys are role model for us (adults) to learn and follow (honest comments from my heart). Kid like Sean can write and give better Dharma sharing and explanation than I do.
My daughter is 6 year old now. I wish her can join you kids in YAK team one day and learn from you all. I agreed these skills can not be learnt from academic, that was the reason I emphasized on social interacting skill when I was choosing kindergarden for my kid. Good job YAK team and good job for Ms Sock Wan. She is wonderful lady whom I have met in KH, she can explain Rinpoche’s biography to us very well.
Thank You Rinpoche for your care and kindness to every single of us including the kids. You have planed every thing and willing to do anything to grow us and our next generation. Thank You Rinpoche.
These are wonderful YAK kids from Kechara! Thank you Rinpoche for guiding and granting this team ( the young Kecharians} the opportunity to learn Dharma and practice virtue by helping the less fortunate. Thank you Sock Wan for patiently guiding these kids.To the parents of these kids who encouraged this noble cause,thank you!
Dear Rinpoche,
It is really nice to see kids spending their Sunday with great motivation to raise funds for orphanage by selling items at the flea market. This is a very good way to teach them how to be responsible and care towards other. And at the same time they get to hang out with great Dharma friends from Kechara. That is really nice and i would love for my kids to participate as well. I will always remember Rinpoche’s precious teaching that we parents can bender protect our kids as much as we want to and only Dharma can protect them. Thank you Rinpoche for surprising the kids, showering them with love, care and encouragement.
Dear YAK,
It’s so wonderful to see young people dedicating their weekend time to Dharma. With a common goal to collect funds for an orphanage, the YAks have done an awesome job, not only in organizing the flea market but also doing sales to get customers to contribute for a good cause. It’s good for young people to start at this age, to take up responsibilities as young adults especially in the complex world out there. This serves as a learning platform for the YAKs to learn the trades of business and communication.
Thank you Rinpoche for giving them your support by you presence and you’re truly an inspiration to all of us.
With folded hands
Leonard Ooi(Penang)
This is a very lovely post. The consistent effort the young people have put in towards running the weekly stall at the flea market is commendable and worthy of applause. After all most kids would only be involved in leisurely activities in their free time. YAK and Kechara is very lucky to have Rinpoche’s care, love and guidance. Keep up the good work folks.
it takes efforts and good heart to be consistent in helping others, and these YAK 🙂 has done it, and done it well!! I always feel that children nowadays are too pampered and too protected, and no need to work hard because for a living, but this time, you guys have come together to work hard, but not for personal gain, but instead of orphanage. That makes it even more noble.
I wish there are more kids like you all who are consistent, hardworking, kind hearted and willing to sacrifice their own pleasure time for the benefit of the others. This would definitely make this world a much better place to live in!
Dear YAK,
Congratulations, not only for your flea market the past Sunday, but for developing consistency, responsibility, integrity, kindness and care over the past 4 years. Not many people can maintain a project consistently, but you boys and girls prove that consistency and responsibility can be developed even at such a young age, so there is no excuse for adults not to be consistent! hehe.
Your team sets a very good example to all the kids out there, because you show values that there is more to life than just our computer and mobile phone screen. We have many people suffering in the society, not as fortunate as you and I, and you are all caring enough to put your words into action and do something to help and benefit others. Not only buying provisions for the orphanage, but I know that many of you are vegetarian too, and go through huge efforts to bring the message of animal cruelty to the world. You guys love animals too, and I have seen you take care, feed, protect and give love to animals, whether stray or belonging to someone. All these qualities will help you very much in the future.
Because of your parent’s great love for you, you are all very lucky to have met Dharma at such a young age, so that you can learn and instill good morals and values within yourself for the future. This is in addition to what your kind parents have taught you! You guys are the future, the future leaders, and it is very encouraging to know that with your group, you can spread the message of loving kindness and show the world how it is done!
Also, thank you to Sock Wan for taking care of these kids, and your tireless efforts, leadership and consistency when you took up this responsibility.
It is very lovely to see Rinpoche interact with the kids, and shower them with gentle care and love. Rinpoche’s best gift to them, and us, is the Dharma, and it will only serve to help and benefit all of us.
Way to go, YAK! Keep it up, be consistent, help others, benefit others, and you will empower so many who are like yourselves to be a kind, compassionate, respectful, loving and giving human being. 🙂
Love,
Carmen
Children really are our future and the YAK team is such a wonderful and positive group conceptualised by Rinpoche to nurture the youth in the right direction. These kids are really so blessed to have Rinpoche guiding and blessing them. Imagine if I was a kid and had met Rinpoche then, what an impact it would have on my mind! This flea market sale activity is so good in helping to nurture them to become confident, kind, responsible, conscientious and wise adults later in life. I wish my niece could be involve in this instead of just shopping, eating and playing.
Yes I do agree they will learn a lot from being outside, talking to people, doing sales, getting rejected, and getting success as well and building their confidence. Rinpoche is very skilful, kind and wise and does this to all of us actually. I remember Rinpoche have gotten people like Pastor Chia, Pastor David, Pastor Shin, myself and others to also do sales to build up our confidence, knowledge, communication skills and to also achieve results, from result we gain self-esteem. Thank you Rinpoche!
I like the video interview Rinpoche did with the kids, and seeing all them there with Rinpoche is heart warming. It’s also inspiring seeing how each one of them answers Rinpoche with such confidence, honesty and how they are taking their mission to raise funds for the orphanage so seriously. These kids are really wonderful, good, smart, and kind kids who instead of thinking about themselves all the time are getting out there, making an effort to raise funds for a good cause. What a meaningful way to spend their Sunday! Bravo to them!
This certainly is healthier and more refreshing than playing computer games all the time. Wish more kids and youth will get in to the YAK group… and may the YAK team grow bigger and benefit more people!
What a blessing to be able to partake in at such a young age! The world would without doubt be a better place if more children were exposed to initiatives like these. Congratulations to YAK for caring out Rinpoches vision so tirelessly. Very inspiring!
We can see that these kids were not shy and spoke well and confidently in this interview by Rinpoche. Clearly they were familiar with the art of selling. These kids have gained so much experiencce in the last three to four years of involving themselves in the flea market activities.
If these kids had learned to handle rejections and failures in sale, they will grow up knowing how to handle the same in other areas of their life. It is one of the most important skills for the kids to know.
When these kids are involved in raising fund for the orphanage through the flea market sale, they go one step further. They learned to help and care for other less-fortunate children. They learned the value of giving and gratitude.
There are many more to what these kids could have learned and experienced in Kechara YAK such as from the activities at the flea market and the blog chat.
Thank You Rinpoche for the Conceptualization of Kechara YAK. Thank You Sock Wan for guiding these kids all these years. Thank You parents for your full support to Kechara YAK. Finally Thank You to every single member of Kechara YAK, you have made everyone proud of your achievements todate. Keep up the good work!
Wow! I am proud of them too! Gathering all stuffs for sale, loading and unloading, convincing other to buy, bargaining etc. these are not easy to do for consistently every week. Glad that they made it, and thanks Rinpoche and Ms.Sock Wan for always guiding them with Dharma.
They definitely will grow up to be wonderful adults who can handle themselves and others well. They really understand life is not what we take but what we give. Congratulations to YAK and all who participated 🙂
I was a teacher many year ago and sadly to say that nowadays most of the parents over-protect their children and doing too much for them. These made the kids grow up to be selfish and fragile, they just look at what they want and they can’t take failure as a good lesson, and material success is all that they know.
I really like the benefits of YAK Flea Market that mentioned in this post. Nice, we need more good YAKs in our society for world peace.
Thanks guys 🙂
When children are given Dharma from young it will really help them in making correct decision and live a life that is meaningful. Really kind of of Rinpoche to have Started Kechara YAK to create a platform to the younger generations to be independent and get out of their comfortable Parants Zone, beside it instills Dharma in them which will be beneficial now and future.
Its wonderful to see that the YAK team learn and applied their experience through making sales in flea market, indeed they had build up the confidence to deal with different kind of people, and what i am impress is when Beatrix say that through doing Flea market, it lowers down her ego, coming from some one her age is just priceless.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with us why Rinpoche started YAK and its function to benefit the younger generations to be a better person applying Dharma in their live and be independent and make a correct decision that will benefit not only themself, but also to others as well.
Kudos to Kechara YAK team for also to Ms. Sock Wan who has been guiding them. Keep it up. 🙂
Dear Yak,
Very proud of you all. Having to know that you guys have been doing this consistently for years really surprise me!!! It’s Awesome!Way to go …..
I’m pretty sure after a hard day’s work, all of you must have been very happy, had lots of laugh and especially exciting when it’s time for counting the money. At the end of the day, going home smilling with the thought of benefitting others is the best part of all. All the hard works, time and energy are well spent. Most of the kids nowadays spending lots of energy in playing, eating and chilling out in shopping malls without beneficial purposes. Having supports from family members such as parents is a plus. Do appreciate this as you will never know when this will become memories. (I used to join in these kind of activities in my younger days).
I agree that YAK is a catchy name!Thanks for intiating the weekly blogchat session. It will benefit the kids who are not staying in KL, for e.g. my girls. Hopefully my girls can join in frequently. Keep up the good works and may this enhance the beauty inside each and everyone of you.
It’s indeed refreshing to see young kids manning the flea market store selling items to raise funds for orphanage. To teach the young on how to give and do kindness should be practised and at the same instilling Dharma in them. This activity really helps the kids on interaction skill and dealing with rejections as it is part and parcel of our everyday’s lives. Thank you Rinpoche for conceptualising YAK and sharing this love to all.
Dearest Rinpoche,
No words can express my gratitude for Rinpoche’s constant care and love for all our well-being. Not only does Rinpoche care for us but also extends the love to our children. I was very touched yesterday when I heard Rinpoche say how much you care for us and Rinpoche will also teach and care for our kids so that they grow up well and never bring tears and pain to the parents. I am deeply grateful. I will do my part as a parent to ensure that I “push” my children with love to not make excuses to not participate. However, looking at the joy and laughter the kids had with Rinpoche I will not need to do much pushing as I can see them willing to learn and participate. They are indeed a lucky bunch. I wish that I has received the true Dharma when I was younger too. But it is never too late and I am happy my kids can receive now. THANK YOU Rinpoche so so much!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing all the happy pictures and video with us. I am very happy to see our kechara kids working hard to benefit others. In this age they probably have lots of activities for the weekend. They can chose to sell things at the flea market, put up a smile no matter how many times customers turned them down. They gave up their leisure of games, movies, hang out with friends etc to do something together to bring happiness to others. They are not normal, they are kechara future leaders. they have been following their parents foot steps to contribute to the people.
They are around Rinpoche since very young and very dedicated to the Dharma by following Rinpoche’s foot step which is tirelessly share the Dharma. Help, benefit, love and care about others.
Kids are meant to be exposed so that they understand what suffering is, to get to know the real world is to strengthen their faith in spiritual path, and then to know and realize they too have the ability to help and benefit others. The happiest moment is not about how many As they get for their exam, how many music instruments they can play, how many games they can win, but as simple as when they can and able to share their happiness with others, when they see the smile on other faces due to all the time that they sacrifice and all the effort that they put in, they will gain inner happiness.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thanks for the teaching for all the parents. Nowadays most of the parents include myself, we are just focus their results neither their inner thoughts.
YAK is the role models for all parents, this is a good way to help our children prepare well in handling interaction with others, learning team work, deal with rejections and be convincing; we are also admire their consistency.
Thanks Miss Sock Wan that take care, and guide them passionately without fail. Well done YAK, hopefully there will be more YAK from JB, Kuantan, Penang, Ipoh ect soon…
Your sincerely,
Casteven Lim (KH JB)
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing. Congratulation to the YAK for your effort for spending the quality Sundays, raising fund to help others.
Wow! The Young Adults and Kids are spending very valuable time – from preparing the items, bringing them to the mall, interacting together, displaying and convincing people to buy, discussing, learning to interact with many different people, accepting rejection and so on. They do this consistently for years!! And on Sundays!!
Great job!!!
Rinpoche is always finding ways to make our life meaningful and beneficial. The good qualities the Y.A.K. earn will help them for sure in other situations and they don’t do it for themselves, but to donate the money for the ones less fortunate.
Kindness is the way!
Thank You Rinpoche for showing us the way! Thank You for the good advices!
Thanks to all the Y.A.K.!
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing. It’s a joy to see Young Adult Kids learning how to interact with people. I agree with what you said that we are not born with computers or cellphones or any electronic gadgets. It is a very Good exposure for them to learn to appreciate their own strength.
And to YAK’s may you continue to grow and learn,..
Much Respect
Dear Yak,
I really am proud of you guys. You are doing a good job and I am so delighted to see your consistent efforts. You are good kids and remember always in life, kindness is the way to go. Helping people is the highest honor we can bestow on ourselves. Being a good citizen by following the law and avoid intoxicants can make our lives more problem free. Don’t waste your time in school or in your studies on activities that may take your time away, but study hard and achieve the best you can. It will help you in life I promise. Be kind to animals. Be kind to those who are different than you and never judge others but have a kind heart.
Please always respect your parents as they give everything they know how to give for you. Pick your parents over peers and friends. Assist your parents and don’t make them do everything for you. Always maintain a good relationship with your parents no matter what. Remember, Buddha blesses everyone, but it’s up to us to make the positive choices in life. You have my prayers.
You have my love, care and sincere concerns always,
Tsem Rinpoche