Rinpoche is never interested in secular activities just for the sake of it, but always uses his knowledge, interest and experience to see how he can improve the lives of those around him and how he can bring Kechara Forest Retreat (KFR) to the next level in terms of serving others. So for Rinpoche, a […]

Anyone who spends time in the lama’s mandala will soon come to realise that Rinpoche fills his every waking moment thinking how to benefit others and then actualising those thoughts. The very existence of Kechara itself is Rinpoche’s wish to benefit materialising into something tangible, and it is out of this wish that hundreds of […]

Originally, it was not planned to be a long visit but in the end, she decided to stay and volunteer for a few weeks, writing and editing, and contributing to the blog. One night, Rinpoche decided to do a live-streaming session. It was, as usual, an impromptu and spontaneous decision. Rinpoche often gets feelings about […]

Oftentimes, Rinpoche will share quotes, teachings and stories about lamas of other lineages that he feels will enrich our spiritual practice and Dharma learning. For example, the time Rinpoche met His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and how Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche held his hands and smiled so benevolently, and how Rinpoche was totally overwhelmed by the […]

After someone updated about a nearby glamping resort, a few weeks ago Rinpoche and a group of students bundled into a convoy of cars and made their way to check it out. But it’s not for what you think. We are looking at expanding Kechara Forest Retreat, so that we can provide better facilities and […]

For Rinpoche, every single Kechara project involves spreading the Dharma so Rinpoche wants every project to be executed as best as it can. Why? Because every missed opportunity means someone suffers because they did not connect to the Dharma. Therefore doing our best is actually an expression our compassion, and a practice in not being selective. We so often […]

For Rinpoche, prayers don’t need to be complicated. For them to have power, they just need to be performed sincerely. Rinpoche always says that you don’t need to be a high lama, a Rinpoche, some great meditative sage for the Buddhas to hear your prayers. By their very nature, which is that of compassion, the Buddhas will always […]

Tsem Rinpoche animatedly re-enacting a story for some students. Rinpoche is not only an accomplished Dharma teacher but also a gifted storyteller. Very often during Rinpoche’s talks, philosophy will be punctuated with jokes and anecdotes that has students doubled over in laughter but at the end of the talk, you’ll realise was not just a […]

Tsem Rinpoche with his Lama and protector. Rinpoche often says that the real Dharma protector is the Dharma itself. If we take refuge in the Three Jewels and are steady in our refuge, then we need not fear anything else. However, since we often lapse in our commitments, and since we have immeasurable negative karma accumulated […]

Tsem Rinpoche relaxing with some students and Pema, one of the Kechara Forest Retreat dogs, after the Mt. Kailash kora. After circumambulating the whole length and breadth of Kechara Forest Retreat on a route now called the “Mount Kailash kora”, Rinpoche gave a teaching on guru devotion and the importance of maximising our Dharma practice at every […]