Twenty Three - Kechara

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October - December 2007
Twenty Three
As spoken by HE. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche
Our sadhana (daily prayers) might be
one hour a day. But the time that we are
actually thinking, acting and associating
with others is 23 hours, and these 23
hours are much more important than the
one hour we’re doing our sadhanas.
When we’re doing our sadhanas,
we’re reciting prayers so we can’t say
many negative things with our speech;
or we’re thinking about some Dharma
subject. Also, we can’t do much with our
bodily actions because we have to keep
still while we’re doing our sadhanas,
whether we’re sitting on the chair, in
meditation in front of our altar, on the
bed or on the sofa. So to some degree,
our body, speech and mind are focused
on the Three Jewels.
But when we are out of our sadhana,
during the 23 hours – that is the most
dangerous. That is when we’re lazy, we
don’t want to push ourselves or we’re
engaging in negative actions, or in no
actions. The time that we’re out of our
sadhana is the time when we create more
negative karma. Doing our sadhana is to
correct our motivation – to think about
the Dharma, about why we’re here,
about what we’ve learnt, about our own
actions, to contemplate about cause and
effect, to think about what we want to
do when we’re out of our sadhanas.
The sadhana is not the real Dharma
practice. The time out of the sadhana
is the real Dharma practice because
that is how we really are: how we deal
with things when we get upset or when
disasters happen, how we act and
behave when we’re not being watched,
how we carry out our responsibilities.
The time we are off our meditation
cushion is the real time when we’re doing
our sadhana. Sadhana actually means to
self generate or change oneself so during
our meditational time we’re transforming
into a deity, we’re transforming into a
Buddha. Therefore, it’s when we’re out
of our sadhanas that we act out what we
have been “doing” during our sadhanas.
When will we actually act out the
prayers, the aspirations, the motivations
we’ve created during our sadhanas?
Another life? Another year? Another
time? No. We do it immediately when we
finish our sadhanas.
Therefore, if we push ourselves every
day for 23 hours, we make effort, make
ourselves aware and become people who
are very caring and loving, then we gain
attainments when we do our sadhana.
Why? With the 23 hours we create the
merit and we destroy our habits. If we
think the one hour of doing our sadhana
is enough to gain attainments and the
23 hours don’t matter, we’re absolutely
wrong. Some people do their sadhanas,
lots of retreats and meditations for years
but they don’t gain any results – it’s
because for 23 hours during the day, they
haven’t changed.
One hour of our sadhana is not
meant to cover the 23 hours in the
day. The 23 hours is training ground
for that one hour. So, if for 23 hours
we’ve been holding our vows, pushing
effort, apologising, been kind and
generous, we’ve been supplying, we’ve
been sponsors, we’ve been helping
others, giving food, giving love, teaching
the Dharma, experiencing, creating
happiness, giving advice for working in
the Dharma and promoting the Dharma,
then when we sit down and do our
sadhana, it’s very powerful.
It is the 23 hours out of the sadhana
that count whereas your sadhana is
just one hour. That’s just seven hours a
week. There’s another 141 (23 x 7) hours
a week that you’ve wasted. So, what’s
more powerful? 141 hours a week or
seven hours a week? Now you think.
The hour that you’re sending love out
to people every day, forgiving, crying,
thinking about the Buddhas, doing the
long life prayers and migtsema is only
about seven hours a week. That’s only 28
hours a month compared to what could
be 560.
This article is an extract from the
Dharma talk “23”given by Tsem
Tulku Rinpoche during a bookclub
teaching in June. The editor has
tried to maintain the essence of
the talk but for the convenience
of the reader, it has been edited
down for brevity and lightly
edited for grammar.
Full audio and video files of this
talk is available for download
online at www.tsemtulku.com/
dharma/teachings.htm

INner Dharma
From the Editors
Look who we
found in Beijing!
Dear readers,
A breathtaking pilgrimage to three
spiritual power places in China left
the both of us awed, inspired and
really quite shocked at just how large
Buddhism was back in history. As
our Lama HE Tsem Tulku Rinpoche
constantly reminds all the Chinese
among us in the centre, Buddhism
is already a part of our culture, our
history. The most pleasant surprise
was to find the prevalence not just
of Tibetan Buddhism there, but also
of Tsongkhapa’s lineage in particular.
(Read all about it on Pages 8 & 9).
The constant, compassionate
guidance of Rinpoche’s Gurus and the
Protector has led him to Malaysia, with
the larger vision of bringing Dharma to
China. A part of our trip there was to
find the best ways of travelling there,
in preparation for when Rinpoche’s
teachings do reach Chinese shores.
And yet, while it is always grand
and good to have bigger visions, we
may just be falling flat on our faces
if we can’t handle it. Are things
efficient and organised enough back
home? Are we ourselves, as students,
representing our Lama well enough to
be taking him abroad?
This issue of nmc puts a particular
focus on things back here on home
ground – first, an insight into the
role of the liaisons seeks to give
people a better idea of how the
Kechara organisation works, and
also to debunk the many myths and
misconceptions about “what the
liaisons actually do.” Also, this is the
first in a series we hope to introduce
to nmc, where liaisons themselves
write a piece on their experience
within the Kechara House mandala.
We also urge you to please
spend time reading the article
about the ladrang (page 6), a
Lama’s household, and its vital
importance in any monastic or
spiritual organisation. As
the crucial pivot of the
centre, it is often regarded
as the head that leads the
body; and without our
total support of this head,
the rest of the body cannot
function to the best of its ability.
Remember constantly that none
of what we have in Dharma would
be possible without the Lama and
his household. If we love our Guru,
the centre and wish for its growth to
benefit many, we need to realise the
importance of the ladrang and support
it wholeheartedly, in whatever means
we can.
Of course, a part of this support
also comes from our own practice
and inner transformation – the best
way of representing our Lama and
bringing him to the world. The other
articles in this issue looks at how
Kechara members and friends are
taking things up a notch. Read about
our new Kechara House extension
that allows for far greater expansion in
An antique statue of the 7th Dalai Lama
at Yung He Gong Monastery, Beijing.
Dharma activities (Page 3), KMP’s first
public Dharma sharing with another
local Buddhist society (Page 11), the
growth of our community initiative, the
Kechara Soup Kitchen (Page 12) and
the development of Dharma houses
and spiritual communities to strengthen
practitioners’ focus (Page 7).
We sign off this year’s last issue with
a big flourish as new stepping stones
appear and we charge up our spiritual
ammunition to bound ahead. The
future’s bright, the future’s shiny and
all we see are yellow hats.
Much prayers,
Jamie and Joe
GET ONLINE!
Some of the articles in this issue of nmc are also available online but have been edited here for
brevity and style. For the full, unedited versions of the articles, please refer to the websites, as
indicated by , found at the bottom of all articles which appear online.
We want to hear from you!
nmc is brought to you by Kechara House Buddhist Association. For more information about Kechara House, its branches and activities, please contact any of the liaisons (Tsem
Tulku Rinpoche’s personal assistants) • Ruby Khong (Personal Affairs/Outlets) rubykhong@yahoo.co.uk, 012 203 33373 • Henry Ooi (Business /Foreign Affairs) ooihenry@
yahoo.com, 012 216 0126 • Paul Yap (Artistic Development /Travel) szekekyap@yahoo.com, 012 364 9797 • Joseph Chan (CEO, Kechara Media and Publications) xiaojoe@
yahoo.com, 012 309 1785 • Susan Lim (COO Kechara Media and Publications) susanlim2007@yahoo.com, 012 405 5564 • Datin Ng Wee Chin (Special Projects/Finance)
lowweechin@yahoo.com.sg, 03 5122 5128 • Ngeow Voon Chin (Strategic planning / Corporate & Legal Affairs /Dharma Education) ngeowchin@yahoo.com, 016 605
2996 • Wan Yingkwachat (Outlets/Art) wasukamol@yahoo.com, 012 282 1030 • Chia Soon Peng (Outlets/Spiritual Affairs (external)) 012 309 0455 • Loh Seng Piow
(New Media/Research) sengpiow@yahoo.com, 012 320 1460 • Tashi Caduff (Tsem Ladrang) tashipema@yahoo.de, 017 369 7070 • JP Thong (Tsem Ladrang) jpthong@
yahoo.com, 012 207 3503.
Who’s who in the cave
• Spiritual advisor: H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche • Editorial advisor: Joseph Chan • Editor: Jamie Khoo • Contributors: JJ Chong, Kelvin Hong, David Lai, Susan Lim,
Sharon Saw and Andreas Uetz • Photography: Jamie Khoo, Loh Seng Piow, Cris Tan • Designer: Rosalind Tann • Printer: Les Couleurs Communication Studio.
Kechara House, Lot 41 2a & 2b, Jalan PJU 1/3C, Sunwaymas Commercial Center, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, MALAYSIA. t: + 603 - 7806 4582 f: + 603 - 7804
5862 e: kh_info@kechara.com w: www.kecharahouse.com

Kechara House Expansion
INner Dharma
Kechara House has grown!
Time to spread our wings! Kechara House’s extension is now complete, paving the way for
great new Dharma activity and work.
By Sharon Saw
Finally, almost exactly a year after the
Kechara House Expansion Committee
was formed, the Kechara House
extension has materialised.
The usage of space has evolved
over time. We had originally planned
to have a retail outlet on the ground
floor, which would be an extension of
Dzambala Mystical Treasures. However,
it was decided that as the area was
quiet, especially in the evenings, it was
not practical to have a retail outlet
there. Fortunately, the fittings had not
been constructed for the retail area yet
so we could change the design with no
extra charge!
Buddha Oasis, the multi purpose hall
area, and Setrap Chapel became bigger.
We also designated an office for our
new KH Administrator, Paulyne Leong.
At the entrance, there is a comfortable
reception area with a TV so people can
relax and watch Rinpoche’s teachings.
In September, Lord Setrap was invited
to its bigger chapel in the KH extension.
It took a whole evening and many
volunteers to remove Setrap’s pearls
and vestments, which then had to be
cleaned before he was invited over to
the new extension. Amazingly, when
Margaret took Setrap’s clothes to the
dry cleaners, the dry cleaner offered to
clean them for free when he heard they
were a Buddha’s clothes!”
We have also received a great
deal of kind sponsorship. Mr. Yeo of
Ying Shun Enterprises donated beds,
wardrobes, bedside tables, conference
tables, chairs, sofas and bar stools
for the hostel and Buddha Oasis. Lee
Ho also sponsored two air con units,
a fridge and microwave oven for the
hostel. In addition, Mr. Morgan Ho from
Moon Light, sponsored the blinds for
the hostel and sound room while Mr.
Ong Chong Hup of GLP resources (M)
Sdn Bhd sponsored the wall paints for
the hostel. A big thank you to all of
them!
The KH extension manifested from
the funds raised and sponsorship of
KH’s beautiful new
Dzambala Chapel.
generous donors, the hard work of the
renovations team, headed by Margaret
Lee and Liaison Ruby Khong, assisted
by Chuah Su Ming, Uncle Lai, and many
others. We would also like to extend a
big thank you to Koon, the contractor,
and his team who have been patient
and helpful throughout the project.
Above all, we should remember that
this growth is the inspiration of our
Lama, HE Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, and we
should continue to create the causes for
him to turn the wheel of Dharma.
While the KH extension is complete,
we still have to return the friendly loans
of around RM150,000 as well as service
the bank loan, approximately RM5,000
a month. As such, we still need your
support so please contribute to our KH
expansion fund and support our fund
raising events!
www.tsemtulku.com
Raising the bar on fundraisers
2-day Setrap puja, July 2007
As advised by Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, a huge two-day Setrap puja was conducted at
the end of July as a thanksgiving to Setrap for our having completed the 10 million
migtsema recitations. It was combined as a fundraising initiative for KHEC, where
participants were individually sponsored by friends and family to do the puja. Pujagoers
also had the opportunity to make precious offerings to Setrap during the puja,
and Rinpoche himself very kindly personally blessed a large number of the offerings.
The puja raised over RM70,000 for KHEC.
Showtime! Variety Show, August 2007
Showcasing some of the city’s most beloved, fun-loving celebrities and artistes,
Showtime! brought the stars into our eyes in a highly entertaining two-hour
performance. Fashion designer Bill Keith and DeeDee of Jangan Ketawa fame put
together a hilarious show as the show’s endearing hosts, and the audience were
treated to stellar performances by celebrities like Dia Fadillah, Salamiah Hassan,
Eric Choong and our very own KH stars, JP Thong, James Long and Kechara House
models! For all the crazy obstacles that came up in the planning stages, Showtime!
was smooth sailing and immensely successful, bringing in RM40,000 for our new
extension and Tsem Ladrang.”
Our deepest thanks to everyone who volunteered and supported our fundraising
events. Your support will go a long way in helping the growth of our Dharma
activities now and in the future.

INner Dharma
Turning the wheel of Dharma
Liaisons and KH President take vows
for the Dharma in Setrap’s Chapel
Right Hand Men
Just who are the liaisons? And what do they really do?
We take a look at the important, pivotal role of liaisons
in the mandala of Kechara House.
By Susan Lim
The system of having liaisons was
introduced to Kechara House in 2006.
Thanks to the kind guidance of our
spiritual advisor, HE Tsem Tulku Rinpoche,
a system of having liaisons was put
in place for the centre to function
more efficiently and effectively on an
operational level. The concept of this
structure stems from the monastic
institution of the great Gaden Monastery,
which was adopted hundreds of years
ago and endures until today.
The position of a Head Liaison in
the monastery is called the Chang Tso,
who reports directly to the Abbot of the
monastery. Each department head, or
Sopon, holds a particular portfolio to
support the Chang Tso by carrying out
their respective duties. The positions of
Chang Tso and Sopons are held in high
regard in the monastery and require
extreme dedication of highly trained
monks who are fully responsible for all
related matters in each department.
To be appointed as a Chang Tso, or
liaison, in the monastery is an incredible
honour. By serving the Lama in this way,
the liaison directly facilitates the growth
and success of his Dharma work and
teachings, and brings his spiritual wishes
to fruition. In this most supreme form
of serving the Lama, the liaison thus
serves the entire Three Jewels directly, by
contributing to the spread of Dharma to
benefit others.
Monks nominated or selected as
Chang Tsos in the monastery do not
refuse, for it is likened to refusing
the entire Sangha. They are one of
the Three Jewels in which one takes
refuge, and so, refusing the position is
equivalent to refusing one of the pillars
in which we take refuge.
Here in Kechara House, the Liaisons
are committed to assisting Tsem Tulku
Rinpoche in whatever ways are required to
spread Lama Tsongkapa’s teachings far and
wide. This includes supporting and creating
the most suitable environment for making
these teachings available to all who come
into contact with Kechara House, and
thus to prepare them for the deeper mind
training embodied within these teachings.
How Liaisons Are Appointed
New liaisons are appointed when the
need arises as Rinpoche’s work expands
and grows. People with relevant
experience and/or skills are identified by
the current liaisons and presented in the
liaisons’ meetings. The existing liaisons
then democratically cast their votes and
the proposed names are presented to
Rinpoche for his blessings.
The nominated person is then
formally invited to accept the privileged
position as a liaison.
So What Does That
Mean To Me?
The liaisons also assist in arranging
programmes and events for students,
members and friends, and facilitating
audiences with Rinpoche. They form the
critical bridge between Rinpoche and
the rest of the centre and its activities by
relaying information between the two
and implementing any necessary changes.
Members may sometimes not really
understand what liaisons do or who
they are, or feel that they cannot be
approached because they are too busy.
Remember that the liaisons are students
of Rinpoche and our Dharma brothers and
sisters too and deserve our full support for
their work. By showing them our moral
support and offering to help them in their
various departments and work, we directly
help Rinpoche’s work and therefore, the
growth of Dharma and the centre.
Don’t be afraid to go talk to them as
they are as much a part of the mandala
as you are. Share your experiences in
Dharma with them and listen to theirs
– much can be learnt.
By Jamie Khoo
Who Are They?
Under the auspices of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s birthday this year, five new
liaisons were appointed to assist Rinpoche in various areas within the organisation.
They are:
1 Wan Yingkwachat - Liaison of Outlet and Arts
2 Loh Seng Piow - Liaison of New Media and Research
3 Tashi Caduff – Liaison of Tsem Ladrang
4 JP Thong– Liaison of Tsem Ladrang
5 Chia Song Peng – Liaison of Outlet and Spiritual Affairs
Existing Liaisons
1 Ruby Khong – Liaison of Personal Affairs and Outlets
2 Henry Ooi – Liaison of Business and Foreign Affairs
3 Paul Yap – Liaison of Artistic Development and Travel
4 Joseph Chan – Liaison of Kechara Media and Publications (Chief Executive Officer)
5 Datin Ng Wee Chin - Liaison of Finance and Special Projects
6 Susan Lim – Liaison of Kechara Media and Publications (Chief Operating Officer)
7 Ngeow Voon Chin - Liaison of Strategic Planning, Corporate & Legal Affairs and Dharma Education

Turning the wheel of Dharma
INner Dharma
A personal journey
Kicking off this new series of insights from Rinpoche’s liaisons, Kechara Media and Publication’s
liaison and Chief Operating Officer shares her personal experience in the mandala.
By Susan Lim
In October of 2006, Liaison Ruby
Khong mentioned that the liaisons had
been looking for the right candidates
to assist Rinpoche in his work for a few
months already.
I offered to do it…if Rinpoche
approved. Soon after, Ruby told me that
I’d been approved to work for Rinpoche.
I was elated but confident. Although
I was born into a Theravadan Buddhist
family, we were not practising Buddhists.
When I was 11, I considered myself a
Christian and in my teens, I immersed
myself into Christianity while in the US.
It wasn’t enough to just study and
help in the church. For me, the only way
to experience the qualities of God was to
be a willing vessel. So at 21, I sought the
blessings of my pastor and the over-1000
member church to go to Africa as a solomissionary.
When I returned to Malaysia
in 2000, I fell into the expected route of
getting a good job and did not spend as
much time on spirituality as I had while
overseas.
When I met HE Tsem Tulku Rinpoche,
I was captivated by his teachings. The
more I listened and read, the more I
wanted to experience the teachings
and felt an intense draw towards it.
When the opportunity came, I left my
comfortable career with Intel to become
one of the Ladrang Liaisons. Having been
a missionary braving the African jungle,
I thought I was ready for any situation. I
was in for the surprise of my life.
As Ladrang Liaisons, one of our duties
was to ensure that Rinpoche’s personal
needs were taken care of. I would do
grocery runs in the mornings, before
coming into work. We would make a list
of items to buy so that the corporate,
efficiency-obsessed freak in me wouldn’t
have to get groceries everyday. But that
never happened. Picking up items day in,
day out, sometimes several times a day,
got to me. I would try to figure out ways
to ensure that this was reduced but it still
didn’t happen. Rinpoche would change
the menu on us but mostly it was because
of our own blunders. Occasionally, we
Susan, with Tsem Rinpoche,
during the trip to Gaden last year.
would have night food runs as well.
Often, no matter what we did, we
just couldn’t get it right. Attitudes
flared under stress and more mistakes
were made due to the lack of harmony
and communication. I saw cause and
effect at play right under my nose.
My head was constantly buried under
problems which needed solutions. I was
running low on ways to work things
out. Stress was building too because I
held two portfolios – Ladrang Liaison as
well as Liaison for Kechara Media and
Publications. My time was supposed to
be divided 50/50 but somehow I was not
able to fulfill my duties in either place. I
felt like a total failure and I was no help
to Rinpoche at all.
After 2 1/2 months, I felt I had taken
up more than I could handle. I certainly
had countless experiences but couldn’t
quite make out what I had learnt or
what I was supposed to be doing. Then I
realised what renunciation might mean,
and knew that I had a long way to go. My
daily questions became clear to me, that I
was still “checking” Rinpoche out. If I had
full Guru Devotion, the questions would
not even arise.
I sought audience with Rinpoche
and confessed my confusions. He was
extremely gentle, and patiently listened
and explained for close three hours. From
his kindness, I understood a little bit more
about my state of mind and was touched
by how much care he freely gave. When
my mind was calmer, he pointed out that
nothing had changed since I walked into
the room, but everything had changed
because my mind had changed. How
true. My first lesson on impermanence!
Is Rinpoche really so demanding? Yes,
he is, but not for himself. He demands
transformation from us and that is why
he remains with us, using so many skillful
ways to help us learn. I realised that he
never really needed the food to start
out with. His skilful means allows us to
gain merits. In his kindness, he creates
opportunities for us to serve our Lama. He
does not need serving at all or anything
from us. In fact, he is the one who gives
the most gifts, buys the most food and
drinks for his students in all departments,
stays up to teach and pray, the most
giving of himself.
Now I am with Kechara Media and
Publications and the lessons continue.
What I am able to do is very little but I
do vow to support Rinpoche as much as
I can. I highly encourage all to be great
supporters of Rinpoche. As liaisons,
we have assigned responsibilities to
carry out. But in the end, we are all
students of Rinpoche, and from that
level, it doesn’t matter if we have any
designations or titles.

INner Dharma
Turning the wheel of Dharma
The Ladrang: Our
Lama’s household
and the deities’ abode
While the ladrang is the most important place in any
Dharma organisation, it is the first place we tend to
overlook. Here, a profound insight into why it needs
our constant, unwavering support.
By Andreas Uetz
improved.
There really is no limit to what becomes
possible once we have fully understood
the role of the Lama as the heart of the
Dharma and the ladrang as the heart of
the Dharma organisation.
If, on the other hand, the ladrang
doesn’t do well, the Lama doesn’t do
well, then the teachings don’t do well,
sponsorship doesn’t do well, and the
Lama is eventually forced to return to the
From the Lama’s actions, inspiration
comes. From the Lama’s speech,
attainments come. From the Lama’s mind
blessings come. The Lama’s mind abides
in the formless sphere of ultimate truth,
the Dharmakaya sky, which displays
the rainbow of enlightened qualities
made visible through the Lama’s physical
manifestation. The purer our view of the
Lama, the more powerful the blessings we
receive upon mere contemplation of his
holy body, his kindness and his guidance.
All of this is ideally seen and symbolised
in the Lama’s household, the ladrang, which
is, in truth, his yidam’s divine mansion, Pure
Land and sphere of sacred power. When we
scrub the Lama’s kitchen floor, we are not
serving a person, but a deity.
The ladrang is also a Dharma
organisation’s headquarters, where new
projects take shape from the Lama’s
inspirations, where he prepares for his
teachings, where advice and instructions
are provided from the Lama’s meditations,
where pujas are continuously performed
for the well-being of the organisation and
students, where meetings with liaisons
and audience-seekers are held, letters
dictated, trillions of SMS composed...
If we make our Lama’s ladrang big,
splendid and powerful, it acts as a divine
magnet to pull vast numbers of people
into his joyful care, and as an invaluable
chance for many to support and help.
The Lama’s ability to benefit living
beings is limitless, yet it is the disciples’
duty to make it visible and available to all.
If the ladrang is big, the teacher is big;
the number of recipients of teachings
grows; the ensuing benefit grows big
– big sponsors are attracted and the
organisation can then grow exponentially,
build retreat centres, chapels, outlets,
recruit more professionals, support the
mother monastery; new areas can be
explored, existing ones expanded and
Prolonging the Lama’s life
Tsem Tulku Rinpoche recently recommended practices and prayers that can be done to prolong
your Lama’s life. Apart from creating the causes for the Lama to live long and turn the wheel of
Dharma, these prayers also directly help to extend the life of all Lamas, and to bring about all
conducive conditions and resources for them to teach.
www.tsemtulku.com
The practice is as follows:
• Invite any of the three Long Life Buddhas home – Namgyalma, Amitayus or White Tara.
• If possible, we should encase the Buddha statue in a glass box, and place many offerings inside.
Place a picture of your Lama in front of the Buddha.
• We can offer butterlamps, sensory and water offerings in front of the images.
• Before the image, and with the pure motivation of wishing for the Lama’s long life and success in
his Dharma work, we commit to reciting 100,000 mantras of the long life deity, followed by 1000
mantras a day thereafter.
• Begin by taking refuge and doing your daily sadhana. Then recite the long life sadhana that has
been compiled by Kechara House and the committed number of the long life yidam’s mantra.
• As we recite the mantra, focus your prayers towards the growth and spread of Dharma
teachings, for your Lama and all Gurus to live long, for them to have everything that they need for
their work, and for all their wishes to be fulfilled.
The long life deity prayers can be downloaded at www.tsemtulku.com
Amitayus, Namgyalma and White Tara, the long life Buddhas we
can propitiate for our Lama’s long life.
monastery. Yet, the monastery’s purpose is
to produce teachers who go out and help
all beings attain freedom from suffering!
Upon contemplation of this fact we see
that the ladrang is even more important
than the monastery.
There is nothing more meritorious than
to sponsor or serve one’s Lama. If we
support our Lama, we indirectly help all
those who are helped by him. Every single
person that takes refuge with Rinpoche
automatically becomes his responsibility
until Enlightenment – even materially if
necessary! Yes, it is a holy burden and yes,
it is huge. May we help to carry it happily.
Let’s make it our profound heart
commitment to let our Lama’s teachings
shine from here to everywhere. HE Tsem
Tulku Rinpoche has saved, inspired and
transformed so many lives already; let us
serve him in extending his teachings and
guidance to many, many more. And let us
start by making his ladrang bigger than
Buckingham Palace, and run smoother
than a well-oiled pinball machine…
“Even a single hair from your pores is
for us a field of merit more highly praised
than all the victorious Buddhas of the
three times and ten directions,” as it is
said in the Guru Puja…
May Oceans Of Happiness Extend
Everywhere

Living out
INner Dharma
When a house is more than a home
A new phenomenon of Dharma houses has recently grown out of our spiritual
community. We take a look at what it all really means for Dharma friends to live
together.
By Jamie Khoo
As more and more Dharma houses
spring up around the bustling suburb of
Bandar Utama in Petaling Jaya, Dharma
too grows, as the spiritual communities
within find greater, incredible support
and care for their individual and
collective spiritual works and practice.
When Heruka House first started in
December 2005, it brought together
a group of six Dharma friends in an
unusual way that most of us had
not seen before. Some traded in the
comforts of living with parents, others
left behind the hassles of renting alone
to share a house together. More than a
year on, this first venture out to creating
our version of a local Malaysian Sanghaof-sorts
has inspired another three
Dharma houses to grow.
The idea behind sharing a home with
fellow Dharma friends and family is to
help and support us in our spiritual paths
and endeavours. Having lived in Gaden
Shartse Monastery for over nine years,
our Lama, HE Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, is
especially keen to emphasise the benefits
of living together with other Dharmicallymotivated
people and to encourage
more people to do the same.
Rinpoche explains that by living with
Dharma friends and through our support
of each other that way, we directly
create the karmic causes to be able to
live in and do retreats with other spiritual
aspirants in the future; ultimately, it
creates the causes for us to live and work
in a monastic community, as a member
of the Sangha.
“That is why thousands of monks and
nuns live together in monasteries and
nunneries,” explains Rinpoche. “If there
was no benefit in communal spiritual
living, Lord Buddha would not have
instituted the living together of monks
with monks, and nuns with nuns.”
On a more “ordinary” level, Rinpoche
points out that, “Living in a Dharma
environment opens up more Dharma
karma. People think that working for the
Dharma and living with Dharma people
might be too much, but actually we do it
because there is a positive spiritual and
caring environment. And it saves money
too!”
Dharma houses provide a kind of
a spiritual sanctuary for practitioners
to come home to and reside in peace,
comfort and continual encouragement
for their work and practice. Because
these houses are created to strengthen
our Dharma experience and learning
process, they grow out of a natural
environment of nurture and care, and
the willingness to participate in and
support each others’ aspirations.
Most people are already living out
independently and although it is not
wrong to live with our non-Dharma
friends, sharing a house with likeminded,
similarly-motivated Dharma
friends helps to ensure that we have
strong, consistent support for the
spiritual work and attainments that we
want to achieve. It helps to keep us
motivated, inspired, focused, encourages
us to stay on the path and keeps us from
wandering off a “wrong” way.
After all, it is not unheard of for
working professionals to flat-share; or
for aspiring musicians and artists to live
together. Living with peers who have
all the same interests and goals as us is
Jamyang House invites Manjushri
into their Dharma home.
nothing new; often, in fact, it pushes us
to become better at what we do and to
reach to our fullest potential.
As David Lai, one of the “pioneers”
of Heruka House shares, “We all learn
to care for one another when any of
us meet a crisis. This doesn’t happen
everyday but when it does, all of us are
always ready to help, we sit together to
come up with solutions.
“Being in a Dharma household also
allows us to openly practise, make
offerings to our Buddha statues and
altars and engage in Dharma without
offending anybody. Thus we live,
work and do our practice within the
Dharma.”
Following Heruka House’s lead, Tara
House, Jamyang House and Drakpa
have also sprung into action in July,
August and October this year.
As Dharma takes off in the hearts
and minds of many, we hope to see
the beginnings of many more Dharma
Houses, so that Gaden Monastery and
the spiritual community of Sangha
therein finds its own lovely, local
manifestations right here in Kuala
Lumpur. And thus, Dharma grows
– physically and in our minds.
www.tsemtulku.com

OUTer Dharma
Journey to Enlightenment
A grand pagoda overlooks BeiHai park and Beijing.
Beijing’s Buddhist Heart
In the first of a series that takes you into the heart of China’s most spiritually-charged
power places, we travel to Beijing, where the emperors lived among Buddhas.
By Jamie Khoo
Behind the skyscrapers, the Chinese
spitballs and the immense bustling of over
a billion people, lies the quiet pockets
of an ancient Dharma history. It turns
out that Tsongkhapa, Tara, Maitreya,
Yamantaka, Vajrayogini, Chenrezig all
have exclusive holiday homes in China
that not many know about… or rather,
have forgotten.
Four of us, Liaison Joseph Chan, JJ
Chong, Kok Yek Yee and I, under the
kind guidance and inspiration of our
Lama HE Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, went on
a mission to rediscover our Gelugpa roots
in Chinese history. Rinpoche has often
spoken about the prevalence of Tibetan
Buddhism in China, particularly during the
times of emperor Qian Long of the Qing
dynasty and is always keen to remind his
Chinese students that we are not doing
anything new in Dharma; rather, the
practice of Dharma brings us back to our
very own cultural, historical, racial roots.
The pilgrimage would mark one of
Kechara’s first steps into “unchartered
territory.” We would also be going to
scout out travel arrangements which
will facilitate future pilgrimages and
trips organised for Kechara’s members
and friends. And from there, we hope,
it will eventually bring Rinpoche and his
The white pagoda at Miaoying Temple
teachings into China itself.
Our pilgrimage would begin at Beijing,
where we would visit Yung He Gong
(the capital’s largest Tibetan Buddhist
monastery) and other Tibetan Buddhist
sites. We would then travel westwards
to Wu Tai Shan, known to be Buddha
Manjushri’s abode, and finally “back” to
where it all began in Kumbum Monastery,
QingHai, Tsongkhapa’s birthplace.
And boy, were we in for an immense
surprise. Even with all of Rinpoche’s
reminders about Chinese’s spiritual past,
we would never have expected Tibetan
Buddhism to have thrived on such a huge
scale in China, where religion has had an
extremely quiet presence in the last half a
century.
Beijing was a particular surprise. In
the midst of immense development and
the build-up to next year’s Olympics, we
discovered whole spiritual histories and,
alongside it, a whole new generation of
Chinese looking to revive it.
Yung He Gong
Yung He Gong’s origins were as a royal
palace, during the reign of Emperor
Yong Zhen, Emperor Qian Long’s father.
After the death of Yong Zhen, when
Qian Long became Emperor, the palace
was converted into a monastery, which
remains until today.
“Lamaism,” as Tibetan Buddhism is
referred to in China was the prominent
religion during the Qing dynasty. The
Gelugpa teachings and Tsongkhapa’s
lineage in particular was what the
Emperors themselves practised and had
a great influence on the society. The
governments of both Ming and Qing
dynastries assisted this school, which
caused the widespread practise and

Journey to Enlightenment
OUTer Dharma
teaching of Tibetan Buddhism throughout
Northern and Western parts of China.
While a lot of monasteries were
destroyed during the Cultural Revolution,
what remains is astounding in its beauty
and the energy it still holds of hundreds
of years of prayer. Yung He Gong holds
an especially prominent place in what
remains of Tibetan Buddhism because
Zhao En Lai, the People’s Republic of
China’s Premier at the time, personally
saved it from destruction.
Yung He Gong, like many of the
Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in China,
comprises different halls, linked together
by small courtyards. And every one of
the 13 halls reveals a whole new set of
treasure. As the four of us ran up and
down the monastery and through the
halls, we did all we could to stop from
screaming. It was just all too exciting.
There, in the hallowed, dark spaces of
another time, we found a most splendid,
golden, smiling Tsongkhapa, an enormous
Maitreya carved out of a single tree,
Yamantaka, Tara, Manjushri, Kalarupa,
Saraswati, Chenrezig…. and hundreds
of fabulously ancient thangkas. (And the
wonderful thing is that they even look
Chinese – Buddhas with single eyelids and
rosy, round cheeks).
It seemed a little strange at first, to
be seeing so much of what we associate
as “Tibetan” right smack in the heart
of China’s capital. But there they were
– as Chinese as the chopsticks we’d
eaten lunch with, looking comfortably at
home as if that’s right where they were
supposed to be.
The White Stupa, Miaoying
Temple
Not far away from Yung He Gong,
unassumingly tucked off on the side
of a road, is a smaller, quieter temple.
For all that it holds within though, we
wondered why we were the only people
there that day.
Its heart is the white stupa,
constructed back in the Yuan dynasty.
The site for the stupa was personally
surveyed and chosen by Kublai Khan
and contains 22 pieces of Buddha relics,
Qian Long’s personal writings of the
Namgyalma mantra, Heart and Diamond
sutras and his personal robes. It was
further consecrated with representations
of the Buddha’s body, speech and mind:
Buddha statues, scriptures including the
Kangyur and Tangyur, and holy relics
taken from the four great mountains and
holy sites throughout China are encased
within the stupa alongside the relics.
At the heart of the monastery, we also
stumbled upon a hall filled to its every
corner with 10,000 rare Tibetan antique
Buddha statues, dating back to the Yuan,
Ming and Qing dynasties. We were
amazed at just how prolific the number
and range of statues were, knowing well
that this would only have been a mere
percentage of what the temples would
have held in its most flourishing days.
Yong An Temple, BeiHai park
BeiHai park is found just around the
corner from the Forbidden City, and
contains within it the tiny Qiong island,
one of the earliest imperial Chinese
gardens. The most prominent feature
within this garden is the Yong An temple,
the adjacent Tibetan-style stupa and the
impressive Shan Yin Hall which houses
a most unexpected surprise – a huge
Yamantaka, who is believed to be the
guardian of Beijing.
Like most of the other temples in the
city, the temple was built by an Emperor
– the first Qing emperor, Fu Lin – and
originally named the White Pagoda
Temple. It was later renamed to Yong An
temple by Emperor Qian Long, whose
own writings were engraved on stone
tablets and erected in the pavilions within
the temple.
The park and temple are now mostly
overrun by tourists looking for a
holiday photo but the majesty of
the temple itself still remains. We
were most thrilled with “spotting”
Yamantaka in the little shrine atop
a large set of stairs, sitting well
above the dusty chaos of Beijing
and sending his blessings out to an
unknowing China.
Hundreds of antique Buddhas,
as far as the eye can see!
Reviving Chinese Buddhism
Now, Dharma teachings are scarce in
China. Many of the devotees who visit
these sites are full of faith and respect
for the temples, but they seem to know
little Dharma, having hardly any access to
Dharma teachings. It seems a shame that
the immense grandeur of these sites lie
almost dormant now, that what we see of
Dharma now is only a minute fraction of
what it would have been at its peak.
The few guides that we spoke to
during our stay in Beijing and throughout
China expressed ardent faith and deep
respect for the religion, often being as
keen to learn whatever they could from
us, as we could from them.
We spoke to a girl in Yung He Gong,
Vivian Liy, who shared that, “Religion
is very important to me. It can be like
normal life and practised in normal life.”
The law student, who was living in Beijing
for her studies, also expressed her surprise
that there were so many young people
at the temple. She reasoned that it was
because, “Everything in Beijing is now
okay so people need to find something to
satisfy the inside – spirituality.”
Perhaps it’s time for us to bring it back
there?...
Catch the next chapter of our
pilgrimage to Wu Tai Shan, in the
next issue of nmc, coming in
January 2008.
Majestic
Tsongkhapa in
Yung He Gong

OUTer Dharma
Talking shop
Dato Dr Ng lends
her support and
goes shopping!
Kechara House with Dagom
Rinpoche in 2005.
Re-opening
its doors
Our newly relocated Kechara
Mystical Treasures saw a grand
opening in the heart of Bangsar’s
thriving shopping hub.
By David Lai
It was not so long ago that Kechara
Mystical Treasures (KMT) first opened
its red doors to a whole new frontier
by establishing the presence of Dharma
through retail. On April 1 2005 Kechara
Mystical Treasures was officially
inaugurated by the Information Minister,
Dato Donald Lim, at Piccolo Galleria in
Kuala Lumpur.
The only prank that April Fool’s
day was upon our insecurity. Looking
back, the outlet team really had no real
experience in running a retail business.
Challenges stemmed from everywhere,
from the initial haphazard manner that
the outlet was managed to the revolving
(and inconsistent) volunteers who
shifted in and out. In addition, the outlet
also had to churn consistent earnings
monthly to sustain the shop.
The team learnt a lot since its
opening, from experience and much
critical feedback from customers, all
the way up to direct guidance from
Rinpoche, whose innovative idea it was
to create these Dharma retail “temples”
in town. In the process of growing, KMT
brought with it the the inception of two
other Dharma stores, Dzambala Mystical
Treasures (DMT) and Yogini Mystical
Treasures (YMT). Kechara outlets are now
a big, wonderful Dharma family chain.
KMT was also significant as the first
unofficial base for Kechara Soup Kitchen,
a Kechara community programme which
began a year ago.
However, two years after its launch,
the management of Piccolo Galleria
decided to convert the whole mall
into a hotel and KMT had to relocate.
Rinpoche’s Liaisons scoured the city
to find promising locations. Through
divination by our Lama HE Tsem
Rinpoche, several places were deemed
conducive for relocation but the most
favourable was Bangsar.
Then the headaches began! A
multitude of obstacles cropped up; some
came threateningly close to derailing
the entire endeavor. However, through
the courage and persistence of Liaisons
Henry Ooi and Datin Ng (and of course,
Lord Setrap!), obstacles were pacified
and we were soon celebrating the grand
re-opening!
The preparation this time was on a
massive scale as we had much more
floor space to cover. Fortunately, we also
had many more sincere volunteers who
contributed their time to help this time. A
whole battalion of dedicated volunteers
Guests
celebrate the
opening of
a beautiful,
new KMT
assisted in a whirlwind make-over of KMT
on the eve of the opening. The whole
event was organised by Liaison Ruby
Khong, who is now a veteran at throwing
such functions and events.
Lama Tsongkhapa and Lord Dzambala
statues arrived in time and as we closed
for the night, Tsem Rinpoche came for a
surprise visit to energise the outlet and
clear unnecessary obstacles with a puja.
The big day arrived, with many KH
members dressed to the nines. Henry
Ooi gave his welcome speech by briefly
recounting Kechara outlets’ history and
explained the origins of the items we
have in the store. JP Thong, as the host
of the day, then invited our VIP guest,
Dato’ Dr. Ng Yen Yen, Deputy Minister of
Finance I, for a short speech.
Dato’ spoke of her own humbling
experience of Tibetan culture with a
guide she met in Qinghai, China, a
province bordering Tibet. Dato’ shared
that she was humbled by the simple
way of life of the Tibetans who could
live in nature and harmony, sharing that
“there is much for the modern world to
learn from Tibet”. She noted that the
opening of the outlet is very beneficial
for promoting tourism in line with the
country’s positioning as a “Truly Asia”
destination. Dato’ later purchased several
jewellery pieces, one of which is going
to be offered as a gift to the Queen of
Malaysia!
To celebrate the opening, there was a
one-day sale which led to many draining
their wallets and purses for fantastic
treasures. The cashier counter was in top
gear, and crowded for most of the first
half of the day. At the end of the day,
the sales figure totaled RM30k!
The re-opening of Kechara Mystical
Treasures was a tremendous success, and
not just because of the sales or the VIP
minister guest. Looking back, I thought
it was the sheer determination, blood,
sweat, tears and, ultimately, love that
went into the outlets, all the way from
the liaisons who worked so hard to
the volunteers who put their devotion
into action by rolling up their sleeves
and volunteering their time and effort,
coupled with the blessings of Rinpoche.
www.tsemtulku.com

Dharma that Bites
OUTer Dharma
Andee (right) in action,
while Bon translates.
Taking teachings
to the city
KMP senior editor and writer Andreas Uetz gives his first
Dharma sharing in Kuala Lumpur, to much applause and
eager response.
By JJ Chong
One Friday, as many were rushing
home from downtown offices, a
small group of Kechara Media and
Publication (KMP) staff and volunteers
went downtown to the Bodhi Buddhist
Society, near Puduraya, along with KMP’s
full time writer and senior editor, Andreas
Uetz (Andee), to share a talk on the Eight
Verses of Thought Transformation.
We were greeted by a Buddhist
karaoke session, which was quite
a cultural shock for some of us!
Nevertheless, The Bodhi Buddhist society
moved our hearts as they sang songs and
hymns composed by some of their own
members, in praise of the Buddha.
The session was conducted in Chinese
as most of the members were local
university students from a Chinese
educational background. There were a
few senior members who took the lead
in setting up the place, which included
a unique altar with a Bamiyan Buddha
statue standing within the background of
a Dunhuang temple ruin.
As the singing session came to a halt,
the society’s president and co-founder
Mr. Wong gave a short introduction
about Andee to the crowd before inviting
him up to share his talk with members of
the society.
As a mark of respect and gratitude for
where he got his teachings from, Andee
placed a framed photo of Tsem Rinpoche
on the altar; this humility won the
hearts of those present and gave a small
glimpse of what Guru Devotion means
in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Dharma
brother, Bon, translated Andee’s sharing
into Mandarin for the benefit of the
Chinese crowd. Both Andee and Bon had
prepared for this event for weeks and
Andee had also met up with Mr. Wong
to understand the workings of the Bodhi
Buddhist Society.
The session started off with Andee
sharing with the crowd how fortunate it
was for everyone to be there, compared
to others who are not in the Dharma;
that we should take full advantage of
the opportunities we have to learn and
practise the Dharma to transform our
lives. He then gave a short explanation
about his background
as a music writer and
composer, relating
how his career
brought him to
Dharma, first through
the Southern traditions
of Thai Buddhism.
He later found out
more about Tibetan
Buddhism when
his girlfriend, Tashi,
introduced him to her
teacher, HE Tsem Tulku
Rinpoche. He received
an e-mail from Rinpoche with instructions
to read and practise the Eight Verses of
Thought Transformation. This blew his
mind and moved his heart. Immediately,
he cried in inspiration. The Eight Verses of
Thought Transformation is the condensed
form of Buddha’s most profound
teachings on Compassion which
Rinpoche had received from His Holiness
the 14th Dalai Lama when he was only
11. He too had cried throughout the
teachings.
Andee then began explaining the
essence of the Mahayana thought of
Buddhism, which the Bodhi Buddhist
Society bases their study on, stressing
that the term “Mahayana” is to liberate
both ourselves and others to the state of
Enlightenment. He gave the example that
if we get sick, we beget suffering and
sadness. But if we change the perspective
around and take upon others’ sufferings
and sadness as our own and provide
happiness and comfort in return, it would
bring hope to others.
Andee then explained each verse in
very simple terms. The audience was
in awe of Andee’s presentation and
enthusiastically received Bon’s animated
translations.
As the session approached the last
verse, Andee shared that the Eight Verses
can be made as a prayer to Kuan Yin,
a promise we can make to her Divine
Compassionate presence to enhance
our lives with more Dharma and to
improve our lives with the nourishment
of Compassion. It is a promise we make
to ourselves to improve and an offering
to Kuan Yin that we may achieve her
enlightened state.
As the session ended with a dialogue
between some of the members of the
audience and Andee, there was more
sharing of views, questions and answers.
Mr. Wong then invited Andee to sing a
number with his guitar. Andee
was like a superstar! When
he sang, those present were
overawed with his singing and
even filmed the entire song on
their handphones!
The evening ended with
Mr. Wong presenting a token
of appreciation to Andee on
behalf of the Bodhi Buddhist
Society and a song, “His
Lovelit Image” which the
Andee treats
the crowd to
some tunes.
entire crowd sang in English
as a gesture of appreciation
for our participation.

OUTer Dharma
Dharma in action
The forgotten faces of KL
As the Kechara Soup Kitchen extends its reach to help the homeless, they discover
plenty of stories behind the many forgotten faces they encounter.
By Kelvin Hong
When we think about our KL, we
recall the many acclaimed landmarks
and sites that top the pages of tourism
pages. In our free time, we might even
have ventured into these hotspots for our
shopping sprees, blind dates or lounging
in cafes at the heart of KL. However,
behind all the glitz and glamour that is
the KL of today, there exists a pocket of
homeless communities living on streets,
alleys and sidewalks.
And we have passed by them on
many an occasion, without having done
anything, have we not?
A year ago, Kechara Soup Kitchen
(KSK) was established under the
guidance and inspiration of our Lama
HE Tsem Tulku Rinpoche with the longterm
vision of setting up a permanent
soup kitchen to feed the homeless on a
permanent basis.
While the inception of the Soup
Kitchen base has seen some challenges
over the last year, pioneering members
of KSK did not lose faith and continue to
volunteer their time and services to this
cause. And always, there are stories of
the forgotten faces of KL that continue
to inspire them to keep working.
One Saturday, a group of KSK
members comprising old and new
volunteers ventured into Pasar Pudu to
provide food to a group of homeless lot.
The volunteers included team leader,
Chuah Su Ming and her friends, Terence
Tan, Ooi Beng Kooi, Pauline Chong,
Kelvin Hong, Natalie Low and Erique
Hew.
Forget the charms of KLCC and posh
bars. Here is a completely different
picture of KL, a forgotten face to many.
In the Pasar Pudu area, we see an
aftermath of litter strewn around the
streets by market vendors, rats running
in and out of drains and rubbish. We
see poor homeless souls sleeping by
sidewalks under these conditions.
However, the sight of this did not
deter us and drove our determination
even further to complete the mission that
we had set out for that weekend.
We started the evening by visiting
an old Chinese man who was
sleeping on a pavement outside
a sundry store. According to the
store owner, the man has been
a regular there for a very long
time. His face brightened as we
offered him a packet of food
and he muttered something in
broken Chinese which we could
not really understand, though we
caught the words “thank you”.
Among several other
encounters, we met a homeless
man who, according to Su Ming,
was one of the most gentle and
polite people she had ever come
across on the streets. The Malay
man, named Abdul Rahman
but more commonly known as
“Mann”, is in his 20s and living
under a highway bridge.
He shared that he used
to work before but has now
contracted HIV. Su Ming has
been trying to get the AIDS foundation
to visit him and offer him professional
help which we are incapable of doing.
When they told him that I had wanted
to take a shot of him for my article, he
quickly donned one of his best shirts to
stand beside Beng Kooi for the shoot! He
was a man of few words but spoke good
English and appeared to be a very nice
man indeed.
As we ended the night, we realised
that though we are living among some
wonderful charms of KL, enjoying
wonderful meals which we usually
never finish, some people are a lot
less fortunate. These people are living
in conditions we would never have
imagined in KL’s bustling heart. The
people we encountered in Pasar Pudu
don’t have proper homes or jobs, they
have health issues and could be missing
many meals every day. They could be
dying anytime.
Each time we see the light of a smile
from the people we meet, it motivates us
to return each week, knowing that we
have created a small ounce of relief for
them. It encourages us to believe that
KSK volunteer Bob (top) stops
to chat with a homeless man.
our little effort could perhaps, be helping
to prolong their life.
But food alone is not enough. We
are still striving towards establishing a
permanent Soup Kitchen base to help
the homeless on a more permanent
basis. We want to ensure these people
can continue to live happily despite their
hardships and to embrace life with faith
and hope.
We encourage participation
from all for our cause. Contact
the following KSK members
today for more details and
contribute your time to help the
needy and homeless in KL, every
Saturday evening, from 6pm.
1) Chuah Su Ming, 012-2911-178
(Pasar Pudu/Chow Kit)
2) Kennie Wong, 012-4590-130
(Bukit Bintang)
3) Kelvin Hong, 012-2938-958
(Pudu Raya/Chow Kit)
4) Beng Kooi, 012-3130-489
(Chow Kit)
5) Ben Thain, 019-2760-313
(Pudu Raya/Petaling Street)