Thoughts. Experiences. Inspiration.
  • Featured

A gifted storyteller

March 13, 2019 0

A gifted storyteller

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 […]

Real objects of refuge

March 7, 2019 0

Real objects of refuge

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 […]

Resting after Mt. Kailash

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 […]

Blessing someone

February 28, 2019 0

Blessing someone

Tsem Rinpoche blessing someone who had travelled from India. A visitor from India had been regularly travelling to Malaysia for business and work when one day, he came across our store on Petaling Street. Intrigued by the large Dorje Shugden statue, he ventured closer to take a peek inside and a few months later, was surprised […]

An audience with guests

February 25, 2019 0

An audience with guests

Tsem Rinpoche gave an audience to monk guests from Nepal, before a meeting with students. Some monks from Nyanang Phelgyeling Monastery had come to Malaysia to spend a couple of months with us. Just before they left, Rinpoche granted them an audience to bid them farewell and wish them a safe journey, before commencing a meeting with some of his […]

A love for all beings

February 23, 2019 0

IMG_0905

Tsem Rinpoche with his schnauzers Dharma and Oser. Rinpoche has always loved animals, even from a young age with his first dogs Princey and Hulter in Howell, New Jersey. Since arriving in Malaysia, Rinpoche has had schnauzers, starting with his beloved late Mumu. As part of caring for them, Rinpoche had his students read a schnauzer book to learn about […]

Enjoying the outdoors

February 18, 2019 0

IMG_0855

Tsem Rinpoche during a rare moment of rest. Or so it seems. Because while Rinpoche was sat next to a waterfall and enjoying the greens and sound of running water, the only reason Rinpoche was there was to scout ideas for construction techniques, building designs and landscaping ideas to make Kechara Forest Retreat a truly […]

IMG_0698

Tsem Rinpoche blessing a statue for a visitor whose father had passed. Rinpoche had heard that a student’s father had passed and through his passing, she had become connected with Dorje Shugden. Touched by her story, and by her love for her father, Rinpoche immediately selected a statue to be gifted to her along with some advice […]

Inspecting a thangka

February 10, 2019 0

IMG_0726

Tsem Rinpoche inspecting a thangka. Rinpoche has always loved Buddhist art, not just for aesthetic reasons but for its symbology and meaning, and the fact it depicts an enlightened being and a path that, if we wholeheartedly rely on, can bring us to that same state ourselves. So for Rinpoche, it is very important that […]

Writing to a student

February 8, 2019 0

IMG_0311

Tsem Rinpoche writing heartfelt words of advice to a student. For Rinpoche, every waking moment is spent in service of others. How to take away their pain, how to alleviate their suffering, how to stop them from hurting so much. To this end, Rinpoche spends countless hours every month giving teachings, both private and public, to his students. These teachings […]