Thank you Valentina for the article and the beautiful pictures of Datsan Gunzechoinei.
Did you know that the stained glass windows in Datsan Gunzechoinei were designed by Nicholas Roerich who was born in St. Petersburg.
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Comment on Agvan Dorjiev: The Diplomat Monk by Choong
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Comment on Sakya Trizin’s Dorje Shugden Prayer by Sanche
BT Tay the hidden,
Yes, you have wasted a lot of time here because nobody respects or believes what you ‘write’. My friends here in Mexico who follow this blog for many years really hate your rude, senseless and idiotic comments. We have come across comments that we don’t agree with but not rude like your’s. This place has benefitted so many people around the world. You don’t like it here, then vamoose!
Adios!!! Adios! Hasta Luega and Buenos Noches! May we never see you again!
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Comment on Sakya Trizin’s Dorje Shugden Prayer by Sanche
Dear Pastors and all participants,
Thank you for all your wonderful work, research and kindness in bringing dharma to so many via this blog. You are deeply appreciated. We in Mexico really do not have a center nearby and this website is a great resource for us. Thank you very much. Please ignore the detractors. Muchos Gracias! Viva la Tsem Rinpoche!
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Comment on When we live our lives in an unselfish manner, we have more happiness by Vivian Ong
Thank you Wei Tan for this write up. I guess all thoughts and perceptions that everyone in this world have is due to different conditions for example tradition, culture and also habituation. From these, it leads to attachment and attachment will give us a lot suffering if we cling on to something or someone too strongly. I guess we must all learn to practice non-attachment so that when something happen, we won’t be so despair and suffer.
With folded palms,
Vivian
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Comment on Methar of Tengyeling Monastery by So Kin Hoe (KISG)
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the history of how Methar arose as Dharma Protector. To uphold pure virtues of Dharma, guru devotion and loyalty such as Methar, requires 100% of selflessness and not 99.99%. Methar has shown us the way that no matter what it takes, guru devotion and loyalty to our guru and temple should be put at the highest level of importance and urgency. Since Methar was practising Dharma at his level best with great guru devotion before He was brutally killed, Methar has arisen as Dharma Protector to protect the Buddhadharma and protect many Buddhist practitioners after being subdued by Serkong Dorje Chang with Dharma teachings instead of wrathful puja. This true example has shown us that if we have a strong Dharmic imprints from our previous life, we can easily pick up and continue with Dharma practice in our current life without much inner obstacles such as deep ignorance, laziness, stubbornness, selfishness and self-centered mind. We should take every opportunity to practise Dharma as time is short for normal human being.
May many people able to receive protections and blessings from Dharma Protector Methar for smooth Dharma practice with conducive environment to progress in Dharma practice.
Thank you with folded hands,
kin hoe
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Comment on Vows: The Roots of All Attainments by Ron Wong
In general, people do not like to take vows because of the fear that what if they cannot untold the vows & break any of them. Breaking a vows is like breaking a promise and that usually come with some form of punishment or suffering. This is understandable because everything that we experience in life are govern by the universal law of karma, all actions will effect in results similar to the actions.
In the context of Buddhists vows, there is no different but they works quite the opposite. Since the teaching of Buddhism is about developing loving kindness & compassion to all beings, all the actions that lead to these higher attainment can only be positive actions. When we follow the Buddha’s teaching & holding the vows that comes with it, we only create more positive actions & hence the positive results. Therefore, holding Buddhist vows in all our actions can only bring experience such as peace, harmony & happiness into our lives & while not doing so will results in the opposite. In the end, Buddhist vows are not to bind us down but to set us free from the dissatisfaction that we experience in lives.
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Comment on Cleaning Up Bentong for Malaysia Day by So Kin Hoe (KISG)
Big thank you and rejoice to Yang Dipertua (YDP) Majlis Perbandaran Bentong, Mohammad Shahid bin Ismail, the organizing committee, Kechara Pastors, Kechara staff and all the volunteers who had spent the holiday in clearing up the rubbish along the Jalan Chamang in Bentong, Pahang.
A clean and mosquito-free environment is very important for all walks of life as polluted environments can cause serious epidemic virus or bacteria to grow and spread within the vicinity of the area.
Hopefully, there will be more and more people recognizing the importance of a clean environment by not simply throwing the rubbish at the roadside at their convenience but applying awareness of not polluting the environment by owning the self-responsibility, protect and preserve the Mother nature for our future generations. Prevention is always easier than cure.
Thank you with folded hands,
kin hoe
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Comment on Snakes, Roosters and Pigs by Tsem Rinpoche by Wan Wai Meng
The book Snakes, Pigs and Rooster gives us an insight on how the mind works. That the real suffering we have is due these invisible creatures afflicting our mindstream lifetime over lifetime.
With these ‘creatures’, we can’t help but keeping creating our karma, and karma is what brings us further away from enlightenment and deeper into samsara. By collecting and creating merit, it helps us to develop the very causes for enlightenment.
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Comment on Murder for Convenience? by Samfoonheei
Sad…..to. see the injured deer in the picture .The poor deer was hit by a car and just because it was a sunday the bystander could not reach veterinarians, local wildlife experts and animal refuge groups to help .
Based on the responses the police said that the best alternative for the animal to stop it from suffering,The doe was shot twice in the chest sad,sad.Well do hope Animal Services “provides 24-hour emergency response unit can do more to help animals requiring immediate medical assistance or are jeopardizing the safety of the public..Animals can feel pain and suffering.Please love and care for them.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this post
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Comment on Jason by pastor
Dear Jason,
Yes, since you have received the Chakrasamvara empowerment, it should be ok for you to read the Chakrasamvara root tantra. As you already have permission to study the commentaries, this should be ok. However please check with your Guru that bestowed the empowerment. In the case of any tantric practice we should always refer to our Guru in regards to any questions we have. I hope this helps.
Thank you.
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Comment on Lilian by pastor
Dear Lilian,
Thank you for your questions. Guan Yin is considered to be the same as Chenrezig. In India and Tibet Chenrezig appeared in male form, but when appearing in China, Chenrezig appeared as a woman and came to be known as Guan Yin. As such worshiping Guan Yin is the exact same as worshipping Chenrezig, there is no difference. Both will lead to the development of compassion on the path towards enlightenment.
In the case of oracles, within the Tibetan tradition, it is said that there is no oracle to Chenrezig. This is because, traditionally, only the Dharma protectors take trance of the oracles. The reason for this is because the form or body of the Dharma protector is within samsara, and is therefore closer to humans. This allows the deity to take trance in a human more easily. Even though this is the case, it still takes an immense amount of training for an oracle to prepare themselves to allow the deity to enter.
The ‘form’ of Guan Yin or Chenrezig, is not within samsara as he is an enlightened being. This makes it very difficult for a being within samsara to be able to withstand the energy of the enlightened being. However, an enlightened being can emanate in a form that is closer to humans, and this form can take trance in an oracle. For example, Manjushri emanated in the form of Dorje Shugden to be close to practitioners. In the form of Dorje Shugden, Manjushri is able to enter an oracle. This is not to say that it is impossible, just that it would be very difficult and would require and special kind of oracle for the main form a Buddha to enter. If the oracle in the video is real or not, I cannot say because I do not have clairvoyance to check if it is actually Guan Yin or not.
Ji Gong, was definitely a Buddhist, you can read more about his life in an article written by Pastor David Lai here: http://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/ji-gong-the-crazy-monk-of-china.html. As for worshipping him or not as a Buddha, I have never come across any practices within Tibetan Buddhism that say he is a Buddha, however he did exhibit mahasiddha-like qualities which can be a sign of his highly attained state. In either case, he was a fully ordained Buddhist monk, therefore you can consider him to be part of the Sangha jewel for sure. In fact in Buddhist practice, we should consider anyone who wears the robes of an ordained monk or nun as part of the Sangha jewel.
As for tasting meat and drinking alcohol within tantric practice, this is only done so if you are practicing one of the Anuttarayoga Tantra class of deities. In the other classes of tantra, the eating of meat and drinking alcohol is actually prohibited as in these forms of tantric practice, these substances can negatively affect your practice.
In the case of eating meat and partaking of alcohol, these are not done in large amounts but very small amounts, literally you just take enough to taste it. This does not break any of the precepts. The precepts are there to ensure that you do not engage in actions that collect negative karma. Negative karma arises when we act from self-centeredness. For example, thinking that eating meat or drinking alcohol will bring you pleasure and not thinking about where it came from or the affects it will have on your body. Meat came from the killing of a living being and alcohol clouds the mind so you cannot think straight, this can lead to the accumulation of negative karma. Therefore the precepts guard against these.
Tantric practice however breaks through the conceptions we have of reality, thereby allowing us a closer understanding of emptiness. When we realise emptiness, that reality is not the way we usually consider it to be, then we can achieve the state of a fully enlightened Buddha. Within tantric practice these two substances are therefore transformed into those that quicken our path to complete enlightenment. You may find this article here explains a little more: http://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/animals-vegetarianism/tantric-meat.html. Images of dead humans or cannibalism appear in tantric practice to again break our preconceived notion of how reality is. Rather than being actually practices or actually people, these figures are the visualised form of our negative karma and delusions. For example, in the practice of Trakze Dorje Shugden there is a very wrathful visualisation in which the entourage of Trakze cut up a corpse and offer it to Trakze. This is a misunderstood visualisation, but one that is very common. The corpse here actually represents our negative karma and delusion. These practices are actually very beneficial in purifying the negative karma that causes us many problems in life. You can read more about Trakze Dorje Shugden here: http://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/trakze-to-dispel-black-magic-spirits.html.
In regards to the list of Dharma protectors you have provided, according to our lineage some of the deities you have mentioned are not Dharma protectors but are actually Yidams, or meditational deities, which you can practice to gain enlightenment. See below for mantra and more information:
Palden Lhamo’s mantra: JO RAMO JO RAMO JO JO RAMO TUNJO KALA RACHENMO RAMO AJA DAJA TUNJO RULU RULU HUNG JO HUNG
By 2-armed Mahakala I believe you are referring to Mahakala Bernagchen, here is his mantra: OM SHRI MAHAKALA YAK KHYA BETALI HUNG DZA
Vaishravana’s mantra: OM VAISHRAVANA YE SOHA
Yamantaka: This deity is actually considered of the deities belonging to the Highest Yoga Tantra class. As such he is a Yidam, therefore his mantra is usually not shared with those who have not recieved an appropriate empowerment.
Hayagriva’s mantra: HRI PEMA DATRI HAYAGRIVA HULU HULU HUNG PHET
In the case of Yama, if you are referring to the god of death, I have not come across his mantra in my own practices. However, if you are referring to Yama Dharmaraja, this is actually another name for Kalarupa, his mantra is: OM KALARUPA HUNG PHET.
I hope these answer your questions. Thank you.
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Comment on Is Modern Technology Good or Bad for Spirituality? by Yeo Kwai Gin
感恩仁波切的开示与教诲！
现代的发达科技，带领了整个社会迅速发展，无论在建筑，发展，科学，交通，甚至在宗教，也可以迅速的将讯息传到世界每一个角落！就如仁波切提到关于科技发达，就如“水可载舟，但也可覆舟”，科技也是一把双面刀，可以把好的讯息传播到世界各地，利益很多的人，但是相反的，也可以将坏的讯息或阴谋，迅速的传播到世界各地，我们不得不谨慎运用它们，造善业或恶业，完全操纵在自己的手里。
仁波切还开示关于为何我们要到殊胜的地方朝圣，那里会给我们殊胜的印记，我们前世所带来的“印记”，前世的印记如何影响这一世的生活，业果成熟后所带来的影响。还有，不善业如果业果成熟后，会带来何等不好的影响等等，大家应该花些时间看看，一定会给大家带来不同的领悟！
在此感恩仁波切的开示！
愿上师长寿，常转法论，吉祥如意！
感恩合十
Yeo Kwai Gin
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Comment on Sakya Trizin’s Dorje Shugden Prayer by Anne Ong
Hello Sanche,
Thank you for dropping by and showing keen interest in Tsem Rinpoche’s blog. Hope you great time reading the articles too.
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Comment on Quit Smoking the Buddhist Way by Pavara Lam
It is good to know that researchers have found out that meditation can help someone to quit smoking.
It is known that meditating can help calm and relax a person’s mind, since people smoke cigarettes when they are stressed out meditation can be used instead of a cigarette. Meditation is better as it has no side effects and it will not harm you and it can also improve one’s patience and concentration, cigarettes on the other hand has been linked to cancer and other respiratory disease/infections it may also harm others around you when you exhale the contents of the cigarette.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this informative post on how to quit smoking the Buddhist way.
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Comment on Mrs Patel’s Pav Bhaji by Pastor Elena Khong Jean Ai
Hahaha let us know how it turned out Mingwen! 🙂
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Comment on 3 Mumus by Fong
Rinpoche has always shown us to be kind to animals in all ways not just to play and pet them. We have to make sure of their comfort and lack of wants. And, we do not eat animals of any kind as the y feel sadness, fear and pain just like us. Rinpoche shows us what love for sentient ebings mean.
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Comment on Why Non-Attachment Is One of the Keys to a Happy Life & Relationship by Justin Cheah
If we are attached to someone, we will start to wonder if we are will lose them one day, we find ways (to some extend we go all out illegal way) to keep it with us and created more problems for ourselves. We created unhappiness to ourselves this way because our happiness is now depending on something impermanent.
We have to understand to not to be attached and wake up to realise nothing last forever, nothing in this world will be there forever. Our wealth our health our youth betrays us as time goes by. We will die one day and nothing we can bring forward to our next lives but karma.
But that doesn’t mean we neglect and do not need to care about our loved ones. We make the best out of it while we have it, we cherish and do not be too sad should we lose it. Things change and by nature everything is impermanent. Accept it and move on because this is reality and reality is attachment kills.
The trick here is to learn not to be attached to the ones we love. We have to let go of the feelings we have that causes us to make all sorts of trouble for us to make things permanent for us.
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Comment on President Obama Visits Buddhist Temple in Laos! by Vivian Ong
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article. I am really impressed and have respect for President Obama as he shows great respect to other country’s religion and culture. He is really a living example that many other world leaders should follow.
With folded palms,
Vivian
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Comment on Nechung – The Retiring Devil of Tibet by Anne Ong
Thank you Pastor Adeline and blog writers for doing research on this wonderful article on Nechung. It was great to understand the difference between an unenlightened dharma protector and enlightened dharma protector from this short video.Points that i have picked up from this video are,enlightened protector takes trance inside the monastery.unenlightened protector takes trance outside the monastery.enlightened protector takes trance sitting on the throne. unenlightened protector sits on the chair.enlightened being faces away from the altar. unenlightened being faces the altar.
Unenlightened being makes offerings to lamas.Lamas makes offering to enlightened beings.Unenlightened being receives tsok with a sword.Enlightened being receives tsok with vajra and bell.When oracle takes trance.Unenlightend being stands and has audience with lamas.Lamss stand and have audience with enlightened being.When oracle takes trance,Sangha shows little respect for unenlightened being.Sangha shows great respect for enlightened being.
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Comment on Liaisons Meeting In New Kechara Tsem Ladrang E-Division by Fong
It’s been 6 years since e-division office was completed. It definitely has changed a lot from those days as evidenced from the photos. It was like a clean slate then.
I’m sure the e-division has done a lot in that office and will continue to do more in support of Rinpoche’s work. Those who work in e-division are such tireless workers busier than busy bees.
Thank you to all who work there supporting Rinpoche and helping Rinpoche reach more people with Dharma.
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